This place is a wild wonderland. Ancient forests hug secluded coastlines, quirky wildlife roams free and every adventure feels as fresh as the local produce.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Plunge into a rugged island paradise
Bite and sip your way around Tasmania
Warning: may cause extreme relaxation
Unearth Tasmania's creative side
Paddle, pedal and walk on the wild side
THE OFF SEASON
IT’S TASMANIAN FOR ‘WINTER’
In Tasmania, winter is when things get wild, wonderful and a little bit weird.If you’re seeking inspiration for your next winter holiday, you're in the right place.
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Friday 19 June 2026 - Sunday 28 June 2026 (Annual) Strahan
The West Coast of Tasmania comes alive this winter with Light Up the West - a celebration of the winter solstice and the wild, wonderful spirit of the region. The West will glow with events, workshops, markets, lightshows and festivals.
From long table dinners and live music to markets, winter swims and immersive light installations, the West Coast brings together raw landscapes, creativity and community for a winter experience like no other.
Light Up the West celebrates the magic, grit and warmth of Tasmania's West Coast - shining bright during the darkest days of the year. Live like a West Coaster.
Saturday 27 June 2026 - Saturday 25 July 2026 (Daily) Bicheno
Switching it on in the Off-Season
Bicheno will once again play host to a free event — Bicheno Beams.
Fresh from winning Gold at the 2025 Tasmanian Tourism Awards, Bicheno Beams is a family-friendly celebration of light, offering yet another exciting reason to visit our must-stay destination.
Each evening, spectacular music accompanies powerful beams of light shining into the night sky, creating a memorable experience for all ages.
Every night at 6:30pm
Show length: approximately 15 minutes
Bicheno Beams is fast becoming an unmissable annual event, drawing locals and visitors together to celebrate the place they love.
You'll be welcomed by a friendly team of local volunteers who will guide you to the viewing area.
Come for two nights and enjoy two different, alternating shows.
Wednesday 1 July 2026 - Wednesday 15 July 2026 (Annual) Table Cape
Unlock the secrets of the North West coast of Tasmania this winter with 'Permission to Trespass', a unique event that grants exclusive access to private properties in the stunning Wynyard and Table Cape areas.
Experience the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes that are usually off limits to the public.
Events include Moonlight Stories, a projected visual and auditory light show on the Table Cape Lighthouse, sumptuous long table dinners, twilight markets, art exhibits, local pub choirs and creative workshops...the trespass options are endless.
There is something for anyone who wants an intimate understanding of place and people.
Discover something new behind the locked gates this winter in Northwest Tasmania…Permission Granted!
Friday 3 July 2026 - Sunday 12 July 2026 (Annual) Hobart
Festival of Voices is Tasmania's ultimate winter singing celebration for all music lovers, with renowned performers, workshops, and participatory events.
Since its inception in 2005, Festival of Voices has celebrated the joy and wellbeing benefits of singing. What began as a small group of music lovers gathered around a fire in the depths of Tasmania's winter has grown to a 10-day festival featuring local, Australian, and international talent who compose, teach, perform and host our diverse event series. With choral, cabaret, classical, comedy, and contemporary, there's something for every music lover, whether you want to attend, learn, or participate!
Festival of Voices celebrates our arts industry and island home, expanding beyond its Hobart origins to offer events in many communities around the state.
Festival of Voices is also committed to delivering an inclusive, accessible, and environmentally responsible event, embedding sustainability across our operations — from waste reduction and ethical sourcing to energy-efficient practices and low-impact marketing.
Friday 3 July 2026 - Sunday 5 July 2026 (Annual) Invermay
Island Escape Winter Festival fires up Launceston's Inveresk Precinct for three unforgettable days celebrating Tasmania's music, food, art, and winter spirit.
This bold new festival brings together iconic headline acts including Birds of Tokyo, Spiderbait, Hot Dub Time Machine and the Beautiful Girls, alongside local talent, celebrity chefs and creative trailblazers, delivering a program as diverse as it is exciting. Feast on Tasmania's finest winter produce, warm up beside glowing fire pits with distinctly Tasmanian tales, get up close with your favourite winemaker or distiller, or dance the night away in the igloo silent disco.
Families can dive into kids' workshops, storytelling, and games, while food lovers indulge in culinary showcases and regional feasts celebrating Northern Tasmania's flavours. As the sun sets, the precinct lights up with music, fire, and light shows, turning winter's chill into a celebration of everything hot, hearty, and homegrown.
From major acts to intimate fireside moments, Island Escape Winter Festival transforms Launceston into Tasmania's ultimate winter playground, where the State's best food, music, and creativity come out to shine.
Thursday 23 July 2026 - Sunday 26 July 2026 (Annual) Devonport
Celebrating 25 years since it all began, Devonport Jazz is ready to get back into the groove with a great festival line up in July 2026.
With warm and cozy venues across the city, don't hibernate this winter, explore what Devonport Jazz has to offer!
The 2026 program will be available May 2026
Friday 21 July 2023 - Sunday 20 August 2023 (Annual) Hobart
Presented by Hadley's Orient Hotel, the Hadley's Art Prize, Hobart is an acquisitive Australian landscape prize, which offers $100,000 to the winning entry.
Hadley's Orient Hotel has a long history with art starting with art-loving landlords in the late 1800s. The Hadley's Art Prize contributes to the art community, celebrates excellence in contemporary landscape art, promotes cultural tourism in Tasmania, and restores art to the historic walls of Hadley's Orient Hotel through a landscape prize similar to the competition won by Howard Hadley in 1895.
Judged by a panel of art specialists, the prize is open to Australian artists over the age of eighteen working in two-dimensional media. Artists at all career stages are invited to enter.
Thursday 6 August 2026 - Monday 17 August 2026 (Annual) Hobart
A winter festival for curious adults
Smart, surprising, and seriously entertaining: Beaker Street Festival is bringing its signature mix of science, art, and connection back to Lutruwita/Tasmania this August.
Beaker Street Festival is Tasmania's annual celebration of science and culture. This year, the Festival takes place 6 to 17 August, with a Nipaluna/Hobart hub as well as events around the state.
It's also their 10th birthday, so expect an even bigger party than usual!
For two weeks, Beaker Street Festival brings scientists, artists, musicians, chefs, storytellers, adventurers, and audiences together for a program of talks, performances, field trips, workshops, food experiences, live music, nightlife, and large-scale public events.
It's one of Australia's most distinctive winter festivals: playful, thought-provoking, social, and deeply connected to Tasmania's landscapes, creativity, and scientific culture.
Chocolate Winterfest is Latrobe's wickedly delicious festival celebrating all things chocolate.
It is no coincidence that the Latin name for cocoa, from which chocolate is made, translates as "food of the gods". Some cultures even valued chocolate more than gold, and who could blame them. Just the mere mention of chocolate turns heads and that's what Chocolate Winterfest, Latrobe will do to you.
Chocolate Winterfest, Latrobe will indulge, inform, astound, amuse but above all celebrate chocolate as you escape from the bleakness of winter. Be indulged by events individually or successively as you immerse in this chocolate experience.
Don't deny one of life's pleasures - join them at Latrobe on the central northern coast of Tasmania for this unique celebration.
Sunday 15 November 2026 - Saturday 8 May 2027 (Annual) Carrick
Agfest is Tasmania's premier agricultural and rural event, attracting over 50,000 visitors each year. Held at Quercus Park, near Carrick, this iconic three-day experience has broad appeal. They showcase the best in farming, machinery, agribusiness, and rural innovation, so it's a must-visit for industry professionals, families, and anyone with a passion for Tasmania's agricultural heritage.
With over 600 exhibitors, Agfest offers something for everyone. Explore the latest in farm equipment, livestock displays, and cutting-edge technology, or wander through the craft pavilions for unique handmade goods. Food lovers can indulge in delicious local produce, while adventure-seekers can take in thrilling 4WD demonstrations, equestrian events, and woodchopping competitions. The fan-favourite Central Arena and other arenas around Quercus Park delivers non-stop entertainment, from whip cracking to working dog trials. They want to welcome you back every year, so we do our best to introduce new attractions exhibitors annually to keep things interesting.
Proudly organised by Rural Youth Tasmania, Agfest is more than just an event—it's a celebration of community, resilience, and innovation in the agricultural sector. Whether you're looking to network, learn, shop, or simply enjoy a fantastic day out, Agfest delivers an unforgettable experience.
Friday 30 April 2027 - Sunday 2 May 2027 (Annual) Queenstown
DIVERGE Skyruns is a sky and trail running festival in one of Tasmania's most remote corners: Queenstown, West Coast Tasmania. It's for runners and hikers, ready to step just outside their comfort zone.
Over 3 days, this event has something for almost everyone: Australia's most serious skyruns on jaw-dropping alpine ridgelines to trail runs that weave through moonscape landscapes, rainforests and past soaring waterfalls.
There are also incredibly iconic trail runs and hikes that traverse the local airfield, running towards Mt Owen, and a 5km 'Lynchford Express Run" which includes a memorable ride on the heritage steam trains of the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
The west is wild. And it offers runners another way.
Wednesday 19 May 2027 - Sunday 23 May 2027 (Annual) Launceston
With the autumn sunshine as a spotlight, and Launceston as the stage, Australian Musical Theatre Festival is back for 2027!
Featuring an array of emerging and established artists from around the country, they invite you to experience the magic of musical theatre over five days this May.
"It is a true joy to present the Australian Musical Theatre Festival program, which continues to celebrate, cultivate and educate around one of the world's most thrilling (and most popular!) art forms.
"Launceston again provides a truly unique stage, allowing us to align the magic of Tasmanian culture with both traditional and contemporary musical theatre, through a variety of offerings that are unexpected, thrilling and inspiring. This is musical theatre unlike you've ever seen it..." – Tyran Parke, Artistic Director.
Whether it's a brand-new presentation of your favourite musical, a chance to get to know Australia's greatest stars, or simply a reason to explore a city full of stories, they invite you to join them and share the stage.
Tee off across the ocean on two of Australia’s greatest golf courses. Dine heartily in a restaurant with no food. Ponder the ocean’s power above the site of a shipwreck. Favoured by nature and flavoured by some of the nation’s best farmland, this is truly the king of islands.
Abundant produce, clever makers and epic wilderness – a journey in the north west is a feast for the senses. Follow your food from paddock to plate (or glass). Explore rugged coastlines and mysterious caves. And breathe deep. This is the cleanest air in the world.
This is a region of World Heritage-listed wilderness, of wild rivers and deep lakes, glacial valleys and windswept coasts. Plot a road trip through the Western Wilds, a drive journey full of detours and stories of convict courage and boom-and-bust mining fortunes. Remote. Raw. Untamed. Like nowhere else.
Old meets new in the island’s capital. Get caught up in history, lost in an underground gallery and dazzled by nature. This is a place of sea cliffs and big waves, tranquil rivers and alpine mountains, cosy bars and provocative art. This is the edge of the world.
Slow down. There’s a view around every corner and a long white-sand beach in between. This is the place to embrace simple luxuries – take time to pull over and follow a beach track, eat seafood at a fish shack, fall asleep with an ocean soundtrack.
Imagine a vibrant food scene, plenty of cool-climate wine, and adventure in bucketloads. Follow a tasting trail or a wine trail. Take a hike in a city gorge or a ride in a rainforest. From farm gates to cellar doors, meet the makers of northern Tasmania.
Settle into island time. There are more than 120 beaches, and finding an empty one is easy. Snorkel in water as clear as air. Scale a mountain that rises direct from the sea. Find "diamonds" on a beach. This is a place where every driver waves, and time slows to the turn of the tides.
The best time to visit Tasmania is during the summer months from December to February when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor experiences. Spring (September to November) offers mild temperatures and blooming wildflowers. Autumn (March to May) features colourful fall foliage, calm days and fewer crowds. Winter (June to August) can be cold but is often clear, and ideal for cosy experiences and snowy mountain adventures.
Getting around Tasmania is convenient by car, which is the best way to explore the island’s diverse regions at your own pace. There are also coach tours and regional flights linking major towns. Public transport options like buses are available but can be limited outside urban areas. Renting a car or campervan is a popular choice to experience Tasmania’s scenic routes, country roads and national parks.
Tasmania offers a diverse range of distinctive accommodation options to suit your budget and taste, including luxury resorts, boutique hotels, charming bed and breakfasts, holiday cabins, and budget hostels. For nature lovers, there are also eco lodges and wilderness retreats. Popular regions often have holiday parks and self-contained apartments, providing choices for families, couples and solo travellers.
Tasmania has four distinct seasons. Enjoy Tasmania’s warmest weather in summer, with average temperatures of 17–23°C. Spring weather is changeable with a higher chance of sun showers and rainbows. Autumn has calmer days and moist conditions ideal for fungi, while winter offers bluebird days, heavier rainfall feeding dramatic waterfalls and cooler average temperatures of 3–11°C. Expect drier weather on Tasmania’s east coast and wetter conditions on Tasmania’s west coast.
Travel with our app
Keep it real: you’re not going to remember it all. Download the Discover Tasmania app for your on-the-ground-guide to experiencing this glorious place like a local.
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