From sunrise photography tours to luxury lodges, Tasmania has adventures for every traveller.
There’s no such thing as an endless summer, but Tasmania comes close. Its long daylight hours and mild weather carry on well into March, making it easy to fit multiple activities into each trip, with many of the state’s standout seasonal experiences just a short drive from Hobart or Launceston.
Photographer and guide Ben Wilkinson of Tasmanian Photography Tours witnesses that extended summer firsthand on his immersive tours, which introduce visitors to some of Tasmania’s most iconic locations.
“Summer in Tasmania brings long days, soft evening light and a real sense of freedom and relaxation. It’s the season Tasmania feels most alive – our markets, festivals, wildlife activity and local produce all come together in a way that’s unique to summer,” he says. While the island’s landscapes are beautiful year-round, Wilkinson says the east coast’s turquoise waters, burnt-orange rocks and white sand are “absolutely epic in summer” and on the west, “summer light filtering through rainforest turns already dramatic scenes into something truly cinematic”.
From new tours and luxury lodges to once-a-year events and bucket-list adventures, these are 10 of the most compelling summer experiences to book now.
1. Eat your way through the Tasman Peninsula with DineAlley
One of Tasmania’s most exciting new agritourism experiences, DineAlley offers food lovers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to farms, vineyards, oyster sheds and distilleries in the “golden valley” of the Dunalley region. Led by local guide and farmer advocate Simon Holloway, the tour is hyper-local, canvassing producers within an eight-kilometre radius, and visits farms not usually open to the public. It’s an intimate, flavour-forward way to understand the land, the people and bountiful summer produce that define this unique part of the Tasman Peninsula.
2. Photograph Tasmania’s wild heart on a small-group adventure
Tasmanian Photography Tours invites travellers to slow down and experience the island through light, landscape and connection. Led by local photographer Ben Wilkinson, these all-inclusive, multi-day tours venture to wild coastlines, alpine tracks and ancient forests, with an aim “to slow down, engage all the senses, and gain an affinity for what Tasmania has to offer”. Groups are intentionally small, allowing for genuine one-on-one guidance, flexibility around weather and light, and quieter moments in nature.
Travellers can book summer workshops and tailored private itineraries that make the most of Tasmania’s blooming flower fields, cherry trees laden with fruit, mountain peaks at dusk, Tasman Island sunrises and abundant marine life. This year, the team is launching its first Feast & Focus tour, which pairs early-morning shoots in spectacular landscapes with visits to Tasmania’s food and drink producers, offering a uniquely Tasmanian way to experience the island.
3. Walk on Country with tunapri Patuyala
Tasmania’s story begins with more than 40,000 years of Palawa history, and tunapri Patuyala’s new guided walk, launched this year, is a chance to experience Tasmania through Indigenous eyes. Led by Palawa guides around the white sand and coves of Boat Harbour beach on the north-west coast, the 1.5-hour tour shares cultural knowledge, language, seasonal practices and connections to milaythina (Country). An opportunity to listen, learn and understand Tasmania’s deep Aboriginal culture.
4. Explore Port Davey in luxury with On Board Expeditions
For travellers seeking the adventure of a lifetime, On Board’s new two-night Port Davey Highlights Expedition offers unprecedented access to Tasmania’s remote southwest corner aboard a boutique expedition catamaran. This World Heritage Wilderness Area is covered in ancient forest and bordered by the still waterways of Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. Arrive by seaplane to the elegant Odalisque III vessel and enjoy a bespoke itinerary of guided shore walks, tender cruises and gourmet meals matched with Tassie wine. Or, with summer days stretching into the early evening, just relax and take in the stunning scenery.
5. Tee off at Australia’s newest world-class links course at 7 Mile Beach
Tasmania’s reputation as a global golf destination continues to grow with the opening of 7 Mile Beach, a dramatic new 18-hole links course designed by Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries. Set on stunning coastal dunes with views over Tiger Head Bay and out to Mount Wellington, the course is just 10 minutes from Hobart airport. It joins the ranks of Barnbougle Dunes, Lost Farm and Cape Wickham, making Tasmania a must-visit for golfers seeking World Top-100 courses in spectacular settings.
6. Switch off completely at King Island’s Kittawa Lodge
King Island is one of Tasmania’s most alluring “islands off islands”, and the award-winning Kittawa Lodge offers a private, off-grid luxury retreat designed for total escape. The recently opened Kittawa Retreat, a two-bedroom oceanfront getaway with an outdoor hot tub and curated dining experiences, is perfect for families, friends or couples looking to share an unforgettable summer stay. Here, days are shaped by coastal walks, being in nature and the simple pleasure of slowing down.
7. Sip cool-climate wines at Stargazer’s new tasting room in the Coal River Valley
Tasmania’s cool-climate wines are among the best in the world, and acclaimed small-batch winery Stargazer’s newly opened tasting room is a beautiful way to experience them. The glass-walled pavilion appears to float above Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines at the Palisander Vineyard, inviting guests to settle at a communal table for guided tastings of current releases and special bottles.
8. Watch history race by at the National Penny Farthing Championship in Evandale
Quirky, joyous and unmistakably Tasmanian, the National Penny Farthing Championship has been delighting locals and visitors since 1983. On February 21, the streets of historic Evandale will fill with riders on high-wheel bicycles competing in sprints, slaloms and novelty events, while spectators enjoy food stalls, markets and entertainment. It’s a celebration of community, heritage and good-humoured competition.
9. Celebrate harvest at Echo Festival
Echo Festival brings together food, wine, music, art and storytelling in a celebration of Tasmania’s east coast lifestyle. Held each March on a historic farm site in the seaside town of Swansea, just 1.5 hours from Hobart, the boutique “festival of the senses” is timed to coincide with late-summer harvest (March 13-15). Over one weekend, connect with local makers and artists, enjoy great food and wine, and soak up Tasmanian Aboriginal knowledge-sharing, part of a program designed to deepen connection to place and culture.
10. Meet Tasmania’s most famous residents at Bonorong
Tasmanian devils – native only to Tasmania – are famously elusive in the wild, but at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary they can be seen up close while directly supporting conservation and rescue work. Bonorong is not a zoo but a 24/7 wildlife rescue service, focused on rehabilitating devils, wombats, quolls and other native animals back into the wild, and teaching visitors about endangered and native species at the same time. It is a meaningful wildlife experience that gives back.
No matter which experience you choose, it’s Tasmania’s emotional impact that lingers longest, says Ben Wilkinson. “Guests often leave feeling calmer, more grounded and more connected. Tasmania feels remote, but welcoming, and that balance is what makes it so special as a summer escape.”
*Air New Zealand offers non-stop flights from Auckland to Hobart seasonally between October-March. It’s never been easier to explore the wild beauty of Australia’s island state. Book now at Air New Zealand.