Best Hikes in Tasmania: From Day Walks to Multi-Day Epics

Best Hikes in Tasmania: From Day Walks to Multi-Day Epics

Tasmania is one of the great walking destinations on earth. That’s not hyperbole — it’s a simple fact that anyone who has stood on a dolerite summit above a silver glacial lake, or walked through ancient temperate rainforest with moss so thick it feels like carpet, will immediately understand. Roughly 42% of Tasmania is protected as national park, World Heritage Area or reserve, and much of that protected land is accessible only on foot. The trails here range from gentle forest strolls to week-long wilderness epics that require experience, navigation skills and careful preparation.

The island’s walking season is roughly October to May, with summer (December to February) being the most popular time. But Tassie’s weather is notoriously unpredictable — four seasons in one day is a genuine cliché here, not a figure of speech. Layering is essential, waterproof gear is non-negotiable, and even a forecast for sunshine should be met with healthy scepticism. Pack for everything.

This guide covers the best hikes in Tasmania across different lengths and difficulty levels, from easy half-day walks near Hobart to the legendary Overland Track.

📋 TL;DR — the quick version

• ✅ Best multi-day walk: The Overland Track (6–8 days) is the crown jewel of Australian wilderness walking. Book early — permits sell out months in advance.
• 🏔️ Best day walk overall: Cradle Mountain’s Dove Lake Circuit gives you the iconic Tasmania postcard without the multi-day commitment.
• 🌊 Best coastal walk: The Three Capes Track (4 days) has Australia’s highest sea cliffs and outstanding hut accommodation.
• 🌿 Best easy walk: Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs is a lovely gentle half-day outing in the deep south.
• 🧭 Always be prepared: Weather changes fast in Tasmania. Pack rain gear, warm layers and a map even for short walks.
• 📅 Book ahead: Permits for the Overland Track and Three Capes Track are required and quota-limited.
• 🥾 Wear proper boots: Many Tasmanian tracks are muddy, rocky and uneven. Sneakers are not appropriate footwear.

🏔️ The Overland Track

The Overland Track is arguably the most famous multi-day walk in Australia, and for very good reason. The route runs 65 kilometres through the heart of the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, from Cradle Mountain in the north to Cynthia Bay on the southern shore of Lake St Clair (Australia’s deepest lake). Most walkers complete it in 6 to 8 days, though side trips to summits like Mount Ossa — Tasmania’s highest peak at 1,617 metres — can add more time.

The scenery changes constantly as you walk south. The route passes through buttongrass plains, ancient pencil pine forests, alpine moorland, glacially carved lake basins and dolerite columns that look like they’ve been stacked by giants. The huts along the route are well-maintained and have basic facilities, but they fill up fast — you’ll almost always need your tent as well. During the peak season (November to April), you must walk north to south and are required to have a permit, which must be booked in advance through the Tasmanian Parks website.

The Overland Track is not a beginner walk. You need good fitness, solid navigation skills and experience carrying a full pack. But if you’re ready for it, it will absolutely ruin you for lesser hikes. People who walk it often describe it as life-changing, and they’re not being dramatic.

👉 Book a guided Overland Track experience on GetYourGuide →

🌊 Three Capes Track

The Three Capes Track opened in 2015 and immediately became one of Australia’s most sought-after multi-day walks. The 48-kilometre route on the Tasman Peninsula takes 4 days to complete and passes the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere — Cape Pillar’s dolerite columns drop more than 300 metres straight into the Tasman Sea.

If you’re planning further afield, our guides to Best Things to Do in Tasmania are well worth a look.

What makes the Three Capes Track genuinely special — beyond the extraordinary scenery — is the quality of the huts. These are not basic tin shelters. They’re architecturally designed buildings with comfortable bunks, proper cooking facilities, fireplaces and large windows framing dramatic coastal views. You walk with a light pack because all bedding is provided in the huts. This makes the track accessible to people who might be put off by the full camping experience of the Overland Track.

Day one starts with a ferry from Port Arthur to Denmans Cove — even the boat trip is spectacular. The route then takes you through coastal heath and tall eucalyptus forest before emerging at Cape Hauy on day two, where the sea cliffs are so dramatic they’re almost hard to believe. Cape Pillar on day three is the highlight: that 300-metre sheer drop to the crashing Southern Ocean is an experience that stays with you permanently. Permits and hut bookings are essential and taken through the Tasmania National Parks website.

🌿 Cradle Mountain day walks

Even if you can’t do the full Overland Track, Cradle Mountain is absolutely worth the visit for its day walking options. The area around the mountain and Dove Lake has some of the most stunning and accessible scenery in Australia.

• 🏔️ Dove Lake Circuit (6 km, 2 hours): This flat loop around the lake is probably the most-photographed walk in Tasmania. The views of Cradle Mountain reflecting in the lake are extraordinary, and the circuit is accessible to most fitness levels. Don’t expect to have it to yourself in summer — it’s famous for a reason.
• ⛰️ Cradle Mountain Summit (9 km return, 5–7 hours): The summit walk involves some serious scrambling on dolerite boulders and requires a head for heights. But the 360-degree view from the top — across the entire Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair park and beyond — is unforgettable. Only attempt this in clear, calm weather.
• 🌲 Enchanted Walk (1 km, 20 minutes): A short loop through ancient myrtle beech forest so mossy and atmospheric it feels like something from a fairy tale. Perfect for families or anyone who wants beautiful scenery without effort.
• 🦆 Wombat Pool (5 km return, 1.5 hours): A lovely gentle walk that takes you up above the treeline to a small glacial lake. You’ll almost certainly see wombats, echidnas and Bennett’s wallabies along the way.

🏞️ Freycinet National Park

On Tasmania’s east coast, Freycinet National Park is home to some of the island’s most beautiful scenery and most rewarding day walks. The park centres on the pink granite peaks of the Hazards, which glow orange and pink in the evening light against the impossibly blue water of Great Oyster Bay.

🏖️ Wineglass Bay Lookout and beach (5.5 km return, 2 hours)

The lookout above Wineglass Bay is one of the most celebrated viewpoints in Australia. The view of the perfectly curved white beach backed by the pink granite Hazards has appeared in more tourism photographs than almost anywhere else in the country. The walk to the lookout is moderate — steep in sections but well-maintained. If you want to actually walk down to the beach (which you should — it’s exceptional), add another hour return. Wineglass Bay was recently named one of the top ten beaches in the world.

🗻 Mount Amos (4 km return, 2–3 hours)

Mount Amos is the most accessible of the Hazards and offers one of the finest views in eastern Tasmania. The track is short but steep and involves some scrambling on polished granite slabs — take care in wet conditions as the rock becomes very slippery. At the top, you’ll see Wineglass Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula and the entire sweep of Great Oyster Bay laid out below you.

🌲 South Coast Track

For experienced and adventurous walkers, the South Coast Track is one of the most demanding and spectacular wilderness walks in Australia. The 85-kilometre route along Tasmania’s remote and exposed southern coastline takes 8 to 10 days and includes river crossings, steep coastal terrain, and sections where there is genuinely no marked trail — you navigate by GPS and whatever sense of direction you can maintain in the notorious Southern Ocean weather. This is a serious expedition walk, not a holiday stroll. But those who complete it describe it as one of the most powerful experiences of their lives.

For more inspiration, check out Best Luxury Lodges Tasmania.

👉 Book a guided Tasmania walking tour on GetYourGuide →

🌊 Bay of Fires Walk

The Bay of Fires Walk is a four-day guided walk along Tasmania’s northeast coast, operated exclusively by Tasmanian Walking Company. You stay in two permanent lodges — the Bay of Fires Lodge and the Forester Lodge — which are seriously comfortable and completely off the grid. The coast here has the vivid orange lichen-covered granite boulders, brilliant white sand and striking turquoise water that make the Bay of Fires one of Australia’s most photogenic coastlines.

The walking itself is moderate and not as demanding as the Overland Track or Three Capes — this is as much a luxury experience as a walking challenge. It’s expensive but worth every cent if you want extraordinary scenery with excellent food and comfortable beds.

🥾 Other excellent day walks in Tasmania

• 🏔️ Mount Wellington / kunanyi (13 km return, 5–6 hours): The mountain looming above Hobart offers several trails to the summit at 1,271 metres. You can also drive to the summit if you don’t want to walk, but hiking up is far more satisfying. On a clear day you can see the entirety of southern Tasmania.
• 🌊 Cape Raoul (16 km return, 6 hours): On the Tasman Peninsula, Cape Raoul takes you out to dramatic dolerite organ pipes above the Southern Ocean. Less visited than the Three Capes Track but just as spectacular.
• 🌿 Russell Falls Circuit (5 km, 1.5 hours): In Mount Field National Park, this gentle loop through myrtle beech forest takes you past some of Tasmania’s most beautiful waterfalls. Excellent for families.
• 🏖️ Hazards Beach Circuit (12 km, 4–5 hours): A longer loop in Freycinet that takes you to a quieter beach on the western side of the peninsula. Far fewer people than Wineglass Bay and genuinely beautiful.

💡 Essential walking tips for Tasmania

• 🌧️ Pack for all weather: Even on clear summer days, conditions in the mountains can change to rain, wind and near-zero visibility within hours. Always carry waterproof gear, warm layers and enough food for an extended day.
• 🧭 Carry a map: Mobile signal is non-existent in most of Tasmania’s national parks. Download offline maps (AllTrails, Gaia GPS or the official Tasmania Parks app) before you leave the carpark.
• 🚗 Book national park passes: You’ll need a Tasmania National Parks pass to enter most of these walking areas. Buy it online in advance — it’s cheaper and faster.
• 📅 Book permits early: The Overland Track and Three Capes Track require advance booking and are quota-controlled. The Overland Track especially sells out months ahead for the peak season.
• 🦺 Tell someone your plans: For any serious walk, leave a trip plan with someone who knows when to call for help if you don’t return.
• 🐍 Watch for snakes: Tasmania has three species of snake, all venomous. They’re most active in summer and will generally move away if they hear you coming. Give them space and don’t reach under rocks or logs.

Tasmania’s trails are some of the finest in the world — not just in Australia. Whether you have half a day or two weeks, whether you’re a seasoned expedition walker or someone who’s never strapped on a proper backpack before, there is a walk here that will show you something extraordinary. Go as soon as you can, and go prepared.

Looking for more hiking adventures in Australia, read our guides to eco lodges in Tasmania, the best beaches in Tasmania, and how many days in Tasmania.