Tasmania organised tours range from a 45-minute whisky tasting priced from $69 to a five-day wilderness hike priced from $3275. That is a wide spread, so it helps to see the options side by side before you book.
Below we cover eight trips listed on this site: what each one covers, how long it runs and what it costs. All prices are "from" prices, so check the tour page for current figures. Tasmania is an island state 240 kilometres south of the mainland, and its tours reflect that, with World Heritage wilderness, convict history and small-scale food and drink all in reach.
Tasmania organised tours at a glance
| Tour | Length | From |
|---|---|---|
| Alpaca Farm Tours with Toffeemont | 1h 30m | $55 |
| LARK Distillery Tour | 45 min | $69 |
| Evening Dinner Cruise | 6 hours | $155 |
| Port Arthur cruise ship shore excursion | 6h 30m | $239 |
| 2 Day Tasmanian Highlights Tour | 2 days | $305 |
| 2 Day Cradle Mountain Tour | 2 days | $445 |
| Peaks, Falls & Furry Locals | 8 to 9 hours | $1040 |
| takayna / Tarkine hiking tour | 5 days | $3275 |
The cheapest options are short and local. The dearest are the ones with guides, accommodation and park fees rolled in.
Day trips from Hobart
Mt Field and the Derwent
The Peaks, Falls & Furry Locals tour of Mt Field and the Derwent runs 8 to 9 hours from $1040. It takes you through Mt Field National Park, Tasmania's most visited wilderness area, on a walk through cool temperate rainforest with prehistoric ferns and eucalypts to Russel Falls. You then visit a wildlife sanctuary to spot native mammals and birds. Your guide handles transport, morning tea and lunch, which is either packed or at the on-site Agrarian Kitchen restaurant (weekends only).
It is a pricey day trip, and we would say so plainly. Those who want rainforest and wildlife without a multi-day commitment are the target audience.
Port Arthur for cruise passengers
The Port Arthur shore excursion from Hobart is built for ship passengers. It lasts 6h 30m and costs from $239. You are collected from Macquarie Wharf, driven 90 minutes to Port Arthur Historic Site, and given up to two and a half hours there with a guide to explore Tasmania's convict past. Weather and timing permitting, the return leg stops at a working lavender farm and an artisan chocolate foundry, and you are back at your ship by mid-afternoon.
The history behind the site is substantial. About 80,000 convicts were sent to Van Diemen's Land before transportation ended in 1853.
Two-day tours
Cradle Mountain with accommodation
The 2 Day Cradle Mountain Tour from Hobart costs from $445 and includes accommodation. You hike through temperate rainforest, past waterfalls and into alpine terrain in Cradle Mountain National Park. Groups are small, with a maximum of 13, and you stay at a lakeside lodge before returning to Hobart by day three.
Cradle Mountain is a dolerite peak that was once a nunatak, a rocky peak standing above surrounding ice, which is part of why the scenery looks unlike anywhere else.
Hobart highlights and Bruny Island
The 2 Day Tasmanian Highlights Tour with Hobart and Bruny Island is the best-value multi-day option, from $305. Day one starts in Hobart with Salamanca Market (Saturdays), the panoramic views from Mt Wellington and the colonial village of Richmond. You then head to Bruny Island for wildlife encounters and local producers. At Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary you can meet kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats and koalas, and you sample regional food and wine.
Mt Wellington is worth the stop for its geology alone, as its columns of dolerite are known as the Organ Pipes.
Wilderness hiking in the Tarkine
The takayna / Tarkine Wilderness Highlights Hiking Tour is the serious option: five days from $3275, based from Launceston. Small groups are led by accredited local guides trained in wilderness first aid. You trek through forests, alpine plateaus and coastal landscapes and stay in basic bush camps. The operator holds eco-tourism certification and handles transport, meals and park fees.
Expect simple accommodation. That is the point of the trip, though it will not suit everyone.
Food, drink and animals
LARK Distillery Tour
The LARK Distillery Tour takes 45 minutes and costs from $69. You walk through heritage buildings and the active production site, hear about fermentation techniques and taste three expressions of whisky. It is the quickest tour here and easy to fit around other plans.
Alpaca farm at Toffeemont
The Alpaca Farm Tours with Toffeemont last 90 minutes and cost from $55. Toffeemont is a working farm near Orielton on the east coast. You feed and interact with the herd at your own pace, take photos and enjoy homemade refreshments, with locally made alpaca products to browse. Sessions run at 10am, 1pm or 3pm daily.
An evening on the Gordon River
The Evening Dinner Cruise runs six hours from $155 aboard Spirit of the Wild, a hybrid-powered vessel on the Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour. Chef-prepared dinners use local produce, and onboard interpreters explain the natural and cultural layers of the region. The quiet engine and low-impact hull mean you can take in the landscape without noise or disturbance.
For more ideas beyond these trips, browse our Tasmania activities page, and the official Discover Tasmania site covers the state more broadly. Background on the island itself is on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest tour listed?
The Alpaca Farm Tours with Toffeemont start from $55 for 90 minutes. The LARK Distillery Tour is next at from $69 for 45 minutes.
Which tours include accommodation?
The 2 Day Cradle Mountain Tour includes a stay at a lakeside lodge. The five-day Tarkine hiking tour uses basic bush camps and covers transport, meals and park fees.
Is there a tour for cruise passengers?
Yes. The Port Arthur shore excursion collects you from Macquarie Wharf in Hobart, runs 6h 30m and returns you to your ship by mid-afternoon.
