Hobart tour: Tahune Airwalk, Hastings Caves & thermal pool

Walk suspended 50 metres above the Huon River, then descend into a dolerite cavern filled with stalactites.

This full-day guided tour from Hobart travels through the Huon Valley to three natural attractions: the Tahune Airwalk (a suspended forest path 619 metres long, with sections 50m above the river), Hastings Caves (where you swim in a naturally heated 28°C thermal pool and join a Parks & Wildlife guide underground), and the Hot Springs Nature Trail. The tour includes all entrance fees, a professional guide, and small groups. Moderate fitness is required; the cave stays at 9°C, so bring a jumper. You can choose between the thrilling Swinging Bridges walk (60 minutes, two river crossings) or the gentler Huon Pine Walk (20 minutes) at Tahune, and there's a chance to stop for local produce on the return drive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tahune Airwalk, Caves & Thermal Springs

• Travel south through Huon Valley
• Explore Tahune Airwalk and forest walks
• Walk Swinging Bridges or Huon Pine Walk
• Visit Hastings Cave Reserve
• Swim in Thermal Springs pool
• Join guided tour of Newdegate Cave
• Stop at roadside stalls for local produce
• Return to Hobart

The Experience

The tour departs Hobart heading south into the Huon Valley, a region known for apple and cherry orchards, and follows the river into Tasmania's southern forests. Your first stop is Tahune Adventures, where the Airwalk begins with 104 steps climbing into the treetops. The walkway itself stretches 619 metres through the canopy, with the final cantilever section extending 50 metres above the Huon River—a bird's-eye view across the treetops and surrounding mountains. From there, you choose your own pace: the Swinging Bridges Walk is a 60-minute route with two river crossings over the Picton River, or the Huon Pine Walk takes 20 minutes among ancient trees, some over 2,000 years old, that grow alongside the water.

After Tahune, the tour continues south to Hastings Caves Reserve, a remote area where you bring swimming gear for the thermal pool. The water stays at 28°C year-round, fed by naturally heated springs nearby. If you prefer not to swim, the Hot Springs Nature Trail wanders where warm and cool water meet—a spot where platypuses sometimes appear. Then comes the cave: you descend into Newdegate Cave, Australia's largest tourist dolomite cave, on a guided tour led by National Parks & Wildlife staff. The cave temperature holds at 9°C, so layering matters. Stalactites and flowstone formations fill the underground passages.

The return journey to Hobart includes stops at roadside stalls for local produce—cherries, berries, apples, ice-cream and honey tasting, depending on the season. You can bring your own food and drinks, or purchase a bakery-style takeaway lunch on the tour. The whole day runs 10 hours from Hobart.

What’s included

• Small group tour with a professional guide.
• entrance fees for Tahune Airwalk, Hastings Caves, and the thermal pool.
• guided tour of Newdegate Cave led by a National Parks & Wildlife interpreter.
• access to forest walks and the Hot Springs Nature Trail.
• swimming in the 28°C thermal pool.

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Tours Tasmania

Is this one for you?Book this if you want three distinct experiences—canopy, cave, and thermal water—in one day without breaking up the journey; the 10-hour pace suits active travelers comfortable with heights (40m Airwalk) and cool underground spaces (9°C cave).

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Top questions

What's the Tahune Airwalk actually like to walk on?

The Airwalk is a suspended boardwalk 619 metres long that climbs into the forest canopy via 104 steps. The final section cantilevers 50 metres above the Huon River, giving you an unobstructed view down to the water and across the treetops. It's fixed and solid underfoot, not a rope bridge.

Can I skip the Swinging Bridges if they sound too intense?

Yes. At Tahune, you can choose between the Swinging Bridges Walk (60 minutes, two river crossings) or the Huon Pine Walk (20 minutes, flat and easy) among ancient local trees. Both are included; your guide will explain the options when you arrive.

Is the thermal pool actually warm enough to swim in comfortably?

The Hastings Caves thermal pool stays at 28°C (82°F) year-round because it's fed by naturally heated springs. It's warm enough to swim in without a wetsuit, though Tasmania's air temperature can be cool, so the contrast matters when you get out.

How deep is Newdegate Cave and what's the walk inside like?

Newdegate Cave is Australia's largest tourist dolomite cave. A National Parks & Wildlife guide leads the tour through passages filled with stalactites and flowstone. The cave temperature is always 9°C, so bring a jumper; the walk is on established paths and boardwalks inside the cave system.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

All entrance fees are included: Tahune Airwalk, Hastings Caves, the thermal pool, and the guided cave tour. You can bring your own food and drinks, or buy a bakery-style takeaway lunch on the tour. Roadside produce stops (cherries, berries, honey tasting) are seasonal and optional.

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

Moderate physical fitness is required. The tour involves walking on tracks and boardwalks at Tahune (including the 104 steps up to the Airwalk), a choice of forest walks, and the cave tour. The Swinging Bridges walk is 60 minutes with two river crossings; the alternative Huon Pine Walk is gentler at 20 minutes. Minimum age is 8 years.