While winter is often seen as a season to retreat indoors and hibernate, Tasmania’s Off Season invites travellers to do the opposite – stepping out into the island’s wild landscapes to feel awakened, invigorated and immersed in nature through a diverse range of cool-season adventures found only during the colder months.
Across the island, travellers can glide across Dove Lake beneath snow-dusted peaks, drift silently through ancient rainforest waterways on the Gordon River, descend into glow worm-filled caves, warm up aboard floating sauna boats, trace rugged shipwreck coastlines on King Island and venture deep into the remote landscapes of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
To help travellers plan their winter escape down south, Tourism Tasmania has curated a selection of some of this Off Season’s best wilderness adventure experiences below.
Cradle Mountain Canyons – Cradle Mountain, North-West Tasmania
Offer: A Morning Adrift on Dove Lake
This Off Season, Cradle Mountain Canyons is offering travellers the rare chance to kayak on Dove Lake beneath the snow-dusted peaks of Cradle Mountain, with tours operating only when alpine conditions allow. Limited to groups of up to eight, the guided three-hour experience sees guests paddle hand-built King Billy pine kayaks across the lake’s dark, glassy waters before stopping on a secluded shoreline for a hot drink and snacks, surrounded by misty rainforest and alpine wilderness. The experience embraces the unpredictability of Tasmania’s winter weather – where still mornings and mirror-like reflections can quickly shift to snow and rolling mountain mist.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours – Huon Valley, Southern Tasmania
Offer: Winter Cycling Retreat in the Huon Valley
Set against the quiet backroads and rolling landscapes of the Huon Valley, Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours has created a private three-day winter retreat combining mindful cycling with restorative wellness experiences. Days unfold through guided rides in the crisp winter air, followed by breathwork, journalling and contrast therapy sessions at Woodland Bay Retreat, where heat and cold immersion experiences are framed by surrounding bushland and water views. Featuring local Huon Valley produce and slower moments of rest and reflection between rides, the experience is designed to encourage reconnection – with Tasmania, with others and with the rhythms of winter itself.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Life’s An Adventure – Multiple Locations Across Tasmania
Offer: Walking Tour Special – Discount for Groups of 8+
For travellers looking to experience Tasmania’s wilderness trails in the quieter winter months, Life’s An Adventure is offering groups of eight or more $500 off selected guided walking tours per person, alongside a complimentary night of pre-departure accommodation in Hobart or Launceston. The offer applies across a range of the operator’s pack-free Tasmanian walking experiences, including the dramatic Three Capes region, where travellers move through towering dolerite cliffs, remote beaches, rainforest tracks and windswept coastal heath without the peak-season crowds.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Corinna Wilderness Village – takayna / Tarkine, West Coast Tasmania
Offer: Corinna Fungi Month Photography Workshop
Deep within the rainforest surrounds of takayna / Tarkine, Corinna Wilderness Village is inviting travellers to experience Tasmania’s winter fungi season through a three-day guided photography workshop led by acclaimed Tasmanian nature photographer Luke O’Brien. Designed for a relaxed pace of exploration and learning, the experience includes guided walks through damp rainforest trails at the peak of fungi season, where guests photograph colourful and unusual species while learning focus techniques, composition and post-processing skills directly from O’Brien. Accommodation at Corinna Wilderness Village is included, with the remote former mining settlement – reached via a hand-operated cable barge across the Pieman River – offering a rare sense of stillness and disconnection.
*Valid 27 May – 29 May 2026
Leven River Cruises – Ulverstone, North-West Tasmania
Offer 1: Set Sail into a Winter Wonderland
Offer 2: Family and Kids’ River Adventure
Offer 3: The Focus is on the Forest
On Tasmania’s North West coast, Leven River Cruises has launched three new Off Season experiences that showcase the quieter rhythms of winter along the Leven River – from cosy sightseeing cruises and family-focused adventures to guided access into a rarely visited riverside forest reserve.
‘Set Sail into a Winter Wonderland’ invites guests aboard a relaxed winter cruise complete with hot drinks, local cheese, seasonal fruit and freshly baked muffins, as misty river scenery and cool-season wildlife drift past. Meanwhile, the ‘Family and Kids’ River Adventure’ places younger travellers at the centre of the experience, with kid-friendly commentary, guaranteed window seats and opportunities to spot native wildlife including sea eagles and platypus, alongside small take-home gift bags for each child.
The third experience, ‘The Focus is on the Forest’, offers exclusive access to the historic Leven Park reserve, where guests wander through towering eucalyptus and man fern forest during Tasmania’s winter fungi season. Travellers are encouraged to slow down among the damp undergrowth and vibrant fungi displays before settling in for a picnic beside the river or beneath the park’s sheltered tables.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Kuuma Nature Sauna – Margate, Southern Tasmania
Offer 1: After Dark Sauna Cruise
Offer 2: Sauna Stories
Offer 3: Winter Sunrise Sauna Cruise
Just south of Hobart at Margate Marina, Kuuma Nature Sauna – Australia’s first floating sauna boat – has unveiled three new Off Season experiences centred around heat, cold water and the atmospheric beauty of Tasmania’s winter coastline.
The adults-only ‘After Dark Sauna Cruise’ sees just six guests drift through the stillness of North West Bay beneath the night sky, alternating between the crackling warmth of the wood-fired sauna, icy ocean plunges and peppermint tea aboard the floating vessel. In contrast, ‘Sauna Stories’ unfolds dockside on Friday evenings, where travellers move between the softly heated sauna and firepit while listening to curated literary storytelling sessions themed differently each week. Rounding out the program, the ‘Winter Sunrise Sauna Cruise’ begins at first light, with guests cruising across calm winter waters before embracing the sauna’s heat and braving cold-water dips in secluded coastal bays as dawn breaks across the channel.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Mole Creek Caves – Mole Creek, Northern Tasmania
Offer: Glow Worm Gazer
Beneath the limestone landscapes of Northern Tasmania, Mole Creek Caves is offering travellers an immersive after-dark glow worm experience that combines slow exploration with hands-on conservation. Limited to just eight guests per tour, the guided experience invites participants to step into the darkness of the cave system to help count glow worms as part of a citizen science initiative, while learning about the tiny bioluminescent larvae and observing them up close in their delicate silk nests. The experience concludes with quiet time spent lying beneath the cave ceiling on mats and blankets, watching thousands of tiny blue lights shimmer overhead in a calming, sensory encounter deep underground.
*Valid 1 May – 30 June 2026
Ben Lomond Alpine Resort – Ben Lomond National Park, Northern Tasmania
Event: Christmas in July Extravaganza
Offer: Ski Slopes Fun and Fireside Mulled Wine
Rising more than 1,500 metres above Tasmania’s north-east, Ben Lomond Alpine Resort has introduced two new Off Season experiences celebrating the island’s alpine winter atmosphere – from festive long-table dining in the snow to classic ski-field adventures beside crackling firepits. Following major snowmaking and grooming upgrades, the resort now offers Tasmania’s most reliable snow season, with travellers able to drive directly into the ski village and onto the slopes throughout winter.
On 11 July, the mountain will transform for the annual ‘Christmas in July Extravaganza’, where guests are invited to embrace a festive winter celebration featuring Tasmanian produce, seasonal dining and snow-covered surrounds high above the plateau. Meanwhile, the ‘Ski Slopes Fun and Fireside Mulled Wine’ offer pairs a day on the snow with all-day lift passes, snow chains and ski or snowboard hire before travellers return to Ben Lomond Base for mulled wine, hot chocolate or warm drinks beside the firepit as the alpine air settles in around them.
*Offer valid 1 June – 31 August 2026; Event: 11 July 2026.
Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes – Hobart, Southern Tasmania
Offer: Kunanyi / Mount Wellington Alpine Scenic Flight
Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes has launched a new Off Season–only alpine scenic flight offering travellers a bird’s-eye perspective of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the rugged winter landscapes surrounding Hobart. Departing from the city’s waterfront, the experience climbs above the River Derwent before tracing the snow-dusted ridgelines and dramatic dolerite cliffs of the Wellington Range, revealing alpine tarns, deep gullies and weather-carved formations from above.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
SeaLink Bruny Island Ferries – Bruny Island, Southern Tasmania
Offer: Cruise into Bruny Island’s Winter Wilderness
SeaLink Bruny Island Ferries is inviting travellers to experience Bruny Island through the quieter rhythms of winter with discounted Saver and Super Saver fares on selected early morning and evening crossings this Off Season. Arriving by ferry as mist hangs over the D’Entrecasteaux Channel or darkness settles across the coastline, the experience offers a different perspective on the island during its cooler months – when beaches empty out, wildlife becomes easier to spot and crisp night skies can occasionally reveal the Southern Lights. Between coastal walks and wildlife encounters, travellers can retreat into Bruny’s small cafés and providores to warm up over local oysters, cheese, whisky and seasonal produce.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Gorge Scenic Chairlift– Launceston, Northern Tasmania
Offer: A Chair and a Yarn
In Launceston, Cataract Gorge takes on a quieter, more atmospheric character through ‘A Chair and a Yarn’ – an Off Season storytelling experience combining a scenic chairlift journey with a guided historical walk through the First Basin precinct. The experience begins suspended above the Gorge aboard the Cataract Gorge Scenic Chairlift, where winter light and mist shift across the cliffs and water below, before travellers join local guides from Wallaby Walkabout to explore the stories layered through the landscape. Along the way, the tour traces the history of the Gorge’s original custodians alongside the colourful identities, local legends and defining moments that have shaped one of Tasmania’s most iconic natural landmarks.
*Valid 4 May – 31 August 2026
World Heritage Cruises – Strahan, West Coast Tasmania
Offer 1: Kids Cruise Free – We’re Going on a Tiger Hunt!
Offer 2: Rain Guarantee
Offer 3: Upgrade Your Gordon River View
Event: Solstice Cruise
On Tasmania’s West Coast, World Heritage Cruises has introduced a series of Off Season experiences designed to showcase Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River through the wild moodiness of winter – from family adventures and cosy cabin upgrades to a solstice celebration on the water.
Families travelling aboard the ‘Kids Cruise Free – We’re Going on a Tiger Hunt!’ experience can join a themed wilderness journey through Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River, complete with onboard activities inspired by the elusive Tasmanian tiger and the surrounding rainforest landscapes. Meanwhile, the operator’s ‘Rain Guarantee’ leans directly into the region’s famously dramatic weather, with guests offered the opportunity to return for free on another day if rain falls continuously throughout their cruise. Travellers seeking a slower, more elevated winter experience can also take advantage of the ‘Upgrade Your Gordon River View’ offer, with upgraded Premier Upper Deck seating providing expansive views across mist-covered waterways and rainforest-lined riverbanks.
Returning for its third year in partnership with the Strahan Solstice Weekend, the ‘Solstice Cruise’ on 19 June will see guests board Harbour Master II for an evening of food, drinks and live entertainment celebrating the winter solstice and the gradual return of longer days along Tasmania’s rugged west coast.
*Offers valid 1 May – 31 August 2026. Solstice Cruise held 19 June 2026.
Gordon River Cruises – Strahan, West Coast Tasmania
Offer 1: Complimentary Winter Cruise Upgrade
Offer 2: Kids Cruise Free
Departing from Strahan, Gordon River Cruises is offering travellers two new Off Season experiences exploring the remote waterways and ancient rainforest landscapes of Tasmania’s west coast. Using quiet electric propulsion once inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the full-day journey crosses Macquarie Harbour, passes through Hell’s Gates and ventures deep into the Gordon River, where tannin-dark waters create the region’s distinctive mirror-like reflections beneath moody winter skies.
As part of the ‘Complimentary Winter Cruise Upgrade’ offer, guests booking Main Deck Central tickets will receive a free upgrade to Main Deck Window seating, alongside a chef-prepared buffet lunch, guided rainforest walks and early access onto the Gordon River. During the winter school holidays, families can also take advantage of the ‘Kids Cruise Free’ offer, with younger travellers invited aboard to experience the west coast’s mist-covered waterways, towering rainforest and layered local history through immersive storytelling and guided interpretation designed to engage both children and adults alike.
*Offer 1 valid 1 May – 30 August 2026; Offer 2 valid 6 – 27 July 2026.
King Island Walks – King Island, North-West Tasmania
Offer 1: Winter Expedition – The Netherby Survival Route
Offer 2: Penguins, Pinot and Puffer Jackets
King Island Walks has unveiled two Off Season experiences that lean into the island’s wild coastal beauty and winter character – from windswept historical expeditions to penguin encounters beside the Southern Ocean.
The multi-day ‘Winter Expedition – The Netherby Survival Route’ follows part of the coastline traversed by survivors of the Netherby shipwreck in 1866, guiding travellers through remote beaches, rolling dunes and weather-shaped headlands en route to Cape Wickham. Along the way, local guides share stories of endurance, rescue and survival tied to one of Tasmania’s most dramatic maritime events, while evenings retreat indoors to comfortable island accommodation.
Meanwhile, ‘Penguins, Pinot and Puffer Jackets’ offers a more relaxed winter experience centred on King Island’s little penguin colonies. Wrapped in weatherproof jackets and armed with Tasmanian pinot noir, guests gather along the coastline at dusk to watch penguins emerge from the surf and waddle ashore, embracing the island’s chilly winter atmosphere in distinctly Tasmanian fashion.
*Offer 1 valid 1 – 31 July 2026; Offer 2 valid 1 May – 31 August 2026.
Luxury Golf & Scenic Tours Tasmania – Multiple Locations Across Tasmania
Offer: Wild Winter Indulgence Tassie Tour
Luxury Golf & Scenic Tours Tasmania has created a four-day small-group winter journey showcasing Tasmania through its cool-climate food, wine and dramatic coastal landscapes. Beginning in Launceston, the itinerary unfolds through vineyard lunches and wine tastings before continuing east towards the Freycinet Peninsula, where travellers experience granite peaks, secluded beaches and private seafood and wine experiences framed by the region’s rugged coastline.
From there, the journey heads south along towering sea cliffs and the windswept landscapes surrounding Port Arthur, before concluding in Hobart with visits to Mona and a farewell lunch celebrating Tasmania’s rich seasonal produce. Designed to capture the island at its most atmospheric, the experience blends wilderness, indulgence and slower winter travel across some of Tasmania’s most iconic regions.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Encounter Maria Island – Maria Island, East Coast Tasmania
Offer: Maria Island Brass Monkeys Swim Club
Off Tasmania’s East Coast, Encounter Maria Island is inviting winter travellers to test their courage in the icy waters surrounding Maria Island through the tongue-in-cheek ‘Maria Island Brass Monkeys Swim Club’. Guests purchasing a ‘Plunge Permit’ alongside their ferry transfer are challenged to fully submerge themselves in the island’s crystal-clear – and famously freezing – waters as part of the Off Season experience. Those brave enough to complete the cold-water rite of passage are rewarded with lifetime membership to the club, alongside commemorative prizes, paraphernalia and serious bragging rights after emerging from one of Tasmania’s chilliest coastal dips.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Par Avion – South West Tasmania
Offer: A Night in the Wilderness Guided Tour
Par Avion is offering travellers the chance to venture deep into Tasmania’s remote south-west this Off Season with a two-day wilderness journey into the World Heritage–listed landscapes of Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey. Reached only by light aircraft, the experience combines scenic flights, guided boat excursions across remote waterways and walks through rugged wilderness rarely accessed by road, before guests retreat to eco-cabins tucked within the vast landscape for hearty evening meals and an overnight stay far removed from mobile reception and modern distractions. Surrounded by dark skies, still waterways and the raw isolation of Southwest National Park, the winter experience offers $200 off per person throughout the Off Season.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
Tamar River Cruises – Launceston, Northern Tasmania
Offer: Winter Cruise – Cataract Gorge Adventure
Aboard the heritage-style Lady Launceston, Tamar River Cruises is offering a winter journey through the heart of Launceston and into the dramatic surrounds of Cataract Gorge this Off Season. The 50-minute return cruise glides past Kings Wharf, historic riverfront properties and the city’s working seaport before entering the steep cliffs and misty waters of the Gorge, where frost often clings to the landscape on colder mornings. As local guides share stories of the region’s maritime and colonial history, guests can warm up with complimentary hot chocolate while enjoying $5 off the standard cruise fare throughout winter.
*Valid 1 June – 31 August 2026
Island of Tasmania Tours – South West Tasmania
Offer: Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder Day Tour
Island of Tasmania Tours is offering a small-group winter journey into the vast landscapes of Tasmania’s World Heritage south-west, where remote waterways, alpine wilderness and monumental hydro infrastructure converge. Led by local guide David, the full-day experience travels through the rugged interior to Lake Pedder and the Gordon Dam – Australia’s highest arch dam – with travellers invited to walk across the towering structure while learning about the region’s geology, botany and layered human history along the way. Framed by moody winter weather and expansive wilderness scenery, the Off Season experience also includes a special seniors discount throughout winter.
*Valid 1 May – 31 August 2026
