Tasmania in summer: coast, forest and a ferry to Bruny

January is summer in Tasmania, Australia's southern island state, and daylight lasts well into the evening. The island is compact enough that you can base yourself in a few places and still see a great deal: Hobart for food, museums and the waterfront; the east coast for beaches and national parks; and the south for forest and cliffs.

Most Tasmanian national parks require a parks pass, which can be bought online through the Parks and Wildlife Service or at visitor centres. Cradle Mountain, in the north-west, has its own pass and shuttle system, so read the rules before you plan a visit. Prices change from year to year, so check the official site rather than relying on a guidebook.

Two day trips from Hobart show the range. Bruny Island is reached by a car ferry from Kettering, about half an hour south of the city, and is known for its coastline, produce and wildlife. Freycinet National Park, on the east coast, includes Wineglass Bay and is within a few hours' drive of Hobart. In summer, tracks and viewpoints are busy, so go early.

Plan with weather in mind. Tasmanian summers can be warm one day and cool and wet the next, and bushfire risk is real in dry spells. Check conditions with the local fire service and parks authority, carry water, and follow any closures.

As in all places with sensitive ecosystems: stay on tracks, take rubbish with you, give wildlife space and do not feed it.