Tasmania in Winter: 9 Reasons You Need to Visit During the ‘Off-Season’

Winter is technically the “off season” in Tasmania, but there’s nothing off about the island state this time of year. If anything, winter is the best time to visit Tasmania – the snow, the winter arts festivals, the hygge-centric stays, the food – plus, the added benefit of less tourists and accommodation and flights leaning cheaper.

While some Aussie states get a rude shock when winter hits, Tasmania is set up for the cold. Buildings are well insulated and usually have raging fireplaces, so you won’t feel the chill as much as you’d expect. As for outside, bring a beanie and your Tasmanian Tuxedo (AKA puffer jacket) and you’ll be nice and snug.

Now that we’ve got you considering a break from your overworked mainland heater and booking in a Tasmania in winter trip, here are eight reasons why it is such a must-book destination for these chillier climes. 

Yes, You Can Babysit Tasmanian Devils This Winter (And Get Paid For It)

In what might be the most delightfully unhinged job ad of the year, Tasmania is on the hunt for devil babysitters — literally. As part of Tourism Tasmania’s Winternship program, ten lucky Aussies will score the ultimate cold-season gig: caring for Tasmanian devil joeys, soaking in floating saunas, foraging wild mushrooms, or playing “seat-warmer” on epic road trips.

Designed to lure adventurous spirits to the Apple Isle during its off-peak season, the Winternships are all about embracing the wild, weird, and wonderful. You’ll swap spreadsheets for stargazing and swap the office kitchen for open fires and native bushland. Plus, all travel and accommodation costs are covered — meaning you can live your Tassie dreams without spending a cent.

Among the once-in-a-lifetime gigs on offer: “calf concierge,” “sauna skipper,” and even a wilderness trail tester. But it’s the devil gig that’s stealing hearts—raising awareness (and cuteness levels) for one of Australia’s most endangered marsupials.

Applications are now open, but there’s a catch: only ten spots exist. So if you’ve ever wanted to turn your love for animals, adventure and quirk into a paid winter escape — this is your sign.

Apply here

The cosy and romantic stays

Tasmania is bursting with beautiful stays — most of them complete with a fireplace (because, unlike parts of the mainland — yes, looking at you, Perth — we build for the cold down here). Take advantage of off-season rates and plan a cosy winter escape. Spend your days adventuring, then snuggle up fireside with a glass of local pinot. From Whale Song Shack in Falmouth to Captain’s Rest in Strahan, The Burrows in Swansea to Eagles Nest Retreat in West Kentish, these dreamy Airbnbs were made for winter hibernation.

The out-of-this-world stargazing

There’s no wonder Tassie took up most of your Instagram feed when the Southern Lights put on a show in May – the skies are on another level down in the Apple Isle. Your chances of spotting the Southern Lights (AKA Aurora Australis) are heightened in the winter months, because of the longer nocturnal hours and clear skies with relatively low light pollution. There’s spots all over Tasmania to best see the lights, from kunanyi / Mt Wellington in Hobart and Bruny Island in the south to Stanley and Freycinet in the north. Even if you don’t manage to catch the lights, simply stargazing is magical in Tasmania. Get yourself an Airbnb with an outdoor fire or join a guided night tour – like kunanyi After Dark or the Glow Show night experience in Hobart. 

The oysters and truffles and scallops, oh my

Food is good in Tasmania all year round, but certain delicacies peak in the winter months. Different oysters are harvested in different seasons, and winter oysters are especially big and juicy, because they thrive in colder water – the same goes for scallops and mussels, too. So if you’re a seafood lover, winter is actually the optimal time to indulge. Head to a farm like Freycinet Marine Farm where you can don the waterproof overalls for a tour before enjoying a special Off Season lunch of moules frites.

Another food that peaks in winter is truffles – perfect grated through a warming bowl of pasta or on top of french fries. Hang with truffle hunting dogs at The Truffle Farm for its Winter Warmer Hunt – an arvo of looking for truffles and an evening spent devouring them by the fire pit.

The snow season

Surround yourself with the white stuff in Tasmania, where snow dusts the state’s peaks come winter time. For those adrenalin junkies who enjoy careening down a mountain and après-ski alpine village vibes, Tassie has two ski resorts at Ben Lomond National Park in the north and at Mount Mawson within Mount Field National Park in the south. 

If you just want to be around snow, head to Cradle Mountain to walk in a veritable winter wonderland of frosted terrain and snow-covered peaks. Likewise, Mount Jerusalem National Park. Somehow, these famously beautiful spot gets even more photogenic in the off season.

The stacked cultural calendar

Hello, Dark Mofo returns! While we wait with bated breath for another round of this iconic MONA festival, there’s plenty more winter magic on the calendar. Wille Smith’s Apple Shed in the Huon Valley is hosting its final Mid-Winter Festival, ending with a ceremonial burning of the straw man to close the chapter.

Elsewhere, art and science collide at Hobart’s ninth annual Beaker Street Festival in August, voices rise for the capital’s singing celebration Festival of Voices, and the night sky glows on the east coast at Bicheno Beams.

The warmth of a whisky tasting

Tasmania produces some of the best whisky in the world – don’t take our word for it, just ask the folks who give out awards for this stuff. There’s loads of distilleries dotted all over the state open year-round, but something about winter and this warming spirit just goes hand-in-hand. Or make that glass-in-hand. Head to one of the island’s more famous distilleries like Lark, Sullivan’s Cove, McHenry or Hellyers Road, pick a small-batch operation or simply time your trip for Tasmanian Whisky Week. Running from August 4th to 10th, it’s a celebration of all things peaty.

The wild waterfalls

One of Tasmania’s natural wonders also has a peak in winter – waterfalls. Thanks to wetter weather and snow forming and then melting, the island’s waterfalls are particularly impressive this time of year. There’s 50+ of these beauties in Tasmania, ranging from small and bubbling to tall and raging. Try St Columba Falls, at the end of a 1.2km walk in the state’s northeast which has up to five times the normal amount of water cascading down it in winter; or Russell Falls, an easy hike with maximum payoff within the Mount Field National Park.

The pubs with fireplaces

As we said earlier, Tasmania is perfectly set up for the colder months, which means its many charming pubs and bars often have a cosy fireplace to park yourself in front of. With lots of venues putting on winter specials like hot toddies and mulled local wine or cider, it’s the perfect sundowner vibe after a long day of chasing waterfalls – you’ll be so toasty, you’ll even ditch the puffer jacket. 

Winter in Tasmania offers a unique blend of experiences that make it an unforgettable destination. From adventurous outdoor activities to relaxing by the fire with a glass of local wine, Tasmania’s winter magic will leave you enchanted and eager to return.