We spent nine days in Tasmania over Easter with our kids aged five and nine — nine days that turned into one of our most enjoyable family trips yet. The plan was a mix: a few days based in Hobart, then a farmstay near Sheffield as a base for Cradle Mountain, before driving back to Hobart for a last night before flying home.
Tasmania had been on our radar for a while as a bit more of a 'different' destination, but we had no idea how good it would be. The combination of nature, wildlife, friendly towns, good food and easy logistics was hard to beat. And for a family used to tropical Asia, the fresh autumn air was a welcome change.
Hobart — Harbour Walks and a Slow Start
We stayed at Hayesdale, a Sandy Bay Airbnb, for the first four nights — centrally located near beach, supermarket and shops, with a big balcony that felt made for the sunny autumn weather we were lucky enough to get. Hobart is an easy city to settle into: compact, walkable, with the harbour and Battery Point within easy reach.
Sunday morning we joined a half-day fishing charter from Margate harbour, about 20 minutes south of the city. This was a birthday present for my son, and it turned out to be a highlight of the whole trip. Despite the three-hour jetlag, my son was up the moment I mentioned fishing. The boat had plenty of indoor and outdoor space — handy as it was still a bit fresh in the morning — and fishing rods lined up in holders around the deck. The crew were fantastic with the kids throughout. When one of them caught a slightly smaller but still good size fish, the crew quietly left it in the water and handed my daughter the rod to 'have a try as well' at just the right moment — she 'caught' it herself, and spent the rest of the trip providing fishing advice to anyone who would listen — and those who would not. Lunch on board was salmon sashimi, oysters, and a full BBQ with wagyu beef and lamb chops at the back of the boat. We came back with two of our big fish and after the messy task of cleaning them in our kitchen, they were ready for a BBQ on the balcony.
The afternoon after the fishing trip we did a stroll along Battery Point, the Salamanca market area and the harbour — classic Hobart and very easy with kids. Worth noting: on a Sunday evening, restaurants fill up fast. We got turned away from the Drunken Admiral around 6pm and ended up at Mures for fish and chips and their chowder — good and easy with kids, perhaps just not the most atmospheric. Book ahead if you have a specific restaurant in mind on a weekend.
Wildlife and Sailing — Days 3 & 4
The following morning we drove out to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, about 30–40 minutes north of Hobart. It's a beautiful drive across lakes and open countryside. The tour included with the tickets covers the stories behind the animals — wombats, Tasmanian devils, and a friendly kangaroo available for feeding and petting. My son summarised the wombats perfectly: 'wombat is actually a really good name for them, it sounds how they look — round and cuddly.' Fun fact the kids still remember: a wombat's poop is cube-shaped. They mark their territory by placing it on high spots like stones, and the square shape stops it rolling off. We spent about two hours there and could easily have stayed longer.
That afternoon was a sailing trip with Hobart Yachts on a 62-foot Sydney-Hobart racing yacht — a birthday present for my husband, but very much enjoyed by all of us. It was just us and two crew, sailing through the bay with seal spotting and interesting stories from the crew. When freshly baked scones with jam and cream appeared mid-trip, the kids were fully on board (literally and figuratively). A cheese platter with a glass of wine and the afternoon sun while sailing back to the harbour was a perfect end to a busy day.
For dinner in Hobart, book ahead — especially on weekends. Ball & Chain in the Salamanca area is excellent (great meat, cosy atmosphere, kids menu) but gets full early. We tried to walk in before our last night, so pre-booked and were very glad we did.
Port Arthur and the South Coast
Day four was a full day south to Port Arthur. The weather was perfect — 26°C and sunny — which made the 90-minute drive very easy. We started with the included harbour cruise, a 25-minute loop that gave a good overview before exploring on foot. Port Arthur is one of Australia's most significant convict sites and the grounds are in a beautiful sheltered bay. An interesting detail: looking out to the open water from the main site, the next land you'd reach is Antarctica — giving a true edge-of-the-world feeling. We spent about four hours there including lunch and could have taken more time — the visitor centre gallery looked particularly interesting but we had to move on.
After about a 20-minute drive we walked the short loop to Tasman Arch, the Cliff Lookout and Devils Kitchen — dramatic coastal scenery, pretty much on the way back to Hobart and well worth adding if you're in the area. On the drive along Eaglehawk Bay we spotted dolphins close to shore. The blowhole at Doo Town was calm that day so not especially dramatic, but the food truck nearby made excellent fresh berry ice creams. The real surprise was at the nearby jetty: as the fishing boats came back and tossed their fish waste into the water, multiple massive stingrays glided underneath in crystal clear water. My son, who had brought his fishing rod and managed to get some leftover bait from one of the fishermen, caught three fish off the jetty. And on the walk back to the car, one of the fishermen was cutting up a close to two-metre Mako shark — not a pleasant sight, but definitely memorable.
The Farmstay and Cradle Mountain
Day five was our travel day between Hobart and our second base — Carinya Farm, a farmstay near Sheffield, close to Cradle Mountain. We doubled the three-hour drive time by including the Wineglass Bay lookout in Freycinet National Park — about a 90-minute return walk with around 400 steps, broken up well for kids. The views were beautiful even on a cloudy day.
We arrived at Carinya Farm around 6pm to fresh bread, homemade jam and eggs ready in the cottage — the farm has its own chickens — with Mt Roland in full view across the fields. The kids spent some time inspecting the cats, pig, goats, turkeys, cows and llamas before the temperature dropped and we went inside to the heaters and very comfortable beds.
Day six was the Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain National Park, about 45 minutes from the cottage. It was grey, drizzly and around 9°C when we arrived — but the Dove Lake circuit stays low and sheltered, unlike the more exposed Crater Lake walk, so we went for it. The shuttle bus runs every 10–15 minutes up to the lake. The walk is easy and entertaining for kids: rocks, tree roots, tiny beaches, narrow boardwalks along the lakeshore. About 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace with obligatory stops to skim stones and search for wombats. The sun came out for a bit halfway through, and the rain started again just as we boarded the shuttle back. A hot chocolate at the visitor centre afterwards was well earned.
The Dove Lake circuit is very manageable for kids aged 5 and up — the path is varied and interesting enough to keep them engaged. When the weather is calm and clear, the Crater Lake walk offers more elevation and exposure. Dress in layers and bring rain jackets regardless of the morning forecast — the mountain makes its own weather.
Glowworms, Tasmanian Devils and the Easter Bunny
Good Friday began with an Easter egg hunt in the cottage living room — we'd be travelling around the rest of the Easter weekend so this was the best day, though we decided the outdoors might be too risky with chickens, cats and goats wandering around freely. There was a brief family debate about whether the Easter bunny might be an Easter kangaroo in Tasmania — the bunny prevailed.
We then drove about 30 minutes to Mole Creek Caves for the underground rivers and glowworms tour. Booking in advance is recommended — tours run with a maximum of 16 people and only a handful per day. The only way to book is by phone between 9am–3pm, which we discovered a day too late. We took the chance and drove over anyway; the Easter weekend meant extra tours were running and we got in quickly. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging, and the glowworms were the highlight — a ceiling of tiny lights in the dark. As my son put it: 'like a night sky with its own constellations.'
'Like a night sky with its own constellations.' — my son, on the glowworms at Mole Creek Caves
That afternoon we visited Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, a 20-minute drive from the caves and recommended by our waiter at the Sheffield Hotel the evening before. We'd already been to Bonorong, but Trowunna had a different feel — more open, more natural, with over 30 kangaroos roaming freely across a hilly green meadow. The interactive sessions included a baby wombat up close and a Tasmanian devil walking across the picnic table. The feeding of the Tasmanian devils was a highlight for some and a no-go for others: four hungry devils in one enclosure, and the ranger held a dead rabbit by the leg for them to tear apart amid the distinctive noise the devils make. My daughter quietly relocated to the spotted quoll enclosure nearby — my son would not leave.
Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary over Bonorong. Bonorong is well-run, close to Hobart and worth a visit, but Trowunna felt more natural — kangaroos roaming freely, interactive talks with wombats and Tasmanian devils, and a beautiful setting. If you can only do one and will be in the Sheffield area, make it Trowunna. If you have time for both (we recommend it), Bonorong works well as your Hobart-base option.
Back to Hobart — Mount Wellington and a Proper Dinner
Our last full day started with the three-hour drive back to Hobart via Mount Wellington — at 1,200 metres, the views over the city, the Derwent River and the surrounding landscape are amazing. We arrived just in time: the clouds were already spreading and by the time we got back to the car we were completely fogged in. Timing matters — it's worth the winding detour if the forecast looks clear.
We checked into Hadleys Orient Hotel for our last night — a well-maintained colonial-era building, spacious family rooms, good central location and easy parking with the nearby car park. The Saturday evening live piano in the bar from 5–8pm was a bonus we hadn't anticipated; we went straight down after check-in for a drink and some music before dinner.
We'd learned from earlier in the week and had pre-booked Ball & Chain in Salamanca — about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Very good meat, cosy atmosphere, kids menu, and don't forget to order the redcurrant and thyme jus with the steak. We finished with Eton Mess for dessert, one of my personal favourites. A nice walk back through the lively Saturday night streets brought us to our spacious room for an early bedtime in anticipation of our next morning 8am flight home.
What We Skipped and Why
- Cataract Gorge, Launceston: Would have made a nice stop on the drive back to Hobart from Sheffield, but adding it plus a winery detour on our last day felt like too much. Worth building into a longer trip.
- MONA: On the list for the next trip. We didn't have a spare half-day in Hobart, but it looks worth the time especially for older kids.
- Wineglass Bay beach: We only did the lookout, not the full descent to the beach and back. That adds another hour-plus and with a long drive still ahead we kept it to the view. If you're spending a night near Freycinet, consider doing the full walk or some of the other trails nearby.
- Crater Lake walk at Cradle Mountain: More exposed and higher than the Dove Lake circuit — we opted for the lower route given the weather and our five-year-old. A good option for families with slightly older kids when the weather is calm and clear.
Planning a Trip Like This
- Is Tasmania manageable with young kids?
- Very much so as a road trip. The pace is easy, distances between stops are manageable, and there's genuinely a lot for young children — wildlife, nature walks, fishing, farms. The Dove Lake circuit at Cradle Mountain is a good benchmark: our five-year-old did the full 6km without issue (with some motivational gummy bears along the way).
- How many days do you actually need?
- Nine days felt like a solid introduction but not quite enough — we were making choices every day. Two weeks would give you room to explore more of the national parks, visit Launceston properly, add MONA, and move at a slightly less packed pace. That said, even a week is absolutely worth it.
- What's the best time of year to visit?
- We went in late March to early April (early autumn) and the weather was mostly excellent — 12–26°C, mostly sunny, with very little rain except at Cradle Mountain. Summer (December–February) is peak season and warmer. Spring and autumn tend to offer quieter roads and very pleasant temperatures for hiking.
Trip taken March–April 2026.