Tasmania climate
Tasmanians like to say that the island gets all four seasons in one day, but it has a mild, maritime, climate with plenty of rainfall. On the east coast, Hobart, for example, gets an average of 630mm, making it Australia's second-driest capital city (after Adelaide). The west coast gets four times that, about 2,400mm per year.December-March are the warmest months with temperatures between 17 and 23 degrees. May through August is winter; temperatures hover between 3 and 11 degrees.
When to fly to Tasmania
Peak Season:
Summer (December to February) is high season, when most travellers take cheap flights to Tasmania.
Off Season:
Winter - May to August - is low season.
Shoulder Season:
The autumn and spring months - March and November - are shoulder season, but the weather can be unpredictable. However, if you brave the elements you can save on flights and accommodation.
Getting around Tasmania
Just a couple of airlines offer flights around Tasmania. Airlines of Tasmania offer flights from Launceston to Flinders Island as well as tours to South West World Heritage Area. Tasair offers Hobart-Devonport, Devonport-King Island and Burnie-King Island flights.
If you're planning to explore Tasmania, hiring a car or camper van is the best idea. Several car-rental companies have desks at the major airports.
Tassielink and Redline offer extensive coach services around the island. Metro Tasmania operates bus services in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
Rail travel is not an option in Tasmania as there are no public passenger trains - just freight trains. Despite this, there are some great train journeys to take. The West Coast Wilderness Railway runs between Queenstown and Strahan, through the King River's gorge. It's a journey through rain forest. The Ida Bay Railway chugs from Lune River (about 90 minutes south of Hobart) to Deep Hole Bay, a distance of 7km.