Mount Roland, Mount Murchinson, or Cradle Mountain are all much more accessible options for lesser-travelled mountaineers that will still leave your calves burning Burning for more! I also picked up a Colombian hitchhiker and travelled with her for a week (giggity) and she did absolutely fine hitchhiking the more tourist-heavy driving routes to Tasmanias hotspots. Days are long, the work is hard, the hours are plentiful, and because the wages are high and you can opt to live near to the site (or carpool with other pickers), you should be able to rake in some dough pretty quickly. Number one, the nightlife in Hobart is downright sick. After spending a month traipsing the high-altitude areas of Tasmania in winter with an unhinged van door, I can confirm: yes, it does snow in Australia, and yes, it gets cold. But maybe it is a little different: it often feels like the global community has zero recognition of the heinous atrocities committed against the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia. Then eight, sixteen, and suddenly I was combatting more than twenty. They may not have the scope of gigs available that Workway does, but what they do provide is more meaningful volunteering opportunities alongside an awesome platform stacked with community features! Walk deep into the fjord-like surrounds of Lake St Clair, explore the giant myrtle forests, tread softly on the moss-covered understory and forget the world you left behind. Absolutely bombastic coastal environments with cripplingly gorgeous cliff lines dominates this area. The Palawa civilisation was diverse and multi-layered. What is there though is pretty straightforward: It wouldnt be a budget travel guide for Tasmania without some budget tips, and boy oh boy I got some doozies! Melbourne Tours. Explore one of Australia's most popular national parks. But by living the road-bum life eating the local chippos and sleeping under the stars, you can make visiting Tasmania pretty cheap. Hobart. These days, nine-outta-ten locals will unquestionably help you in a pinch. Truthfully, most travellers even budget travellers generally plan and pack for a road trip because getting around Tasmania without a car is very very not ideal in the slightest. The Deep West (which is totally not what its called but Im running with it) is a similar vibe in a different locale. Hike Tasman National Park to Fortescue Bay via Tasman Trail. Most post-colonial nations have a persecuted indigenous peoples Australia is no different. Most shorter jaunts and day hikes are still likely to end in somewhere pretty spectacular, meanwhile, Tasmanias multi-day extravaganzas are nothin but primo wilderness. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Once a rite of passage for the First Nations People of Australia, I still believe the walkabout is a necessity. Now I have and I can confidently say it was alright. Jobs Backpacker is your one-stop shop for finding the best backpacker jobs in Tasmania. I had a good few days hobbiting around the Styx Forest Reserve for a collection of the endemic behemoths. I had to watch the weather patterns, stake out high altitude locations (for some blissful mornings of incredible frost), and don my winter woolies to hike my ass up high. Now, pickups were not nearly as quick as I had hoped to see from my home country, however, lets also keep in mind that the pandemic is a hidden variable at play here. The Big Tree at Liffey Falls (shoutout to Australias capacity for creative naming) is another marvel. Even the warmer seasons in Tasmania get cold. Once you get north of Zeehan, fuel and food becomes more sparing and more expensive. I call it the Byron Bay of Tasmania. Step into a new world on our guided walking tours. Yes, some Australians do it, but some Australians also voted against gay marriage. Shit happens everywhere, all the time, and if you dont cover yourself for the costs, its usually the people that you love you the most that have to step in and do your adulting for you. (Or for when I finally get my commune down there.). Dont go backpacking in Tasmania with a holier than thou attitude: you wont get very far. When you travel to some of the worlds most remote places, its important to strive to leave it better than when you arrived. Ok, so, theres a saying I love You need to meet people where theyre at. I feel like that encompasses Tasmanians, both in how they interact with others and how you must interact with them. Maybe you've heard it called TAZ. I remembered one locals words to me, There are places in Tassie where the voice in your gut just screams Stay in the car!,. Darling beaches, stupendous sunrises, and plenty of fish and chips awaits you! When youre camping, hiking, or even if the power just went out, a top-quality headlamp is a MUST. Winter with those long and dark nights is the best time to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania. A writer by trade and passion, Ziggy started as a humble dirtbag, lending his deep knowledge of budget living to The Broke Backpacker's library. If youre a legitimate exotic foreigner (with a sexy accent), youre gonna do fiiiiiiiine. First, you'll visit the colonial village of of the Tasman Peninsula, with Pirates Bay Lookout, Waterfall Bay, Tasman Arch, and the Devil's KitchenWorld Heritage Listed Port Arthur Historic Site (at your own cost) to discover Australia's best-preserved convict settlement. Lovers of low-cost travel, dive in. And adventurous! One week is the absolute bare minimum for planning a proper trip to Tasmania. Oh, and the bogans in Tassie? Barn Bluff left me in awe, but that is not a climb for the inexperienced. Tasmania is the only island state of Australia which is actually made up of 334 islands in total. SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! Weve always had this joke on the mainland that Tasmanians are inbred. It meets you where you need to be met. Other then dispersed crowds, I cant think of much reason to visit Tasmania in the winter unless youre a fan of the cold, frost, and snow Which I am! I did mention that the buses (and public transport) in Tasmania can lick my bum, yeah? Whether you buy a fancy filtered bottle or just contract Giardia and develop a constitution of steel after the fourth round of antibiotics, the point is the same: do your part. And doofs (psytrance festivals) are around in spades too. From there, you can travel down the east coast, though I recommend taking the scenic route through Scottsdale and Pyengana to the Bay of Fires. They help each other out, whether they belong to the same camp or not. It is an ideal time for visitors to take a leisurely drive and marvel at the stunning views. Ok, well, this is either fun or problematic for anyone backpacking Tasmania on a budget. And when I looked at that photo, I felt a pang of longing a homesickness. Exhibiting the art collection of one of Australias most eccentric aristocrats David Walsh the installations (once described by Walsh as a subversive adult Disneyland) tend to centralise themes of death, sex, and political truth. I mentioned it once, but the MONA in Hobart is such a famous centre for arts, culture, and music, that it really needs another shoutout. Get ready for stunning beaches, breathtaking history and jaw-dropping nature and wildlife. Plus, I just think its funny theyve put more money into building one car park in Cradle Mountain than they have into the public sectors across the entirety of the rural regions of Tasmania. . Australia, by default, has crushing accommodation prices (it goes well with crushing prices of EVERYTHING ELSE). Pre-European invasion, Tasmania was inhabited by Indigenous Australians (specifically the Tasmanian Aboriginals or Palawa people) for roughly 40,000-odd years. South Australia. Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure dont be daft! We all have that friend who went for a year's working holiday and ended up staying forever Why do you think that is? From that intersection starts an amazing trek down the coast of Tasman National Park. And you should go hard, amigo! But I cant. There are a few different routes on this magnificent train journey: Whatever ride you take, its guaranteed to be a good time: youre riding a historic steam locomotive through teeming jungle landscapes! If youre feeling cheeky, a Tolkien-esque scavenger hunt to soak up all the elven vibes might be in order. Whether its for spiritualism or the Insta photo-ops, hike in Tasmania to your hearts content. You rock up in a massive car park, check-in at the information centre, and are then given a free ticket for a shuttle bus that drops you off at various points in the park (with the Dove Lake Circuit beneath Cradle Mountain being the most famous attraction). But I wasnt just looking for snow; I was looking for my immaculate winter landscape. I managed to cross this experience off of my bucket list down near the Tyenna River close to Southwest National Park, but there are even campsites and caravan parks around Tasmania (like Apex in Deloraine) where the platypi like to do their own wildlife spotting! As far as unique experiences go, this one is pretty up there. You can drink water from ANYWHERE. +61 2 9932 8000; Cart (0) Your Cart is empty . Before we dive into Tasmanias must-see landmarks and devastating natural landscapes, lets unpack some juicy JUICY demographics about this offbeat little region of Australia: Lets talk about where to go in Tasmania aka your new playground. Then four. The east coast is a good choice of where to stay in Tasmania if youre looking for that more coastal tourist experience; its probably one of the most traditionally touristic experiences youll find (and even then its pretty low key compared to the mainlands east coast). $40.00 per person. Close to the odd yet charming mural town of Sheffield, this beasty-ass b-boy looms on the horizon. Choose 3 or 4 star standard and 7, 8, 10, 13 or 14 day deals starting price $1500 for 2 people all inclusive. There is still a lot of Old Magic in that land, for better or for worse. Cygnet has delish local produce and hippy shindigs while Cockle Creek is a definite bonus adventure for anybody that wants to don the ventured to Australias southernmost driveable place feather in their cap. Ahhhhhh, the Tasmanian road trip an absolute staple. Plus its always a good way to meet locals, see places, and have the conversations you probably wouldnt have ever had otherwise. All that said, theyre still a lacklustre option compared to sleeping FOR FREE out amongst some of the most breathtaking nature on the planet. If you dont, rent one. When the voice inside says keep driving, do not stop, do not interact, listen to that voice. Bay of Fires 14. This 4-day tour along Tasmania's East Coast shows you some of Tassie's most magical sights. Theres a 94% chance youll bear witness to a solid punch-on in the streets of Lonnie at 3 A.M., though youre unlikely to actually get pulled in unless you mouth off. Its going to mitigate a lot of the travel costs and leave you with those delicious warm and cuddly feelings inside too! A lot. Huonville has what is hands-down the best secondhand shop in Tasmania that I stumbled on, once you get to Dover, the beaches just get more secluded, and driving all the way south to Southport and on to Cockle Creek (and even hiking to South Cape Bay) for some bottom-of-the-planet camping is worth it just for the feeling of intense isolation (but prepare yoself for the mosquitos!). ), my general rule of thumb for Australia is: Its all there, you just have to know where to look. So for choice activities for solo travellers and backpacking brigades in Tasmania alike (that doesnt amount to animal cruelty), here are my favourites! The Bicheno Penguin Tour: This is a great way to view Tasmania's Fairy Penguins up close in a natural setting. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. This Tasmania tour shows you the best of the best. PLUS, you save money and the environment! You SHOULD be getting paid >$20/hour (AUD) as a casual employee. Deep South jokes aside, Tasmania is not what it used to be in the Deliverance-vibes department. Get up on that shizz and then see if you really want to go home. Four seasons in a day is the standard in Tas, and you get used to the wind and cold pretty quickly too. Then, head to Hobart for some southern exploration! Once, in a small wooded grove, I was cooking my dinner on a dark and cold Tasmanian night. Get your travel clothes right: thermals underneath (long-sleeve, long johns) and woollens for the middle layers. And you wont be spending a cent on bottles of water either. If youve got three weeks road-tripping Tasmania (or MORE), this is the route I suggest. . If you really want that captivating snow-drenched Australian landscape, you have to work for it. Day tours from Hobart, Discover Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain, Active Tasmania tours great for backpackers and people looking for adventure. Lonnie the kinda city where if you dont bump into someone you know that day, then you likely met someone new instead. From the moment you arrive in Tasmania, locals are going to ask you if youre gonna visit the west coast. That said, you should totally get a filtered water bottle. Here are a few more of my favourite things to do in Tasmania for FREE. I dunno but we do! Tasmania certainly does. Once you are north of Zeehan though, there is a lot of Jurassic-themed wilderness to sift through from desolate coastlines to sprawling and primordial rainforests like the Tarkine Forest Reserve. However, it is still Australias most rural, isolated, and impoverished state. Perhaps some Cygnet locals would disagree, but, well, never trust a hippy to know their shoes from their ketamine. Personally, if youre not taking a vehicle across the Strait, I see little reason to catch the ferry to Tasmania. However, aside from the usual advice for safe travel anywhere, here are a few takeaways for travelling safely in Tasmania: The last thing I want to note is not strictly a safety tip but a general reminder for anyone solo travelling to Tasmania. Yes! Launceston 15. DEALS Save 25% off Tasmania holidays with our Self drive package deals that include car hire, great hand picked accomodation, and experiences. It's about $1,000 per person. Accommodation definitely is, eating out is, activities absolutely are, and, of course, fuel is for those road tripping around Tasmania (although its pretty much 1:1 with the mainlands fuel prices which surprised me). These days, there are a much higher number of Tasmanians that identify as Aboriginal, however, much of the original culture and language has been lost. Why did I go backpacking in Tasmania? The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is my personal pick for some of the best hiking in Tasmania, but really the whole Central Plateau Conservation Area is a mountain-lovers paradise.