Take a look at this excellent 2-week self drive Tasmania street journey itinerary that can assist you plan your epic journey round Australia’s most lovely state!
Tasmania, that little bit of Australia that everybody is aware of exists however few appear to go to.
I first visited Australia in 2008 and sadly didn’t make it to Tasmania. Since then it’s been a spot that has been on my bucket listing.
Just lately my spouse and I lastly made it down that far south to take a look at all the perfect locations to go to in Tasmania.
This gorgeous island could be Australia’s best-kept secret. Though I can not think about it staying that method for lengthy.
Not like the remainder of Australia, Tasmania is small and compact. The journeys are quick, the roads are winding and the ocean is chilly. It’s excellent for a street journey.
The surroundings is solely breathtaking. Of all of the locations I’ve been in Australia, this will simply be my favorite state.
| Highlights of a 2-Week Tasmania Itinerary |
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| * Visiting Port Arthur Historic Website * Bicycle round Maria Island * Climbing and Exploring Freycinet Nationwide Park * Discover Wineglass Bay * Benefit from the seashores alongside the Bay of Fires and Binalong Bay * Hike round Cradle Mountain & calm down alongside Lake St Clair * Day journey to Bruny Island |
From the fantastic thing about a nationwide park to the pure magnificence from almost any aspect of the street views, a street journey by Tasmania is really spectacular.
Suggestions for a Self Drive Tasmania Street Journey
Under is our 2-week Tasmania itinerary that took us all the best way round this lovely island. Clearly some elements may be prolonged or chopped off as you want.
Nonetheless, we discovered this Tasmania itinerary gave us loads of time to see the overwhelming majority of what we needed to see with out being rushed.
Be warned although, Tasmania shouldn’t be like mainland Australia.
It does rain, particularly round Cradle Mountain. So even in the midst of summer season, don’t be shocked for those who encounter a good few showers throughout your street journey.
READ MORE: Don’t miss our new journey to Australia information.
The way to Get Round – Automotive vs Campervan
You can’t street journey Tasmania by public transport alone. To essentially take pleasure in and expertise every part this unimaginable place has to give you want your individual set of wheels.
Fortunately renting a automobile in Tasmania is reasonable, we rented a automobile for $66 {dollars} a day, which included zero extra insurance coverage.
The most affordable campervan we discovered was 3 instances this quantity. However for those who love this fashion of journey, then this may very well be an excellent choice. Take a look at Spaceships for inexpensive vans for lease.
We’d advocate hiring a automobile for Tasmania for the next causes:
Value
The general value of renting a automobile is considerably cheaper. Nonetheless, in impact, that you must work out if automobile rental + lodging goes to be cheaper than camper-van + vacation parks.
From our pre-trip calculations, a automobile turned out to be our greatest wager.
We averaged $150 on automobile + lodging on our journey, which was cheaper than the rental value of a camper van.
Petrol
Automobiles drink much less gas, interval. We had a stunning Toyota Prius Hybrid which meant our gas prices had been minimal. It is a huge plus on a Tasmania street journey, the place gas costs may be fairly excessive.
Driving Consolation
I personally desire driving automobiles to camper vans as a result of manoeuvrability, ease of parking in cities and fewer stress driving on winding roads.
In fact, that is all as much as you although. With an epic Tasmania itinerary, you’ll have an incredible time irrespective of the way you select to get round.
One of the best ways to get round is to lease a automobile and discover by yourself! We advocate Rental Automobiles, which has the biggest vary of automobiles for the perfect worth available on the market.
Shopping for a Nationwide Parks Cross
Shopping for a Nationwide Park Cross is a should for anybody planning to go to Tasmania’s Nationwide Parks.
It prices $89 AUD per car and offers you limitless entry to Tasmania’s Nationwide Parks for two months.
You should purchase it at any Nationwide Park customer centre. Simply bear in mind to show it in your dashboard or you’ll be fined.
It additionally saves $10 AUD on the ferry to Maria Island. The choice is paying $24 AUD per 24 hours. As long as you go to nationwide parks for a minimal 3 days then you definately’ve made your a refund.
Consuming and Consuming in Tasmania
Like mainland Australia, consuming out may be fairly costly at instances. Because of this, the overwhelming majority of travellers can be cooking for themselves at quite a few factors on their travels.
Decide up an inexpensive cool bag to maintain meals recent, as you can’t at all times assure a fridge (except after all, you’ve gotten a campervan).
We stayed in a mix of vacation parks, AirBnBs, resorts and guesthouses on this Tasmania itinerary. We solely had a few nights and not using a kitchen which helped us maintain our spending down.
Click on right here to get $35 off of your first AirBnB reserving!
That being mentioned, Tasmania’s gourmand produce is each in style and scrumptious so don’t overlook to indulge from time to time, particularly on the Cradle to Coast Tasting Path!
2-Week Tasmania Street Journey Itinerary
With out additional ado, let’s hit the street with my final Tasmania street journey itinerary!
Day 1: Hobart
Fly into Hobart metropolis centre and choose up your rental automobile.
After attending to our AirBnB and dumping our stuff head up Mount Wellington for gorgeous views over Hobart and the broader space, even so far as Bruny Island.
Then head to the Museum of Tasmania earlier than spending the night wandering round Battery Level and exquisite Salamanca.
Day 2: Port Arthur
From Hobart, it’s a brief drive to Port Arthur on the east coast. This glorious historic web site offers you the chance to grasp extra about Tasmania’s fascinating convict historical past.
You possibly can ebook a guided tour or a ghost tour to study extra concerning the historical past and spookiness across the historic web site. Additionally take into account reserving your entry ticket on-line prematurely throughout peak season to save lots of your self a while.
Port Arthur can be dwelling to Australia’s worst-ever bloodbath. Whereas it is a fairly morbid matter, it’s essential to pay homage to the victims on the Port Arthur Memorial Backyard.
Day 3: Tasman Peninsula
On Day 3 of your Tasmania street journey, you might be more likely to first expertise the island’s infamously temperamental climate.
Spend the morning exploring the convict coal mines positioned on the north west coast of the Tasman peninsula.
From there, head again to quirky little Doo City for some attractive coastal surroundings and glorious meals from the fish and chip van subsequent to the blowhole.
Near Doo City are some lovely coastal viewpoints which a nicely price exploring.
After crossing again throughout the Eagles Neck, take a look at the canine line museum earlier than heading on in direction of the tessellated pavements. Right here there’s a beautiful stroll alongside the coast giving some great views of the Tasman peninsula.
From right here, head as much as the tiny coastal city of Triabunna, in preparation to your journey to Maria Island.
Take a look at our full information to the finest issues to do on the Tasman Peninsula!
Day 4: Maria Island
Catch the ferry from the Tiabunna Customer Centre at 10:30. You must purpose to get to the ferry terminal round half-hour earlier than departure.
By the way, it’s also possible to choose up you Nationwide Park Cross right here and save your self $10 AUD on the ferry experience.
The journey solely takes round half-hour. And if the climate is wanting good, you possibly can stake out area on the entrance to sunbathe.
We solely spent in the future on Maria Island. If you wish to keep the night time there are campsites and cabins that may be booked.
READ MORE: Take a look at our model new information to the finest issues to do in Tasmania!
You’re additionally capable of lease mountain bikes, which may be organized on the customer centre in Triabunna and picked up in Darlington.
If you’re solely doing 1 day, a motorbike lets you cowl a good quantity of floor.
From Darlington, we headed for the painted cliffs that are leisurely 30-minute experience. We dumped our bikes and went to discover the superb shoreline.
We carried on additional down the monitor stopping at numerous factors alongside the best way to discover the shoreline and discover a place to have our picnic.
It was right here we encountered wombats, wallabies and pademelons.
We carried on additional down the coast earlier than heading again to snorkel across the painted cliffs.
The realm from Darlington to only past the painted cliffs is a protected marine reserve. The snorkelling is fairly good, however the visibility isn’t nice.
This wasn’t helped by the large thunderstorm that hit not lengthy after getting in.
As I used to be coming again in I obtained the fright of my life within the type of a 2-meter huge stingray popping out of nowhere.
Do bear in mind that the water right here is chilly too. I went in and not using a moist go well with and was okay, however you’ll undoubtedly have a extra nice expertise with one.
We spent the remaining couple of hours dropping the bikes off, recognizing roos on the hills shut the jetty and avoiding the rain.
After getting the final ferry again we drove as much as Bicheno. Coles Bay is the opposite in style choice for lodging within the park. Coles Bay is nearer to the sights, however Bicheno is a bit greater and has extra happening.
We selected this because it was cheaper than anything near Freycinet and after tenting within the rain in Triabunna a tent wasn’t on the agenda for Miranda.
Day 5: Freycinet Nationwide Park and Wineglass Bay
We hopped in our automobile and headed for the Freycinet Nationwide Park for day 5 on our Tasmania street journey.
From Bicheno, it’s round a 30-minute drive. In all probability extra throughout daybreak or nightfall as the danger of wildlife leaping out will increase dramatically in and across the nationwide park.
We headed right down to the customer centre to take a look at a few of the walks to provide you with our plan of motion. We ended up doing the Wineglass Seaside Stroll overlooking Wineglass Bay.
Understandably this is without doubt one of the hottest walks in Tasmania, so don’t be shocked if it’s busy. To keep away from the crowds merely stroll right down to Wineglass Bay Seaside from the lookout.
The overwhelming majority of vacationers head as much as the Wineglass Bay Lookout and again down once more. Because of this, the seashore is definitely very quiet compared. It is a great place to tug out that picnic basket.
Alternatively, in case you have the time, take into account this Wineglass Bay cruise from Coles Bay.
There are many different nice walks within the nationwide park. The Hazards Seaside stroll, particularly, will get rave critiques, and you may’t actually beat the Mount Amos hike at dawn.
Don’t overlook to show your Parks Cross in case you are doing any longer than 2 days in Tasmania’s parks.
That night it was again to our AirBnB in Bicheno and dinner at a Pasini’s, an amazing little restaurant on the sting of Bicheno.
Day 6: Freycinet Nationwide Park and Bay Of Fires
Day 6 of the street journey, we spent the morning at Freycinet testing Sleepy Bay and the gorgeous pleasant seashores. The latter giving the long-lasting windswept seashore vibe that Tasmania is thought for.
We grabbed one thing to eat in Bicheno and headed up in direction of the Bay of Fires. This drive is spectacular, an actual spotlight of any street journey round Tasmania. So have your digital camera prepared and maintain your eyes peeled for locations to park.
Lodging within the Bay of Fires space round St Helens in the summertime may be eye-wateringly costly. We really stayed half-hour south of St Helens at Scamander Sanctuary Vacation Park in presumably the nicest tent I’ve ever seen.
After dumping our stuff we carried on up Tasmania’s different well-known seashore, Binalong Bay alongside the east coast. Head to the Northern part of Binalong Bay, by taking the C848, to keep away from the crowds.
The water right here really wasn’t too chilly, though it may get actually windy, so a tent or windbreaker may very well be a lifesaver on the seashore.
The park has a totally geared up kitchen and unbelievable glamping fashion tents. It’s superior for a Tasmania street journey.
Day 7: Bay of Fires
On Day 7 of your Tasmania street journey itinerary you’re in for a deal with.
From Scamander in direction of St Helens and the Bay of Fires, the shoreline is totally gorgeous and the possibilities are you’ll have all of it to your self.
Even in mid-January, one of many busiest instances in Tasmania, we had complete seashores to ourselves.
Following this, we headed past Binalong Bay as much as the Gardens for some lovely coastal surroundings and a little bit of bouldering.
When you get past one in every of Tasmania’s most well-known seashores you’ve gotten a plethora of gorgeous locations to cease and discover.
We headed so far as the street would take us hopped out of our automobile and went exploring. Half the enjoyable of the Bay of Fires is exploring. Simply park up someplace that appears fairly and go for a wander.
Late afternoon we headed for little Launceston, Tasmania’s second metropolis, for need of a greater description.
We nonetheless had some picnic meals so we took it right down to the marina for dinner because the sundown.
This was undoubtedly a spotlight of our street journey alongside Tasmania’s east coast.
Day 8: Tamar Valley
We took a barely extra relaxed tempo in our street journey as we speak taking within the attractive Tamar Valley.
We did plan on heading over the Bridestowe Lavender Farm. Nonetheless, we ended up in Seahorse World and Platypus Home on the northwestern finish of the Tamar Valley.
This was somewhat expensive, however fairly attention-grabbing. The platypuses and echidnas are extraordinarily lovable.
From Tamar Valley we headed again down in direction of to Cataract Gorge stopping in on the Exeter bakery for a curry rice pie (a should for those who’re passing).
At Cataract Gorge, there’s a beautiful stroll or you are able to do like most and hop straight within the lake.
Day 9: Cradle to Coast Tasting Path
This was one in every of our highlights throughout our two-week street journey in Tasmania.
Successfully it is a 150km path that you simply drive and cease off at gourmand produce locations and eateries on the route. If you’re in any method a foodie, that is an absolute should.
Many of the eateries are between Deloraine and the splendidly named city of Penguin. Nonetheless, we carried on past Penguin to lovely Stanley for our last cease on the path.
After an incredible seafood dinner, we hiked up the Nut for some gorgeous sundown views. While it’s not a protracted hike, the preliminary climb is extraordinarily steep.
Day 10: Boat Harbour Seaside and Cradle Mountain
On day 10 of the street journey, we spent the morning on the seashore and the afternoon within the mountains.
We spent the morning on the lovely Boat Harbour Seaside with golden sands, clear blue water and beautiful coastal surroundings!
From right here it was a 1.5-hour drive right down to one in every of Tasmania’s highlights; Cradle Mountain.
After checking into our lodge, we headed down to finish the Dove Lake hike. Right here we discovered a stunning, simple hike that’s excellent to do round sundown.
The Cradle Mountain Resort was above our price range. However the comfort and lack of extra inexpensive lodging near the park made this a winner in our eyes.
Day 11: Cradle Mountain Summit
Cradle Mountain- Lake St Clair Nationwide Park has a few of the finest mountain climbing in Tasmania and is a must-see on a street journey. It’s the starting of the Overland Monitor, in addition to being the stage for some phenomenal day walks.
Sadly we didn’t have sufficient time to do the Overland Monitor so I settled for the summit hike. (Though you possibly can learn all concerning the founders of this web site’s expertise of mountain climbing the Overland Monitor by clicking right here.)
Secure to say it is a robust hike and it completely shouldn’t be tried in moist or snowy situations since it should make the ultimate rock scrambling and bouldering sections extraordinarily harmful.
This hike is an absolute should in case you are heading to Cradle Mountain. And you may simply spend a number of hours enjoyable alongside Lake St Clair after the hike.
Don’t miss the NOMADasaurus information to mountain climbing the Larapinta Path, one in every of Australia’s different nice walks.
Day 12: Cradle Mountain, Horse Using and onto The West Coast
We checked out a few of the shorter walks that started across the expertise centre within the morning.
Afterwards, we headed out with Cradle Nation Adventures to go horse using round their Belvoir Space monitor taking us up for a shocking view of Cradle Mountain.
From right here we headed down in direction of the outdated mining city of Queenstown stopping in a Zeehan on the best way.
While it makes an attention-grabbing place to go searching, Zeehan does have a slight “straight out of a horror movie” form of vibe, fascinating in an odd form of method.
Queenstown is suffering from relics and reminders of the mining growth. It was an amazing place to spend the night time.
This glorious outdated lodge is a stark reminder of the gold period time of the west coast. The meals right here is nice!
If you’d like an actual journey from Cradle Mountain and have a bit extra time, head out to the Tarkine for this 2-day street journey extension!
Day 13: Strahan and the Western Wilderness Manner
On Day 13 of our street journey, we drove down the west coast to the quaint seaside village city of Strahan. If you happen to head due west from right here the subsequent little bit of land you’d hit could be Argentina.
Together with Zeehan and Queenstown, Strahan additionally benefitted massively from the gold rush instances. Now it’s a way more sedate and laid again affair.
It’s a good place to probe for a morning, however in all probability not price way more time than that. From right here it was a protracted drive right down to Hobart.
The west coast is Tasmania at its most desolate. There may be one street from Strahan to Hobart. At instances, it virtually looks as if the outback however with extra bushes.
There are many viewpoints, quick hikes and sights on route to interrupt up this lengthy drive.
Day 14: Bruny Island
This attractive little island is just an hour or so away from Hobart. Because of this, Bruny Island can get fairly busy at weekends or throughout the holidays.
It pays to indicate up half an hour early than you actually need to because the queue to get on the boat may be fairly lengthy.
We instantly headed for the Neck viewpoint, which because it is without doubt one of the finest viewpoints may be fairly busy. Nonetheless, the views are completely spectacular.
From right here we headed right down to grass level for an attractive coastal after which spent to remainder of the day seashore hopping round the remainder of the island.
An important concept is to go forward and ebook this tour prematurely so that you get the perfect of Bruny Island in a 3-hour cruise. If in case you have extra time, take into account this highly-rated full-day tour.
Alternatively, for those who missed it on Day 1 of your Tasmania street journey you may spend the day exploring Mount Wellington for some unimaginable views over Hobart.
What Did We Miss on our Tasmania Street Journey Itinerary?
Effectively in our 2 week Tasmania street journey we managed to see an enormous quantity of the island. However there have been a number of issues we sadly didn’t get the chance to go to.
The listing under had been locations that we deliberate on visiting on the street journey. Nonetheless, sadly for us, time ran out.
- Haast Caves
- Mole Creek Nationwide Park
- MONA
- Mt Discipline Nationwide Park
- Coles Bay
There are in all probability loads of different superb issues that we missed on our street journey, however that simply offers us a cause to return to this unimaginable island.
Hope you loved my 2-week Tasmania street journey itinerary. If you happen to did go away a remark under! Completely happy travels.