ACCESSIBILITY

Tourism Tasmania understands that equal access means an easy and fun holiday for everyone. They warmly welcome visitors of all abilities, and are striving to make Tasmania’s diverse range of products and experiences more accessible for all.

Since everyone’s needs are as unique as they are, it’s always wise to check directly with individual operators to confirm their ability to accommodate any special accessibility requirements and to receive the latest updates. The following information is provided to give you a general overview of key information about accessibility within Tasmania and to provide relevant contacts for your own research.

Companion cards are accepted at a wide range of venues and tourism experiences throughout Tasmania, offering free carer entry to people with lifelong disabilities in possession of a Companion Card issued by any state or territory within Australia. For a list of businesses within Tasmania that accept Companion Cards visit companioncard.tas.gov.au/affiliates.

Accredited Visitor Information Centres are located in popular tourist destinations throughout the state, offering local knowledge and insights, assistance with itinerary planning, maps, equal access travel information and a free state-wide booking service. You’ll find these centres marked with blue signage and a yellow letter ‘i’ symbol open daily in prominent tourism destinations such as Hobart, Launceston, St Helen’s, Devonport and Strahan. For a full listing of Information Centre locations and contact details please visit startwithi.com.au/centres.

Tasmania has strong laws in place concerning access rights for guide dogs and hearing dogs in public places such as shops, hotels, restaurants and public transport. The legislative rights are governed by the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs Act 1967, and entitle accredited animals assisting people who are blind, have low vision or are hard of hearing full public access rights to all public places and public passenger vehicles. Under the legislation, it is an offence to refuse service or accommodation to a person accompanied by a verified guide dog. Please note that rare exceptions may apply, such as in commercial food preparation areas and walk-through exhibits at zoos. Accredited autism assistance dogs enjoy the same full public access rights. Please ensure you carry your identification card and any relevant accreditation paperwork with you. For further information please search ‘Tasmania guide dogs access rights’ or contact the Tasmanian Government Contact Centre on 1300 135 513.

Tasmania has its own set of rules governing travel with dogs, which apply in addition to the general rules concerning bringing dogs into Australia. These include biosecurity measures designed to prevent the spread of hydatid disease (from tapeworm) and brown dog tick on the island. On entry to Tasmania from mainland Australia, handlers will be required to present valid paperwork confirming their dog’s accreditation as a registered assistance animal. Handlers will need to complete a Biosecurity Declaration confirming that the dog is tick-free and claiming exemption from worming requirements as an accredited assistance animal. For further information and the latest updates please contact the governing authority at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6165 3777.

Check out the National Parks and Reserves section below for further information about dog guide access to the state’s protected areas.

Most Tasmanian art galleries and museums offer equal access to all visitors, including wheelchair users and patrons with limited mobility. Numerous other attractions, venues and experiences throughout the state also offer easy access to people using aids of all kinds, including the Salamanca Market and waterfront precincts in Hobart and Launceston.

A host of Tasmanian accommodation providers also offer ease of access for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. Hobart has quite a few hotels with equal-access rooms. Freycinet Lodge, Stewarts Bay Lodge on Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula and Strahan Holiday Retreat are just a few examples of accessible accommodation options further afield.

Hobart, Tasmania’s capital, offers a city centre mobility map that provides further information about accessible parking, toilets, gradients and rest spots around the city. You can download a copy by visiting the Accessible Parking and Transport page of the City of Hobart website at hobartcity.com.au or collect a printed copy from the wheelchair-accessible Hobart Travel and Information Centre on Davey Street (near the corner of Elizabeth Street).

The City of Hobart also offers courtesy wheelchair hire from its car park at 38 Argyle Street, which also features accessible parking bays. Two-hour and half-hour hire periods allow users to access shops within the city centre. For more information or bookings please call 03 6238 2780.

Keep listening for further information about access to Tasmania’s beautiful national parks and reserves.

Tasmania has an abundance of National Parks and Reserves that offer protection to many of the state’s most pristine environments, and the flora and fauna who inhabit them. All visitors to Tasmania’s national parks require a Parks Pass, which can be purchased at passes.parks.tas.gov.au or in person at most National Parks Visitor Centres and Travel Information Centres.

Trained dog guides assisting people who are blind or have low vision are permitted in national parks. However, you will need to obtain a permit for them, carry identification with you and advise the Parks staff of the dog’s presence on arrival (where applicable). To obtain this permit or for enquiries relating to other assistance animals, please phone the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service or email parkfees@parks.tas.gov.au ahead of your visit.

The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service offers a range of tracks, facilities and equipment designed to promote ease of access for all. Scooters and motorised wheelchairs are permitted within parks and reserves. Several tracks have been designed to offer ease of access to visitors with limited mobility, including the trail to Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park, the Cradle Mountain Rainforest Walk and the Cape Tourville track in Freycinet National Park. For further information please visit parks.tas.gov.au and search ‘access friendly’.

At Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Mount Field National Parks, visitors with limited mobility can access free hire of TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs, enabling them to explore more rugged tracks than would be possible in a conventional wheelchair. They are operated by two or more reasonably fit helpers, and are suitable for both adults and children, offering adjustable seating and supports. Users must supply their own helmets and undertake a brief induction prior to heading out. Bookings are strongly recommended. For further information or to make a booking please contact the relevant Parks and Wildlife Visitor Centre.

Tasmania is Australia’s only island state, and getting there is half the adventure!

Most visitors fly into Hobart or Launceston, with all major Australian airlines servicing the route. Smaller airports are located at Burnie (Wynyard) and Devonport in the state’s north, and Flinders and King Islands in the Bass Strait, and can be accessed via flights from Melbourne or intra-state. Sharp Airlines, Rex Airlines and King Island Air are the main operators servicing these routes.

For those who prefer to bring their own vehicle or make passage over the sea, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry crosses the Bass Strait from Melbourne to Devonport daily, with the journey taking around 9 to 11 hours.

Once in Tasmania, the quickest way to get around is by self-driving. Some car rental companies offer hand-control hire vehicles. Please check directly with the operator to confirm availability. Rental vehicles are in heavy demand so be sure to book ahead.

If self-driving isn’t possible, there are a range of public transport options available to help you get around. However, these services may be limited or tedious in some areas, particularly on the remote west coast. Tassielink Transit operates the main inter-city bus service in Tasmania, with some step-less entry buses available. For timetables, bookings and further accessibility information please visit tassielink.com.au. Redline (soon to be known as Kinetic) also provides inter-city bus services between Burnie, Devonport, Smithton, Launceston and Hobart. For more information and bus timetables visit transport.tas.gov.au.

Metro runs the public bus system in and around Hobart. Their timetables feature an icon indicating wheelchair accessibility on their services and are available at metrotas.com.au.

Alternatively, you could opt to take the stress out of navigating the island aboard one of a host of guided tours, with expert guides providing audio commentary and local insights. Please contact operators directly to discuss any accessibility requirements.