Although it’s often referred to as the Island State, Tasmania is much more than just one landmass. In fact, there are more than 300 islands that make up Tassie and all but a handful of the Tasmanian islands are open to visitors.
Many first-time visitors stick to Tasmania’s main island, but spread their wings on future visits. If you want to explore further but aren’t sure where else to visit, we’ve come up with a list of some of the most spectacular Tasmanian islands that you should add to your bucket list.
Some of the great Tasmanian islands we’ve included are:
- King Island
- Flinders Island
- Maria Island
- Picnic Island
- Three Hummock Island
- Macquarie Island
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King Island
Eighty kilometres off the north-west tip of mainland Tasmania is King Island, an area that is well-known to the cheese lovers of Australia.
King Island has a strong reputation in the dairy industry, and is also where some of Tasmania’s tastiest fish comes from. Foodies will find plenty to delight them on the island, especially in the likes of the Wild Harvest Restaurant and Oleada.
Aside from food, King Island has much to offer. It’s home to Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest building of its type in Australia. It also has a number of great surf spots, beautiful diving and snorkelling opportunities and three world-class golf courses to play on: Cape Wickham, Ocean Dunes and King Island Links.
How to get there: There are no ferries to King Island, so you’ll need to get a flight from either Burnie-Wynard, Hobart, Launceston or Melbourne (both Essendon and Tullamarine).
Flinders Island
The largest of the islands in the Bass Strait, Flinders Island mixes nature with history and an idyllic sense of paradise.
Find out more about the Furneaux Group of Islands in the Furneaux Museum, fossick for Killiecrankie ‘diamonds’ (really topaz, but pretty nonetheless) at Diamond Creek and Mines Creek or walk the pristine beaches and pink-hued mountain ranges.
Flinders Island has a range of accommodation options from boutique BnBs to rugged camping spots.
How to get there: There are two modes of transport that you can take to get to Flinders Island. You can fly from Launceston (Tasmania) or Essendon (Victoria) or catch a ferry from Bridport (Tasmania) or Port Welshpool (Victoria).
Maria Island
Maria Island is a place full of natural wonder. Many of Australia’s favourite animals call the island home, including wombats, kangaroos and Tasmanian devils.
There are no shops, few roads (that are only for Parks and Wildlife vehicles) and the only accommodation is either camping or in a six-bed dorm room. Be warned that these normally book out around six months in advance.
The geology is special too, with evidence of different eras clearly evident. See the Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs for two dramatic examples.
When you visit, it’s important that you understand and take the Maria Island Pledge: to respect the lands, the animals and to make sure you don’t take or leave anything as a reminder of your trip.
How to get there: Ferries leave from Triabunna on the mainland several times a day. Because Maria Island is a National Park, you’ll need a parks pass before you check in.
Picnic Island
Picnic Island is another private space that’s available to be solely for you, your family or your friends. Accommodation is available for up to 10 people, giving you the opportunity to explore and relax as you see fit.
If you prefer, you can opt for a hosted package where your meals will be prepared for you and you’ll be taken on tours and excursions (of the land and the water).
You’re very likely to see dolphins and seals swim by (and less commonly whales). You’ll see plenty of birds visiting too, even penguins at dawn and dusk.
Some weekends are set aside for specific activities, like yoga, astrophotography and birdlife education with spotting.
How to get there: All accommodation bookings include transportation from Coles Bay (roughly two hours from Launceston by car or two-and-a-half hours from Hobart). From there, it’s a ten-minute boat ride to Picnic Island.
Three Hummock Island
Three Hummock Island mixes the beauty of the larapuna/Bay of Fires with the serenity that can only be offered by a private island. Sweeping beaches, granite coastlines and incredibly pure air make it a great place to relax.
The Homestead, a four-bedroom cottage built in 1910, is the only guest accommodation on the island. You’ll share the island only with the native wildlife and two island caretakers.
Three Hummock Island a great place to get away and recharge. Whether you do that by bushwalking, kayaking or snorkelling is up to you. The remote environment makes it a perfect place to meditate or to enjoy creative pursuits like photography, painting and writing.
How to get there: Charter planes from either Wynyard (Tasmania) or Lilydale (Melbourne) are available, as well as charter helicopters from Stanley (Tasmania). Charter boats from Smithton (Tasmania) are also available.
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island is definitely a remote island. Although technically part of Tasmania, it’s around 1500km south-east of Hobart – about the same distance from the state’s capital to Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales.
Macquarie Island – or Macca to the locals – is a subantarctic island that’s world heritage listed. It’s the best place in Australia to see penguins in large numbers, with more than a million of the tuxedoed birds thought to live on the island.
Many other types of birds, including rare species of albatross, live on the island too.
How to get there: Because of its remote location, Macquarie Island is only accessible by subantarctic cruises or ships that stop off on their way to Antarctica. Heritage Expeditions is one company that offers these types of cruises.
FAQs about Tasmanian islands
How many islands are in Tasmania?
In all, there are 334 islands that make up the state of Tasmania. While some have regular flights, others require boat trips to reach. Some, however, may need private transport such as a helicopter to get to.
What are the islands between the Australia mainland and Tasmania?
There are more than 50 islands in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and Victoria. The largest of these is Flinders Island.
Read more
We’re continually keeping this page up-to-date regarding the current outbreak of Coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19. So whether you need it now, or in the near future, it could be worth a bookmark.
Tasmanian Government: Coronavirus advice
Keep up with the latest news and alerts about COVID-19 in Tasmania.
Only in Tasmania – Top 5 things to do
With its beautiful beaches and comfortable summers, its many historic sites and some of the cleanest air in the world, Tassie has a lot to offer. Some of the best attractions, however, are things you might not think about straight away.
Top tips for taking time out in Tasmania
Visitors to Tassie often talk of the tranquillity of the island – and with more than 40% of the state managed by national parks, it really is easy to find a peaceful spot to forget about the stresses of modern day life.
Image credits for photos used in campaign:
- Photo: Satellite Island Credit: Jason Charles Hill
- Photo: Wineglass Bay Aerial Credit: Jason Charles Hill
- Photo: Aurora Australis over Cradle Mountain Credit: Pierre Destribats
- Photo: Bridal Veil Falls Credit: S. Group
- Photo: West Coast ebiking Credit: Revolution MTB
- Photo: Bathurst Harbour with Mt Rugby in background Credit: Matthew Donovan
- Photo: Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake Credit: Off the Path
- Photo: Mount Roland Credit: Lusy Productions
- Photo: Gordon River Credit: Lauren Bath
- Photo: Hobart waterfront at sunset Credit: Luke Tscharke
- Photo: Painted Cliffs, Maria Island Credit: Pierre Destribats
- Photo: Bay of Fires Credit: Stu Gibson
- Photo: The Boathouse – The Restaurant With No Food Credit: Adam Gibson
- Photo: Cloudy Bay, South Bruny National Park Credit: Jess Bonde
- Photo: Reflections on the River Derwent Credit: Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
