Best places to elope Tasmania! This is your planning guide to having an elopement in the amazing state of Tasmania (TAS). We did all the research for you and found the best places for you across Tasmania. We want you to get inspired for your elopement because your choices are endless with a Tasmanian elopement.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are around 6,000 marriages each year in Tasmania.

Tasmania has so many beautiful places for an amazing elopement. All these places and locations are absolutely stunning and you can have an awesome small wedding or elopement at any of these places. It really just depends on your vision and the style of elopement you want.

You elope in Tasmania because of its amazing natural beauty and climate. Within just the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area there are six national parks to choose from, spanning over 1.4 million hectares. There are endless possibilities for beautiful elopements in Tasmania and this list probably won’t even be able to scratch the surface.

1. Cradle Mountain

Iconic Cradle Mountain, in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, is a location of exceptional scenic beauty and one of the best places to Elope in Australia. The park is revered for its diverse and breathtaking landscapes from the moss-covered ancient rainforests and deep river gorges to snow-covered mountain peaks, wild alpine moorlands and glacial lakes. And it is a totally epic place for a Cradle Mountain elopement. This is without a doubt one of the most amazing places to elope in Australia.

2. Freycinet NP/ Wineglass Bay

National parks were created to preserve truly special locations, and Freycinet National Park certainly has its own magic. Freycinet is an unforgettable and spectacular place. And Wineglass Bay is one of Tasmania’s most celebrated views with its crystal-clear waters and sandy white beach. It is a truly magical place for a Wineglass Bay elopement.

3. Hastings Caves State Reserve

Hastings Caves’ mystical underground world will open your eyes to what lies underneath the picturesque Tasmanian countryside. And you could elope in this spacious dolomite cave system. The explore this labyrinth of chambers, richly decorated and cleverly lit to highlight prehistoric underground formations.

If this Tasmanian cave isn’t quite right for your needs, also check out Mile Creek Karst National Park and their limestone caves. They might be a great alternative.

4. Lake St Clair, (Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park)

Lake St Clair is located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Which is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and is Australia deepest freshwater lake. It was carved out by glaciers over millions of years and you could elope on the shores of this stunning lake.

5. Mount Wellington

Mount Wellington or Kunanyi, is just a 20 minute drive from Hobart. You drive through a temperate rainforest section before ending up at the top of the mountain with huge glacial rock formations and amazing views of Hobart.

For an elopement, I wouldn’t go near the actual lookout. I would look for a safe, more secluded area with no hand railings as they will block the view and just look ugly. The reserve has 18,000 hectares of land to explore so there are plenty of locations and wedding photo opportunities.

6. Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires is a bay on Australia’s north-east coast of Tasmania extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point in the north.

The Bay of Fires is one of Tasmania’s most iconic conservation reserves, famous for its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and orange lichen-covered granite boulders. And an elopement ceremony on these amazing rock formations would be beautiful.

7. Lake Pedder, Southwest National Park

One of the most stunning places in the world is South-West Tasmania.    Pedder Wilderness Lodge is situated in the Southwest National Park on Lake Pedder, and is a really good option for an elopement.

The location is beautiful, comprising the renowned Tasmanian World Heritage Area-the heart of the Tasmanian wilderness. Gordon Dam is also nearby and is a cool location for some elopement photos.

8. Bridestowe Lavender Fields

Bridestowe Lavender Estate is a lavender farm in Nabowla, Tasmania. The Farm is considered to be the world’s largest commercial Lavandula angustifolia plantation.

The photos from this place look incredible. And if you are able to get permission for a small elopement at this property, you can imagine how good the wedding photos will turn out.

9. Cape Hauy

For the ultimate in epicness, you could elope at Cape Hauy. This is one of the most epic places to elope in Australia.

It is about a two-hour walk each way (9.4km return) and is a Grade 3 hike. It does have lots of steps and it is probably not a good location if you are scared of heights. But it does look absolutely amazing!

10. Ratho Farm

If you’re dreaming of a stunning, rustic country wedding that combines modern accommodation seamlessly with old world charm then Ratho Farm is your place! Ratho Farm is a picturesque 1-hour drive north of Hobart, at the edge of the village of Bothwell in the central highlands of Tasmania. You will enjoy the serenity of the central highlands here, with your closest and dearest-with a weekend of 1 night or 2 nights wedding.

And this venue caters to smaller weddings and elopements!! Ratho Farm actually has packages available for smaller, micro weddings. They are also dog-friendly.

There is onsite accommodation available, with several convict cottages that have been fully restored. Which means your whole wedding from start to finish can happen at the one location.

You can have your ceremony anywhere on the property. Under an old Oak tree, near the River Clyde or in front of one of the old cottages. And this venue is also an 18 hole golf course and there is plenty of land to explore for your wedding photos.

They have a couple of reception venue options, with The Atrium and The Barn that are blank canvas spaces that you can decorate to your style.

If you are looking for a rustic, country venue where you can do everything at the one place, then Rotho Farm just might be for you.

11. Bruny Island

Bruny Island is a huge island (89,000-acre), that is separated from the mainland, located off the south-east coast of Tasmania. So you get to the island by ferry.

Natural beauty in an amazing environment is how you could describe an elopement on Bruny Island. There are a number of beautiful retreats, villas and cabins on the island. Giving you privacy, seclusion and the elopement of your dreams.

---

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area & National Parks

I thought it would be worth listing the National Parks located within Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Because any of these parks and locations within the parks would be amazing for an elopement.

The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is 1.4 million hectares and covers one-fifth of Tasmania’s territory mass.

As with all elopements, but particularly in these World Heritage areas, it is very important to get permission and permit for your elopement. And to ‘leave no trace’ of your elopement on the environment.

The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area consists of the following areas:

Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Southwest National Park
Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Hartz Mountains National Park
Mole Creek Karst National Park (part)
Devils Gullet State Reserve
Liffey Falls State Reserve (part)
Maatsuyker Island
St Clair Lagoon Conservation Area
Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca – Cox Bight section – now part of Southwest National Park)
Meander Forest Reserve
Liffey Forest Reserve
Dry’s Bluff Forest Reserve
Wargata Mina Cave (Aboriginal land)
Ballawinne Cave (Aboriginal land)
Macquarie Harbour Historic Site
Farm Cove Game Reserve
Central Plateau Conservation Area
Adamsfield Conservation Area
Marble Hill Conservation Area
Kuti Kina Cave (Aboriginal land)

Tasmanian Elopement Information

There are some marriage guidelines you need to follow to make sure your marriage is fully legal. Your marriage celebrant will go over all these, but basically they are:

• Neither of you can be married to someone else.
• You cannot be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister.
• Both of you must be at least 18 years old.
• You need to understand what marriage means and freely consent to marry.
• Each partner has to sign a witnessed Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month prior to the elopement. This is done through your authorised celebrant. (So it takes at least one month to get married in Australia).
• A registered civil celebrant must conduct the marriage ceremony and submit all the legal paperwork for you.
• You need two witnesses over the age of 18, to sign your marriage certificate and other legal documents at your ceremony. (So that means there needs to be at least 2 other people, not including the celebrant at your elopement. You can use your photographer, videographer, stylist or someone from your elopement venue).

Other Information About Eloping in Tasmania

• If you’re an overseas couple dreaming about eloping in Australia, you may marry here lawfully and legally. You do not need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent Australian resident to get married legally.
• Same-sex marriage in Australia is officially legal .. Woohoo! As of December 2017, Australia has equality of marriage. The act read out at the elopement ceremony now reads “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”.
• At your elopement ceremony, you and your witnesses will need to sign all the relevant papers with your marriage celebrant. Your celebrant then turns in the papers to the ‘registry of birth, deaths and marriages’ in the state where you got married, within 14 days.