Tasmania Australia’s Home Of Adventure

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, and in Tasmania, we have a lot of trees, which is one of the reasons people come to Tasmania. But! And it’s a big but (not in a Sir Mix-A-Lot sort of way) I would like to suggest Tasmania is Australia’s Home of Adventure.

I was reminded on the weekend of a list of fantastic experiences I have been having around Tasmania. Anywhere else in the country you would have to drive for a day to get this sort of mix, but in Tasmania, they are all within a 2 to 3-hour drive of each other. In some cases less than 40 minutes apart.

Put these on your list of experiences in Tasmania. I have had a blast doing them.

Cable hang gliding.

This is like doing a tandem parachute jump without the screaming Terry of plummeting to earth strapped to someone who is screaming “isn’t this great” in your ear as you wonder how you got here. With Cable Hang gliding you will feel the fresh breeze on your face as you sit in the supportive harness of Tahune Adventures’ Eagle Hang Glider and fly over the Huon River! After a staff member safely straps you in, the cable-controlled solo glider is gently hauled backwards, across the Huon River and up into towering trees. Then it’s go time, as you whizz back across the river, enjoying panoramic wilderness views, before a soft landing.

Honestly, this experience is great for all the thrill-seekers, even those with mobility difficulties – the team are happy to help.

Kayaking Around the City

I did this on my birthday and it was the best fun. There is no need to look for dangerous rapids or Deliverance style bow hunting locals. Roaring 40s Kayaking offers a delightful guided urban paddle through Hobart that will have you glide past beautiful sailing ships, prestigious homes along the waterfront and iconic sights. You’ll even enjoy fresh fish ‘n’ chips straight from your kayak while soaking up spectacular views over Hobart’s iconic Constitution Dock.

No previous experience is required for this 2.5 hour Hobart City tour, and kids as young as seven are welcome. Feeling more adventurous? Check out their day tour of Hobart’s Cliffs, Caves and Beaches or the Tasman Peninsula. My wife loved this so much she wanted to go out and buy a Kayak and do it every weekend.

Sunrise from a Hot Air Balloon

Witnessing the sun rising from a hot air balloon floating high in the sky is one of those experiences you’ll never forget. Tasmania, with its spectacular landscapes, rugged scenery and the picturesque coastline is the ideal place for it.

Get ready to wake up nice and early to soar high above the north of the island with Hot Air Balloon Tasmania. This extraordinary adventure includes breakfast and photos, as well as epic bird’s-eye views of the island’s northeast. There’s even an engagement package available for those looking for extra romance!

Two words Jet Boat

This is so much fun you will want to go again as soon as you have finished. Australia’s only white-water rapids jet-boat ride is just a half-hour drive from Hobart, so make sure you give this exciting adventure a go next time you are in town.

Sit back on a powerful jet boat and let the experienced team behind Huon Jet take you on an exhilarating ride along the Huon River. Speed along the river’s waters, weaving in and out of the forest canopy and bouncing over rapids, with some 360-degree spins thrown in for kicks. The 35-minute journey also includes quiet moments, when your skipper slows down to point out amazing wildlife and wild vistas.

The Zen of Horseback Riding

All the fun of the movie City Slickers without Norman the calf. You can embrace Tassie’s natural beauty on horseback with Cradle Country Adventures. Offering part-day guided horse-riding experiences in three of Tassie’s most iconic destinations with no experience needed, this is the perfect opportunity to test your riding skills or learn the basics – surrounded by Tassie’s scenery. Honestly, if I can do this anyone can.

Everything you need, from helmets to boots, is included. All you need to do is pick your ride: choose from two or three-hour packages (or even two to five days if you are up for the challenge) through eucalypt forests, rivers and scenic farmland around Cradle Mountain, or along the enchanting Bakers Beach in Narawntapu National Park.

All the Rain Forests are Not In Queensland

If you have walked to the top of thee lookout at Freycinet you know how puffed you can be. Nobody ever mentions the steps. Go to Freycinet they say the views are magnificent they say… they never mention the steps. However, here is a tour you can do to the heart of the most beautiful part of Tasmania and not break a sweat. Magnet Tarkine Tours will take you and two fellow passengers to experience an exciting yet very comfortable two-hour adventure through the Tarkine rainforest onboard a four-seater UTV (utility task vehicle).

Strap in and enjoy the ride, letting this small but powerful green car tackle tracks thread through the remote Tarkine rainforest, all the way to the abandoned mining town of Magnet. It is the best fun.