30 of my favourite day hikes in Tasmania

Tasmania, an island state south of mainland Australia, is small but incredibly diverse and with unique biodiversity. Temperate rainforests, rocky mountains, cold rivers, waterfalls, alpine lakes, grasslands, cliffs, white sandy beaches and clear waters, make it a haven for nature lovers. Here, the weather can change quickly, especially in the highlands, turning every hike into a small adventure.

After a year living in Tasmania, and 6 months commited to the “weekly hiking challenge“, I made a list with all the trails I walked, and I realized they were more than 30!

So here I’ve gathered a collection of my favourite 30 day hikes in Tasmania, I share them hoping they might inspire you to go outside and explore.

Please remember to take care of nature by following the Leave No Trace principles.

Explore the Trails

Wellington Park

1. Kunanyi Summit via Zig-Zag Track from The Springs

A steep and rocky climb, passing from forest into alpine vegetation as you ascend to the summit of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington. At the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views over Hobart, the Derwent River, and the surrounding mountains.

There are a lot of connected trails around the park, and you can also start this hike in Fern Tree, Waterworks Reserve or even the city centre if you feel brave.

View of Hobart at Sunset in Kunanyi's summit, Tasmania

2. Cathedral Rock, Mount Montagu & Wellington Falls

  • Distance: ~15.8 km
  • Elevation gain: 1072 m
  • Time: 5 – 7 hrs
  • Difficulty: Hard

A challenging alpine adventure that leads you across dramatic rock formations, through forest, and up to high cliffs and peaks with expansive views. The pass through Cathedral Rock to Mount Montagu is definitely not for the fainthearted.

Landscape from Cathedral Rock hike, Tasmania, Australia.

3. Collins Bonnet Peak

  • Distance: 10 km return
  • Elevation gain: 700 m
  • Time: 3 – 4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

This is quieter alternative to Wellington’s busier tracks, a hike that winds through forest to a rocky terrain (as usual in Tassie). From the summit, you can enjoy 360° views over the Derwent Valley, Mount Wellington, and the Tasmanian highlands, if the weather allows (it is not rare to be covered in clouds up there).

4. Devil’s Throne

  • Distance: 10 km return
  • Elevation gain: 350 m
  • Time: 3–4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

An alpine hike that feels remote despite its proximity to Hobart. The trail leads to dramatic rock formations and expansive views over valleys and peaks, especially magical when clouds move quickly across the mountains.

5. Fern Glade to O’Gradys and Silver Falls

A peaceful forest walk along shaded tracks beneath eucalypts and ferns, where the protagonists are the small inhabitants: moss, mushrooms, little ferns, bugs and birds.

6. Myrtle Gully and Old Farm Fire Trail

  • Distance: 4 km
  • Elevation gain: 324 m
  • Time: 2 hr
  • Difficulty: Easy

A short, hidden gem of a hike very close to the city, that takes you past a waterfall and through dense rainforest. Ideal for a calm escape after a rainy day.

7. South Wellington

  • Distance: 5.7 km return
  • Elevation gain: 181 m
  • Time: 2 – 3 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Exposed and wild, this trail takes you into alpine ridges with minimal shelter, offering dramatic views and changing weather. It’s a rewarding hike for those who enjoy solitude and panoramic views.

8. Organ Pipes & Lenah Valley Circuit

  • Distance: 9.5 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 477 m
  • Time: 3 – 5 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

This hike has spectacular views over Hobart and the Derwent River, as well as the impressive dolerite cliffs of the Organ Pipes. The trail includes rocky, forested, and exposed alpine sections, with some steep and uneven terrain along the way.

9. Waterworks Reserve Circuit

  • Distance: 3.5 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 158 m
  • Time: 1 – 1.5 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy

This is an easy circuit around a water reservoir, including the short Gentle Annie Falls track. It’s a great spot close to the city for a picnic or bbq, birdwatching, or spotting Tasmanian pademelons and wallabies.

The terrain is mostly paved, with some forest sections on dirt tracks and a few gentle ups and downs. Very good place to go for a run too.

Bruny Island

10. Luggaboine Circuit

  • Distance: 5 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 120 m
  • Time: 1 – 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy

A scenic trail through the bushland, and hidden beaches, showcasing the wild beauty of South Bruny.

11. Fluted Cape

  • Distance: 6.6 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 300 m
  • Time: 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

A climb through forested slopes to dramatic coastal cliffs with panoramic sea views. The track is steep in sections, but the views worth the effort.

12. Cape Queen Elizabeth

  • Distance: 12 km return
  • Elevation gain: 350 m
  • Time: 3 – 4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

A combination of beach and bushwalking with stunning rock formations. Along the trail, you’ll enjoy ocean views and the chance to spot seabirds and equidnas. Don’t forget your binoculars for this hike!

13. Mavista Nature Walk

  • Distance: 2 km return
  • Elevation gain: 65 m
  • Time: 30 min – 1 hr
  • Difficulty: Easy – moderate

This trail follows a stream into a humid forest beneath tall ferns and moss covered trees, leading to a small waterfall at the end. It’s an easy hike when dry, but becomes more challenging after rain, with slippery and muddy terrain (beware of the leeches when wet).

Mount Field National Park

14. Three Falls Circuit

  • Distance: 7.5 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 200 m
  • Time: 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy

A peaceful circuit in a forested track, visiting three Mount Field’s iconic waterfalls: Russell, Horseshoe, and Lady Barron. The forest there was pretty magical.

15. Tarn Shelf Circuit

  • Distance: 16.7 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 720 m
  • Time: 4 – 6 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate – Hard

An alpine trail across tarns and ridgelines, with expansive views of the highlands. Spring wildflowers and autumn foliage make this circuit particularly stunning in those seasons. This is one of my favourite of favourits!

Tasman National Park

16. Cape Hauy

  • Distance: 10 km return
  • Elevation gain: 580 m
  • Time: 2 – 4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

A coastal hike to dramatic dolerite sea cliffs and columns, where the ocean waves crash against the rocks below as you walk through forested sections and along rocky edges. This is one of Tasmania’s most popular trails in Tasmania, so the best way to avoid crowds is going early and in low season.

17. Shipstern Bluff Loop

  • Distance: 13 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 600 m
  • Time: 4 – 5 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate – Hard

This coastal circuit takes you to the famous Shipstern Bluff surf break. A trail with a mix of forest, and exposed cliffs with wide ocean views.

18. Mount Brown Track

  • Distance: 8 km return
  • Elevation gain: 280 m
  • Time: 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

A short but rewarding walk along the coast, with a short but steep climb to Mount Brown, and panoramic sea views.

19. Cape Raoul

  • Distance: 15.4 km return
  • Elevation gain: 490 m
  • Time: 4 – 6 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

A coastal trail along cliffs with spectacular views over the Ocean. The track combines forest, and exposed rocky terrain, revealing Tasmania’s dramatic coastline on the way.

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park

20. Marions Lookout + Cradle Mountain + Hansons Peak Circuit

This iconic alpine hike takes you through buttongrass plains, forests, glacial lakes, exposed rocky ridges, and high peaks. You’ll encounter breathtaking views and have a high chance of spotting wombats.

21. Dove Lake Circuit

A gentle boardwalk around Dove Lake, passing through forest, surrounded by mountains. I highly recommend to go at sunset to see Cradle Mountain painted in pink warm colours.

22. Enchanted Walk

  • Distance: 1.1 km loop
  • Time: ~20 min
  • Difficulty: Easy

A short but magical walk beneath giant rainforest trees and ferns, with wooden boardwalks guiding you past gentle streams and small waterfalls. Usually a good place for spotting wombats and wallabies.

You can add the Pencil Pine Rainforest Walk to this circuit:

  • Distance: 250 m loop
  • Time: ~10 min
  • Difficulty: Very easy

A very short walk through rainforest, vith views of Pencil Pines Falls from above. You can also visit the Interpretation Centre there to learn more about the history, ecosystems and wildlife of the park.

23. Dove Canyon Track

  • Distance: 5.5km loop
  • Time: 3h
  • Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

A mossy forest walk with cliffs and waterfalls. The track has some steep sections and also boardwalks. Usually is humid, muddy and slipery.

There’s an option to walk only the first part of the trail to see Pencil Pine and Knyvet Falls (1.6 km return, around 30 min)

Freycinet National Park

24. Mount Amos

  • Distance: 4 km return
  • Elevation gain: 400 m
  • Time: 2 – 4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Hard

A steep granite scramble to one of Tasmania’s most famous viewpoints of Wineglass Bay. The track is challenging, but the expansive views in the summit make every step worthwhile.

25. Wineglass Bay Lookout

  • Distance: 3 km
  • Elevation gain: 180 m
  • Time: 1–1.5 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy -Moderate

A short hike to one of Tasmania’s most iconic lookouts, where you’ll see white sands, turquoise waters, and the granite peaks. The track is steep in some parts, with a lot of stairs.

26. Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit

  • Distance: 12 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 350 m
  • Time: 3 – 4 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

A classic coastal trail combining white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and rugged granite peaks.

Southern Tasmania

27. Hartz Peak, Hartz Mountains National Park

  • Distance: 8 km return
  • Elevation gain: 520 m
  • Time: 2 – 3 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

An alpine hike with 360° views of the surrounding peaks and lakes. Weather can change rapidly at the summit, always bring a windbreaker and check the weather before atempting the climb.

28. Pelverata Falls, Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area

  • Distance: 6.3 km return
  • Elevation gain: 267 m
  • Time: 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Moderate

A forest trail leading to a tall, seasonal waterfall in a rocky gorge. I recommend to go after rain, it can be dry in summer months. We didn’t see a drop of water when we went there, but the forest was beautiful, as always.

29. Alum Cliffs Track, Kingston

  • Distance: 7 km return
  • Elevation gain: 380 m
  • Time: 2 hr
  • Difficulty: Easy

A mix of forest and exposed ridges, with cliff views over the Derwent Estuary and distant Bruny Island.

30. Cape Deslacs + Clifton Beach Circuit

  • Distance: ~6 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 150 m
  • Time: 1.5 – 2 hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

A short walk through the coast in a sandy beach, sea cliffs and forest. I highly recommend to take some time to enjoy finding cool fossils in the rocks and spotting wildlife (remember leave everything where you found it).

Final Thoughts

Tasmania is truly a hiker’s paradise, with trails for everyone to choose from. Even after more than thirty trails, my list of “hikes to do” keeps growing.

Forever grateful to be able to live in such a wonderful place. Thank you, Tasmania, for reminding me that magic is everywhere, for teaching me about patience, wonder, and the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other.

And for you, dear reader, I hope this list of hikes has inspired you to go outside and explore 🙂

With love,
Rena ☾