Tasmania for the Travel Trade

Tasmania Holiday Guide

Tasmania is one of our favourite destinations at Australia and Beyond Holidays. An island of diverse experiences and natural beauty, it surprises even well-travelled Australians. From wilderness walks and wildlife encounters to whisky trails, world-class cruising, and heritage towns – we have a range of tailor-made journeys to suit every interest. Driving holidays, hiking, golf, short break escapes, small group touring, or a fully bespoke itinerary built from scratch. Whatever your clients are after, we can make it happen.

About This Destination

Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania sits apart from mainland Australia in more ways than geography. It’s compact, but packed with a density of experiences that catches people off guard. Ancient wilderness covering nearly half the island. Pristine coastlines with white sand beaches you’ll have to yourself. A food and drinks scene that punches well above its weight – think artisan cheese, cool-climate wines, single malt whisky, and fresh seafood straight off the boat.

For the travel trade, Tasmania is an increasingly important part of any Australian itinerary. International travellers who’ve already done Sydney and Melbourne are looking for something with more depth, and Tasmania delivers that. We build tailor-made packages across the island – self-drive itineraries, guided walking experiences, luxury lodge stays, short city escapes in Hobart, and longer explorations that cover everything from Cradle Mountain to the Freycinet Peninsula. It’s a destination that works year-round, with winter festivals and events adding a completely different dimension.

  • Self-drive holidays, hiking, golf, short breaks, and small group journeys
  • Iconic guided walks including the Maria Island Walk – one of Australia’s Great Walks
  • Award-winning wilderness cruises along Bruny Island, Wineglass Bay, and Hobart’s waterways
  • Winter festivals including Dark Mofo, Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival, and Tasmanian Whisky Week
  • Fully bespoke “hand made” packages built to your clients’ interests
A stunning aerial drone view of Cloudy Bay Beach on South Bruny Island, Tasmania, showcasing pristine white sand, turquoise waters with rolling surf waves, and forested mountains backing the coastline under clear blue skies.

THE MARIA ISLAND WALK

Four Days on Maria Island – Day by Day

Triabunna to Maria Island & Casuarina Beach Camp

Your clients arrive at the historic coastal town of Triabunna, where a boat takes them across the sparkling waters of Mercury Passage to the isthmus of Maria Island. They set foot on a pristine, untouched beach – exactly as explorers did years earlier. Lunch overlooking the crystal azure waters of Shoal Bay, then a walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. That afternoon, the trail leads through tall eucalypt forest down to spectacular Haunted Bay.

Distance: 8 kilometres. After a fine Tasmanian gourmet dinner, there’s time to stroll along the beach at sunset with a glass of wine.

Trade tip: The Maria Island Walk is the only walk on the island selected as one of the exclusive Great Walks of Australia. Over 1,300 walks completed across 18 seasons, 8 National Tourism Awards. It’s one of Australia’s outstanding experiences and a strong selling point for any Tasmanian itinerary. We recommend pairing it with two nights in Hobart beforehand and a Bruny Island cruise.

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Five Beaches, Dolphins & White Gums Camp

After breakfast, the journey follows five beautiful beaches. Dolphins playing in the surf. Sea eagles soaring overhead. An exotic carpet of shells lining the water’s edge. By late afternoon, guests arrive at White Gums camp for a refreshing swim before settling in with fellow walkers for a candlelit dinner of the finest Tasmanian food and wine.

Distance: 13 kilometres. This is the longest walking day and arguably the most scenic.

Trade tip: The wilderness glamping camps are a genuine highlight – African safari-style bush cabins tucked into the forest, moments from the beach. Comfortable beds, bush showers, composting toilets. It isn’t roughing it. Guests fall asleep to waves and wake to birdsong. A very different accommodation experience that clients remember.

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Grand Forests, Giant Blue Gums & Darlington

The guides take guests inland to the heart of the island. The world’s largest stand of giant Tasmanian blue gums. Rich green grand forests. Those who want a challenge can climb the peaks of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk – a 700-metre ascent through rare cloud rainforest with views that are simply breathtaking.

That evening, guests arrive at Tasmania’s fascinating World Heritage-listed settlement of Darlington, where they stay at the elegant colonial Bernacchi House. A final night banquet with fine wine and conversation.

Distance: 9 to 17 kilometres depending on the route chosen.

Trade tip: The Bernacchi House stay gives the walk a wonderful contrast – two nights in wilderness glamping followed by a heritage building in a UNESCO-listed settlement. It rounds out the experience beautifully. The pack-free walk option is available on nominated departures, reducing pack weight from 6-8kg down to just 1-2kg. Worth flagging for clients who love the idea of the walk but aren’t keen on carrying gear.

An upward-looking perspective of a majestic old-growth redwood forest, with two exceptionally tall trees dominating the center frame, their dark trunks stretching toward a bright sky filtered through lush green foliage. The composition captures the grandeur and scale of these ancient giants within their dense forest ecosystem.

Northern Maria Island, Fossil Cliffs & Farewell

The final day begins with breakfast followed by a walk around the northern tip of Maria Island. Spectacular woodlands and forests with rare endemic birds, wallabies, and wombats on show. The dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay. The remarkable fossils at Fossil Cliffs. Back at Darlington, a celebratory farewell lunch before the boat returns guests to mainland Tasmania and Hobart.

Distance: 4 kilometres. Memories, stories, and new friends that last a lifetime.

Trade tip: The short distance on the final day means clients are back in Hobart with time to spare. It pairs well with an extra night in Hobart, a visit to MONA, or onward travel to Freycinet or Cradle Mountain. We can build the complete pre- and post-walk itinerary seamlessly.

A dense eucalyptus forest in Western Australia featuring tall, straight karee trees with distinctive pale bark and green foliage overhead. The forest floor is covered with understory vegetation, creating a lush, natural woodland landscape characteristic of the Margaret River region.

ICONIC CRUISING

Must-Do Wilderness Cruises

Bruny Island Cruise

An award-winning 3-hour wilderness cruise exploring the rugged coastline of Bruny Island in southern Tasmania. Cruise alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, beneath towering crags, and drift up close to listen to the awesome “Breathing Rock”. Enter deep sea caves, pass through the narrow gap between the coast and “The Monument”, and feel the power of nature where the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean.

Seals, dolphins, migrating whales, and sea birds are all part of the search. Custom-built yellow boats carry a maximum of 43 guests with covered open-air tiered seating for an excellent all-round view.

  • 3-hour wilderness cruise – southern Tasmania
  • Australia’s highest sea cliffs, sea caves, and blowholes
  • Wildlife encounters – seals, dolphins, whales
  • Maximum 43 guests per vessel

Wineglass Bay & Iron Pot Cruises

Wineglass Bay Cruises – a 4.5-hour cruise of the waterways surrounding Freycinet National Park. From Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay along the spectacular granite coastline, past the dramatic pink peaks of the Hazards range. Sparkling white sand beaches only accessible by water or a full day bushwalk. Sea caves, blowholes, and waterfalls among sheer granite cliffs. Wineglass Bay from the rarely seen perspective of the water is something else entirely.

Iron Pot Cruises – a 2.5-hour cruise exploring Hobart’s renowned waterways. Visit Australia’s oldest lighthouse, circumnavigate Betsey Island, and discover the city’s rich maritime past. Small groups of up to 12 passengers aboard brand new vessels with comfortable leather seats and large awning windows.

  • Pennicott wilderness cruises – can be incorporated into most Tasmanian journeys
  • Freycinet’s granite coastline and Hazards range from the water
  • Hobart’s maritime history and Australia’s oldest lighthouse
  • Small group, intimate vessel experiences

Ready to Build a Tasmania Itinerary?

Get in touch with our team for trade rates, availability on guided walks and cruises, and help packaging Tasmania into your clients’ Australian itineraries. We handle flights, accommodation, touring, transfers, and connections to our full range of Australian and New Zealand product. From a 4-night Hobart escape to an 18-day island explorer – we build it all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tasmania is a year-round destination, which makes it flexible for itinerary planning. Summer (December to February) offers the longest days and warmest weather – ideal for walking, cruising, and outdoor experiences. Autumn (March to May) brings stunning foliage and quieter trails. Winter (June to August) is a different proposition entirely – cooler temperatures, moody landscapes, and a calendar of festivals that draw visitors specifically for the season. Dark Mofo in Hobart (June), Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival (July), and Tasmanian Whisky Week (August) are all strong drawcards. Spring (September to November) sees wildflowers, wildlife breeding, and pleasant walking conditions. For the Maria Island Walk and other guided experiences, the season typically runs from October through April.
Most travellers fly into Hobart or Launceston from Melbourne or Sydney. There are also direct flights from Brisbane and other mainland cities depending on the season. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry operates between Melbourne (Geelong) and Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast – a popular option for self-drive itineraries where clients want to bring a vehicle or campervan. We arrange all domestic flights, ferry bookings, and airport transfers as part of our itinerary packages.
A reasonable level of fitness is recommended. The longest day is 13 kilometres and the terrain includes beaches, forest trails, and some elevation. The optional climb to Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk on Day 3 involves a 700-metre ascent and is more demanding. That said, the walk isn’t a bushbashing expedition – it’s a guided experience with gourmet meals and comfortable accommodation each night. A pack-free option is available on nominated departures, reducing your clients’ load from 6-8kg to just 1-2kg. This is worth flagging for clients who are keen but concerned about carrying weight. Guests should be comfortable walking for several hours on varied terrain.
Absolutely – and it often should be. Tasmania pairs naturally with Melbourne (a short flight across Bass Strait), Sydney, or the Great Ocean Road. It also works well as the bookend to a New Zealand itinerary via direct flights. We build complete Australian and New Zealand programmes through our FIT/HELiO booking platform – flights, accommodation, touring, and transfers. Tasmania typically fits as a 4- to 8-day component within a longer Australian journey, though we have itineraries running up to 18 days for clients who want to explore the island in real depth.
We have a range of ready-made journeys that can be booked as-is or used as a starting point for bespoke itineraries. These include the 4-Night Hobart Experience, the 8-Day Tassie Tempter, the 18-Day Tassie Explorer, the South West Wilderness by Air, and the Bruny Island exploration. The Maria Island Walk can be added to any of these. We also create fully customised “hand made” packages tailored to your clients’ specific interests – whether that’s whisky and food, wildlife, hiking, golf, or a combination. Contact us at enquiries@aabh.com.au to discuss what would work best for your clients.
A stunning twilight view of Brisbane's modern city skyline reflecting in the Brisbane River, featuring the iconic Story Bridge, contemporary high-rise buildings illuminated against a vibrant purple and blue sky, with historic riverside landmarks in the foreground including a lighthouse and heritage structures.

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