Mindful travel in Tasmania
Here’s how to connect with nature, culture and sustainability on your Tassie adventures.
Choosing authentic local experiences and supporting Tasmania’s sustainable tourism community is win-win – you’re making a positive difference to the lives of locals (both the human kind, and the furry kind), and dialling up the warm-fuzzy vibes on your holiday.
Dive into our mindful travel tips – read four inspiring stories of likeminded locals and start planning your next holiday in Tasmania.
Forest Bathing Experience with Nature. Be in It.
What is mindful travel?
Mindful travel is all about connecting with your holiday destination in a more meaningful way. Being present means you can get even more enrichment out of your trip, while making sustainability-conscious decisions means you’re contributing positively to the places and people you meet along the way.
EXPLORE THE STORIES
Meet the locals driving the eco innovations behind Tasmania’s top sustainable tourism experiences in this four-part Travelling mindfully series. Read the articles and watch the videos for more inspiration.
Part 1 – This is Tasmania
Get to know the local sustainable tourism community and help make a difference to Tasmania’s wilderness, wildlife and people when you visit.
Meet the innovators
Part 2 - Tasmania's nature
Discover eco-tourism experiences in Tasmania’s precious cool-temperate landscapes – from ancient forest hiking trips to sustainable foraging adventures and Palawa bushfood tours.
Embrace the wilderness
Part 3 - Tasmania's waterways
Did you know most of Tasmania’s energy is powered by renewable hydroelectricity? Immerse yourself in Tasmania’s cooling waterways with these sustainable tour guides.
Go with the flow
Part 4 – Tasmania’s air
It’s official: the world’s cleanest air can be found on Tasmania’s north-west coast, scientifically measured at Kennaook / Cape Grim. Experience the pure invigoration for yourself.
Take it all in
7 ways to travel sustainably
Travel mindfully with these seven eco-friendly travel tips.
1. Support local Tasmanian growers, families and businesses
Nothing hits the spot quite like Tassie produce and hospitality, plus you’re putting money back into the community. From artisan keepsakes to fresh food and drink, supporting Tasmania’s local businesses is as heartwarming as it is indulgent.
2. Immerse in Tasmanian Aboriginal culture
Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) travel experiences allow you to connect with the oldest continuous living culture in the world. Learn about Palawa traditions and history and support the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
3. Pop into a wildlife sanctuary
The only thing better than an encounter with a fluffy animal? Knowing your encounter is funding wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts, of course. You can help preserve and protect the island’s endearing native wildlife with these top Tassie sanctuaries.
Bay of Fires Lodge-Spa, Tasmanian Walking Company
4. Leave no trace in nature
Soak up the tranquility while doing your bit to protect Tasmania’s conservation areas and wild places. Embrace environmentally friendly travel: stay on the walking tracks to avoid trampling the island’s precious flora, leave natural objects as you found them and stay a safe distance (at least 2m) from wild animals.
5. Choose low-footprint accommodation
Eco retreats are a great way to immerse yourself more mindfully in Tasmania’s nature. Soothe your senses in a rainforest or beside a quiet beach while having a positive impact on the environment around you: here’s a round-up of top sustainable accommodation in Tasmania to get you inspired.
6. Breathe a little deeper
Tune into your senses for that next-level mindful travel experience. Tasmania’s got serene sensations in spades – inhale the crisp scent of mountain mist and ocean air; feel cool water and soft sunlight on your skin; taste the fresh flavours of locally foraged ingredients and see the vivid hues of nature.
7. Stay longer and travel slower
Slow right down into island time. Tasmanians always have time for a smile and a chinwag. Staying longer in one place is relaxing for you and better for the environment. So give it a try – stop and smell the wildflowers.
Why is Tasmania the best place for mindful travel?
This island is a natural paradise. The locals here are pretty proud of Tasmania’s clean air, great-tasting water, unique (and lovable) wildlife and the fact that nearly half of the island’s landmass is protected in national parks and reserves as diverse as they are enchanting.
Read on for sustainable Tassie-owned tours galore that’ll have you travelling mindfully in no time – from Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage experiences and walking tours through Tasmania’s primeval wilderness to glamping beside protected kelp forests and sustainable foraging adventures.
Start planning your sustainable holiday in Tasmania
There’s no better time than the present. Take a look at Tasmanian accommodation and tours (bonus points for choosing eco-accredited businesses – look for the logo), then pick your favourite experiences and bundle them into your dream Tasmania travel itinerary with our Trip Planner. You can build and edit your itinerary before you get here, or while you’re on the island, and share it with your mates. Sustainable travel planning never felt so easy.
And remember the key mindful travel tenets: support local businesses, choose fresh local produce, connect authentically with the Palawa community and help protect the island’s beloved wild animals and wilderness areas.
Oh, and don’t forget to take it slow. You’ll be breathing more deeply in no time.
Travelling mindfully in Tasmania FAQs
Why choose Tasmania vs other destinations? You won’t find anywhere else with air as clean as Tasmania, and the water down here tastes next-level fresh.
Tasmania takes conservation seriously, with nearly half of the island protected in national parks and reserves – filled with free-roaming wildlife and ancient Gondwanan plant species, including rare alpine trees thousands of years old. Discover unique Tasmanian Aboriginal bushfoods on a Palawa-led tour, go glamping beside a protected kelp forest, or embark on a hiking adventure in Tasmania’s ancient wild places.
You’ll find no shortage of sustainable accommodation and eco-certified tours in Tasmania.
Browse the full range of experiences on our accommodation and tour pages and filter your search by type, duration or region to find something that piques your interest.
Click on the tours and stays that take your fancy and scroll down to look for their eco-certification badges, such as the green and gold Sustainable Tourism accreditation by ATIC badge, the star-shaped Quality tourism accreditation badge or the EcoStar accredited business green and gold badge. Build your favourite experiences into a personalised itinerary using our Trip Planner.
Immerse yourself in Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural experiences with wukalina Walk, guiding you through Palawa cultural traditions in the tranquil Mount William National Park coastal wilderness. Palawa Kipli takes you on a mindful bushfood journey learning about (and tasting) Tasmanian Aboriginal bush tucker. Or trek the coast of Boat Harbour with tunapri Patuyala, an intimate tour blending science, nature and hands-on traditional Palawa cultural practices.
Find more Tasmanian Aboriginal experiences.
For starters, embrace Tasmania’s water culture – water is a way of life down here. Embark on an eco-cruise aboard a sustainable vessel, such as Pennicott Wilderness Journeys or Gordon River Cruises. Paddle your way along Tasmania’s quiet rivers and rugged coastlines with Roaring 40s Kayaking or tread lightly on a luxury guided walk with locally owned Tasmanian Walking Company.
You can minimise the environmental impact of your travels by using an electric vehicle and charging your car at pitstops across the island with Tasmania’s interactive charging site map. Eco-friendly transport EVs are available to hire from Evry Drive.
Then relax with some top-notch low-carbon-footprint accommodation such as Compass Hut tiny home in the north west, the Trig on Mount Arthur eco-luxe 50-acre property, or sustainable architecture award-winning Dales of Derby in northern Tasmania.
If you’re pondering when to visit Tasmania, any time’s a fine time with four distinctive seasons bringing their own unique flavour, character, flora and events calendar to the island. But one way to really lean into sustainable travel is to spend longer in the same place, reducing your environmental impact, and choose off-peak seasonal travel to avoid over-crowding at peak times. This keeps the economic benefits flowing into Tasmania’s tourism community year-round.
There’s no ‘best season’ for mindful travel but autumn and spring are always a tad quieter than summer and a great time to explore, while winter (aka the Off Season) brings a whole new level of ‘cool’ to sustainable seasonal travel.
