Many of us consider travelling to Australia or New Zealand in wintertime to experience the stunning antipodean summer, but many stick to the main Kiwi islands or the enormous single Aussie landmass. In actual fact, one of the most beautiful and pleasant places to be is the island state of Tasmania, just south of the mainland; and one of the best activities you can get up to in a blazing Tasmanian summer is cycling.
As the 26th largest island in the world with a scarce population of roughly half a million people, its scope is considerable, offering plenty of wide open terrain for exploration. Tasmania is Australia’s most mountainous state which proves ideal for those who like a real challenge; however, the terrain is surprisingly diverse and allows for much more relaxed, flat routes between idyllic villages. There is also plenty of middle ground, with up-and-down tracks that strike the perfect balance between hard exercise and enjoyable touring.
Summer is an ideal time to go due to the long hours of light, and also, although the sun can blaze down some days, Tasmania happens to be positioned within the Roaring Forties belt of high winds, which helps soothe conditions. Furthermore there are few things as mesmerising as a bicycle ride around the incomparably beautiful Tasmanian coastlines, with plenty of time allowed for a beach excursion!
If you’re a little confused as to how to approach the expanse of cycle routes and offroad challenges that pervade the island, then there are resources you can use to discover pre-planned trips and all-inclusive cycle holidays. Probably the best place to start is the capital city, Hobart… but from there your Tasmanian cycling journey could take you anywhere!