The 13 Tasmanian hikes you can smash out in a day

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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Ready to hit the trail? No overnight gear required.

Tasmania is a hiker’s paradise, packed with trails that take you from alpine peaks to wild coastlines – all in a single day. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, summiting mountains or just looking for an easy-breezy stroll, these 13 hikes have got you covered. Lace up your boots, charge your camera and get ready to tackle Tasmania’s best day hikes.

1. Cape Hauy

4 hours return | 9.4 kilometres | Grade 3

Cape Hauy (part of the Three Capes Track), Turrakana Tasman Peninsula
This track delivers you to the edge of the world. (Image: Pierre Destribats)

Get a taste of the legendary Three Capes Track – one of Tasmania’s best hikes – on this heart-pumping hike through Tasman National Park. Wander past wildflowers and coastal heath before the track delivers you to the edge of the world – literally. Peer down at the towering sea cliffs and watch for seals and dolphins frolicking below.

2. Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk

4 hours return | 13 kilometres | Grade 3

Mars Bluff Cape Queen Elizabeth Track Bruny Island
This hike is packed with photo ops. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Sandy tracks, towering cliffs and that iconic Bruny Island Neck – this hike is packed with photo ops. Stop by Big Lagoon, take in the dramatic Bligh Rocks, and when you’re done, reward yourself with some of Bruny’s finest: fresh oysters from Get Shucked or a cheesy feast at Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co.

3. Lake Esperance

1.5–2 hours return | 3.4 kilometres | Grade 3

Hidden in the heart of Hartz Mountains National Park, Lake Esperance is a glacial gem. The boardwalk keeps things easy while giving you access to breathtaking alpine scenery. Expect crisp mountain air and jaw-dropping views stretching across southeast Tasmania.

4. South Cape Bay

4 hours return | 15.4 kilometres | Grade 3

Great Short Walks South Cape Bay Beach
South Cape Bay is quite literally at the end of Australia’s most southerly road. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Geoffrey Lea)

Drive as far south as the road will take you to Cockle Creek, then walk the rest of the way to the roaring Southern Ocean. This hike is all about contrasts: lush bushland, dramatic cliffs and a wild beach where the waves have travelled uninterrupted from Antarctica. It’s also home to one of the greatest campsites in Australia.

5. Meander Falls

4.5–6 hours return | 10 kilometres | Grade 4

Chasing waterfalls? This one’s a beauty. The track follows the Meander River through the dense forests of the Great Western Tiers before revealing a stunning 130-metre waterfall tumbling down a sheer rock face. It’s a tough trek, but oh-so worth it.

6. Alpine Village to Little Hell

1.5 hours return | 5.5 kilometres | Grade 3

Don’t let the name scare you – this is one hell of a rewarding hike. Follow a cross-country ski trail (minus the snow) through rolling plains dotted with wildflowers before reaching a summit with sweeping views of Stacks Bluff.

7. Liffey Falls

45 minutes return | 2 kilometres | Grade 2

A short and sweet rainforest wander leading to some of Tasmania’s most picturesque waterfalls. Think lush ferns, towering eucalypts and the soothing sounds of cascading water. Just an hour from Launceston, this one’s a no-brainer.

8. Wineglass Bay to Hazards Beach

4–5 hours circuit | 11 kilometres | Grade 4

Wineglass Bay from Wineglass Bay Track Lookout
Why stop at Wineglass Bay? (Image: Chad Hewson)

Wineglass Bay is a showstopper, but why stop there? Cross the Freycinet Peninsula to the secluded shores of Hazards Beach, where you can sink your toes into the sand before looping back via a she-oak forest lining Great Oyster Bay.

9. Apsley River Waterhole and Gorge

4–5 hours circuit | 5.6–7 kilometres | Grade 2 – 3

Apsley Gorge
Take a mid-hike dip here. (Image: Jamie Douros/Camille Helm)

Hiking and swimming? Yes, please. This East Coast gem features a natural waterhole that is perfect for a mid-hike dip. Keep an eye out for rock formations and native wildlife as you weave your way through Apsley Gorge.

10. Bishop and Clerk

4–5 hours return | 11 kilometres | Grade 4

Fossil Cliff Quarry Site, looking towards Bishop and Clerk
While challenging, this hike is worth every step. (Image: Tourism Tasmania and Robb Burnett)

Bishop and Clerk is one of Tasmania’s more challenging hikes, but the payoff? Insane ocean views stretching across the Tasman Sea. Clamber up rocky slopes, soak in the scenery and maybe even spot some of Maria Island’s famous wombats along the way.

11. Dove Lake

2–3 hours return | 6 kilometres | Grade 3

Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
A trip to Cradle Mountain isn’t complete without a stop at Dove Lake. (Image: Sean Scott Photography)

The ultimate Cradle Mountain classic. Follow a well-formed track around this glacial lake, taking in views of Tasmania’s most famous peak, ancient rainforest and even a charming old boat shed.

12. Mount Rufus

7-hour circuit | 19 kilometres | Grade 4

For those who like a challenge, Mount Rufus delivers. Trek through alpine meadows, past twisted snow gums, and up to an epic vantage point overlooking Lake St Clair, Mt Olympus and Frenchman’s Cap.

13. Hogarth Falls

40–50 minutes return | 2.4 kilometres | Grade 2

An easy rainforest stroll near Strahan with a beautiful waterfall at the end. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a platypus paddling in the creek.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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New Norfolk is fast becoming the Apple Isle’s most charming small town

    Christine AldredBy Christine Aldred
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    One of Tasmania’s oldest riverside towns is marking itself on the map with award-winning dining and creative spirit without forgetting its past.

    On the banks of the Derwent, New Norfolk wears its history proudly: Georgian cottages, historic precincts and a trove of antiques hint at its early days. But this riverside town – just 30 minutes from the mad arty world of Hobart’s Mona in one direction and the bountiful nature of Mount Field National Park in the other – isn’t content with nostalgia.

    With destination dining, a new wave of distillers and brewers, and creative energy reshaping its heritage buildings, New Norfolk is emerging as one of Tasmania’s most compelling small-town stories.

    A quick history lesson

    the Derwent River from Pulpit Rock Lookout
    Views of the Derwent River and town from Pulpit Rock Lookout. (Image: Mauricio E. Mozo)

    The town was established in 1807 on Leenowwenne Lands when military leaders and settlers abandoned the far-flung penal colony at Norfolk Island for then-called Van Dieman’s Land. Along with hops, salmon and timber, the town’s history is closely bound to the Willow Court Asylum, a convict hospital established in 1827 that grew into the nation’s oldest continuously operating mental health facility, closing only in 2000. The site’s vast footprint still dominates the town – a place layered with a difficult history but also with stories of healing.

    the Willow Court, New Norfolk
    The 1827-built Willow Court Asylum is a former mental health facility that you can tour. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Rob Burnett)

    Local guide Sharmaine Mansfield, who runs Willow Court Asylum Tours , is determined to keep that history alive. Her tours – historical by day, ghostly by night – approach the site with deep respect. “My number one priority is to be respectful of this former mental health institution and to those who lived and worked here. At night, we hold a minute’s silence to think of them.” It’s often then that guests report hearing and feeling things in the stillness of the evening.

    A delicious new chapter

    The Agrarian Kitchen from above
    The Agrarian Kitchen is one of the country’s most lauded restaurants and cooking schools. (Image: Luke Burgess)

    Within the Willow Court precinct, The Agrarian Kitchen continues to write a new chapter of history. One of Australia’s most celebrated restaurants has transformed a former hospital ward into a temple to Tasmanian produce. Since opening in 2017, the restaurant and its renowned cooking school have become a pilgrimage for food lovers, sealing the town’s place on Australia’s culinary map.

    a close-up of a dish at The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk
    The produce from the garden is used in the dishes and for cooking classes. (Image: Stu Gibson)

    Just outside, a walled garden is abundant with herbs, vegetables and fruit trees and is open for guided tours; its produce heads straight to the restaurant or neighbouring kiosk.

    The Agrarian Kitchen detail, New Norfolk
    The Agrarian Kitchen is a pilgrimage for food lovers. (Image: @PuddleHub)

    A stay steeped in history

    The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    The Woodbridge is one of the country’s grandest stays. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    For a night dripping with history, The Woodbridge – one of the country’s oldest grand homes which this year celebrated its 200th birthday – offers a rare experience. Built by convicts in 1825 as the residence of the colony’s first constable, it now operates as a luxe heritage-listed hotel.

    inside a suite at The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    The building was restored to become a hotel.

    It feels like a gracious country estate. Behind an iron gate, a crunching gravel driveway on one side and sweeping lawns rolling to the river on the other. From my room’s terrace, I can peer beyond the tiered gardens across the Derwent to the original toll gate for passing merchant vessels or settle into inviting lounge and library spaces with a book or glass of muscat.

    the river at Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    Seek serenity by the river. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    It’s happenstance this Tasmanian grande dame is still here at all, saved by its dedicated owners who spotted it on a holiday visit. The Woodbridge was teetering on the brink of destruction when Laurelle and John Grimley bought it in 2003. After an exacting, multi-year restoration, it’s been coaxed back to life.

    a telescope at The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    Peer beyond the tiered gardens. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    Today, modern comforts – elegant rooms, contemporary furnishings and new bathrooms – sit easily with the original blackwood floors, stone walls and Georgian-paned windows, complementing and respecting its rich history. Laurelle is well proud that the building’s future is now assured. “If we didn’t save it, who would? I feel this is my legacy,” she says.

    Sourcing antique charms

    inside the Flywheel boutique stationery store, New Norfolk
    Flywheel is a boutique stationery store in town. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Nick Osborne)

    Known as the antiques capital of Tasmania, New Norfolk hums with history. Visitors can forage for hours at the sprawling Willow Court Antique Centre or the beautifully curated and styled Drill Hall Emporium in town.

    inside the Flywheel letterpress studio in New Norfolk
    Visit the letterpress studio in New Norfolk. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    Books and coffee pair perfectly at Black Swan Bookshop on a sunny corner while The Quilted Teapot mixes lattes and lunches with quilting supplies. Don’t miss Flywheel , a stunning boutique stationery shop and working letterpress studio in an old bakery.

    a bartender holding a glass of rum at New Norfolk Distillery
    Sample rum at New Norfolk Distillery. (Image: Jess Curtis)

    Thirsty travellers can taste-test award-winning rum at New Norfolk Distillery in a quirky industrial space with weekend snacks and sci-fi vibes, or sip craft brews at Welcome Swallow Brewery – an inviting microbrewery brimming with warmth and a veritable jungle of plants. History buffs shouldn’t miss the 1825-licensed Bush Inn, said to be the state’s oldest continually licensed pub. It’s also where the very first long-distance telephone call was made in Australia in 1888.

    More reasons to visit

    a group having a picnic during the Tasmanian Autumn Festival, New Norfolk
    The Tasmanian Autumn Festival includes events and experiences across the region. (Image: Stu Gibson)

    Each April, the Tasmanian Autumn Festival brings the region to life in a month-long celebration, with food and tipple trails, blacksmithing workshops or the chance to meet a highland cow or alpaca. Platypus spotting, pottery classes, glamping on a truffle farm, kayaking and vineyard visits are other Derwent Valley temptations, all close enough to make New Norfolk a natural hub.

    And there’s more change afoot. The newly opened Bridgewater Bridge means easier road and river access. And within the Willow Court complex, the Nurses Quarters and Ladies Cottage are being meticulously restored to create an evocative event space with commercial kitchen, and boutique accommodation to follow. In this town, heritage is a living asset: respected but ever evolving into something new and inviting.