Tasmania

Gay Tasmania · Island Guide

Travelling to Tasmania island for the first time? Then the gay Tasmania island guide page is for you.

Tasmania

Tasmania

The smallest of Australia's six states and the country's only island state. The island is home to around 500,000 people, with most of its population in the southeast and north coasts. The capital city is Hobart. Other major cities include Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.

Tasmania is a popular destination for gay travelers and is renowned for its friendliness wherever you choose to stay, eat or visit. The State has been a leader in LGBT rights for more over decades.

 

Regions

Southern Tasmania - the island's most populous region; home of Hobart, Tasmania's capital city

Northern Tasmania - covers Launceston, the Tamar Valley, the mountainous region of Ben Lomond, the Midlands and the Northeast region

Northwest Coast - small coastal townships and cities with scenic inland areas

East Coast - home to amazing beaches including the Bay Of Fires and Wine Glass Bay - voted some of the most beautiful beaches in the world

West Coast - the center of mining in Tasmania; the island's least populous region

South West - this entire region is protected inside the Southwest National Park

Bass Strait Islands - secluded islands in located between Tasmania and mainland Australia

 

Major Cities

Hobart is Tasmania's capital and largest city. It is also the second oldest city in Australia. Hobart features some of the finest art galleries

Launceston, located in Northern Tasmania region, is a tourist-popular destination and one of the few cities in the world that is wrapped around a gorge.

 

Gay Scene

Tasmania has an equal age of consent and the most extensive anti-discrimination and anti-vilification laws seen anywhere in the world. Like the rest of Australia, there is a registration scheme for same-sex relationships and the ability to have relationship ceremonies.

Tasmania is very welcoming to LGBTQI visitors. The main gay scene is located in the capital city, Hobart. Other gay-owned and gay-operated businesses can be found throughout the island.  Read more on Tasmania Gay Scene page

TasPride, a well-established LGBT Pride event & festival, takes place annually in the city, along with a host of events for the gay community.

 

TasPride

Getting to Tasmania

Hobart and Launceston have direct flights from the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. Flights to Burnie, Devonport King Island and Flinders Island are available from Melbourne.

Locals and tourists also use the car ferry, Spirit of Tasmania, which crosses between mainland Australia (from Melbourne) to the Tasmanian city of Devonport (near Launceston) daily.

 

Getting around Tasmania

The most convenient way to explore Tasmania. Cars can be brought from the mainland on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, or hired upon arrival by major operators such as Hertz, Avis or Redspot.

If you have a lot of time to spend, you could get around Tasmania by bus. Bus services are infrequent here, so study the timetable carefully and plan ahead.

Bicycle is also a popular way to see Tasmania.

 

Things to See & Do

Tasmania is great for explorers. The island has more than 1,000 peaks, four mild seasons, and more than 40 percent of the Island is protected as national parks. It is also home to some of the world’s rarest animals.

Bay of Fires - popular retreat for camping, boating, fishing, swimming, surfing and bird watching

Cataract Gorge - unique, natural formation "The Gorge", located a 15-minute walk from downtown Launceston

Hastings Caves: This - home to a a number of caves including the biggest dolemite tourist cave in Australia

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) - Tasmania's top tourist attraction that contains a huge inventory, located in Hobart northern's district

The Nut - ancient volcanic plug and historic village in Stanley on Tasmania's northwest coast - great for camping, fishing and exploring the forests

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens - very large garden has been in Hobart since 1818

Salamanca Market - popular street market in Hobart, held every Saturday at Salamanca Place, filled with arts, crafts, fresh produce, etc.

Tasmanian Devil - the state's emblematic animal can be enjoyed through the night tour at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (30 minutes' drive north of Hobart) a Devil Tracker Tour at the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

Join the Travel Gay Newsletter

Have we got something wrong?

Are we missing a new venue or has a business closed? Or has something changed and we have not yet updated our pages? Please use this form to let us know. We really appreciate your feedback.