Top 5 Naturally Beautiful Places to Explore in Tasmania

1. Naturally Beautiful Cradle Mountain National Park

One of Tasmania’s most naturally beautiful places to explore, and an iconic natural landmark of the central Tasmanian highlands, is Cradle Mountain.

It can be bitterly cold in Tasmania and even more so in the central highlands. Driving on the roads in winter can be challenging, negotiating patches of black ice on frosty days. Having said that, you have a pretty good chance of seeing snow there in winter…… and if I am going to be freezing cold, I want to see some snow as my reward!

I highly recommend staying a night or two so that you can fully explore the area. My top pick for accommodation is Cradle Mountain Lodge. The room we stayed in was very special – a King Billy Suite, with a huge fireplace, and hot tub on the deck.

The main Lodge house is very cozy, with leather lounges, velvet armchairs and a large fireplace. The perfect place to relax, sip a warm beverage (or a cold one) and admire the beautiful surrounds. The in-house restaurant has a wonderful menu to keep you fueled up for a day out exploring the Cradle Mountain National Park.

As comfortable and relaxing as the Lodge is, you must head out and explore the surrounding countryside. You don’t have to go far to spy native Australian animals, as they are frequently spotted wandering around the Lodge grounds.

Explore a little further afield, and you will be rewarded with even greater sights. Just across the road from the Lodge are some very easy walks. Just follow the boardwalk, to discover waterfalls and magical forests.

No visit to Cradle Mountain would be complete without a visit to the landmark itself. You can drive to the visitor centre and then the rest of the journey is made via a shuttle bus that leaves from the centre. Make sure you make a quick stop off in Ronny Creek, which is a large grassy moorland area, perfect grazing area for wombats. Time your visit for early morning or late afternoon, which is peak feeding time, to increase your chances of seeing them. Hike from here or jump on the next shuttle bus to reach Cradle Mountain.

There are several walks you can do in the Cradle Mountain, World Heritage, National Park. I have only done the Dove Lake circuit…..but I liked it so much, I have done it twice! Once was on a clear day and the other time it was wet and freezing. I love the views on both days, the beautiful reflections off the lake on the clear day and the misty, ethereal feeling of the cloudy wet day.

It really is a spectacular corner of the Earth to discover. If the Irwins love it, then it must be good, right?

Not far from Cradle Mountain is the Lake St Clair National Park. The two places are connected by a challenging multi-day hiking route called the Overland track, which we are booked to do in January! You can walk the entire track or catch a ferry from Lake St Clair to a point along the track and walk part of the track back to Lake St Clair Lodge. That is exactly what we did on our visit to Lake St Clair.

2. Lake St. Clair National Park

Lake St Clair is a naturally beautiful, pristine lake surrounded by nature walks. Use Lake St Clair Lodge as a base to explore the area. The day we arrived the weather was beautiful. Clear blue skies and crisp, fresh air. The lake looked sparkling, and we were excited to start exploring the National Park.

The following day, however, the weather was not so glorious. This was the day we had planned to do our part walk of the Overland track. If we really wanted to do it, this was our only opportunity as we were checking out the following day. So, onto the ferry we jumped, praying the skies would clear. They did not.

At some points, the rain seemed to be falling horizontally. My clothes were so wet, that water began seeping up under my raincoat, soaking my thick woolen jumper I was wearing underneath. Wet wool is heavy and smells like a wet dog …. or sheep actually.

We powered on and were almost back to the Lodge and the promise of a warm spa bath and a glass of something alcoholic, when I slipped and landed face down in a large, wet puddle of mud.

I was a sight, and certainly drew the attention of a few Lodge guests enjoying the facilities, as I made my way back to our cabin. Before jumping in said spa bath, I had to have a shower and wash off all the mud. That is when I discovered the enormous leech that had attached itself to my upper thigh. Eewww. Leech and mud finally removed, I lowered myself into the filling spa bath. My kids made me a lovely cheese platter to go with my glass of wine that I was going to enjoy in the spa. Bliss!

I was getting impatient; this spa was taking forever to fill. Little did I know that the water jets need to be completely covered before you turn them on. What followed was a scene from Faulty Towers. Water started shooting out in all directions all over the bathroom. My first instinct was to protect the cheese! I was laughing screaming so hard, trying to turn off the jets. The wound from the leech was still bleeding profusely, by this stage, mixed with the water, the bathroom looked like a murder scene.

Finally, I had the situation under control. It still makes me laugh out loud remembering that day. It’s all fun and games, until someone gets a leech. 

3. The Natural Beauty of Wineglass Bay

Considered one of the top 10 beaches of the world, the stunning Wineglass Bay on Tasmania’s East coast, should definitely be on your bucket list of naturally beautiful destinations.

This pristine coastline, with sugar white sand and aqua blue water, is part of the Freycinet National Park. There are several walks you can do in the area, from a short walk down to the beach – but beware the stairs (it might be short, but there are a LOT of stairs!), a longer walk to the lookout, to an even longer 4-day walk!

We opted to walk to the beach and then up to the lookout. If mobility is an issue, there are cruises you can do to view the Bay.

I was surprised to learn that Wineglass Bay doesn’t get its name from its resemblance to the shape of a wine glass, but rather from its history as a whaling station, where the waters would often be stained with blood, the shade of a glass of red wine.

Keep an eye out on your walk for the abundant native wildlife in the area. From wallabies, wombats, potoroos and quolls – you may even see a Tasmanian Devil!

Nearby is the cute town of Bicheno. Not only does it also have the gorgeous beaches with that stunning east coast blue water and fine white sand, but you can also take an evening penguin spotting tour to watch the Fairy Penguins wander up the beach to their burrows. How cute!

4. Naturally Beautiful Bay of Fires

Number 4 on my list is a place that looks almost otherworldly. I’m not talking about the TV show, as wonderful as it is, but about the stunning stretch of coastline in the northeast of Tasmania. This 50 kilometre stretch of naturally beautiful, rugged coastline is famous for orange lichen-covered granite boulders, combined with the powder-white sand and turquoise waters.

I assumed Bay of Fires got its name from the fiery orange colour of the lichen on the rocks. However, the name could also come from the sight of aboriginal fires dotting the shoreline, as observed by Captain Tobias Furneaux, as he sailed past in 1773.

The boulders are wonderful to see and walk around, but there are stunning beaches in the area as well. Binalong Bay is the main swimming beach and there are numerous water-based activities to do in the area from snorkeling, diving and kayaking.

5. Beautiful Bruny Island

Accessible only by ferry, off the Southeastern coast of Tasmania, is the naturally beautiful, Bruny Island. North and South Bruny are joined by a narrow strip of land known as ‘The Neck’, where you may be lucky enough to spot the world’s smallest penguins if you time your visit right, between September and February.

Apart from the penguins, Bruny has an array of wildlife including white albino wallabies, most active at dusk and dawn and can be found south of Adventure Bay.

Everywhere you look in Bruny, you are rewarded with breathtaking views. Don’t miss the view from the Cape Bruny Lighthouse. Climb the spiral staircase to the balcony for fantastic views of the Tasman Sea.

You cannot visit Bruny without tasting some of the locally produced cheese….and what goes beautifully with Bruny cheese? Bruny wine, of course!

Stay overnight or visit by boat. Pennicott Wilderness Journeys do several tours to Bruny if you don’t have access to a car.

I love a good book and never leave for a holiday without one. If you are thinking of heading to Bruny Island, here is a cracker set in Bruny. I believe they may be adapting it to the screen. Looking for other book suggestions? I have another blog post on recommendations for great holiday reads set in your next holiday destination!

Why Visit Tasmania?

I love Tasmania, I have family there, so visit often. Every time I visit, I discover something new about Australia’s Southern Island State. The capital city of Hobart is a great place to base yourself and explore the surrounding area. If you are like me and love getting out in nature, Tassie is paradise! There are several wonderful multi-day walks you can do to truly immerse yourself in nature. We have done the Three Capes Walk and are soon to complete the Overland Track! I highly recommend hiring a car, however, to discover the natural beauty of the magnificent East Coast and central Highlands.

It truly is one of the most naturally beautiful places in Australia.