Tasmania

What It Is and Where

The Tasmanian Wilderness covers about 1.58 million hectares across national parks including Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers and Southwest. On the east coast, Freycinet National Park covers most of the Freycinet Peninsula, with the pink granite peaks of the Hazards and Wineglass Bay. Freycinet is about two hours' drive from either Hobart or Launceston.

What You Do There

• Walk up to the Wineglass Bay lookout, about 90 minutes return, and down to the beach if you have time
• Walk the Dove Lake circuit under Cradle Mountain, about 6 kilometers
• Take on the Overland Track, 65 kilometers over six days from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair
• Eat oysters, cool-climate wine and some of Australia's best produce

Wombats, pademelons, wallabies and echidnas are common around Cradle Mountain, and platypus live in its streams. Tasmanian devils and quolls are harder to see in the wild; a night tour gives you the best chance.

Best Time to Go

Summer, from December to February, has the longest days and warmest weather for walking, and the busiest trails. Autumn, March to May, is quieter and often settled. The Overland Track's booking season runs from 1 October to 31 May, with up to 34 independent walkers starting each day. Cradle Mountain is wet in any month, so pack for rain.

Getting There and How Long to Stay

Fly into Hobart or Launceston from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. Three nights on the east coast is a good start; add two or three at Cradle Mountain if you want the highlands too, or six days and more for the Overland Track.

Where We Like to Stay

Saffire Freycinet has suites that all look across Great Oyster Bay to the Hazards, with food and guided outings built into the rate. It suits food and wine lovers and couples who want a slower few days of walking and long dinners.

For more ideas, see Luxury Australia for Nature Lovers and Australia: Reefs, Red Desert, and Otherworldly Wilderness.