Tasmania: A 17-Day Family Reset

Slow traveling through Hobart, Bruny Island, and the Huon Valley with a toddler in tow.

Tasmania with a Toddler: What Surprised Us Most

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Tasmania is often sold as a rugged wilderness for hikers, but our 17-day journey through the south-east taught us that Tasmania with a toddler is actually the ultimate “Slow Travel” playground for parents. Here are the four things that truly caught us by surprise:

  • Wildlife isn’t just “out there,” it’s on your doorstep: We didn’t need to go deep into the bush; the wildlife came to us. From the white wallabies grazing right outside our Bruny Island cabin to the wombats roaming the grass on Maria Island, our toddler was constantly mesmerized by nature in its rawest form.

  • The “Micro-Adventure” Reset: We expected the big landmarks to be the highlights, but the real magic was in the quiet moments, like a 30-minute stop at a roadside creek in the Huon Valley or watching the sunset over the Southern Ocean from our deck.

  • A “Front Row Seat” to the Universe: We were shocked to find that “Slow Travel” in Tassie sometimes means looking up. Seeing the Aurora Australis explode into purple and green over the ocean on a random Tuesday night on Bruny Island was a core memory we never expected to make.

  • Toddlers and “Tassie Pace” go hand-in-hand: Whether it was the early 3:30 AM start to our journey or the sleepy vibes of Geeveston, the state’s relaxed pace felt like it was built for family travel. Locals weren’t bothered by the chaos; they just offered tips on where to find the local platypus.

Tasmania: The 17-Day Reset at a Glance

Planning a Tasmania trip of your own? We’ve put together a 10-day Tasmania family itinerary based on the highlights of this trip: everything we’d do again, structured for families with young kids.

Chapter 1: Hobart Landing

The 3:30 AM Reality & Finding Our Feet

Our 17-day journey didn’t start with a quiet mountain view; it started with a sharp 3:30 AM alarm and the challenge of getting Kailani up and moving while the world was still pitch black. Despite the ungodly hour, our Jetstar flight was a win. The onboard breakfast was actually delicious and kept us all fueled for the arrival.

Once we landed in Hobart, we were met with glorious January sunshine and a quick reality check: the city’s hills are no joke when you’re pushing a pram. We spent our first 48 hours “finding our feet” at the Salamanca Markets and hunting down the best coffee in the city to offset the early start. It was the perfect, slightly caffeinated introduction to the Tassie pace.

For everything you need to know about navigating Hobart with little ones, check out our Hobart with Kids guide.

Crowds at the Salamanca Market in Hobart — a must on any Tasmania itinerary: 10 days or longer
Mother and baby wombat foraging together on Maria Island, Tasmania

Chapter 2: Maria Island - A Day of Wombats & Fossil Cliffs

On January 18th, we took a break from the Hobart hills and headed to Maria Island, a place where cars aren’t allowed and the wildlife clearly didn’t get the memo about being shy. We took an early morning shuttle bus from Brooke Street Pier and made the 90-minute drive from Hobart to Triabunna Wharf to catch the ferry to Maria Island. Grabbing a coffee on the wharf and breakfast on board! 

Navigating the ferry with a toddler was surprisingly easy, and we spent the day walking the trails including Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs. All up, we hiked 19km – and estimate that Kailani walked about 15km all on her own…being carried the other 4km!  The real highlight for Kailani? The wombats. They were casually grazing as if we weren’t even there. It was a perfect 1:1 ratio of education and play, and a reminder that the best days often require a bit of extra travel to find the quiet.

Want the full breakdown? Read our Maria Island family day trip guide.

Chapter 3: The Bruny Island Reset

After the hills of Hobart, Bruny Island felt like a deep breath for the whole family. We swapped the city streets for a quiet cabin deck and a view that stretched all the way to the Southern Ocean.

Our days became a slow rhythm of hunting for the famous white wallaby, who made a star appearance right outside our door, and exploring the island’s rugged edges. However, not every moment was a postcard. We arrived at “The Neck” lookout around 9:00 PM, only to be met with a classic toddler timing: a mandatory toilet stop before the ascent.

Let’s just say the “environmentally friendly” drop toilets at the base were a little too organic for Kailani’s liking. Jomana took one for the team, getting a full face of that unforgettable “sturdy” aroma while assisting her, which definitely added a bit of chaos to our sunset arrival!

But the payoff was worth the olfactory trauma. Seeing the Aurora Australis flicker into life over the water on a random Tuesday night was a core memory we never expected to make. It was a reminder that when you slow down, the universe (and the toilets) always has a surprise for you.

For the full Bruny Island experience, check out our Bruny Island family guide.

Murray and Kailani watching the Aurora Australis from Bruny Island, Tasmania

Chapter 4: The Green Heart & The Huon Valley

Leaving the coast behind, we headed into the lush, rolling hills of the Huon Valley. If Hobart was the “finding our feet” phase and Bruny was the “reset,” the Huon Valley was where we truly embraced the Slow Travel life.

We based ourselves in the quiet town of Geeveston, where the local pace is dictated by the seasons and the morning fog. For Kailani, this was the chapter of discovery. We spent our mornings hunting for the elusive platypus in the local creek (patience is a toddler’s greatest challenge!) and our afternoons puddle-jumping through the local parks after the soft Tassie rain.

Between the world-class cider sheds and the towering trees of the Tahune AirWalk, the Huon Valley gave us exactly what we were looking for: space to breathe and time to notice the small things, like the way the light hits the apple orchards at dusk.

Kailani walking the boardwalk trail to Lake Esperance in Hartz Mountains National Park, Tasmania

Chapter 5: From Subterranean Art to Sunday Markets

We returned to Hobart for our final few days feeling like different people from those who stumbled off that 3:30 AM flight. The hills didn’t feel quite so steep, and our “Slow Travel” rhythm was finally second nature.

Our last days were a relaxed selection of Hobart’s finest. We spent a day at MONA, where the architecture alone is enough to blow your mind, and Kailani found the “Poo Machine” infinitely more fascinating than the fine art. A total win for toddler engagement!

We also wandered through the Farm Gate Market on Sunday morning and made the trip out to Westerway Raspberry farm to spend a sun-drenched arvo picking our own berries. There’s nothing quite like the taste of a Tasmanian berry still warm from the sun. As we watched the sun set over the Derwent River one last time, we realised we weren’t just taking home memories; we were taking home a slower, better way of moving through the world.

View of Hobart's working waterfront and marina from Hotel Grand Chancellor, Tasmania

Where We Stayed in Tasmania

We moved bases three times on this trip, which let us explore each area slowly without long daily drives with a toddler.

Hobart: We split our Hobart nights between the Edinburgh Gallery B&B, within walking distance of the city, and the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, right on the waterfront with views over the marina.

Bruny Island: This is where we slowed right down, in a cabin with a deck looking out to the Southern Ocean. For the quietest stays, look around Lunawanna on South Bruny, or browse all Bruny Island stays.

Huon Valley: We based ourselves in the quiet town of Geeveston, close to the Tahune AirWalk and the Hartz Mountains. Browse Huon Valley stays.

Tasmania with a Toddler: FAQs

Is Tasmania good for toddlers?

Yes. Tasmania’s relaxed pace suits toddlers perfectly. Wildlife was never far away, from the white wallaby outside our Bruny Island cabin to the wombats on Maria Island, and locals were always happy to share tips on where to spot a platypus.

What’s the best time to visit Tasmania with kids?

Summer. We went in January and the weather was just right, not too cold and not too hot, so we were out exploring most days.

How long do you need in Tasmania with a toddler?

We spent 17 days, which let us travel at a toddler’s pace between Hobart, Maria Island, Bruny Island and the Huon Valley. If you have less time, our 10-day Tasmania family itinerary covers the highlights we’d do again.

Do you need a car in Tasmania with kids?

Yes, outside Hobart. Public transport is limited to Hobart and nearby suburbs, so we hired a car for Bruny Island and the Huon Valley. In Hobart itself we didn’t need one and explored mostly on foot. For Maria Island, we took the shuttle bus from Brooke Street Pier to Triabunna, which you can book on Viator.

How do you get to Bruny Island with kids?

By car ferry from Kettering. We drove our hire car onto the ferry, and our daughter loved the crossing, watching the boats while we soaked up the views.

Is Maria Island doable with a toddler?

Yes. The ferry from Triabunna was surprisingly easy with a toddler, and ours walked most of our 19km day on her own, with wombats grazing right beside the trails.

Is MONA worth visiting with young kids?

Yes, with a plan. We’d recommend MONA for families, though it suits older kids better than little ones. Tag-teaming worked best for us: one parent explores the museum while the other takes the kids to the play area outside the main exhibition. Our toddler still found the Poo Machine endlessly fascinating.

Can you see the Aurora Australis from Bruny Island?

Yes, we did. We saw it on an ordinary Tuesday night on Bruny Island during our January trip, though sightings are never guaranteed.

Is Hobart pram friendly?

Mostly, but the hills are steep. We found them hard work with a pram, so we spent our first two days around the flatter waterfront and Salamanca Market.

Where should families stay in Tasmania?

We split our trip between Hobart, a cabin on Bruny Island and the Huon Valley town of Geeveston. Moving bases meant we could explore each area slowly without long daily drives. Browse Tasmania stays.

Ready to Plan Your Own Tasmania Trip?

Our 17-day trip gave us more material than we could ever fit into one post, but we’ve distilled the very best of it into a practical 10-day Tasmania family itinerary built specifically for families with young kids. Everything we’d do again, everything we’d skip, and the honest stuff no one else tells you. Start there.

Want more? Explore our deep-dive guides for every stop.

Scroll to Top