Tasmania road trip guide

Tasmania may be a small island, but it packs a punch as a holiday destination.

I’m going to be honest that I didn’t know much about Tasmania before it was down as a destination for an upcoming trip, but soon I was very excited, as everyone I talked to about going had only glowing recommendations.

Now I’ve been I’ve joined the fan club too.

What’s to see and do? How about scenic countryside, beaches, untouched World Heritage wilderness with snow-capped mountain peaks, a rich convict history and burgeoning food and wine scene. Sound good, right?

What makes it even better is the relaxed vibe everywhere you go. There really is no better way to explore Tasmania than by car, and since even the cities are a breeze to drive around, road tripping around at leisure, stopping in to enjoy food from small producers is as good as it can get.

Below is the route I took for a 10-day (8 full days) self-drive trip in autumn, which you can easily shorten or lengthen depending on what you want to do. I hope to head back one day and see parts of the state I missed.

Day 1 & 2 – Launceston

After knocking off work on a Friday, I caught a flight from Brisbane into Launceston, Hobart’s second largest city. The car rental was at the airport and from there it was straight to the Airbnb for an early night.

First up in Launceston was a visit to the Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market that is held every Saturday. A bite to eat, coffee, and purchase of some artisan bread and cultured butter, plus a rendition of the bagpipes later, and it was time to continue exploring the city.

A wander through City Park and meander through Cataract Gorge Reserve cemented how beautiful the area is. Cataract Gorge Reserve is a huge natural basin with a slow speed chairlift that lets you catch a bird-eye’s view of the magnificent gorge, and as soon as I saw it, thought it would be incredible to check out during summer for a swim.

A drive over to Bridestowe Lavender Estate for some lavender ice-cream, trip to Seahorse World for a behind-the-scenes look at Australia’s only seahorse farm, and quick stop on the way back at Grindlewald to see the Swiss village, showcased how diverse the area is.

A delicious steak at Jailhouse Bar and Grill for dinner rounded out an incredible first day of tourist activities.

Day 3 – Launceston to Stanley

On the way to Stanley, there were planned stops for gourmet provisions at highly recommended farms. Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm has everything raspberry you could think of – I went classic with some jam for a souvenir – and Ashgrove Cheese Farm has a viewing window, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how their cheese is made.

The cheese tastes so good… and the reason? Well, they say it’s because they have the happiest cows in the world.

If you enjoy a quiet bay with white sands and clear water (who doesn’t?), then Boat Harbour is a beautiful place to pop into on the way north-west. Devonport is also a nice seaside town with plenty of cafes and picnic spots.

On arrival in Stanley, you can’t miss the Nut. The core of an extinct volcano, it towers above the small seaside town, providing stunning 360 degree views once you get to the top.

There is a chair lift, but it’s not a far walk up, just very steep, so fine unless you’re elderly or have young children. Excitingly, on top of the Nut was my first sighting of a pademelon.

And then, on nightfall while heading to near the cemetery in hopes of spotting penguins, I saw a few of the little guys. They were heading to bed in the hedges.

Day 4 – Launceston to Gowrie Park

Seaside one minute, forest the next. First up, was a visit to Tarkine Forrest Adventures, where there is a 110 metre slide to the swamp floor, where you can stroll amongst the natural environment. Then, it was back in the car and short drive to the Edge of the World. Yep, that’s right. Stand on Gardiner Point in north-west Tasmania and look out to past the rugged coastline to the endless ocean; it’s 40,000km of ocean until you hit land again in Argentina and is the longest uninterrupted expanse of ocean on the globe.

Then from natural beauty to man-made, stopping in at the ‘Town of Murals’. Over sixty murals depicting the area’s rich history and beautiful scenery has been painted on walls around Sheffield since the first mural was unveiled in 1986. Sheffield also has an annual Mural Fest art competition, with nine murals remaining on display at Mural Park. It was so hard to choose which one to vote for, as they were all incredible.

Day 5 – Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park

Getting back to nature is easy at Cradle Mt – Lake St Clair National Park with a hike to suit different fitness and time constraints.

There are many walks under three hours – I did the Dove Lake Circuit and a hike up to Marion’s Lookout – or you can head for a longer overnight trek.

Entry is $16.50 per adult and it’s important to note that you’ll need to stop in at the visitor centre before heading into the national park.

Day 6 – Gowrie Park to Hobart

Before heading to Hobart, it was time to check out the top tourist spots in the Lakes District, Tasmazia, a crazy complex with mazes and a whimsical model village, and Mole Creek Caves, a highly decorated wet cave with stalactites and stalagmites.

Day 7 & 9 – Hobart

There’s definitely plenty to see and do within the state’s capital or within the surrounding regions if you had more time, even more so if you’re a foodie and more of a night owl (rather than an early bird when traveling like myself).

Speaking of, Nicolatte Café in the heart of the city does a perfect flat white and delicious brekkie, Shambles Brewery is worth visiting for a tasting of their craft beer, and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, Honey Badger Dessert Café in Salamanca Square is a must-visit. Go for the waffles!

While sight-seeing, you definitely have to drive up to the summit of Mount Wellington. In my opinion, the strong, freezing winds were worth bracing for the spectacular view of the city, and getting to experience a sprinkling of snow (a very exciting thing for a Queenslander).

I would also highly recommend the Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery and visiting Richmond Gaol for an insight into the state’s past. While in Hobart I also headed on a boat cruise, and visited both the Royal Tasmania Botanic Gardens and MONA.

Day 9 – Hobart to Port Arthur

Everyone raves about the Salamanca Markets that happen on Saturday and although they were popular, it was surprisingly easy to get a park arriving on open time (all Tasmanians seem to get up later). I partook in a coffee and jam donut for sustenance while walking past all the stalls.

Next I came up close with devils at the Tasmanian Devil Park. It was incredible to see them in person after having read about them in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The Park also had quolls, pademelons, the most chilled out kangaroos, and some crazy parrots in a free-flight bird show.

The final tourist destination was the Port Arthur Historic Site, and it really was fascinating learning about the convict history further. It’s only an hour and a half drive from Hobart to Port Arthur, so you can just drive out for the day, and I’d definitely recommend it.

Day 10 – Fly home

An early morning drive to Hobart airport, to drop the rental car off, and then it was back home to Brisbane.

What a trip.

5 highlights

• Cataract Gorge
• Stanley Nut
• Cradle Mountain
• Mole Creek Caves
• Port Arthur Historic Site

5 key tips

• Due to the varying climate no matter when you come to Tasmania bring a warm jacket. If you are coming in the cooler months, it’s best to bring clothing you can layer because even the autumn sun can be quite warm, especially if you are going hiking.
• Keep in mind that if it’s not summer, it’s common for many tourist attractions and cafes to have shorter operating hours, so some places may not open until 10am.
• A National Parks Pass is needed for entry into all of Tasmania’s National Parks. Parks Passes can be purchased from National Parks or at accredited Visitor Information Centres around the State.
• If you’re planning a driving holiday like this, be realistic as to how much driving you want to do each day. You want to see places but you want it to be relaxing, not exhausting.
• There are a lot of bendy roads and a lot of wildlife (sadly, you do see a lot of road kill when you’re travelling), so drive to the conditions, and try to avoid driving too much during dawn and dusk.

Now, if you’ve got this far, you can tell I loved the trip and may now be thinking it’s time for YOU to have a holiday in Tassie?  If so, please ask me any questions you want in the comments!

Thanks for reading.

Lisa,

My Eclectic Muse x