Tasmania offers a great range of things to do for every kind of person – both indoors and out; from culture and music to adventure sports and exploration.

Tasmania may be a small island, but it packs in a great number of things that you can do. Tassie, as it is popularly known, has vast national parks, a vibrant food scene, several adventure sports options to begin with. It offers some great shopping too. If you’re considering a move to Tasmania, here is a handy list of things to do in Tasmania to get you started.

Touristy things

It’s very common to overlook the tourist destinations in the city that you stay, so the first thing you must do, is make notes for yourself on the places to visit. Here are some options. Take some time to explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Here you will find glacier lined crags, lakes that shimmer, as well as extensive beech forests. A great walk to take is the Lake Dove Walk trail which gives you some great views of the mountain.

The city of Hobart alone has so much to offer someone looking to explore. The MONA – Museum of Old and New Art which documents the region’s art beautifully is a great place to start. For an immersive experience of Tasmania’s food, a walk around the waterfront precinct is a great way to start. The Port Arthur Historic Site is the old convict settlement of the region and is around an hour away from Hobart. It makes for a great day trip. Spend some time at the World heritage-listed Freycinet National Park and particularly at the Wineglass Bay, one of the top beaches of the region.

If you are one for great views, then you cannot beat the majestic views from Kunanyi at Mount Wellington. Salamanca Place and Bruny National Park are also great places to visit. Begin with these and you are sure to find many more to add to your list.

Music and culture

Music enthusiasts will have a great time at any one of the many venues for music in Tasmania. Some of the best music venues are at Hobart. Check out the gigs playing at some of these places. Start with The Brisbane Hotel – it’s not the most premium of places but it is one of the best music venues around. The bands that play here are passionate musicians, who create some beautiful music and don’t just play covers. Another great place is The Grand Poobah. This is a popular spot for visiting bands as well as local ones. The Republic Bar has to be one of the most popular ones around, with live gigs happening every day of the week. Playing at this venue is believed to be a band’s step to stardom. The Royal Oak Hotel and Club 54, both in Launceston are quite popular with the youngsters.

If you would like to explore some of the culture of Tasmania, then there are numerous things that you can do. Head to the Old Hobart Town Model Village that replicates the life and history of Hobart. Another great place to visit is the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre that tells you the story of the miners back in the day and how they worked. The West Coast Heritage Centre explains elaborately the history and development of the West Coast. Do take some time out to visit the Port Arthur Historic site, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is little more than an hour’s drive from Hobart. And automobile enthusiasts will definitely have to make a stop at the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania.

Art and theatre

If you are looking for some good classical and theatre performances, there are several places that you can head to. Check out what is happening at the Salamanca Arts Centre, which has both theatre and performing arts. You could also try Princess Theatre, the Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre as well as the Earl Arts Centre. There are several other venues that you can choose to go to.

Tasmania is quite serious about its art and you will see that are over 50 galleries dedicated to various art forms. Rosny Barn is a gallery at Rosny Park; You have the Queen Victoria Art Gallery which is a heritage museum and bookshop as well. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart draws quite a crowd as well. Some other important galleries for your list should be Colville Gallery, The Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery and Design Tasmania.

Outdoor activities

The great thing about Tasmania is the fact that it has weather that is not too extreme and so the outdoors is always a great place to be. There are several activities that you can indulge in and numerous companies that will organise some great things for you to in your free time.

Considering that the island has a wonderful coastline, water-based activities are aplenty, from swimming to surfing and to other more adventurous activities. With the undulating landscape and the numerous mountains around – hiking and trekking are much loved activities as well. Rock climbing and camping are popular too.

Thanks to the great weather, you can also spend time exploring the food scene in Tasmania. There are several great spots for you head out to. What’s more, having a BBQ with the family in your backyard is something you can consider at all times.

Winter time is when you can make the most of the range of festivals that come to town (there are plenty that do the rounds in summer as well) and have yourself a great time.

In general, Tasmania has a humming arts, food and music scene, as well as being heaven for those who love the outdoors. If you have decided to make the move, contact Ausmove. We can arrange moving your possessions, your car, and even the cat and dog over the ditch.

Getting around Sunshine Coast

It’s easy to get around the Sunshine Coast. There’s a network of roads, buses, trains and taxis that mean you can easily get to where you need to be. The network is going to expand in the near future, making public transport much easier.

Driving yourself

The easiest way to get around is to drive in your own car. Whether you ship your car over from NZ or buy one in Australia, the net effect is the same. Once you’re in the Sunshine Coast, you can drive around on your NZ full driver’s licence for three months. After that, you’ll need to apply for a Queensland drivers licence. You’ll need to take your Kiwi licence, proof you live in Queensland and ID proof into a Queensland Government Agent Program office. Pay a fee (up to $200) and you’re good to go.

Parking is not as difficult on the Sunshine Coast as it is in other major Australian cities. You’ll find metered parking for short stays, and there are pay-as-you-go all day parking facilities for those who work in a town centre.

One very important thing to consider is that once you escape the populated areas of the Sunshine Coast, there are stretches of highway that are sparsely populated. Make sure you have plenty of gas and know where the next station is. If you’re getting low on petrol, don’t decide to re-fill at the next station- there may not be one for several hundred km! Also make sure you are self-sufficient with a spare tyre, all the tools needed to replace the tyre, and things like water for the radiator.

Public transport

There are the normal offerings of buses, trains and the Sunshine Coast Airport. There are also car rentals, taxis and rideshares. Download the Translink App on your smartphone to see the routes, any closures, and the best way to get to where you need to go.

Not all services will let you carry bikes or surfboards, so check that before you leave home.

Sunshine Coast has a mass transit project currently in place, and it has been underway since 2012. The local and central government project aims to link the main and smaller centres throughout the Sunshine Coast, reduce dependency on cars, and enable future expansion. This is underway, and this will allow people to easily access employment in areas away from home.

Go card

You can buy paper tickets or consider a go card if you anticipate regular travel. That way, you can top up as needed and to travel, simply touch the card to the reader at the start and end of your journey. It’s cheaper than a paper ticket (about 30% less and another 20% on off-peak times) and far simpler. As well as standard go cards, you can get go cards for seniors, children, and temporary ones for all-day or week long services. Children between 5 and 14 years old are free on the weekend, and seniors get discounts when they travel.

You can buy go cards from your local 7-Eleven or NightOwl store, or most major bus and train stations. Paper tickets can be purchased from train stations or as you board a bus.

Buses on the Sunshine Coast

There are two main bus operators, Sunbus and Glasshouse Country Coaches. Visit translink.com.au for timetables. The network is extensive throughout the suburbs and wider area through to Brisbane and the airport. Bus route 622 services the local airport.

There is a late-night bus service on Friday and Saturday along routes 600 and 620.

Trains on the Sunshine Coast

There are daily trains between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Most start from Nambour station, and run as far north as Gympie North. There’s also route 649 that runs between Nambour and Caboolture.

Ferries on the Sunshine Coast

There are ferries in some areas of the Sunshine Coast. From Horsehoe Bay to Langdale, there are seven sailings daily. From Earls Cove to Saltery Bay, there are eight sailings each day. From Westview to Blubber Bay, there are eight sailings a day, except on Wednesday has variations.

Sunshine Coast Council link

This is an affordable option for people over 60 years old or those with a disability. This is a door-to-door service that takes you from your home in the morning to the local shopping area. The return journey is around lunchtime. This makes shopping for your necessities easy and cheap. Check out the schedule for the Sunshine Coast here.

Taxis and rideshare

Suncoast Cabs are the largest provider throughout the Sunshine Coast. There are taxi ranks on Mooloolaba and the Esplanade, Ocean Street in Maroochydore, and Minchinton Street in Caloundra. These ranks operate on Friday and Saturday nights. A genuine cab has prominently display rank information ID number.

Uber is also located in the Sunshine Coast, simply download the app to get started.

Sunshine Coast airport

With a range of flights connecting you across Australia and overseas, the Sunshine Coast Airport has all the facilities you expect. You can fly direct to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland. The seasonal Auckland direct flight takes three and a half hours.

As well as car rentals, taxis and public bus services that run to and from the airport, there is also a shuttle bus. The Con-X-ion Airport transfer goes door-to-door throughout the region.

Cycling in the Sunshine Coast

The roads in the Sunshine Coast area lend themselves well to cycling. With rolling hills, lots of towns that are closely connected and easily navigable roads, there are options for your commute as well as pleasure rides. Because of the great weather in the area, cycling is a reliable way of getting around and it’s enjoyable year-round. Join the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club to find out more.

There are plenty of transport options in and around the Sunshine Coast. Don’t limit yourself to a car but take advantage of the buses and trains to take you where you need to go—no worries about driving, traffic or pollution.