From October 2025 through January 2026, my husband and I spent three unforgettable months traveling around southern Australia. We experienced more than we ever could have imagined, including ringing in the New Year aboard a boat in Sydney Harbour, but one of the most memorable parts of our adventure was visiting the island state of Tasmania. 

Tasmania is a truly special place, and somewhere we would love to return to one day. Although it may look small on a map beneath mainland Australia, the island is much larger than it seems. Tasmania’s main island is approximately the size of West Virginia, and we quickly discovered that its attractions are spread across a surprisingly large area. When planning our trip, we underestimated just how much time we would need. We had six full days to explore, but we easily could have spent several more. Nevertheless, we packed our days as full as possible and did our best to experience the island’s extraordinary scenery and wildlife. 

Part of Tasmania’s appeal is its quiet, unhurried atmosphere. It felt less crowded and commercialized than many other destinations we visited. With winding roads, remote landscapes and beautiful scenery around nearly every corner, it is an ideal place for a road trip. One of our favorite areas was the Tasman Peninsula, where we walked to Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and Waterfall Bay. Towering cliffs rise above the Southern Ocean, while waves crash into caves and rugged rock formations below. The coastline felt so wild and dramatic that at times it seemed as though we had stepped onto another planet, or into a science-fiction movie. It was also surreal to realize that as we looked out over the open ocean, the next landmass to the south was Antarctica. Standing there in the wind, we could definitely feel it. 

Another highlight was Cradle Mountain at Lake St Clair National Park. In the Cradle Mountain area, we completed the famous Dove Lake Circuit and hiked from Ronny Creek toward Lake Lilla. The landscape included glacial lakes, mountains, forests, and boardwalk trails over open fields of golden button grass. It was exactly the kind of wild scenery we had hoped to find in Tasmania. As beautiful as the landscape was, the greatest thrill was seeing wombats roaming freely in the wild. Wombats are sturdy, burrowing marsupials found only in Australia. With their round bodies, short legs and fuzzy faces, they reminded me of oversized teddy bears. So cute! Female wombats even have rear-facing pouches. Because wombats spend so much time digging tunnels and burrows, this unusual design helps prevent dirt from being pushed into the pouch where a baby, called a joey, may be developing. We were especially lucky to see a momma wombat walking through the grass with her joey close beside her. 

Of course, when most people hear the word “Tasmania,” they probably picture the Tasmanian devil. Despite their fierce name and the growls and screeches they make, these little animals completely won me over. We visited Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary near Hobart and joined one of its evening tours. We were even given the opportunity to feed Tasmanian devils. Up close, they were much smaller and cuter than I had imagined. Their powerful jaws help them eat nearly every part of a carcass, including cartilage and bone. They are scavengers. Relative to its body size, the Tasmanian devil is widely recognized as having one of the most powerful bites among carnivorous mammals. 

Australia’s animals were one of the things I loved most about our entire journey. Because Australia developed in geographic isolation, it is home to wildlife unlike anything we see here in the United States. We visited as many wildlife sanctuaries and parks as possible, where we had opportunities to feed kangaroos, see koalas up close, and learn more about the conservation of native species. 

Our six days in Tasmania passed much too quickly. We left feeling that we had only scratched the surface of everything the island has to offer. Between its untamed coastline, peaceful forests, mountain trails and remarkable animals, Tasmania feels like a place that is still wonderfully wild. 

We filmed our entire journey and would love to share more of our Australian adventure with you. You can find our travel videos on YouTube by searching for Abbie and Wiebe. We hope you will follow along, and we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood! 

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