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Top 5 Hikes in Tasmania

Australia's most southern state is famous for some of the country's most pristine and stunning single-day and multi-day hikes.

Hiking in Tasmania brings wild weather, snow-capped mountains, and challenging terrain, but it also means you're treated to rugged coastlines, breathtaking views, and otherworldly scenery. Whether you are new to hiking or are looking for a multi-day challenge to put your navigation skills to the test, there are ample tracks to choose from. Here are some are our favourites in Tasmania.

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Caution: Before any hike, always check relevant park management websites for updated information on track conditions, closures, or dangers.

  • Features: Dolerite rock formations, rugged clifftops, family-friendly services, eucalypt forests, heathland
  • Rating: Easy to moderate
  • Length/Time: 48 km, 4 days/3 nights
  • Elevation gain: 2,854 m
  • When to go: Any time of year. Winter will be cold, but the shared living space in the cabins are heated (the rooms are not).
  • Child-friendly: Yes. The relatively short distances, services, and safety of the walk make this an ideal introduction for kids. Children under 18 require a guardian to book and you need to book by phone if you're taking children under three. 

The Three Capes Track is one of the best Tasmanian hikes if you want to dip your foot in multi-day hiking. 

Located in the Tasman National Park, a 1.5-hour drive southeast of Hobart, the Three Capes Track takes you through eucalypt woodland, wind-hewn cliff lines, stunning pristine beaches, and coastal heath. A good option during shoulder months, due to its proximity to Hobart and services at the end of each day's walk, plus you may even spot the Aurora Australis.

The Three Capes track is famous for hugging beautiful rugged cliffs for much of the way, with features like the Totem Pole, highlighting the unique geology of the area. For all the information you will need to book and hike the trail, visit the Three Capes Track website. 

Image: Olly Gaspar

Views along the Mount Anne Circuit. Image by Lawrence Murray.

  • Features: Plenty of adventure with scrambling, mountain climbing, and multiple summits.
  • Rating: Grade 4, difficult.
  • Length/Time: 33.7 km. The average completion time is 2–4 days.
  • Elevation gain: 26.4 m
  • When to go: November–February
  • Child-friendly: Not advised. Harsh weather conditions and muddy conditions after 'The Notch' make this a potential challenge for young children. 

While most hikers will complete the Mount Anne circuit in three days, it is possible to venture a little further and include multiple side summits like Mount Lot and Mount Sarah Jane. If you'd rather just bask in the breathtaking views, you can add a few days of 'jaw-dropped staring' to your itinerary.

This challenging hike starts with a steep ascent from the Condominium Car Park, where the trail culminates at the top of Mount Anne. On the way, you’ll be challenged with exposed sections of the trail and multiple scrambles over the boulder fields.

On day two, you’ll take on ‘the Notch’, an area located on a sharp ridgeline that requires some tricky footwork, a little climbing, and a good head for heights — the Notch features sharp drop-offs on either side. While you don’t need a rope to climb, it’ll come in handy if you need to haul up your pack. Following The Notch, expect to find yourself knee-deep in the mud, so pack accordingly. 

When you’re not watching your feet or the breathtaking views, you’ll be treated to glacial lakes, dense rainforests, and some of the best remote campsites in Australia. If you're looking for a new challenge or a peaceful solo adventure, this track will truly take you out there.

Image: Lawrence Murray

Two hikers walking along a boardwalk surrounded by lush native plants.

  • Features: Evolving landscapes and plenty of animal encounters.
  • Rating: Grade 3–4, intermediate to difficult.
  • Length/Time: Around 65 km. Average completion time 5–6 days.
  • Elevation gain: 2,221 m
  • Best time to go: October–May
  • Child-friendly: The trails around Lake St Clair make a popular destination for those looking for a short hike with kids. It's not recommended to take young children on the entire Overland Track, due to the challenging terrain and uncertain weather conditions. 

With ever-changing natural beauty, world-class facilities, and plenty of challenging side trips, it’s no wonder that hiking in Tasmania and the Overland Track are nearly synonymous. For a short walk, simply walk around Lake St Claire, the end-point of the Overland Track. 

For nature enthusiasts, the Overland is an ecological marvel. Settled into the dramatically carved landscapes are natural waterfalls, colourful fungi, mossy rainforest, and some of Australia’s most unique wildlife. It’s not unusual to encounter wombats, echidnas, pademelons, possums, wallabies, snakes, and birds. If you’re really lucky, you might even spot the elusive Tasmanian devil.

Most hikers will finish within 5–6 days, covering around 12 km a day. If you want to get your heart rate up, take a detour to the spectacular ascents of Mount Ossa — the highest peak in Tasmania! — and the Cradle Mountain summit.

To help protect the trail from its popularity, you must register to walk. Numbers are capped at 9,000 walkers each year, but this hike is worth the wait.

For more information, visit the Parks & Wildlife Service website. 

4. South Coast Track, Southwest National Park

New River Lagoon on the south coast track in Tasmania.

  • Features: Lagoons, isolated harbours, beach walks, quartzite mountains, boardwalks, lake crossings (on a row boat), and much more! 
  • Rating: Experienced hikers only
  • Length/Time:  Around 84 km. Average completion time 7-8 days.
  • Elevation gain: 3,126 m
  • Best time to go: December–March
  • Child-friendly: No. The South Coast Track is one of Tasmania's more isolated tracks and is susceptible to quick shifts in weather. Only experienced hikers with good navigational skills should tackle this one. 

The South Coast Track is ideally suited for experienced and self-sufficient adventurers who have navigation skills. This is the big sister to the Three Capes Track, with less of the trimmings but more beaches, adventure, and isolation. Connecting nine beaches, the South Coast Track starts at Melaleuca airstrip and follows the coast for much of the hike (apart from Days 2 and 3) until finishing at Cockle Creek, where you can leave your car.

Accessible only by a small prop plane, we suggest tackling this one only after you've completed other multiday hikes in Tasmania, as it will challenge both your ankles and your navigational skills. 

There are no huts along the way, so you need to be self-sufficient on this hike. If you're up for the challenge, the South Coast Track will reward you handsomely.

Visit the Parks & Wildlife Service website for more information.

Image: David Boily

5. Freycinet National Park - various walks

Rocky Bay with a lonely boat along the trails of Freycinet National Park. Image by Geoff Brooks

  • Features: Wineglass Bay lookout, wildlife, forest, beach trails. 
  • Rating: Varied, plenty of day walks. 
  • Length/Time:  Day hikes range from 3-11km
  • Best time to go: December–April
  • Child-friendly: Yes. There are plenty of accessible day walks in Freycinet National Park. 

The East Coast is known for having some of the most stunning and accessible natural wonders in Tasmania, especially for those seeking shorter day hikes rather than multi-day challenges. Home to the now world-famous Wineglass Bay and its lookout, Freycinet National Park sits on the doorstep of some of the most stunning beaches Tasmania has to offer. 

While the view from Wineglass Bay Lookout is famous for a reason, it's not the best view in the park. Make sure you take on the actual trail down to Wineglass Bay itself since the 4 km hike to Mount Amos will show you just why the highest peak in the park offers superior views to its more famous cousin. 

For those seeking multi-day hikes in Tasmania, the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is one of the most accessible examples. The three-day, 30km hike is all about the beaches, passing through Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach, and Cooks Beach. If you're up for more adventures, check out the Isthmus Track, Hazards Beach Track, Cooks Beach Track, or Mount Graham/Mount Freycinet Summit.

Visit the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service website for more information. 

Image: Geoff Brooks