The Senior

The luxury isle: Tasmania lures with unforgettable experience of wild natural beauty, history and amazing food

Famous view: Tasmania's iconic crescent shaped Wineglass Bay.
Famous view: Tasmania's iconic crescent shaped Wineglass Bay.

This is sponsored content for APT Luxury Travel.

With its ever-growing reputation as one of Australia's most fascinating destinations Tasmania has been skyrocketing up the ranks of must go places.

So close but worlds away, our southern most island's combination of pristine nature, world-class art galleries, delicious local food and wine (and whisky!), and unforgettable places to stay, is proving an irresistible lure.

So what are you waiting for? From discovering calm-inducing waterfalls and tranquil World Heritage rainforests, to waking in remarkable wilderness lodges, breathing in the fragrance of a field of lavender, and getting up close with unique wildlife, here are just a few ideas for you to start planning your Tassie adventure with APT.

Hobart

Tasmania's romantic harbour city capital is the second oldest capital in Australia offering captivating history and classic heritage charm. Take time to explore; visit the Botanical Gardens, or relax on the dock with a glass of wine and some local cheese and charcuterie. Just a 25-minute ferry ride away you can find out for yourself why art museum MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) has been such a global success.

Stay: Hotel Grand Chancellor on Hobart's historic waterfront has views overlooking the Derwent River and Mt Wellington.

Russell Falls, Mt Field National Park

Get your senses tingling at magical Russell Falls.
Get your senses tingling at magical Russell Falls.

From Hobart, be mesmerised by Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park, one of Tasmania's most loved parks. Its features range from enormous fern forests to some of the tallest trees in the world. From there continue towards World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Visit the Wall In the Wilderness - a sculpture beautifully carved in 100 metres of timber depicting the history, hardship and perseverance of the people in the Central Highlands.

Strahan & the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers 

Nestled on the shores of Macquarie Harbour, the west coast town of Strahan is the gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Begin your stay eating fresh local seafood with a side of magnificent harbour views at 42° Restaurant. The next day hop on the cruise vessel, Spirit of the Wild, to glide across Macquarie Harbour and enter the park's aquatic wilderness. On board, enjoy amazing local Tasmanian produce as you head to Sarah Island, once the site of one of the state's most brutal convict prisons, to get an insight into the harsh cruelties of convict life. Cruise past Hells Gates, the narrow opening of the harbour, on your trip back to Strahan.

Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake

Picture perfect: The often-photographed boatshed that stands on the northwestern shores of Dove Lake was built in 1940
Picture perfect: The often-photographed boatshed that stands on the northwestern shores of Dove Lake was built in 1940

The beauty of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is legendary. Soak it up for yourself exploring majestic Dove Lake with its panoramic mountain views. Take a guided walk with expert naturalists, and visit the Waldheim Chalet, the National Trust-owned home and former guest chalet built by pioneers Gustav and Kate Weindorfer in 1912.

Stay: Relax in one of the world's most remarkable wilderness lodges, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, right on the edge of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Launceston

Brimming with old country charm, elegant colonial and Victorian architecture and century-old parks, Launceston has one of the best preserved early cityscapes in Australia. For a slice of wilderness you only have a two minute drive from the city centre to see the unique natural formation of Cataract Gorge on the Tamar River. There's also plenty of culture - Launceston's Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is the largest regional gallery in Australia. And how about a cold lager at the historic James Boag Brewery?

Freycinet National Park

Honeymoon Bay at Freycinet National Park.
Honeymoon Bay at Freycinet National Park.

From Launceston to the Apple Isle's famous Freycinet National Park you'll travel through the scenic wine-producing areas of northern Tasmania past forested hills and farmland.

One of the best smelling attractions is along the way. Bridestowe Lavender Estate's glorious fragrant fields of French lavender are one of Tasmania's most photographed landscapes attracting more than 50,000 visitors a year. The flowers create a glorious blanket of purple during the summer blooming season.

Blooming beautiful: Fields of lavender at Bridestowe.
Blooming beautiful: Fields of lavender at Bridestowe.

Ready to come face to face with a Tasmania Devil? Not far from Bridestowe you'll find East Coast Natureworld where you can do just that.

To explore Freycinet National Park take a guided walking tour along Cape Tourville to take in the stunning coastal scenery with sparkling bays surrounded by the pink-hued granite mountains, the Hazards.

Stay: Nestled into the heart of Freycinet National park is Freycinet Lodge. Overlooking the blue waters of Great Oyster Bay, and with wallabies wandering around, it's a remarkable place to immerse yourself in nature while indulging in some understated luxury.

Ready to head to Tasmania? The leaders in luxury travel APT have Tasmania tours available across both 2019 and 2020 departures with some exciting options for ways to experience the state. APT's Classic Journeys offer the perfect blend of must see sights as well as the lesser known, with everything taken care of for you. Head to APT Luxury Travel's website for more.

This is sponsored content for APT Luxury Travel.