Winter in Tasmania is not just about rugged landscapes and cosy firesides – August 2025 promises the opportunity of a scorching events calendar that captures the island’s cultural spirit, adventurous nature, and heritage. A food lover, nature lover, culture vulture, or simply someone in search of the unexpected, August has a surprise or two lined up for you. Your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Tasmania, and to experiencing the best of August, is now here.
Salamanca Market – A Weekly Institution of Hobart (Every Saturday)
A trip to Hobart in August is incomplete if you haven’t visited the iconic Salamanca Market. Held every Saturday, the busiest market is the most visited site in Tasmania for a good number of reasons. Over 300 stallholders gather to showcase the best of Tasmanian talent and products.
Stroll through cultural Salamanca Place, amidst stunning Georgian sandstone warehouses, and find authentic jewelleries, natural cosmetics, Tasmanian wines and spirits, wool products, and exclusive timbers crafts. The market is not only a purchase event, but also an event that comes to life with live music performed by accomplished buskers, tasty food stalls selling anything from gourmet delights through to wintery warmers, and the chance to mingle with the creators of the island’s independent artisan community.
The market is open 8:30 am-3 pm every Saturday, so you have all day to wander around. Arrive early before the crowds and treat yourself to a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee as you go about your peruse. Due to its convenient city-centre location, you’re also able to mix visiting the market with a day of visiting the waterfront or city-centre of Hobart.
When: Every Saturday
Where: Salamanca Place
Geeveston Parkrun – Community Fitness in the Huon Valley, Tasmania, Australia (Every Saturday)
For those that prefer to give their weekend a merry start, the Geeveston parkrun is as good a time as any. The weekly free 5km event is held every Saturday at 9 am in Heritage Park, Geeveston. All-ability, all-ages, the event is a casual community event that you are welcome to walk, jog or run to the degree that you are able.
The course is three laps of the Kermandie River, in conditions varying from grass through hard dust to hard concrete. Pay attention – you will have the occasional glimpse of the local platypus swimming in the river when you’re doing so. The event is also a time trial for those of you wishing to maintain a record of your time, but the attitude is very participation, not competition.
First-timers can register early through parkrun.com.au to get their own personal barcode, but whether you register or not, you’re always welcome to join in. It is a wonderful way to see the beautiful Huon Valley while catching up with the locals and visitors.
When: Every Saturday
Where: 7 Brady Street Picnic shelter
kunanyi Trail Series – Hobart Mountain Adventure (3 August 2025)
The kunanyi Trail Series provides all types of trail runners the opportunity to see the iconic mountain of Hobart in a new light. With four events in the year, the event in August is the special event with crisp cool winter conditions and beautiful views of the alpine. For those looking to explore the area beyond race day, consider joining a guided Mt. Wellington tour to experience more of its natural beauty.
The three course types for the runners arethe demanding Enduro distance for seasoned trail runners, the less demanding Sport distance for runners desiring a moderate test, and the Taster family-friendly course even suitable for buggy or pram use (3-5km).
The courses take runners through diverse landscapes – from alpine heaths and dramatic dolerite cliffs to dry peppermint forests and buttongrass moorland. The event celebrates the mountain’s significance to the Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal community), and runners are encouraged to appreciate this special connection.
In addition to the running, the event sites provide free BBQs, kid-friendly setup, and a family-friendly environment that is in tune with the tight-knit community of trail runners in Tasmania. The Bush Play drop-off site for the parents that would like to run provides supervised nature play for the children during the event.
When: 3 August 2025
Where: Tolosa Street
Geeveston FEAST – Monthly Twilight Food Festival (7 August 2025)
Geeveston, the small town, is brought to life the first Thursday of every month when the Twilight Feast event is celebrated. A family event, the Twilight Feast transforms the old Geeveston Town Hall into a gourmand’s haven, celebrating the region’s finest southern Tasmania produce.
The ground’s food stalls and food trucks range from pizzas made in a wood-fired oven to gourmet pies, and the bar stocks a cracking good range of Tasmanian wines, beers, and ciders. The scene is convivial and casual, with Australians and visiting tourists grazing from the mixed tables. The festival starts from 5 pm, so is ideal for an early evening dinner after trying the delights of the Huon Valley.
What makes this event special is its community focus; that you’re being hosted in the presence of the farmers that produced your food and the people that crafted your drink. It’s the real Tasmanian experience of being hosted in among the most stunning parts of the state.
When: 7 August 2025
Where: 15 Church St
Polar Plunge and Sauna – Antarctic Experience Incentive (12-19 August 2025)
For a true Tasman winter experience, try the Polar Plunge in Hobartica. In the tradition of the Antarctic explorers swimming in the frigid Antarctic icy seas of the Southern Ocean, the Polar Plunge allows you the experience of a series of cold plunges in saltwater of varying temperatures.
After you’ve tried the cold plunge, relax in one of the wood-fired Finnish tent saunas, beautifully designed in the community. The brave pioneers of the zero-degree plunge are rewarded with a limited edition badge, specially commissioned in partnership with a Tasmanian artist, Kat Scarlet – a badge of honour in confirming your polar credentials.
Make safety your priority, as the experience is not suitable for people in poor health or those with circulatory or heart ailments. But for the able-bodied, it’s a thrilling means of taking advantage of Hobart’s Antarctic connections against the beautiful backdrop of the waterfront.
When: 12 – 19 August 2025
Where: Mawson Place
Hobartica – Antarctic Cultural Celebrations (12-24 August 2025)
The Hobart waterfront in August when the waterfront is transformed for Hobartica is a Polar festival of all things. Because the entrance to Antarctica, Hobart, is so near the Antarctic continent, the festival brings the history and culture of the continent to life.
Guests have the opportunity to indulge in polar plunge pools, Finnish saunas, and the Antarctic Lounge in which they may converse with experienced Antarctic expeditioners. The event also offers live music, immersive projections, and specially designed Antarctic-themed cocktails.
A new batch of attractions comes out yearly – meanwhile, they’ve introduced geodesic domes, displays of the aurora, and even a “kriller” crustacean soiree. The whole 2025 itinerary is not published yet, but from their earlier offerings, the ultimate unforgettable event that brings out the science, arts, and polar adventure all in all is in store.
When: 12 – 24 August 2025
Where: Mawson Place
Antarctic Film Night with Dr Frederique Olivier (Beaker Street Festival) (14 August 2025)
Nature enthusiasts and movie buffs not only have two exclusive chances in August but also the chance in August to go behind the camera of Antarctic filmmaking with scientist and director Dr Frederique Olivier (“Fred”), who has appeared in A-list productions such as Disney’s “Penguins” and the BBC’s “Penguins: Spy in the Huddle.”
The first event, “Filming Adélie Penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula,” demonstrates the difficulties of filming a mass-market movie in the most extreme environment of the Earth. During the event, Fred talks about experiences of meeting with leopard seal, daily life of the expedition vessel, and the majestic life of the young Adélie penguin chicks.
“The Longest Night With The Emperor” is the second video, in which scientists explore filming emperor penguins in Antarctica’s extreme winter. In this video, special coordination of scientists and motion-picture makers is showcased, including the use of remote-operated cameras for observing the behaviour of the penguins when they are absent.
Sponsored by Beaker Street in conjunction with CSIRO, they are truly special evenings to see Antarctic wildlife and the science of communicating in films.
When: 14 August 2025
Where: 3-4 Castray Esplanade
Chasing Auroras – The Best Time to See Southern Lights Tasmania (17 August 2025)
Tasmania is near enough to the Antarctic Circle that it is one of the finest locations in the world to see the Aurora Australis. “Aurora Chasing” is the science of the phenomenon, but also the dedicated team that hunts for it. Did you know, Tasmania is one of the few places in the world to see the Southern Lights?
The evening will also feature presentations from scientists, the founder of Australia’s largest virtual aurora community, and two experienced astrophotographers, as they share their most stunning aurora imagery and the stories of how they achieved them.
Organised in the context of the Beaker Street Festival in the Hobart City Hall, the event provides the opportunity of hearing the “Stevie and the Bunsen Burners” deliver a live performance and mingling among the rest of the enthusiasts of the aurora. For the amateur-inclined, the speakers also provide advice on the forecast, photography, and the most suitable locations for observations on the island of Tasmania.
When: 17 August 2025
Where: 1 Market Place
Platypus Walk – City Wildlife Walk (17-24 August 2025)
Join “Platypus Guardian” Pete Walsh on a guided walk through Hobart Rivulet in the quest for glimpses of these enigmatic monotremes. These tours give informed observations of the platypus’ behaviour, its habitat requirements, and the difficulties of protecting them in urban streams.
The short, all-ability wheelchair walk that is suitable for all age groups, is open throughout the day. There are also family tours. Even if the platypuses prove shy, the tour members value the special creatures and their environments more.
When: 17 – 24 August 2025
Where: 64 Anglesea Street
Hobart Twilight Market – Delights every Friday (22 August 2025)
Hobart Twilight Market in Brooke Street Pier is the ultimate precursor to the weekend. The specially curated market brings the best of Tasmania’s food, drink, and design to an iconic waterfront venue.
Market stalls selling anything from boutique pottery through to limited release spirits alongside local talent entertaining you with their live music. Easy, dog-friendly market that’s suitable for after-work team cocktails as well as family day out. With the beautiful harbour views of the pier being the background, day through to evening is the plan.
When: 22 August 2025
Where: 12 Franklin Wharf
The Kings of Comedy’s Hobart Showcase – Stand-Up Comedy in Hobart (30 August 2025)
The Kings of Comedy brings their trademark event to Hobart with a group of Australia’s finest funny talent. The specially crafted event matches rising talent with seasoned headliners, for all-night comedy momentum.
Previous performers have been family names such as Jimeoin, Hughesy, Denise Scott, Steve Hughes, Tony Martin, Marty Sheargold, Dilruk Jayasinha and more. Because of the small venue configuration, the experience is close and dynamic among performers and audiences so no two shows are the same. Specials for dinner and show make the go-to for special nights out.
When: 30 August 2025
Where: 22 New Town Road
Convict Connections – Tracing Your Family History (30-31 August 2025)
August is Family History Month, and the Cascades Female Factory is urging Tasmanians and visitors to turn tracing their family connections into a special day out. A group of genealogists from as far away as the Female Convict Research Centre and the State Library of Tasmania are offering free, invaluable guidance for tracing family histories.
However you are descended, through the convicts, free settlers, or later immigration, the experts will take you through the records and reveal the remarkable histories. The event is part of the site’s dynamic “Condemned” tour, bringing the women convicts’ early colonial Tasmanian life in living colours.
When: 30 – 31 August 2025
Where: 16 Degraves Street
The Very Best of August in Tasmania
With that vast range of activities, August 2025 will be among the most exciting winter months in Tasmania. From outdoor adventures to cultural experiences, there are opportunities to:
- Taste the greatest of Australia’s wine and food in markets and festivals
- Test the boundaries through cold plunges or trail runs
- Find out about Antarctica, including its association with Hobart
- Learn about Tasmania’s distinct fauna, from platypuses to penguins
- Discover the island’s fascinating history, convicts to family origins
- Relish cutting-edge parties that integrate science, arts, and nightlife
The lower temperatures and fewer people make the month of August a good time to see the sights of Tasmania. Water-proof and warm layers will have you out in the conditions comfortably. For those heading out further than such events, Take A Local has GPS-activated commentated tours that bring the history of Tasmania to life for you on the go. Out to the Huon for the Geeveston events or strolling Hobart waterfront near Hobartica, such tours add the event with some fascinating background without the group tour or fixed time limitations.
With so much to see and do among food, culture, adventure and history, August 2025 is the best time of the year to discover the winter wonder of Tasmania. Which among these activities will be part of your itinerary?
FAQ
- How do I travel for these events?
Although these events are in Hobart or surrounding area, walking, public transport and rideshare are appropriate. Rent a car for Geeveston or Mt. Field events. Hobart also has the Take A Local App for self-guided tour audio tours if you prefer to explore alone.
- Will I need to buy tickets ahead of time?
You will need to buy ahead for Hobartica’s Polar Plunge, Kunanyi Trail Series, Kings of Comedy, and Beaker Street Events as there are limited places available. Salamanca Market and Geeveston FEAST and Hobart TWILIGHT Market are free and do not require bookings.
- Are these events kid-friendly?
Yes! Salamanca Market, Geeveston FEAST, Platypus Walk and Hobart TWILIGHT Market are kid-friendly events, although after Hours is adults only and Kunanyi Trail Series is limited family-friendly Taster runs.
- What should I wear for the outdoor events?
August is cold (1 -12 °C) so dress warmly with layers! Waterproof jackets, warm shoes and thermals are recommended if involved in a trail run, polar plunge or aurora chasing. If you are attending a market or indoor event, casual winter attire is acceptable.
- Will I be able to see the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) in August?
Yes, August has big dark nights which are ideal for spotting auroras! Make sure you follow some Aurora Australis Tasmania Facebook groups for other people posting live alerts. Look for “Chasing Auroras” on Beaker Street, they also post where the best location to view auroras.
- Is the Polar Plunge safe?
Yes, the Hobartica Polar Plunge is supervised but not recommended for anyone suffering from heart or circulatory disease. If you are unsure, contact your doctor. You can warm up after the plunge in a sauna.
- Where do I find local food and drinks at the event?
- Salamanca Market – Tasmanian cheese, whisky and hot food stalls
- Geeveston FEAST – Local cider, wine and food trucks
- Hobart Twilight Market – small batch spirits and gourmet bites
- Are there any free events?
Yes, absolutely! Salamanca Market, Geeveston parkrun, Geeveston FEAST and Hobart Twilight Market are all free events. Platypus Walk is donation.
Popular Blogs
Tasmania Night Tours & Haunted Stories: Tasmania After Dark
Hobart to Mt. Wellington: 2-Day Weekend Itinerary in Tasmania
The Ultimate Guide to Cradle Mountain Tours: What to See & Do
Upcoming Events in Tasmania July 2025
Local Eyes on Tasmania: A 3-Day Itinerary Off the Tourist Track
Tasmania’s Top Food and Wine Trails
Fun and Educational Family Adventures in Tasmania for Kids
Upcoming Events in Tasmania June 2025
Explore the Best Beaches in Tasmania: Your Ultimate Coastal Getaway
