Five reasons to ditch the mainland and move to Tassie

Could it be time to venture across the Bass Strait and settle down in Tasmania? It’s,oh, so tempting.

It’s actually affordable

Tasmania is by far the cheapest state or territory in Australia to buy property. It is still relatively easy to find a 3-bedroom home with a big backyard and a picket fence for under $300,000.

According to the latest Domain Group data, Hobart’s median house price is sitting at roughly $352,000.

To put that into perspective, that is a whopping $661,000 less than Sydney’s median house price and $367,000 less than Melbourne’s median house price.

Adelaide is the second cheapest capital city in which to buy property but its median house price is $494,000 – a jump of over $140,000 compared to Hobart’s prices.

If you are worried that property value in Tasmania is falling, don’t be.

Hobart also recorded the fastest growing house prices in the December quarter, jumping 6.2 per cent in just a few months, according to Domain Group data.

It’s so green and pretty

Tasmania is often touted as a state rich in natural attractions and it’s not hard to see why.

Stunning reserves, national parks and World Heritage sites take up over a third of the land. There are 18 national parks and more than 2000 kilometres of walking tracks. It’s also a haven for wildlife; there’s a lot more to see than just the infamous Tasmanian devil.

Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, Bass Strait and Tasman Sea, the state also boasts beautiful coastlines, bays and beaches.

No more long, boring road trips



Tassie isn’t all that big so getting around the island typically won’t take long. It covers about 68,000 square kilometres. For those playing at home, it would fit into Western Australia 37 times.

Driving from Launceston in the north to Hobart in the south should only take three hours. When you start venturing into more rugged terrain (which is aplenty), trips will take a bit longer. But generally speaking, you could drive around the whole state in a matter of days.

Oh, and the traffic is better.On average, Sydney commuters spend four entire days each year stuck in traffic.

Meanwhile down in Tasmania, drivers enjoy a (mostly) smooth run. A few main roads in Hobart are currently experiencing congestion during peak hours but on the whole the state’s roads are not crawling with bumper-to-bumper traffic jams.

Get away from the hustle and bustle

There’s about 500,000 people in Tasmania, meaning the state’s entire population is less than a quarter of Brisbane’s.

Even the cities of Hobart, Launceston and Devonport still feel like big country towns. The suburbs aren’t overshadowed by skyscrapers and apartment towers that have become a point of contention in many cities on the mainland.

For those who yearn for rural life, there’s plenty of quiet, country areas that are only a half-hour drive to the city centre.

They have great food, wine and culture

Don’t let its small population or land mass fool you; Tasmania knows how to serve up a good time.

The art and culture scene is absolutely thriving. There are music festivals, theatre performances, gallery exhibitions and Australia’s favourite art museum, the Museum of Old and New Art, continues to attract tens of thousands of people each year.

When it comes to eating and drinking, Tasmania serves the finest produce and is proud of its organic farming and tradition of small-scale production.

It is also home to some popular wineries specialising in pinot noir and sparkling wines. So let’s celebrate the forthcoming move to Tasmania with a glass…of each!