National Park Attractions in Tasmania

Over a third of the island is protected in national parks and reserves and they are a joy to explore. There are 17 accessible national parks from the mountains to the coast. The Tasmanian World Heritage Area, the world's last great temperate wilderness, is made up of the Southwest National Park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain-St Clair National Park.

Unlike on the mainland, Tasmania is such a compact state that all the parks are in easy travelling distance. A fee is charged for entry to the national parks and all money raised goes back into protecting the parks for the future. A National Parks Pass (AUD$30) allows entry to all parks and is valid for two months. A 24-hour pass costs $15 per car and those on foot, bike or in a coach pay $5. * prices are subject to change without notice.

There are also marine reserves and extensive working forests with many forest reserves where you can kayak, take a bushwalk, ride a bike or hop on a horse.

In all there are more than 2000 km of world-class walking tracks, thousands of highland lakes, hundreds of clean ocean beaches, extensive underground caverns and natural sculptures along the rugged coastline.