11 Most Breathtaking Towns In Tasmania

The smallest of Australia’s states, Tasmania, is characterized by lush vegetation and stunning seaside views. With a larger surface area than Sri Lanka, the heart-shaped island state is situated in the Central Plateau, dotted with over 4,000 lakes. Tasmania is a relatively underrated tourist destination, reminiscent of the landscapes found in Canada and Finland. A geographical wonder, the island is also home to geometric designs on rock surfaces from the times of the original nomadic Tasmanians, offering a glimpse into Tasmania’s indigenous history. The way the lands, lakes, and mountains express themselves across the island has settled some of the most breathtaking towns in the state.

Port Arthur

Port Arthur, a hidden gem in Tasmania, remains a grand former penal colony. This dark tourism site reflects a brutal history while maintaining its scenic charm. Surrounded by well-kept gardens and pristine buildings, it offers a 40-hectare estate filled with eerie stories about its past as Tasmania’s most famous prisoner settlement. Walking through the same halls as 12,500 convicts in the mid-to-late 1800s is a must. The Penitentiary, one of the colony's key buildings, was originally a flour mill and granary, built to support a self-sustaining settlement. Convicts were forced to walk on treadmills to grind grain, one of the harshest punishments.

After a fire in 1897, it was rebuilt and preserved as a window into its convict history. Port Arthur also features the Isle of the Dead Cemetery, where over 1000 convicts, soldiers, and settlers are buried. While many convict graves are unmarked, settler graves are marked, offering insights into their layered past. Lastly, the Remarkable Cave makes a perfect quick stop, with its ocean-carved tunnel, sandstone cliffs, and stunning sea views providing a peaceful farewell to Port Arthur.

Coles Bay

Nestled between striking pink-granite peaks, Coles Bay is situated on the shores of Great Oyster Bay. This small town is renowned for its water-based activities, including eco-cruising, kayaking, and sailing. As an outdoor haven, Coles Bay is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including white-bellied sea eagles, echidnas, wombats, wallabies, and many more. A key attraction is Freycinet National Park, famous for its white sandy beaches and bays. Located on the Freycinet Peninsula, it is Tasmania’s oldest national park, offering stunning views of Mount Amos and making it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts. The park’s most iconic feature is Wineglass Bay, a beautifully curved sandy beach. Visitors can enjoy the sparkling shoreline from various summits, trails, and beaches. The park also features Honeymoon Bay, a picturesque and tranquil beach renowned for its beauty. Surrounded by eucalyptus trees, the Hazards mountains, and shimmering waters, Honeymoon Bay provides an ideal spot for relaxation.

Bicheno

The East Coast of Tasmania features the small town of Bicheno, known for its granite formations and distinctive blowholes. Named after James Ebenezer Bicheno, a British Colonial Secretary from the 1840s to 1850s, it was originally a coal port. Still, it was abandoned after gold was discovered in Victoria, transforming into a charming fishing village. Since then, Bicheno has prospered through fishing and wildlife tourism. The best way to experience Tasmania’s unique fauna is at East Coast Natureworld, where visitors can see animals like Tasmanian Devils, kangaroos, wallabies, and various bird species.

Guests can take guided tours, walk with animals, feed them, and enjoy nature. For outdoor lovers, the Bicheno Blowhole—a natural dolerite formation—offers a spectacular sea cave created by ocean activity, functioning as a geyser that draws tourists. This geological feature is a popular spot for picnics and beach visits. For underwater adventures, the Governor Island Marine Reserve is ideal, providing some of Australia's top diving experiences. Part of the nearby resort town of Governor Island, the reserve includes other islands and serves as a protected marine sanctuary along the eastern coast.

Burnie

Formerly known as Emu Bay, the town of Burnie was established as a forestry hub with timber exports as its primary source of income. As silver exports additionally grew, Burnie became an industrial portside town. Beyond its history, the city today is home to eclectic shops and seaside views, serving as a reinvented maker’s enclave. Burnie’s town history is worth exploring at the Burnie Regional Museum. A homage to the town’s industrial history, the museum features Federation Street, a replica of Burnie’s main street. The charm of the street is frozen in time, allowing visitors to glimpse how people lived over 100 years ago.

History enthusiasts can explore old stores, personal trinkets, and stories of settlers. An admirer of flowers and foliage instead? The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden is the perfect place to take a stroll through. A 11-hectare property standing for over 40 years, this garden houses a remarkable number of rhododendrons from across the world. This private garden is a great place to enjoy the ambience of blooms, native wildlife, and relaxing views. Although the wildlife can surely be viewed better at the Little Penguin Observation Center. With the littlest penguins in the world, the observation center in Burnie is the perfect spot for visitors to get up and close with these cute creatures. The small blue penguins can be seen waddling across the beach, battling against the waves, and interacting with one another.

Strahan

A naturalist haven, Strahan is peppered with national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. A place of farmers and fishermen, this small town resides by Macquarie Harbour on Long Bay. Strahan’s natural beauty and unique regions have no limits, especially at Henty Dunes. As a series of dunes surrounded by mountains and trees, the Henty Dunes offer visitors a unique experience. Revel in ATV rides and sand surfing across the wide desert. Alongside is Ocean Beach, the longest beach in Tasmania, a great space for a small picnic or a stroll by the dunes. Besides hard adventure tourism, Strahan also houses a daunting attraction that gives dark tourism another meaning - Sarah Island. As the location of Tasmania’s first penal colony, the island holds many stories of convicts in hellish conditions. Even coming and leaving the island is a treacherous journey, as fierce weather and narrow river passages resulted in convicts titling the entrance Hells Gates. Over 150 convicts have attempted to escape, and the stories are so intriguing that Strahan has its own theatre production, "The Ship That Never Was," which describes their experiences. A delightful final spot in one’s trip to Strahan is the Hogarth Falls, a quaint waterfall hugged by gum trees, leatherwood trees, and other rainforest trees.

Corinna

A town with no signs of technology and immersed in wilderness alone, Corinna is a sight to behold. Situated in the Takayna or Tarkine Rainforest, this four-hectare site was formerly a gold-mining settlement, which has now been transformed into an eco-resort. With the Corinna Wilderness Village, the forest town can accommodate many, and as an established eco-tourism destination, it is quite popular. Old-growth trees, miners’ cottages, and even a shipwreck, Corinna can be best explored through a Pieman River Cruise. The Arcadia II takes passengers on a journey through the Pieman River, with historical commentary and complimentary snacks. The Huon Pine Walk is another great way to experience Corinna. A great-paced stroll through the tangled trees and brisk winds is the best way to get to know the green space. However, Lover's Falls is also a lovely stop within the vast greenery. A charming waterfall placed in a nook within the forest; it remains a great last stop on a visit to Corinna.

Devonport

Devonport is known as the third-largest city in Tasmania. With deep roots in politics and transportation, this city is rich in history. Although with views of Cradle Mountain, it is also home to a breathtaking landscape. As a portside town, Devonport is home to an intriguing maritime history, which is well exhibited at the Bass Strait Maritime Museum. It carries stories of the Bass Strait, a candy-striped lighthouse, and is curated in a 1920s harbourmaster’s cottage. Visitors can also experience piloting a steamship via a simulator, savor some Devonshire tea, and board the ship, the Julie Burgess. The Lillico Beach is another cute stop on a trip to Devonport. With the smallest penguins in the world waddling around the shore, this beach serves as a coastal reserve. Known as Little Penguins, or Fairy Penguins, visitors can catch a glimpse of them during a nighttime stroll or from a viewing platform.

Visitors can explore the greenery as they pass through The Tasmanian Arboretum. A 66-hectare forest with platypus and parrot sightings, this arboretum is a prominent nature reserve of Tasmania. Set in a peaceful valley, the arboretum also holds a platypus observatory as well as the Limestone Heritage Walk for a bit of history.

Stanley

Stanley is known for its colonial buildings and quiet stature, but its grandest landmark remains the flat-topped volcano that towers above the town. With only waddling penguins and port history, the city is quite introverted, which makes for a great and new tourist endeavour. Much of its tourism revolves around The Nut, the 143m tall volcano plug. The birds-eye view from the top is a beautiful sight of the charming fishing town, and a romantic yet adventurous little trip up this geological marvel.

Although many may prefer to explore Stanley’s history, the best place to do so is the Highfield Historic Site. Take a tour through the 1830s within a recreated gentleman’s home and farm by the hillside. Additional exhibits, including convict barracks, barns, a chapel, and more, accompany this Regency-era house. Finally, the Stanley Discovery Museum displays the rest of the town’s history. A precinct housing the 1887 St. Paul’s Church, the museum features a notable exhibition of historical artifacts, including old photographs and publications.

Sheffield

A stunning townscape of art and history, Sheffield is renowned for being Tasmania’s outdoor museum. This town is filled with murals and artworks that give the town character. Establishing itself as an arts community, the town of Sheffield thrives on its creative interests both indoors and outdoors. Much of its art is inspired by Aboriginal art, expressing the town’s history in a way they know best. Innovation and inspiration are what are most important to Sheffield’s residents, which can be experienced at Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot. A family-friendly attraction, it is one of the largest mazes in the world.

Combined with unique buildings throughout the village, this experience will leave visitors laughing from its intricate and humorous stories. For nature lovers, Cradle Mountain, specifically the Lake St Clair National Park, is a sight to behold. Situated in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the moss-covered trees and snow-capped mountains offer gorgeous views. For those interested in the art, Mural Park hosts the town’s annual Mural Fest, a competition of the town’s best murals. With views of Mount Roland, the park is renowned for its celebrations of the town’s murals, making it a hub for artists.

Richmond

Richmond is a colonial-era town with over 50 Georgian buildings. It is home to a significant history and restored structures, although it has several quirks to it. Visitors can expect the typical dark history, pretty buildings, and an accommodating community. However, Richmond’s attractions are far beyond the standard small-town charm. Pooseum is an excellent example of the wonderful quirkiness of this town. This museum is dedicated to the science behind, well, poop. Animal droppings from various species of Australia are studied here and available for visitors to learn from. A vastly different experience from most museum experiences, the Pooseum features the Digestion Room, a space to explore how animals process food in various ways. Defined as a Georgian village, Richmond’s beauty and history can be explored through the Old Hobart Town Model Village. As it is titled, the model village recreates the town of Hobart within Richmond and its 1820s atmosphere. With figurines, replica buildings, and even native myrtle bonsai trees, the model village brings back lost tales of the Australian colonies. Finally, Amaze Richmond is a must-see for visitors passing through Richmond. A creative labyrinth, fun for all ages, this experience will leave visitors puzzled but amused. With codes to decipher, a hidden tunnel, and a Tasmanian animal challenge, this kid-friendly activity is quite the adventure.

New Norfolk

When colonial history and Art Deco ambiance merge, New Norfolk is born. Home to several of the oldest buildings in the country, this town is riddled with antique shops and colonial-era structures. First explored in 1793, New Norfolk is the third-oldest settlement in Tasmania, originally constructed as a prison. The Willow Court is a wonderful example of its former island state. The Willow Court was an active asylum before the 1820s. It used to institutionalize those not able-bodied or able-minded, until Tasmania deemed this unacceptable and de-institutionalized everyone, shutting the asylum down. This gave way for other states of Australia to follow. With its dark yet intriguing history, the asylum stands to tell the tales of the government’s role in the history of Tasmania’s mental health institutions.

New Norfolk stands out due to its charm, and the Salmon Ponds are as much a part of it. The Salmon Ponds developed in tandem with the arrival of European settlers. These trout breeding grounds are renowned for their connection to salmon, as the initial attempts to breed them were unsuccessful. Today, it is home to the Trout Fishing Museum, Hall of Fame, and Hatchery for those fishing enthusiasts. Finally, visitors can gaze out at the picturesque town from the Pulpit Rock Lookout. With views of rolling hills and vast farmland, New Norfolk is a magnificent sight.

Everyone yearns to travel to Australia, whether for its impressive wildlife or incredible vegetation. The island state of Tasmania possesses a compelling charm that many cannot resist. People hear of cute koalas or kangaroos, or deep-green rainforests, or even brazen deserts, Australia always manages to bring in tourism. Every part of this wonderful country attracts visitors, primarily for its natural beauty and, more importantly, for its Aboriginal history. Home to the most breathtaking towns, Tasmania is a grand addition to one’s bucket list.