Welcome to Tasmania: Australia’s natural paradise! Your adventure will probably start in Hobart too. From Hobart, you can head straight to one of Tasmania’s most beautiful spots: Mount Wellington!
If you think you have seen it all in Australia, you have not visited Tasmania yet. This island is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and not without reason. You will find unspoilt nature, rugged mountains, deep rainforests and unique wildlife. And did you know this is where the cleanest air in the world is? We can confirm that, because as soon as we step off the plane it feels like we are breathing in extra deeply.
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From picking up the car to the top of Mount Wellington
Once we land at Hobart Airport, we pick up our rental car. If, like us, you arrive in the morning on your first day, you can decide whether to head into Hobart or drive up the mountain. Personally, cities are not really my thing, so we chose the latter.
After a fifteen-minute drive, we are already in the centre of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. The city lies at the foot of Mount Wellington, which makes for a very special view. You can see the mountain from almost every point in the city!
Hobart has a rich history with many historic buildings. You can happily stroll along the waterfront or through the cobbled streets of Battery Point. But we have other plans: we are heading up the mountain!
Four seasons in one day
We had already read about it, but now we experience it ourselves: the saying “four seasons in one day” really does apply in Tasmania! Down in Hobart the sun is shining and we are still walking around in t-shirts. But the higher we go, the more the weather turns.
The drive up is spectacular. The road winds its way to the top and with every bend the view gets better, until the clouds completely take over. But it also gets colder and colder! The temperature difference between Hobart and the top of Mount Wellington can be as much as 15 degrees. And we feel it, because at the summit we are treated to rain, fog and even a bit of snow and hail. Brr! It was just 2 degrees, even though we were here in summer.
Once at the top, the clouds luckily lifted. What remained was an icy wind and a stunning view. The wind makes it feel very chilly, but fortunately there is also a covered viewpoint where you can enjoy the view in peace (and in the warm). If you are lucky, you will have an amazing panorama over the city, the Derwent River and the surrounding valleys.
The Pinnacles & Organ Pipes
Then we put on our hiking boots for the Organ Pipes walk. This hiking trail is a must-do if you love walking. You walk past extraordinary basalt columns that, as you might guess, look like organ pipes. These columns were formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity. It is quite special to realise that you are actually walking through an ancient volcanic landscape here!
The hike is not super hard, but the weather makes it challenging. We walk from sunshine into mist and back again. Fortunately, we had read the tips carefully:
- Wear layers that you can easily take off
- Bring a waterproof jacket
- Check the weather forecast beforehand (although that does not say everything here)
- Make sure your hiking shoes are waterproof
For the diehards: you can extend the walk to The Pinnacle. In that case, you will walk a total of 7.2 kilometres. We stuck to the Organ Pipes and that was beautiful enough! Many people start the walk at The Pinnacle. Then you begin with a steep climb and eventually reach the Organ Pipes. We started at the end of this walk and turned around just before the climb/descent. Something to do with jet lag from the long journey and wanting to ease into the hikes. So know that there are two options!
Sleeping among sheep
After our mountain adventures, we continue our drive to Curringa Farm in Hamilton, about an hour’s drive from Hobart. We booked a romantic studio at this working sheep farm. We deliberately chose not to stay in Hobart because we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle. Plus, it saved us valuable driving time the next day for the hikes in Mount Field National Park.
On arrival, a BBQ package is waiting for us. As the sun slowly sets, we enjoy our home-cooked dinner with views over the fields. A perfect end to our first day in Tasmania!
Practical tips
- Driving yourself up to Mount Wellington? Check first whether the road is open. In bad weather, the road is sometimes closed.
- Bring enough water with you when hiking
- Want to hike the Organ Pipes Track? Download the route beforehand, as reception can be poor on the mountain, even though the trail is easy to follow.
- Allow about 2 hours for the full Organ Pipes walk; otherwise, it will take around an hour.
This first introduction to Tasmania definitely leaves us wanting more. Hobart is just the beginning!
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