Wonderful Things to do in Stunning Tasmania With Kids
Due to Tasmania’s abundance of unique geological features, it’s quite easy to find low-cost things to do in Tasmania with kids. In fact, apart from one attraction (that was absolutely worth the expense), the only expense we occurred on ‘fun’ things to do with kids in Tasmania was the National Park entry fees.
With over 19 National Parks and reserves in Tasmania to visit, the best way to explore is to buy an 8-week pass which gets a whole family into all of Tasmania’s National Parks. Passes can be purchased online here.
Wonderful Things to do in Tasmania With Kids
Discover Stunning Beaches Along The East Coast
Tasmania has some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. I don’t say this lightly as we’ve been lucky enough to experience some stunners in our travels! The best part? Tasmania’s beaches are never crowded.
Follow the East Coast road and pull in at one of the many picturesque sandy parking lots. This is by far, one of the best free things to do in Tasmania with kids.
Don’t miss Honeymoon Bay, Denison Beach, Kelviden Beach, and the Bay of Fires on the East Coast.
Visit The Coal Mines Historic Site
Visiting the Coal Mines Historic Site in Tasmania With Kids is a fantastic cheaper alternative than the Port Arthur Penitentiary site. In fact, it’s free to visit.
Located on the Tasman Peninsula, the Coal Mines Historic site is one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks and at only 2km, is a great introduction to hiking for younger kids.
Explore The Tasman Peninsula
We loved the Tasman Peninsula and I don’t believe it gets the attention it deserves when it comes to things to do in Tasmania with kids. A lot of people only visit as a day trip to the Port Arthur Penitentiary but you really need to spend a few days here. There are heaps of free things to do on the Tasman Peninsula!
I recommend staying at the Port Arthur Holiday Park. We loved the natural environment, clean facilities and the cute little pademelons that visited every day at dusk and dawn.
There is a range of accommodation options from powered/unpowered sites to family cabins. Prices are quite reasonable.
Go on Some Great Walks
Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service have created a great list of 60 great short walks. They list the length, difficulty and duration; so it’s super easy to pick one suitable for your family. This was one of my favourite things to do in Tasmania with kids!
Here are Some of The Walks we Completed:
#52 – Douglas Apsley Waterhole and Gorge Walk
#51 – Evercreech Forest Reserve
#54 – Cape Tourville Lighthouse
#55 – Wineglass Bay Lookout
Spend a few Days on The Freycinet Peninsula
Once you visit the Freycinet Peninsula, you will understand why the locals flock here to the East Coast in the summer months.
There are lovely pink hued granite peaks, plenty of birdlife and stunning secluded white sandy bays. The views points from both the Cape Tourville lighthouse and the Wineglass Bay Lookout are insta-worthy.
Get Lost in a Maze
Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot is a quirky maze and scale model village attraction in the North West of Tasmania. We loved it so much that I wrote a whole post about it that you can check out here.
If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on one attraction in Tasmania, make sure it’s this one. It really is fun for the whole family! If you have a day up your sleeve, this is one attraction not to be missed in Tasmania with kids.
Check out The Amazing Local Produce
Tasmania is home to many boutique producers and it’s easy to find “homegrown” foods here. You can pick up freshly harvested vegetables at markets and roadside stalls all over.
Don’t go home without visiting a lavender farm (I loved the lavender infused salt) or paying a visit to an award winning cheese maker. Oh, and the Leatherwood honey produced in Tasmania is to die for.
Go Wildlife Spotting
You don’t have to go far to spot wildlife in Tasmania! You will absolutely see cute pademelons at campsites, fat wombats ambling along the side of rural roads and plenty of bird life.
It’s one of the most memorable things for both kids and adults about a trip to Tasmania.
Explore The Cradle Mountain Area
The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is an absolute must see. There are a few kid friendly walks, the wildlife is abundant and the scenery is spectacular.
We visited Dove Lake and completed the Dove Lake Circuit. It was by far, one of the most memorable things we did in Tasmania for both us and the kids.
Check Out The Salamanca Markets in Hobart
The Salamanca Markets is an outdoor market, held every Saturday on Hobart’s waterfront. The best thing about this market is that it seems to celebrate Tasmania’s culture with lots of local and boutique products on offer.
This is definitely not a market full of crappy souvenirs! It’s a great opportunity to pick up some hand-made Tasmanian pieces in woodwork, jewellery, ceramics, fashion, local produce and more!
Take in the Views from Mount Wellington
Wellington Park is a nature reserve located close to Hobart. There are lots of walking tracks and you can even traverse the Wellington Range from the saddle of a horse or mountain bike.
If adventure is not your thing, drive or take a bus all the way to the top of Mount Wellington. You will be amazed by the views!
Be warned that it is significantly colder and windier up here than in nearby Hobart. There is a pinnacle observation shelter that you can escape the cold in during certain times of year once you are at the top. This is a great free activity to do with kids in Tasmania.
Explore Hobart
Hobart is Tasmania’s capital and is also the second oldest capital in Australia. As far as cities go, it’s not overly crowded, chaotic or dirty. In fact, its quite clean and has a kind of hipster vibe.
Make sure you take a stroll around the waterfront and battery point, exploring the lane ways and boutique craft and gift shops.
Also, please don’t leave Hobart without heading to the Honey Badger Desert Cafe. Despite the fact that their pancake stack includes both bacon and nutella, I was won over by a toastie.
Why? Because the cheese was on the outside!
Prices were reasonable for a morning tea binge and I left wishing I had more room in my belly to try something else!
Pssst. Check out these amazing wildlife experiences you can have in Tasmania’s off-season!
Looking for more awesome family holiday destinations?
For more information on visiting Tassie with kids, browse our Tasmania page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for inspiration on destinations and activities in Australia and worldwide.
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Planning and booking your holiday to Tasmania
National Parks Pass:
A National Park entrance fee is required to visit most parks in Tasmania. You can buy a single-day pass or if you are exploring more of Tassie, an eight-week pass that gets a whole family into all of Tasmania’s National Parks is better value for money. Passes can be purchased here.
More information:
Check out the official Tourism Tasmania page for more information on great places to visit in Tasmania.
Getting to Tasmania:
Search on Trip.com for the best deals to Tasmania. Flights are available from most capital cities into either Hobart or Launceston.
Alternatively, you can also come across by boat on the Spirit of Tasmania. If you choose to come across by boat, you can bring your own vehicle.
Accommodation in Tasmania:
Accommodation in Tasmania is varied and there are options from budget to luxury. Find a great deal here.
Getting around Tasmania:
Compare rental car prices here.
