Spots worth a visit in Tasmania

FROM beautiful beaches to stunning scenery, it's time to explore the best of what Tasmania has to offer.

coal mines

EVERYONE has their favourite place to get away for a weekend or a secret fishing spot, but we have compiled a list of a few of Tasmania's hidden and not-so-hidden gems.

Whether you are looking for a spectacular walking trail, a picturesque picnic setting, a challenging (or relaxing) bike trail, an idyllic getaway or a sure-fire fishing location, you are guaranteed to find some inspiration in this guide.

We have included some favourites you may have forgotten about, as well as a few lesser-known jewels.

It is time to celebrate some of the treasures that make Tassie unique, so happy reading and happy exploring.

Best picnic spots

1 Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart: This is ideal for the genteel picnicker, the perfect spot for a romantic tryst complete with a basket stuffed with caviar, champagne and chocolates. Don't pick the flowers, climb the trees or make excessive noise. There are no pets allowed other than guide dogs on harnesses, and no ball games. The gardens are home to the Gallopers Carousel, the oldest operating carousel in the world. There is also the Conservatory, a beautiful sandstone building festooned with flowers and natural light, with a tinkling water feature in the middle where picnickers can rest on benches.

2 Banks of the Clyde River, Hamilton: Hamilton is a little-known gem, one of the most idyllic spots in Tasmania. A picnic by the tumbling Clyde River, with stunning blossoms and the peaks of Mt Field in the background, has to be one of the best outdoor experiences in Tassie. A walk around town will reveal a cemetery where the graves face uphill. It also has some of the oldest buildings and gardens in Tasmania. Barbecues, shelters and toilets are available.

3 Banks of the Ross River, Ross: This is a favourite picnic spot for Hobartians and Launcestonians. The (usually) gently flowing Ross River provides a soothing backdrop for picnickers, with the Man O'Ross pub and the bakery in town offering visitors a quiet drink or naughty cream puff before the drive home. Barbecues, shelters and toilets are available.

4 Banks of the Ouse River, Ouse: This is like stepping back in time, apart from the odd car and logging truck rattling over the bridge, which, like the heritage-listed Ross Bridge, has a designated walkway for pedestrians. It's quiet, peaceful and there is plenty of room for ball games. Barbecues, shelters and toilets are available.

5 Lake Dulverton, Oatlands: Another step back in time. Take your easel for some en plein air work, and maybe a fishing line. The lake was once know as The Big Lagoon, Stinking Lagoon and Lake Frederick. Take your binoculars to observe the teeming bird life brought back to the 223ha man-made lake after record rainfall. Lake Dulverton was the source of much of the sandstone used in the heritage buildings of Oatlands. Barbecues, shelters and toilets are available.

- Jennifer Crawley

Best bike rides

1 Cradoc to Cygnet via the Cygnet Coast Rd (27km): A charming and reasonably flat ride along the Huon River on a delightful and quiet road. Start from Cradoc Park, where there is plentiful parking, then turn right on to the Cygnet Coast Rd, which winds along the waterfront almost all the way to Cygnet.

There is some dirt road and a few minor rises to test the legs before cake at one of Cygnet's wonderful cafes. Complete the loop and burn off the calories with the climb back over the Channel Highway.

2 Huonville to Judbury via the North Huon Rd (13km): Leave Huonville along Wilmot Rd for this journey though the village of Ranelagh towards the popular picnic grounds at Judbury Park. There are several small hills, but it is mostly flat, easy going with lovely views over the Huon River and surrounding rural properties. The first half is on tarmac and the rest on good dirt road, before the downhill run to the riverside shade of the park, which boasts barbecues, ample parking, toilets and seating.

3 Kingston Beach to Hobart via the Channel Highway (17km): Popular with the booming bicycle shorts brigade, this route follows the Channel Highway then Sandy Bay Rd into the city. Starting at the beach means those keen to skip traffic can cross the footbridge and spin up the dirt road behind the dog beach to pop out halfway up the testing Bonnett Hill.

From the top there's great views and an exhilarating descent past the Shot Tower and through Taroona.

Take care through the traffic-calming devices at Lower Sandy Bay, then slip along Marieville Esplanade and through Battery Point to avoid the traffic madness around the Sandy Bay shops.

4 Longley to Hobart (18.8km): This is one for the climbers, with a decent ascent on a generally quiet road before the reward of a 10km downhill run into the city. Start at the Longley International Hotel, where there's plenty of parking across the street. The climbing starts with a rise for Neika, where the gradient eases for a while, before a gentle but increasing grade treats the rider to views out across the Derwent and points south as it winds through forest and past waterfalls. Four kilometres of flat riding precede the descent. Take a left at Strickland Ave for three fast hairpins and a descent past the Cascade Brewery. Pick up the Hobart Rivulet Trail at the bottom of Anglesea St to skip the Macquarie St traffic into town.

5 North-South Track (10.5km): The latest addition to Hobart's mountain bike trails links Mt Wellington and the Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park. It is mainly downhill for riders who start from the mountain end, zipping through varied scenery on a well-planned and graded track, offering fresh perspectives on the mountains. This suits riders confident of their ability, and is definitely one for the keen mountain biker.

- David Killick

Best beaches

1 Crescent Bay, Tasman Peninsula: Once you walk through the gentle coastal heath and climb the sand dunes, the view that opens up before you is breathtaking. Run down the vast dunes or wander along the windswept beach, breathing in the air that rushes up from the Southern Ocean. It's easy to see why developers have tried to get their hands on this glorious spot, which feels like it is a million miles from anywhere. Tucked away, Crescent Bay is not on many maps. Travel towards Port Arthur, continue along the Arthur Highway and turn on to Safety Cove Rd. Allow an hour and a half to drive from Hobart.

2 Spring Beach, Orford: Spring Beach gives a delicious taste of the East Coast within an easy drive of Hobart. Known as the holiday spot of the well-heeled, this pretty beach fringed with designer beach houses offers enjoyable coastal rambles and huge boulders by the water that make secluded picnic sites. Some people even commute to Hobart from Orford, which is an hour from the city on the Tasman Highway, but requires attentive driving.

3 Cloudy Bay Beach, Bruny Island: For a taste of wild Tasmania just south of Hobart, little can compare to Cloudy Bay and its surrounding South Bruny Island National Park. Rich in bird life, the beach just past the lagoon faces directly towards the wild Southern Ocean. The area has two free camp sites. A 35-minute drive south from Hobart takes you to the Kettering ferry terminal. From the island terminal, allow about an hour to Cloudy Bay.

4 Carlton Beach: Carlton Beach on Frederick Henry Bay hosts one of Hobart's two main surf lifesaving clubs, Carlton Park (its name was taken from Park Beach at the western end and Carlton at the east, where Carlton River joins the sea and Carlton Bluff reaches unspoilt and covered in casuarina forest).

The beach is patrolled on weekends and public holidays in warmer months, so get between the flags for a family swim. Nearby, Red Ochre Beach is a calm and gentle swimming spot with a view of Mt Wellington. This spot is also well patronised by families.

5 Kingston Beach: This delightful family beach now has its own lifesaving club, which started as an "outpost" of the Clifton Surf Life Saving Club. Only about 10 minutes south of central Hobart, it has plenty of facilities for barbecues and meals. Nearby there are shops and a bike park. As a bonus for families with dogs, Kingston Beach adjoins the hugely popular dog walking beach.

- Michelle Paine

Best walks

1 Tinderbox Hills Track: An eye-opening walk with some spectacular views across Storm Bay and North West Bay. It is the sort of walk you wish would just go on and on. The track, which starts at the end of Estuary Drive at Blackmans Bay, is for walkers, cyclists, people walking dogs and horse riders. While there is some climbing involved, it is not a hard walk. You follow the ridge line higher and higher through open bushland and watch the great views develop. It is an easy 90-minute, 3.6km walk.

2 Fluted Cape Walk: This walk on Bruny Island is challenging and involves some steep climbs. It takes about three hours return. The track starts from a small car park just before the Adventure Bay Caravan Park. Follow the Grass Point Track until you reach open grassland at Penguin Island. A circular route can be taken by following the Fluted Cape circuit sign. The track climbs steeply, staying close to the coastal cliffs, and provides spectacular views of Fluted Cape and the Tasman Peninsula. White-breasted sea eagles might be seen along the cape soaring in the thermals. After about 50 minutes you will reach a sign that says "Fluted Cape return via circuit", where you begin a gradual descent returning to Adventure Bay.

3 Organ Pipes Walk, Mt Wellington: There are many options for walking on Mt Wellington, with this three-hour return walk one of the most scenic, offering great views over Hobart and the River Derwent. The walk starts on the Pinnacle Track, across the road from The Springs toilet park. The walk includes a climb of 400m over almost 2km and there are several rocky sections. The Organ Pipes are among Mt Wellington's most distinctive features and walking beneath and so close to them adds to the appeal of this walk.

4 Coal Mines Historic Site, Tasman Peninsula: One of Tasmania's great short walks. The Coal Mines Historic Site is a 25-minute drive from Port Arthur near Saltwater River on the northwestern tip of the peninsula. The walk takes one or two hours, or longer allowing time to read the interpretation panels that tell the site's history. Reading the history is integral to the walk experience. This site once had 600 convicts who worked in underground tunnels, digging coal and removing it on trolleys. The Plunkett Point mine was discovered in 1833.

5 Devils Kitchen to Waterfall Bay: Allow up to 90 minutes for this eye-opening coastal walk, which offers great viewing points and dramatic cliffs that plummet to the sea. The walk is classified as Level Two, which means it is easy and suitable for most fitness levels. The track traverses spectacular sea cliffs and forested headlands, before descending into the tranquility of Waterfall Bay. The walk begins near the Devils Kitchen. It is unsuitable for people afraid of cliffs.

- Charles Waterhouse

Best camp sites

1 Snake Island: This is a favourite of seafarers, but most landlubbers would also know it's there. Despite its name, there are no snakes on this small island, just wild grasses, trees and shrubs. Accessed by kayak (about 45 minutes from Kettering) or boat, Snake Island sits in Apollo Bay on the southwest corner of Bruny Island in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel. There are no amenities, so bring plenty of water and take your rubbish away.

2 Fortescue Bay: Known for its sparkling beach nearby and access to the popular Tasman Track, this camp site is very popular. In the Tasman National Park near Port Arthur, this popular beach has two separate camp areas with 40 sites. Amenities include toilets and a shower block, boat ramp and fireplaces. There is also a bushwalking trail. To get there, turn down Fortescue Rd from the Arthur Highway on the Tasman Peninsula before Port Arthur. There are National Park and camping fees.

3 Cockle Creek: The gateway to the South-West National Park, Cockle Creek has sheltered coves, wildlife and history Aboriginal and European. About two hours' drive south of Hobart on the Huon Highway, take the Hastings Cave turnoff and continue up the gravel road past Lune River and Ida Bay. Remember Southport is the last petrol stop.

4 Mt Field: Waterfalls near the park's entrance have made Mt Field one of Tassie's most popular national parks. Further up the park near Lake Dobson there are longer walks and dumps of snow in winter. To get there, simply head past New Norfolk and follow the signs. National Park and camping fees apply, the visitor centre at the entrance to the park provides all the details. There are also huts maintained by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

5 Repulse Dam: In summer, families flock to Repulse Dam, which is at its spectacular best when torrents of water are being let through. Fish for trout with a licence. These water warriors can be caught from the shore, but a boat is recommended. To get there, head to Ouse and turn off the Lyell Highway. There are very basic amenities, so be self-sufficient. Camping is free.

- Craig Hoggett

Best fishing spots

1 Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck: This is perfect for beach and jetty fishing. Anglers can expect to catch squid, flathead, Australian salmon, morwong and octopus. For the extra-keen, a number of charter boats operate out of the area offering excellent offshore fishing opportunities.

2 Port Arthur: This protected bay is sheltered from most winds. Anglers can expect to catch flathead, squid, yellowtail kingfish, Australian salmon and reef fish. There are also several jetties in the area.

3 Browns River, Kingston: This is an excellent large bream fishery just 15 minutes from the Hobart city centre.

4 McGees Bridge, Midway Point: This is a very popular bridge fishing location. Flathead, squid, whiting and gummy sharks can all be caught, along with Australian salmon in the summer months.

5 River Derwent at New Norfolk, Huon River at Huonville: These spots are good for trout fishing from a number of accessible river banks. However, anglers do need a licence to fish in fresh water.

- Matt Smith