Itinerary for Tasmania: 10 to 18 Day Road Trips

The tiny size, combined with the natural and unspoilt beauty of Tasmania, makes it the perfect destination for an Australian road trip. There are so many stunning natural environments, friendly and generous locals, and fresh produce that you will be spoilt for choice.

It reminded me a little of New Zealand, and also of the Great Ocean Road in a lot of ways. It was also it’s own unique place on so many levels with such a wide range of climates, sights and natural landscapes. This guide will offer you itinerary ideas for Tasmania for road trips ranging from 10 days to 18 days in length. It also includes an option to hike the famous Overland Track at the end within the longer itinerary.

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Different Itinerary Options

I have put together two itinerary options for your next trip to Tasmania. If you are short on time and just want to see the highlights, then 10 -12 days should be enough to complete a loop from Hobart, up the East Coast, over to Launceston and Cradle Mountain, and then back to Hobart or Launceston for your flight home.

If you have a little more time or are an avid hiker then you can add in the west coast to your itinerary or complete the famous six day hike on the Overland Track. Both of these are excellent options, with equally as beautiful views. You could also complete the 10-12 day itinerary over a longer period of time, with extra days here and there for a more slow paced option as well.

10 – 12 Day Itinerary for Tasmania

Hobart – 1 Night

Day 1

Arrive in Hobart and collect your hire car. Check in at your hotel or cabin, or set up your tent. We stayed at Barilla Holiday Park, which was quite nice and not too far from the city. It was probably the most expensive camp site we stayed at, but still a lot cheaper than a hotel. It would be perfect for a camper van as well.

Then head up to the Mt Wellington, Pinnacle Point Lookout in the afternoon. The views are incredible up there and the drive up is stunning as well. Then return back to town and stay your first night in Hobart. If you have extra time, you may want to explore more around the city or check out one of the many foodie friendly options for dinner.

Day 2

The next day, head to MONA for some other worldly art. We spent three hours here, so be prepared for your senses to be overwhelmed. Then head to the Botanic Gardens for a nice afternoon stroll. After this, drive to Port Arthur. The drive has a lot of beautiful views as well, as with all of Tasmania.

Port Arthur – 2 Nights

Arrive in Port Arthur. I highly recommend staying at the NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park. It was excellent value for money for a camp site. It also felt as though we were out in the beautiful wilderness, but with access to excellent facilities in the camp kitchen and showers. There were cabins available as well if you aren’t camping, or you could easily park up in a camper van or motor home. It is in the ideal spot for all of the sights in and around the area.

Day 3

The next day, get up at a reasonable time and back track a little to check out the various sites at the start of the peninsula. The Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Blowhole are all worth a visit. Stop in at Federation Chocolate or the Lavender Farm on your way to the Port Arthur Historic Site. Spend the rest of the day and the early hours of the evening at the Port Arthur Historic Site, exploring all of the different areas and tour options. You may also want to book an evening Ghost Tour if you are feeling brave!

Stay the night again at the NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park.

Day 4

The next morning head to the Remarkable Caves. They were one of the highlights for us, with the views at the caves and before the caves both being absolutely gorgeous. After this, take a scenic drive around the ring road before leaving Port Arthur and check out the McHenry’s Gin Distillery along the way.

After this, begin your drive up the coast to Freycinet National Park with three more stops along on your way out. You can have a look at Pirate’s Bay and then drive up to the Pirate’s Bay Lookout. From here, visit the Tessellated Pavement as well. The Tessellated Pavement was so unusual and one of our favourite stops in all of Tasmania. Make sure to read the information sign to learn more about how the bizarre natural patterns are formed.

Then continue the drive to the Freycinet National Park. We stopped at Orford along the way to cook lunch on a BBQ by the water. Spring Beach, an absolutely stunning beach, is just near there as well which would be worth a visit if you have good weather. You can also make a side trip to Maria Island on your way to Freycinet National Park if time permits. You will need to catch the ferry from Tribuanna, but could easily do it as a day trip if you have an extra day.

Freycinet National Park – 2 Nights

On your way into the Freycinet National Park, stop in at The Pondering Frog Cafe which is just before the turn off. The owners there are just incredible and full of endless amounts of helpful advice. The homemade ice cream is also worth trying.

From here, you can either stay in Coles Bay in a hotel, cabin or camping setup or if you have your camping gear or a van, and a National Parks Pass, you should head to the free campsite at Friendly Beach. This was our favourite camping site from our entire trip. All of the sites have easy access to the beach with gorgeous sand, red rocks, wallabies and wombats. Check out sunset on Friendly Beach before heading off to bed. The free campsites usually have toilets, but you have to bring your own water and cooking gear. There are also plenty of public BBQ’s in various parks and beach areas as well.

Day 5

If you wake up early enough, check out the sunrise on Friendly Beach before starting your day of exploring. Then head down to Coles Bay and check out the Cape Tourville lighthouse. This is an easy 10 minute walk from the car park to the viewpoint with gorgeous views of the bays and peninsulas.

From here, you can then drive a little further and complete the hike to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. It is about 1.5 hours return and if you have the time I would highly recommend completing the longer circuit hike that links Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach. It takes about 5 hours and you need to be prepared for all weather conditions as well as bringing enough food and water for the day. There are no services on the trail.

Then say at the free camp site again and explore more of Friendly Beach. There are quite a few different beach accesses at the free site, each offering different views. The sunset is stunning on the beach as well with lots of opportunity to see the wildlife at dusk.

Bay of Fires (St Helens) – 1 Night

(optional extra night to relax)

Day 6

The next morning, drive to the Bay of Fires.

On the way, stop in at Bicheno to have a look at the Blowhole. If you time it right with the tides, it should look pretty spectacular. Also try a chicken and camembert pie from the local bakery. It was to die for!! I’m sure the famous Tasmania scallop pie is just as good if you like seafood too.

Then once you go through St Helens, check out Binalong Bay first. There are a lot of beautiful free camp sites along the Bay of Fires coastline to choose from. They have the same facilities as Friendly Beach so bring your own water and food. If you are in the need of a little luxury,  Pelican Point Reserve in St Helens is perfection.

We treated ourselves to two nights at this gorgeous detached apartment on the farm and spent almost an entire rest day just lounging around the room, walking the grounds or sitting on the balcony reading. If you have the time, take a rest day at around this point in the trip to relax and recoup. Otherwise, you can just stay the one night.

Head to the Garden Point viewpoint on the Bay of Fires in the afternoon for some excellent photo opportunities. The colours of the rocks really are incredible. You could also head here in the morning before heading to Launceston if you would prefer.

The local IGA in St Helens also stocks a lot of local cheese and produce so feel free to stock up and have yourself a homemade cheese platter. Stay the night in St Helens or on the Bay of Fires.

Launceston via Derby – 1 Night

Day 7

Drive to Launceston with stops along the way at St Columbus Falls,  The Pub in the Paddock, Pyengana Dairy and the Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Derby would have been a good stop for mountain bike riding along the way as well, but we just couldn’t bring ourselves to the leave the cute dairy cows at the cheese factory.

Arrive in Launceston after your day of exploring and check in at either the Launceston Holiday Park Legana for a cheap and cheerful nights stay or at the Big4 Launceston Holiday Park for something a little more luxurious that also won’t break the bank in comparison to a hotel stay. Then go out for dinner anywhere in Launceston, the food is meant to be pretty good. We cooked in the camp kitchen, making a lot of friends along the way so I can’t vouch for the food here.

Day 8

The next day, get up early and head to the Cataract Gorge. Catch the chairlift over to one side and spend some time exploring the various trails and walking paths. There is also a pool and a lake if the sun is out.

Cradle Mountain – 1 Night

(optional extra night for more day hiking)

Drive to Cradle Mountain with several stops along the way at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for brunch, then The Creamery Cafe for ice cream, plus a stop at the Ashgrove Cheese Factory. Then backtrack a little and head to the Mole Creek Caves to do a tour of Marakoopa Cave or King Solomon Cave.

Then drive through to Cradle Mountain via the linking road from Mole Creek. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife as you go through the windy roads. We came across an echidna on the road on our way.

Arrive at Cradle Mountain and check in at Cradle Mountain Discovery Park in a cabin, camp site or dorm. Most accomodation options at Cradle Mountain are fairly expensive and there is no grocery store out here aside from a mini-mart at the Discovery Park. We found the Discovery Park to be the best and cheapest option.

The shuttle buses run from 8.00am to 6.00pm from the Visitor Centre to Dove Lake in the Cradle Mountain National Park. You are not allowed to drive to Dove Lake during these times, but as the sun does not set until almost 8.30pm you can head down after 6.00pm to complete the hike to Glacier Rock and the boat shed. Then stop at Ronny’s Creek on your way back for almost guaranteed views of wombats as they come out at dusk.

Stay the night at the Cradle Mountain Discovery Park.

Day 9

You have the option to explore some more of the day hikes in and around the National Park in the morning before you head off. I would suggest completing the day hike to Marion’s Lookout. If you have time, and the weather permits, continue on to the summit of Cradle Mountain. You may need to stay an extra night if you want to complete the Cradle Mountain summit as this is an all day return hike.

Marion’s Lookout is a little steep but not too difficult, while Cradle Mountain has some pretty technical scrambling at the top. It has epic views, but is not for anyone who has a fear of heights. Remember to pack for all weather conditions and take sufficient food and water with you for safety.

Otherwise, you could also check out Pencil Pine Falls and Kynvet Falls if you are short on time and then head back towards Hobart or Launceston for your flight home after this.

Lake St Clair / Hobart / Launceston- 1 Night

Depending on where you are flying home from and what time your flight is, you may wish to stop at Lake St Clair on your way back to Hobart. Otherwise stay the night in Hobart or Launceston before your flight and squeeze in any last minute sight seeing and food before your departure day.

We stayed at the Hobart Airport Tourist Park in a cabin so that we were right near our hire car return depot and the airport for our flight the next morning. It was quaint, not too expensive and allowed us to have a more relaxed morning to get to our flight.

Day 10

Transit day home. A side trip to Richmond from Hobart would also be worthwhile if you have the time before your flight. Coal River Farm is also in this area, and the cheese here is dreamy.

17 – 18 Day Itinerary for Tasmania

If you have a bit more time to spare or want to spend more time in the national parks, then here is an extended itinerary which allows time for the Overland Track or the west coast at the end. Follow the above itinerary up until the Launceston, and then add one extra nights stay at Launceston. Then follow the below itinerary for a more time-relaxed journey, with a bit more outdoor adventure included. 

Launceston via Derby – 2 Nights

Day 7

Follow the same itinerary as above for your journey from St Helens to Launceston. Arrive in Launceston and check in at either the Launceston Holiday Park Legana for a cheap and cheerful nights stay or at the Big4 Launceston Holiday Park for something a little more luxurious that also won’t break the bank in comparison to a hotel stay.

Day 8

The next day you may want to purchase some supplies if you are going to be completing the Overland Track. Check out the city centre while you are there. Then head to the Cataract Gorge. Catch the chairlift over to one side and spend the rest of the day exploring the various trails and walking paths. There is also a pool and a lake if the sun is out.

Return to camp and prepare your food for the Overland Track if you are completing it or take a leisurely afternoon off.

Cradle Mountain – 2 Nights

Day 9

Drive to Cradle Mountain with several stops along the way at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for brunch, then The Creamery Cafe for ice cream, plus a stop at the Ashgrove Cheese Factory. Then backtrack a little and head to the Mole Creek Caves to do a tour of Marakoopa Cave or King Solomon Cave.

Then drive through to Cradle Mountain via the linking road from Mole Creek. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife as you go through the windy roads. We came across an echidna on the road on our way.

Arrive at Cradle Mountain and check in at Cradle Mountain Discovery Park in a cabin, camp/van site or dorm. Most accomodation options at Cradle Mountain are fairly expensive and there is no grocery store out here aside from a mini-mart at the Discovery Park. We found the Discovery Park to be the best and cheapest option.

Day 10

Option 1

The next day, you have the option to explore some more of the day hikes in and around the National Park. If you are completing the Overland Track, then check out some of the more leisurely walks such as Pencil Pine Falls and Kynvet Falls. Check in at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre for the Overland Track in the afternoon once check in opens and hire a Personal Locator Beacon. Head back to the cabin to relax, pack your trekking gear and get ready for the hike the next day.

Option 2

If you are not completing the Overland Track then I would suggest completing the day hike to Marion’s Lookout, or even up to the summit of Cradle Mountain. Marion’s Lookout is a little steep but not too difficult, while Cradle Mountain has some pretty technical scrambling at that top. It has epic views, but is not for anyone who has a fear of heights. Remember to pack for all weather conditions and take sufficient food and water with you for safety.

West Coast and Lake St-Clair OR The Overland Track – 5 Nights

Days 11 – 16

The Overland Track

If you decided to tackle The Overland Track then you are in for a treat! You need to book your start date in advance between October and April. I will be posting a complete guide to the Overland Track soon, but if you want to know what you should pack then check out my packing guide for multi-day trekking. Here is what the basic itinerary looks like for 5 – 7 nights on the trail:

Day 1 – Ronny’s Creek to Waterfall Valley Hut

Start your day at the Cradle Mountain visitor centre to catch the bus to the start of the Overland Track at Ronny’s Creek.

Began the hike from Ronny’s Creek and hiked to Marion’s Lookout and then up to the summit of Cradle Mountain. Continued on the Overland Track to Waterfall Valley Hut and set up camp.

Day 2 – Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut

Hike from Waterfall Valley Hut to the side hike to Lake Will. Continue on the Overland Track to Windermere Hut.

Day 3 – Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut

Hike from Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut. There are no side trips on this day aside from the viewpoint over the Valley.

Day 4 – Pelion Hut to Kia Ora via Pelion’s Gap

Hike from Pelion Hut to Pelion’s Gap. Complete a side hike to the summit of Mt Ossa or Mt Pelion East, or to the viewpoint at Mt Doris depending on weather. Continue on the Overland Track to Kia Ora.

Day 5 – Kia Ora to Windy Ridge Campsite and Bert Nichols Hut

Hike from Kia Ora to Windy Ridge, visiting Kia Ora Falls, Dalton, Fergusson and Hartnett Falls along the way. Set up camp or stay in the Bert Nichols Hut at the Windy Ridge Campsite for the last night before leaving the park.

Day 6 – Bert Nichols Hut to Lake St Clair

Hike from Burt Nichols Hut to Narcissus Hut and radio the ferry for collection. Catch the ferry from Narcissus Hut to Lake St Clair lodge. Enjoy some incredible food and marvel over having finished the Overland Track.

OPTIONAL EXTRA DAYS

Extra Day – Before hiking to Narcissus Hut, complete a side trip to Pine Valley. Hike from Bert Nichols Hut to Pine Valley Hut and complete either the Labyrinth or the Acropolis before sunset. Start early the next day and complete the other one that you didn’t do the day before. Then hike back to Narcissus Hut to camp that night or catch the ferry.

Extra Day – Stay at Narcissus Hut after hiking from either Bert Nichols Hut or Pine Valley Hut. Hike from Narcissus Hut to Lake St Clair to complete the last section of the trail and avoid the ferry.

The West Coast and Lake St Clair

If you decided to explore the West Coast instead, then head west from the Cradle Mountain National Park.

Day 1 – 2 – The Northwest

This region has some pretty stunning coastlines. I didn’t make it to this area personally, but if you are after beautiful, harsh coast line and rainforest then head up this way.

Day 3 – 4 – Head to Strahan

This quaint seaside town offers quite a lot of history and options to catch the scenic ferry or train. Both can be a little pricey, but from what I’ve heard they are worth it.

Day 5 – 6 – Head to Queenstown and then Lake St Clair on your way back to Hobart.

Stop in at Queenstown and Lake St Clair on your way back and complete a day hike or just take a look around and grab a bite to eat.

Hobart – 1 Night

Head back to Hobart from Lake St Clair, either after the Overland Track or your time on the west coast. Stay the night in Hobart to prepare for your departure home the following day.

We stayed at the Hobart Airport Tourist Park in a cabin so that we were right near our hire car return depot and the airport for our flight the next morning. It was quaint, not too expensive and allowed us to have a more relaxed morning to get to our flight.

Day 17

Transit day home. A side trip to Richmond from Hobart would also be worthwhile if you have the time before your flight. Coal River Farm is also in this area, and the cheese here is dreamy.

When to Visit

Anytime of Year

Tasmania is the kind of place that you could visit multiple times in varying seasons. Each season would give you a very different experience. If you head down in the middle of Summer between December and February then you will have the greatest chance of nice weather, but also the highest number of crowds. If you aim for the shoulder season in November or March then you still have the chance for good weather, but will have a lot of the sights and hikes to yourself.

Other Options

You an also visit Tasmania in the Winter as well. It is a good time to experience the Dark Mofo festival in Hobart. You can also head out into the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park if you are into hardcore winter trekking. A lot of people also head down in April to make the most of the public holidays. Keep in mind that this is a fairly busy time of year to visit and you will need to book far in advance if you want to do the Overland Track in Summer or around the public holidays in April.

There really doesn’t seem to be a bad time to visit Tasmania.

Travel Insurance

If you are heading to Tasmania from overseas or are already in Australia as an overseas traveller and want to explore Tasmania, then make sure you have an appropriate travel insurance policy. While theft isn’t a huge concern, you really need to be covered for accident and injury if you are embarking on any of the hiking trails. Having the peace of mind that your luggage, electronics and other personal items are covered during transit and if you accidentally break them is always a good idea as well.

World Nomad’s

My personal preference is always World Nomad’s. They served me well while in South America and during two of my claims I had to make. I continue to use them for all of my overseas travel.

You can buy and claim online, even after you’ve left home which is an added bonus. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. Get a quote now and see if the cover is right for you.

Visit Tasmania Now

Tasmania was so much more than I anticipated. Our 18 day road trip was such a refreshing and healing experience. With very short driving distances and ample destinations, it is an excellent choice for an Australian road trip. For any Australians that haven’t made the trip down, I highly recommend adding it to your list.

If you have any questions or want to know more about what we did on our 18 day camping road trip then let me know in the comments section below! If you loved the itinerary and want to save it for later then why not pin it to Pinterest. Have any friends that are heading to Tasmania soon? Why not share these Tasmania itinerary ideas with them Facebook?

--Girl Seeking Purpose