Cruise to Tasmania: a luxurious (and oh-so-easy) way to see Tassie

Everybody’s favourite island state plus Celebrity Eclipse® equals a bucket-list holiday you’ll never forget.

It’s a pity Tasmania goes with the name the Apple Isle when ‘Tasmania, the Pocket Rocket’ would be a much better fit. And why not? With its powder-white beaches, rocky granite peaks and lush forests, its dramatic landscape is as diverse as it is abundant with nature, wildlife and gourmet food and wine experiences. With something for everyone, it’s the kind of place where you can pluck fresh oysters from the sea in the morning, hike snow-dusted mountains in the afternoon, and then settle in for a bounty of fresh produce under a canopy of stars.

Aerial view of Mount Wellington, Hobart, Australia — The view of Hobart and the Derwent River from Mt Wellington.

There’s no point denying it; with its roaring fireplaces in winter and its seaside camping in summer, Tasmania is charming in every season, but there’s no better time to visit than that time of year when summer bids farewell and the riot of autumn leaves light up the island in a vista of burnt oranges, vibrant reds and sunny yellows.

Waterfalls in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia — Tasmania’s dramatic landscape is as diverse as it is abundant with nature.

How then do you immerse yourself in a bucket-list form of Tasmania where every whim and desire is catered for in an elegant way? You book an autumnal, luxury voyage to the island with Celebrity Cruises ®, then unpack and relax. Your part is taken care of.

Line of trees with yellow leaves, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia — There’s no better time to visit than that time of year autumn leaves light up the island.

Cruising Tasmania

Road trips begone; there are a million different reasons to cruise Tasmania’s coast with Celebrity Cruises, a significant portion of them pointing to its carefully curated five-star, five-day itinerary on board the sumptuous Celebrity Eclipse .

Setting sail from Sydney in March 2023, the 5 Nights Tasmania cruise is a celebration of culinary delights, its shore experiences in Port Arthur and Hobart offering passengers a wide range of gourmet food and wine offerings as well as lashings of local nature and wildlife experiences.

Bridge in the middle of forest, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia — Guests can enjoy lashings of local nature and wildlife experiences.

In Port Arthur, some of the opportunities Celebrity Eclipse guests have include an exclusive wine tasting at award-winning Bangor Vineyard, a panoramic tour of Tasmania Peninsula followed by a lavender farm tour and a sail along the picturesque coastline of Port Arthur and Eaglehawk.

In Hobart, which includes an action-packed overnight stay, experiences could mean a feast for all senses with a Small Group Discoveries: A Taste of Bruny Island tour, a walk around what has quickly become the country’s must-see museum with MONA Discovery, or a firm commitment to get your fill of the island state’s best wineries at the Historic Hobart, Countryside and Winery tour.

Aerial shot of Cruise ship in Sydney — The 5 Nights Tasmania cruise sets sail from Sydney.

Why Celebrity Eclipse?

Before we get into the finer details of what other cruises Celebrity Eclipse offers, the question must be posed: why Celebrity Eclipse at all?

There’s the bells and whistles of its forward-thinking design; its spa-inspired AquaClass with exclusive dining at Blu and its exclusive sanctuary, TheRetreat® – a spacious, timeless accommodation complete with private restaurant dining and 24/7 lounge. Then there’s the culinary excellence onboard; globally inspired cuisine in a host of distinctive restaurants and menus crafted by Michelin chefs, such as a five-course menu designed by Celebrity Cruises’ Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, Chef Daniel Boulud. And yes, we could most certainly touch on the joy of observing endless ocean views from The Lawn Club, indulgent treatments for mind, body and spirit at The Spa and should you want to take your little ones along on the adventure, fun family activities at Camp at Sea.

Persian Garden, Spa in Cruise Ship, Celebrity Cruises — Indulge in treatments for the mind, body and spirit at The Spa.

What we’re keen to touch on, however, is that difficult-to-define quality that rarely makes the headlines. In this case, it’s 30 years of unrivalled service executed in a way that isn’t stuffy or arrogant. Think of it like checking into The Ritz London, but then discovering the 24/7 butler is the equivalent of Keanu Reeves with a hotel management degree (and eons of experience to boot).

Signature Suite, Cruise Ship, Celebrity Cruises — Celebrity Cruises is known for its spacious, timeless accommodation.

Choose your own adventure

In an article about the wonder of cruising Tasmania, it would be foolish not to push home the message that you and Tasmania belong together in autumn, both this year and next. But should you feel the need to enjoy the luxurious stylings of Celebrity Eclipse elsewhere, you also have the option of the following inspired itineraries:

Autumn leaves, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia — You and Tasmania belong together in autumn.

A 12-Night New Zealand adventure departing Sydney in October 2022 and again in January 2023 before crossing the Tasman Sea and taking in the ‘top hits’ of both the North and South Island. The iconic splendour of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound kick off the highlights reel filled with the historic castles and wildlife of Dunedin, a Middle Earth (and beyond) exploration of Christchurch and endangered animals at Wellington’s Zealandia. Solid tastings of Napier wines, geothermal mud baths at Tauranga and an America’s Cup Sailing Tour in Auckland complete this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Kangaroo in Adelaide Vineyard, Australia — See the wildlife and wineries in Adelaide.

A 9-Night Australia Wine cruise departing Sydney in February 2023 and making its way down to Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart before returning to the Emerald City. As with the 5-Night Tasmania itinerary, this is a cruise featuring shore expeditions that largely (and wholly) embrace the culinary delights each capital city has to offer. In Melbourne, guests can experience gourmet bucket list experiences such as the Small Group Discoveries: Iconic Sights and Tastes of Melbourne tour, and Gin, Wine and Chocolate in the Yarra Valley, while Adelaide offers (among others) a Taste of the Barossa tour and Adelaide Hills Winery and Historic Hahndorf. Hobart experiences are as above.

An 11-Night Great Barrier Reef itinerary departing Sydney in November 2022 and making the most of Queensland’s tropical north. Celebrity Eclipse guests can dive the waters of Port Douglas, hang out with the wildlife in Cairns, relax in Airlie Beach and discover bustling Brisbane. Shore excursions include a Daintree Rainforest and River Cruise, an overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef, a scenic Fixed Wing Flight over Heart Reef, Reef and Rainforest Discovery by Helicopter and, in Brisbane, The Story of Indigenous Australians with Bush BBQ Lunch.

Aerial shot ot Great Barrier Reef — Shore excursions include an overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef.

For a limited time only, you can enjoy 25 per cent off these unique holidays and up to $200 spending money while onboard. Drinks, wi-fi and service charges are Always Included. Book now at Celebrity Cruises .

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .