Perfect!

In this guide, we give you not one, but two detailed options for a 7 days in Tasmania itinerary. You simply need to decide if you would prefer to concentrate on Hobart and wilderness or Launceston, convicts and coast lines.

Tasmania may be Australia’s smallest state, but it’s one that’s full of national treasures. Its small size and population make it ideal for a road trip, and there’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do.

Tasmania is a state of small towns, historical sites, World Heritage listed national park land, several UNESCO-listed sites, esteemed wine and produce and much more.

There really is no shortage of things to see in a 7 day tour Tasmania, and when it comes to what to see in Tasmania in 7 days, we’ve given you two options. Each offers a great (but different) taste of the state.

Driving yourself is the best way to get around and explore Tasmania whether you hire a car or bring your own. It’s an easy place to explore on four wheels as distances are not great, and there is a lot to do in a small space. A Tasmania 7 day self drive itinerary will allow you to get out there and experience a lot.

To help you come up with your perfect Tasmania itinerary 7 days, below we give you exactly this! We give you two options to choose from. While it’s designed so you can see Tasmania in a week, there are also options for a Tasmania itinerary 6 days and Tasmania itinerary 8 days at the bottom so you can extend or shorten these itineraries depending on how long you have.

If you have longer than this, check out our 10 day itinerary for Tasmania here or our 14 day itinerary for Tasmania self drive here.

Keep reading for your step-by-step 1 week in Tasmania itinerary that you can simply follow day-by-day. This includes your stops, driving times and best places to stay. There are also maps to help you decide the best route for your one week in Tasmania itinerary.

Note these 7 day itinerary Tasmania options are on the fast side. We assume you want to experience as much as possible and get a great taste of a big part of Tasmania on your trip. If you like to take things slower, I recommend you remove a destination or remove some of the stops between places. Take out the ones that sound the least interesting to you.

This Tasmania 7 day itinerary is suitable for solo travellers, couples, friends and families. If you are a family with younger kids, I recommend removing the occasional stop to make it easier however.

Finally, if you have any questions about these self drive Tasmania 7 days itineraries, please let us know in the comments below.

Tasmania Driving Holiday Options

Tasmania may be a small state but it’s still not possible to see everything in one week. This is why we’ve included two itineraries – an east coast Tasmania itinerary and another itinerary Tasmania 7 days away from civilisation exploring the wilderness.

If you have more time, I recommend reading through our longer 10 day and 14 day Tasmania guides and adding attractions that interest you.

Note that option one, the east coast Tasmania road trip, is constructed to start at Devonport or Launceston whereas option two, the west coast Tasmania road trip 7 days, starts at Hobart.

However, Tasmania is a small place and you can start either of these itineraries in any place. Just remember you will need to allow time to drive from your starting point to start the itinerary. There are some tips given below about how you might modify the 7 day Tasmania itinerary to start at these other places.

Tasmania Itinerary 7 Days – Tasmania East Coast Road Trip

Remember, this is a full 1 week Tasmania itinerary. If you have fewer days, simply pick the days that most appeal – there are tips for less or more days below. For a longer trip, read our itinerary here.

Overview

1. Day 1 drive to St Helens/Binalong Bay stopping at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and St Marys along the way if you are coming from Devonport. From Hobart, stop at Ross and St Marys
2. Day 2 enjoy Bay of Fires
3. Day 3 drive to Freycinet National Park and hike to famous Wineglass Bay
4. Day 4 visit Maria Island on the way to Port Arthur
5. Day 5 visit the Port Arthur Historic Site
6. Day 6 drive to Launceston stopping at Doo Town, the Blow Hole and Ross on the way
7. Day 7 enjoy the Tamar Valley region

The highlights of this Tasmania east coast itinerary are:

• Exploring interesting towns like Ross, St Mary’s and Eaglehawk Neck
• Spending a day discovering the beautiful beaches at Bay Of Fires
• Hiking in Freycinet National Park and seeing the world famous Wineglass Bay
• Understanding Tasmania’s convict history by visiting Maria Island and Port Arthur Historic Site
• Spending a day seeing all the incredible sites of the Tamar Valley

…and much more!

Some of the Tamar Valley from the Mt George lookout

This one of our Tasmania tours 7 days is designed especially for people looking for a Tasmania self drive 7 day itinerary from Devonport or Launceston but it can work just as well from Hobart.

You will still drive to St Helens on day 1 and then I recommend that instead of driving to Launceston on day 6, you drive back to Hobart and choose some activities to complete from the Hobart days in the west coast itinerary below.

Tasmania Driving Map: Tasmania East Coast Drive

The following map shows you the route this Tasmania east coast drive itinerary takes.

Day 1: Driving To St Helens/Binalong Bay

Today, you arrive in Tasmania. The start of this 1 week itinerary is a trip to St Helens on the east coast.

• Arrive in Devonport. Drive straight off the boat and on to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for a delicious breakfast (approx driving time 32 minutes)
• OR Arrive in Hobart or Launceston Airport. I recommend you pick up your car hire at the airport so you are all set to go
• Head to the historic town of Ross if you are coming from Hobart and stop and explore
• Next, head on to St Marys and explore
• Drive on to St Helens/Binalong Bay depending on where you are staying and check in to your hotel

Where To Stay In St Helens/Binalong Bay

• BEST – Pelican Point Sanctuary (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – NRMA St Helens (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park (Click here for more details)

Ross

If you’re starting your road trip in Hobart you’ll be lucky enough to drive past the small town of Ross. I highly recommend stopping here.

This historic town was established in 1812 and is a charming place to visit. It’s home to a collection of colonial style homes and buildings. It’s certainly one of the prettiest towns in Tasmania and one of our personal favourites.

Ross is small and easy to explore. One of the most popular tourist attractions here is the Ross Female Factory, which is one of only a handful of places to house female convicts in Australia.

Entry is free, and the centre describes how life was for the women and children that lived here. Little remains above ground, but excavations and information boards help you imagine what it was like.

We also recommend a visit to the Ross Bridge – one of the oldest in Australia and with an interesting history of its own.

Historically Ross was the centre of Tasmania’s wool industry so it’s only fitting to visit the Wool Centre – a small site with a museum and a shop.

There’s also several churches, pubs and some bakeries in town, as well as some lovely picnic settings. It’s a charming place to spend an hour or two.

St Marys

St Marys is a very small town with fewer than 1000 people calling it home. This is another pretty town surrounded by mountains and lush valleys.

One of the most popular things to do here is bushwalking, and the walk from St Mary Pass to the Gray Mares Tail waterfall is an easy and popular track, taking only 5-10 minutes through the forest to the tall waterfall.

More challenging tracks include St Patricks Head, but note this is not the best track for beginners, but rewarding nonetheless. You can also simply drive to the South Sister Mountain Lookout to get a stunning view.

The town itself has a personality of its own. There are several B&Bs in town, and quirky museums and galleries, such as the old Saint Mary’s Historic Railway Station, as well as several shops and cafes.

Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm

If you’re a fan of raspberries, a visit to the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm is a must.

This is a working farm where raspberries are grown onsite, and it’s a beautiful spot to stop for breakfast or lunch and to sample some of Tasmania’s fine cuisine for yourself.

Raspberry dishes are available year round from the cafe. The menu offers simple food but has plenty of variety and is reasonably priced. You can opt to have a sweet treat or something more substantial and compliment it with a glass of strawberry wine or a cup of coffee.

There is also a shop offering some tasty and interesting souvenirs. The setting is beautiful, with walking tracks by a small lake. In the cooler months, there’s also an open fire.

Address: 9 Christmas Hills Rd, Elizabeth Town TAS 7304

Click here to read our full review of Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm.

Day 2: Bay Of Fires

Today you’ll explore the beaches and the conservation area, Bay Of Fires, at your leisure.

• Explore Bay of Fires

Even if you’re visiting Tasmania in winter, I would keep this day. It’s an interesting and pretty place to see and explore.

Bay Of Fires

Take a 30 minute drive north from St Helens and you’ll reach Bay Of Fires. This conservation area is one of the most unique spots on your Tasmania travel itinerary 7 days, and a must see.

The conservation area stretches over 50km from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point, and the stunning beauty will introduce you to just one of Tasmania’s unspoilt natural treasures.

Binalong Bay is an entry point to Bay Of Fires with several places to stay, a cafe and surrounding camping spots.

Bay Of Fires is best explored by a leisurely drive, with frequent stops to appreciate the many sights. You’ll see white sand beaches, untamed bushland and striking orange boulders.

You would be forgiven for thinking the name ‘Bay Of Fires’ comes from the orange lichens on the boulders, but it’s believed to derive from the sighting of fires in this area by European explorers.

A popular place to stop and take a short walk and photos is The Gardens. The Gardens is located about half the distance between Ansons Bay and Binalong Bay and has a boardwalk and some information boards. Note that it can get super windy!

If you’re interested in driving the whole distance, you can follow a dirt road to Eddystone Point where you’ll reach a car park. From here, you can walk a short distance to the Eddystone Point Lighthouse.

There’s plenty more to see at Bay Of Fires. It really is a special spot. Of course, it’s also an amazing place to go swimming in warmer months, but at any time of year it’s worth witnessing it’s unique beauty for yourself.

If you are looking for more to do while you’re in this area, read my full guide to St Helens here.

Day 3: Freycinet National Park

Driving Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Next on the Tasmania self drive itinerary 7 days is a visit to Freycinet National Park. From here, you’ll take the track to Wineglass Bay.

• Make your way to Freycinet National Park. We recommend having lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm
• Hike the track to Wineglass Bay

Where To Stay At Coles Bay

Coles Bay is the best place to stay for access to Freycinet National Park.

• BEST – Freycinet Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Swansea Backpacker Lodge (Click here for more details)

Freycinet Marine Farm

If you’re a fan of seafood then we highly recommend stopping at Freycinet Marine Farm for lunch.

The site itself consists of a few buildings offering plenty of seating to sit and have lunch. This is a working farm where much of what you eat is fresh from the sea. This includes the mussels and oysters, which we thought were some of the most delicious we’ve ever had.

They also sell other seafood, chips and drinks to compliment your meal.

Another cool thing about this place is that they offer tours where you can catch your own oysters. As oyster lovers, this is definitely something we would have done had we not visited with kids.

Having lunch here isn’t budget breaking but it’s not super cheap either. It’s highly recommended for seafood lovers.

Address: 1784 Coles Bay Rd, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Click here to read our full review.

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay

A trip to this part of the world would be incomplete without a visit to Wineglass Bay. This iconic area is one of the most visited spots in Tasmania and the beach below is often featured among the best beaches in the world.

Hiking to the Wineglass Bay Lookout from the car park below lets you see the beauty from above. The walk to the lookout follows a steep 1.3km track, and takes most people anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes one way.

There are several spots to stop and catch your breath along the way, and the track itself is well paved and trafficked by people of all ages.

You’re rewarded when reaching the top by the stunning view. It really is a special place. You’ll find a viewing platform to take photos from all angles and the beach below. You can hike to the beach from here. Most people don’t hike to the beach, but if you have the time and energy, we highly recommend it.

Longer, more challenging tracks include the Hazards Beach Circuit which you can do from the car park. This takes you over the length of the beach and back and can take around 5 hours to complete.

Whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to be rewarded with stunning sights and the tranquility of the surrounding area.

Day 4: Maria Island

Driving Time: 2 hours 50 minutes (plus two ferry rides)

On day 4, it’s time to drive down the east coast all the way to Port Arthur with a stop for a day trip to amazing Maria Island on the way. This is the perfect place to learn more history of Tasmania and see wildlife.

• Leave early and drive directly to the Maria Island ferry terminal in Triabunna (approx driving time 1.25 hours)
• Take the ferry to Maria Island. Read more about taking this ferry here
• Explore Darlington and take a hike on Maria Island looking out for wildlife
• Take the ferry back and drive on to Port Arthur (approx driving time 1 hour 35 minutes)

Maria Island

Maria Island is located about 4km from the coast of Tasmania, and is a very special place which can only be reached by ferry. No vehicles are allowed on the island, giving it a very unique and isolated feeling.

The ferry ride departs from Triabunna and takes about 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets here. Ferries come fairly regularly, arriving and departing approximately every 1.5 to 2 hours (find more information here).

When you arrive, you’ll walk into Darlington. This is the only town on Maria Island, and it has no permanent inhabitants. What it does have are relics from the past with remnants of what was once an old convict settlement. Maria Island once had an active penitentiary and there are several historical buildings you can explore.

Another thing which makes the island special is that it’s home to an abundance of native wildlife like wallabies, pademelons and Tasmanian devils.

The island is a pleasure to explore on foot and there are several walks you can do. The Reservoir Circuit is one which is short and it’s easy to see the local wildlife. Popular longer walks include the Bishop and Clerk trail. You can also hire a bike when booking your ferry ride. You can see a full list of walks here or read about visiting the Fossil Cliffs here.

There’s also a large Marine Nature Reserve which is ideal for diving and snorkelling and you can often see dolphins and seals.

You can spend as long or as little time as you’d like here, but we’d recommend a good few hours. However, note there are no shops on the island, so bring everything you’ll need with you – including water.

Where To Stay At Port Arthur

• BEST – Port Arthur Villas (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – NRMA Port Arthur (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Fox and Hounds Inn (Click here for more details)

Day 5: Port Arthur

Wake up ready to explore Port Arthur Historic Site which is the perfect place to learn about Tasmania’s convict past.

• Explore Port Arthur Historic Site. With your entry ticket you get included walking and boat tours. Make sure you take them.
• In the evening, it’s time to return to the site for the ghost tour

Port Arthur Historic Site

One of the most interesting and extensive historical sites in Tasmania is the UNESCO listed Port Arthur Historic Site, and it’s yet another must see place on our suggested itinerary Tasmania 7 days.

Port Arthur was an important convict goal for some of the worst offenders in the colony, but what makes it so impressive is the vast array of buildings and monuments which remain, waiting to be explored.

A ticket to Port Arthur includes entry to the site, a 40 minute guided walking tour and a 25 minute cruise of the harbour making it an excellent place to spend the day exploring. You select the time of your walking tour and cruise when booking, so I highly recommend pre-booking online.

Wandering the site alone you’ll explore the prison, houses, barns, gardens, both the old and new penitentiary and many other sites. It is very easy to explore with something different at every turn. Information boards are scattered around and you can enter some buildings and see the relics on display. Others are closed or in ruins. We had a lot of fun exploring the site.

The relaxing 25 minute cruise takes you around the harbour past Isle of the Dead, a burial spot which you can explore by tour for an additional fee. The ferry is very comfortable and you’re free to go outside in front of the ferry or sit and relax. There is a small shop onboard for snacks.

Back on land, you’ll find an excellent gift shop and a large cafeteria/restaurant onsite where you entered. You are free to take a break for lunch or coffee and continue exploring the site.

At night, Port Arthur hosts its famous ghost tours. These extremely popular tours cover some of the creepier aspects of the site, complete with stories from the past and visits to supposedly haunted areas of the site where you’re asked to judge for yourself. Entertaining and highly recommended!

Address: Historic Site, Visitor Centre, Port Arthur TAS 7182

Day 6: Drive To Launceston

Driving Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

After some fun and interesting stops on the Tasman Peninsula, drive back up north to Launceston ready for more fun!

• Drive to Doo Town, one of the most original towns in Australia to check out the house names (approx driving time 30 minutes)
• Check out the Blow Hole and Tessellated Pavement
• Stop at historic Ross on your way to Launceston (approx driving time 1 hour 50 minutes)
• Visit Cataract Gorge (approx driving time 1 hour)
• Check into your hotel in Launceston

Note, if you started this trip in Hobart and need to return there, return to Hobart today and look at days 1-2 in the itinerary below for activities for day 6 and 7.

There’s more information on Ross in day 1 above.

Doo Town

Driving through Eaglehawk Neck on Pirates Bay, you’ll come across a small quirky community known as Doo Town.

This small town has become an attraction in its own right because it offers something different – nearly every house is named using the word ‘doo’. This is a tradition that started over 90 years ago and continues today.

You’ll find Dr Doolittle, Doo-Drop-Inn and the Doo-Lishus cafe among many other names. Our kids had a great time pointing out funny names, and it’s worth a visit for some easy entertainment.

Address: 301 C338, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

Blow Hole and Tessellated Pavement

One of the most visited spots in Eaglehawk Neck is the Blow Hole, named due to the spurting of water at high tide due to the remnants of an old cave system.

From the car park, the Blow Hole is a short walk. The area is quite pretty, overlooking the ocean and you can see the power of the water from below. The full blow hole effect only occurs at high tide. Therefore if you want to see this, it’s best to time your visit with high tide. However, it’s still an interesting and pretty place to see at any time.

A short distance down the road is another natural phenomenon, although you wouldn’t think so just by looking at it. The Tessellated Pavement is an area of tiled rock which looks anything but natural, but amazingly it is. This is a rare phenomenon which is explained on an information board as you walk towards it.

It takes less than 5 minutes to reach the pavement from the car park, and you can walk over it and take photos. There are many cool rock pools and marine life to spot, and the pavement itself is very impressive. Note the tide can come in!

You can easily walk to the beach from the Tessellated Pavement and spend some time stretching your legs before you head off.

Address: Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

Cataract Gorge

First Basin in Cataract Gorge with swimming pool, a chairlift and a footbridge.

Your first stop after arriving in Launceston is Cataract Gorge. This is a beautiful spot to stretch your legs, take a walk and relax.

Entry is free and there are several things you can do here. Starting from the First Basin, one of the most popular things to do is take a ride on the chairlift, which takes you around the site and back again. This is relatively affordable and family tickets are available.

There are two main stations from First Station to the Cliff Grounds, and you’ll see everything this expansive area has to offer from above.

There are plenty of walks you can do. If you do just one, we recommend the suspension bridge which doesn’t take long, and follows a track which is complete with information boards on how the indigenous population once lived.

You’ll also find a swimming pool, cafe and restaurant, wildlife and the Inclinator, which is a self operated transporter which takes you from the base of the gorge to the top.

The Gorge is open year round and it really is a beautiful spot with a relaxing vibe.

Address: 69 Basin Road, Launceston, TAS 7250

Where To Stay In Launceston

• BEST – Peppers Silo (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Best Western Plus Launceston (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Village Family Motor Inn (See latest prices here)

Find our guide to all the best hotels in Launceston here.

Day 7: Tamar Valley

Driving Time: 25 minutes

Hopefully, you have the full day available to explore the Tamar Valley. If so, you can do the following. Otherwise, cut out what you need to get to your flight or the Spirit of Tasmania on time.

• Have breakfast in Launceston then head to Tasmania Zoo (approx driving time 25 minutes)
• Continue on to Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre (approx driving time 35 minutes)
• Head to a winery for lunch. We enjoyed Iron Pot Bay Vineyard (approx driving time 15 minutes)
• Drive on to Beauty Point and visit Seahorse World and Platypus House (approx driving time 20 minutes)
• Continue on to Devonport for the Spirit or Launceston Airport for your flight (approx driving time to Devonport 1 hour 10 mins, approx driving time to Launceston Airport 50 mins)

Note this day is quite busy so you may want to cut out whichever attraction sounds the least interesting to you.

Read our full guide to the Tamar Valley here.

Tasmania Zoo

Located just outside of Launceston is Tasmania Zoo, your first stop in the Tamar Valley. This zoo actually hosts an impressive variety of animals with over 100 unique species with both native animals and rare species from around the world.

The zoo feels more like a wildlife sanctuary and, while there is a lot to see. it’s very easy to explore and see it all in around an hour. Some of the most interesting animals to see are the wide variety of pretty birds, Tasmanian Devils, Tigers, Lions, emus and so many varieties of monkeys!

There’s also a Jurassic walk you can do with dinosaur sounds and moving dinosaur models which is great for kids.

The zoo also has food machines where you can buy a small cup of food to feed some of the animals (such as goats, sheep and kangaroos), and we found the animals coming up asking for food before we even had any.

They also have a cafe, shop and places to sit. It’s not a super well equipped zoo but there are plenty of animals to see and a visit here is a nice way to spend a morning.

Address: 1166 Ecclestone Rd, Riverside TAS 7250

Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre

The Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre is actually quite an impressive place to visit. The heritage centre is built on the site of a defunct mine, and you can walk around exploring the site.

There’s lots of information here, particularly on mining in Beaconsfield and the incident in 2006 when two miners became trapped underground for 14 days. Reading through this, you start to get a sense of what being trapped for 14 days one kilometre underground must have been like and how difficult and complex the rescue mission was.

There’s also a lot of interactive pieces making it extra fun to visit with kids. For example, just pressing a button operated a huge water turbine.

There is a big collection of relics from mining/farming in the past (and a few other random pieces) and lots of information on mining making it a really interesting place to visit.

Address: West St, Beaconsfield TAS 7270

Seahorse World

Beauty Point is a gorgeous spot, and perched on the water you’ll find Seahorse World – the place to see and learn all about seahorses.

A visit to Seahorse World is conducted by tour, so I recommend booking ahead to get your preferred time. The tour takes about 45 minutes and you’re taken around the facility by an informative guide.

The site is very cool, with tiny seahorses as well as a breeding centre with seahorses of all ages, as well as other marine life like crabs and starfish. Seahorses are very interesting and the guides give lots of information on them.

Address: 200 Flinders St, Beauty Point TAS 7270

Click here to read our full review or here to buy your entry ticket.

Platypus House

Similar to Seahorse World and positioned just next door is Platypus House – the place to see and learn about platypuses. However, it isn’t all about platypuses as you’ll see and learn about echidnas too!

Visiting Platypus House is similar to Seahorse World and is run by guided tours which take about 45 minutes. We quite liked this as you do learn a great deal about them.

We learned that both platypuses and echidnas are Monotremes, hence them being in the same site. We found it fascinating to see platypuses up close, and we sat in a room with echidnas feeding in the centre of it.

It is a really unique experience to see these interesting animals up close and highly recommended.

Address: 200 Flinders St, Beauty Point TAS 7270

Click here to read our full review.

Tasmania Self Drive 7 Day Itinerary – Tasmania West Coast Itinerary

Get ready to explore Tasmania’s capital and Tasmania’s vast wilderness.

Overview

1. Days 1-2 discover Hobart
2. Day 3 drive to Strahan with a stop at the Lake St Clair part of the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park on the way
3. Day 4 explore the west coast
4. Days 5-6 drive to Cradle Mountain and explore
5. Day 7 head back to Hobart stopping at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and Ross on the way

Tasmania Bridge in Hobart

The highlights of this 7 day Tasmania road trip are:

• Exploring Tasmania’s wilderness in the World Heritage Wilderness areas at Strahan, Lake St Clair and Cradle Mountain
• Seeing the Gordan River up close on a cruise
• Learning about the west coast’s mining past
• Discovering convict history at Ross
• Enjoying picturesque Hobart and having the unique experience of visiting MONA.

This Tasmania one week itinerary is designed to start and finish in Hobart, but you can start and finish from any point.

If you are starting at the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport, I recommend you drive straight to Hobart when disembarking to start the tour. On day 7, you can drive from Cradle Mountain back to Devonport stopping at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm on the way. You can do the same thing if you are starting and finishing in Launceston.

Tasmania 1 Week Itinerary Map: West Coast Tasmania Itinerary

The following map shows you the route this 7 day driving tour Tasmania takes.

Day 1: Arriving In Hobart

Today you begin your journey by exploring Tasmania’s capital, Hobart!

This first day is all about getting acquainted with Hobart, and we assume you want to take it relatively easy. However, depending on when you arrive, you may want to add an attraction from the second day to this day.

• Arrive in Hobart either driving from Devonport or flying into Hobart Airport. You can hire a car from one of the many companies at the airport
• Drive to the summit of Mount Wellington and see Hobart from above from the observation deck
• Have lunch in North Hobart and then check-in to your hotel
• Head on to Battery Point and take a heritage walk
• Explore Salamanca Place and Hobart’s Waterfront and pick a place for dinner

Where To Stay In Hobart

• BEST – MACq 01 Hotel (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Somerset On The Pier (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Central Hotel Hobart (See latest prices here)

Mt Wellington

At over 1200 metres, Mt Wellington can be seen from all around Hobart, and the first thing you should do when you reach Hobart is drive to the top and see the city from above.

Driving to the top of Mt Wellington is easy and takes about 30 minutes. There are several walking tracks and scenic spots along the way. A particularly popular spot to stop is the Springs, with a big car park, coffee van, toilets and walking tracks in the forest.

Of course the main event is the Pinnacle – the top of the mountain with a sheltered observation deck and signs to familiarise yourself with the city’s layout. You’ll also find a few outdoor observation areas and walks.

Whilst this is a beautiful spot it can be very cold and windy at the top of the mountain. Warm clothes are essential in any season.

In the colder months, there is often snow and as such the road to the top can be shut. However you can still usually drive as far up as the Springs.

Battery Point

Battery Point is a historic and affluent inner city suburb of Hobart, and exploring its pretty streets is a great way to spend an afternoon.

One of the best ways to see Battery Point is with a heritage walk which you can follow here. This will take you to the most iconic spots of the suburb. I recommend you park at Salamanca Place and make your way up Kelly’s Steps to start your walk (you’ll return here afterwards).

Battery Point is filled with pretty buildings and cottages. Arthurs Circus is a must see which is a collection of cottages built for the garrison officers.

Hampden Road is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants and a stroll along this is a must. You’ll also find the Narryna Heritage Museum which is a well preserved historic townhouse open for viewing.

Other points of interest are the pretty St George’s Anglican Church and Princes Park for a relaxing stroll as you make your way back to Salamanca Place.

Salamanca Place and Hobart’s Waterfront

A trip to Hobart would be incomplete without a visit to the converted sandstone warehouses at Salamanca Place. This trendy area has everything from fine dining to dessert cafes, museums and galleries, shops and souvenir stores and a large open square complete with a fountain.

This is a lovely spot to spend some time getting lost exploring the different sites. It’s also a particularly nice spot to stop and have a drink. There are many trendy bars here each with their own flair.

If you’re visiting on a Saturday you will be lucky enough to see the streets come alive for the Salamanca Market. This large open air market sells everything Tasmania is famed for, with fudge, honey, flowers, produce, food vans and much, much more.

Salamanca Place is positioned just a stone’s throw away from Hobart’s waterfront. From Salamanca Place you can pass through Parliament House Gardens (and see Parliament House) and then cross the road and explore the waterfront.

Hobart Waterfront

The waterfront has many offerings itself. This is a pretty place to walk and see the many boats and yachts docked, as well as see the gift and souvenir stores and restaurants.

We recommend visiting the floating pontoon Brooke Street Pier, Mawson’s Hut and the converted warehouses on Hunter Street. The MAC01 complex also has several bars and restaurants, and is a nice place to walk by.

When it comes to dinner, it’s obvious that seafood is a massively popular option. There are options to suit every budget.

For fine dining, I recommend either MAC01 or one of the restaurants at Salamanca Place. For a more budget friendly option, you can choose one of the many popular seafood restaurants like Mures or Fish Frenzy or one of the floating takeaway shops.

Day 2: Enjoying Hobart

On day 2 of your itinerary, you’ll delve into Hobart’s art scene and explore the nearby town of Richmond.

• After breakfast, head to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) and explore this fascinating museum. You get there by ferry from Hobart or car (approx 20 minute drive)
• After MONA, drive on to Richmond, stopping at one of the many wineries for lunch on the way – there are several in the Richmond/Cambridge area (approx 25 minute driving time)
• Explore the attractions at Richmond then return to Hobart (approx 30 minute driving time)
• Have dinner in Salamanca Place

MONA

MONA is a world renowned unique, captivating and interesting art museum, and it’s a must see place while you’re in Hobart. This museum is unlike any other we’ve been to, and there’s a lot to see (and a lot you may not want to see).

There are several ways to get to MONA. You can take a bus decked out like a prisoner bus, a cruise on the MONA Roma or drive. If you’re heading to Richmond afterwards, it’s best to drive and make your way from there.

Currently due to COVID, you must pre-book online before you go.

MONA is mostly underground which makes it an impressive site to see, and the exhibits range from murals on the wall, paintings and rooms featuring strange and interesting things like a bunch of people singing to Madonna (oddly creepy).

This is an interesting place unlike any other where you’ll find vending machines with beer and something different at every turn. We saw a room with computer codes all around and TV shows with strange figures and events.

Exhibits do change but I quite liked seeing the egyptian sarcophagus and other artifacts from the past. The kids liked seeing the poo machine (which was more about smell than sight).

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale TAS 7011

Richmond

About a 30 minute drive from Hobart is Richmond, a pretty historic town with plenty to see and do. Richmond is visited year round by tourists and locals due to its impressive collection of historic architecture and a variety of things to do.

Richmond is small and can easily be explored on foot. We recommend parking by the Richmond Bridge (Australia’s oldest stone stand bridge), walking across and making your way into the town from here.

Everything is close together and you’ll find a variety of shops, cafes, galleries, museums and churches so I recommend taking a stroll and visiting the sites that interest you. A visit to the Pooseum – a surprisingly informative museum featuring animal dung – is recommended if you’re traveling with kids!

Two of the most popular attractions are the Richmond Gaol and the Old Hobart Town Model Village.

Richmond Gaol

One of the most authentic and interesting places to see in Richmond is the Richmond Gaol – Australia’s oldest convict gaol still standing.

Entry is affordable ($10 for adults and $5 for kids) and you visit by self guided tour. There are plenty of information boards (complete with sound effects) to guide you through your visit and understand how life was life here.

Cells are almost the same today as they were back in the 1800’s, and seeing the variety of rooms – including the main gaol, holding cells and solitary confinement, women’s quarters, kitchen and flogging yard – make this is a very complete and unique site.

This gaol is relatively small and you can see it all in under an hour. The historic buildings are impressively kept and this is certainly one of the most interesting places to see in Richmond.

Address: 37 Bathurst St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review of Richmond Gaol.

Old Hobart Town Model Village

If you’re interested in how Hobart looked 200 years ago, a visit to the Old Hobart Town Model Village is a must. This impressively large model village took several years to construct and is based on trusted sources and records to replicate how Hobart Town looked in the 1820’s.

The model is exceptionally well presented with information boards and street names giving a description of buildings and life during this early period of Hobart’s history. Few of the buildings in the model exist today, and it’s very interesting to see just how much the city has changed and evolved.

The designers clearly have a sense of humour too, as you’ll find human figures in amusing situations (such as fighting off wildlife or stumbling out of the pub drunk). There’s plenty to see and it’s fun to see what you can spot!

Address: 21a Bridge St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review of Old Hobart Town Model Village.

Day 3: Lake St Clair And Strahan

Driving Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Today on your 7 day road trip you’ll be heading out of Hobart and onto Strahan, stopping to explore the beautiful Lake St Clair area on the way!

• After breakfast, continue your road trip to Lake St Clair Visitor Centre (approx driving time 2 hours and 20 minutes)
• Have lunch at the restaurant near the Visitor Centre and then go for a walk. I suggest the Watersmeet Walk and then heading to Platypus Bay to potentially see a platypus (this is a 4.7km track and takes about an hour and a half)
• Continue on to Strahan (approx driving time 2 hours)
• Stop at the West Coast Visitor Centre and pay a visit to the West Coast Reflections museum (note it closes at 4pm)
• Eat dinner in Strahan (we recommend Bushman’s Bar and Cafe). It’s best to book ahead

Where To Stay In Strahan

• BEST – Aloft Boutique Accommodation (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Big4 Strahan Holiday Retreat (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Motel Strahan (See latest prices here)

Find our guide to all the best hotels in Strahan here.

Lake St Clair

After a nearly 2 and a half hour drive, you’ll reach the stunning Lake St Clair, and you’ll be lucky enough to stretch your legs by taking a walk by this beautiful lake.

From the car park, you’ll first enter the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre which has a bit of information on the area and native wildlife. This is the first spot where you will need a national park pass to visit. You can purchase it at the visitor centre or pre-purchase online, and you can purchase one pass for your entire trip.

You’ll also find toilets and a large restaurant/cafe for lunch (although they stopped serving lunch at 1:30pm when we arrived).

After lunch, take your time exploring this stunning area by taking a walk. You’ll start at Cynthia Bay and quickly realise there are many walks you can do – some taking several hours. I recommend the shorter Watersmeet Walk and continuing on to Platypus Bay if you have the stamina and time. The full figure-eight circuit can take between 1.5 to 2 hours.

Along the way look out for the Waratah which grows in abundance here, and walk back to the visitor centre by the lake to appreciate this calm, tranquil spot.

West Coast Reflections

West Coast Reflections

Inside the West Coast Visitor Information Centre is the West Coast Reflections Museum. Entry is only $2 ($1 for kids) and it’s worth seeing to get some information on the places you’re about to visit.

This small double floor museum has a lot of info on the West Coast, particularly around Sarah Island and early colonial and indigenous life, as well as the climate and political controversies (like the proposed damming of the Franklin River) and historical events in the area.

For a small museum it is well set out and cheap to see. The visitor centre also has a good shop, and you can purchase tickets to see the play here ‘The Ship That Never Was’ – Australia’s longest running play and based on a true event. This is worth seeing if you’re looking for something to do at night.

The museum does close at 4pm, so if you miss out, you can always add this to day 4 after your cruise or train ride. It’s not a must see museum, but cheap and interesting nonetheless.

Address: The Esplanade, TAS, 7468

Day 4: Strahan

Today, you have a tough decision – whether to take a Gordon River Cruise or journey on the West Coast Wilderness Railway! Unfortunately, there isn’t time for both, so read through each below and see which one appeals more to you.

• Cruise the stunning Gordon River on a Gordon River Cruise; OR
• Have an adventure on the West Coast Wilderness Railway

Gordon River Cruise

Part of Tasmania’s famed World Heritage Area, the Gordon River is a stunning place and the best way to appreciate it is by taking a Gordon River Cruise.

You have two companies to choose from for your cruise – Gordon River Cruises and World Heritage Cruises.

Both cruises take you to the iconic spots of the area such as Hells Gates (the narrow and complex entryway to the Gordon River), Sarah Island (a small and infamous penal settlement) and a cruise down the Gordon River with a stop at Heritage Landing where you can take a walk through the forest.

We took a cruise with Gordon River Cruises which was extremely comfortable. The boat, Spirit of the Wild, was virtually silent while cruising the river which made it extra relaxing, and we were served a good buffet lunch. The cruise stopped at both Heritage Landing and Sarah Island and there were guided tours at both.

Our cruise took 6 hours and we enjoyed every second of it and found it a relaxing and scenic way to spend a day.

West Coast Wilderness Railway

West Coast Wilderness Railway

A journey on the West Coast Wilderness Railway is simply one of the best ways to appreciate the west coast of Tasmania.

This railway, which was originally used to carry mined material from Queenstown to the port at Strahan, now operates as a tourist attraction on an original old steam train.

There are several different tours you can do, both half day and full day, depending on whether you leave from Strahan or Queenstown (Queenstown is about a 30 minute drive from Strahan). Each tour stops at different stations along the way. There are two carriage classes – Heritage (with snacks available for purchase) and Wilderness (fully catered and with an open balcony).

From Strahan, I recommend taking The Queenstown Explorer. This excellent tour departs from Regatta Point Station in Strahan and takes you to Queenstown and back, stopping at several stations such as Dubbil Barril and Lynchford on the way.

Great scenery from the West Coast Wilderness Railway

The stations have their own attractions such as a walking track and gold mining, and the return trip takes about 9 hours.

The trip itself is simply stunning with scenery that needs to be seen to be appreciated. This is one of the best ways to see the rugged west of Tasmania.

Address: 62 Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468

If you are looking for more activities in Strahan, read our full guide here.

Day 5: Drive to Cradle Mountain

Today you’ll leave Strahan and head to Cradle Mountain.

• Have breakfast in Strahan and then drive to Zeehan (approx driving time 30 minutes)
• See the West Coast Heritage Centre and Spray Tunnel
• Continue driving to Cradle Mountain and check-in to your hotel (approx driving time 1 hour 30 minutes)
• At night visit Devils@Cradle and see the Tasmanian Devils feeding

You could also switch the stop at Zeehan with doing whatever you missed of the Gordan River Cruise and West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Where To Stay At Cradle Mountain

• BEST – Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Cradle Mountain Highlanders (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain (Dorm Rooms Available) (Click here for more details)

Zeehan

Inside Gaiety Theatre

On your way to Cradle Mountain it’s worth stopping by the small town of Zeehan.

There’s not a whole lot to see here, but there are some worthwhile attractions such as the West Coast Heritage Centre.

This museum has quite an impressive collection of things on display like mined minerals, machinery, locomotives, access to the court house, an underground mine experience and much more. One of the main offerings here is access to Gaiety Theatre – a grand theatre once considered to be one of the best in the country.

The path back into the Spray tunnel

A 5 minute drive from the museum is the Spray Tunnel. This is an abandoned railway tunnel from the days of silver mining which you can walk through and take an easy 1 hour return walk. This is a unique walk with ruins and relics that you can spot along the track.

Back in the town centre there is a shop and a couple of cafes if you’d like to relax before heading onwards.

Address (West Coast Heritage Centre): 114 Main St, Zeehan TAS 7469

Address (Spray Tunnel): Fowler Street, Zeehan TAS 7321

Read more about visiting Zeehan in our full guide here.

Devils@Cradle

If there’s one animal most people are interested to see when visiting Tasmania, it’s the Tasmanian devil.

Tasmanian devils are nocturnal, and as such, the best way to see these iconic and interesting animals is with an after dark tour. You can do this at Devils@Cradle.

Devils@Cradle is a wildlife sanctuary helping to conserve native wildlife. You can visit outside of tours, but to see the Tasmanian devils feeding, you need to book one of their after dark tours.

I highly recommend this. It’s the best way to see the Tasmanian Devil alert and in action and it’s a highly sensory experience with an interesting guide.

The tours take a bit over an hour and run from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, and the facility has other native wildlife, such as the spotted-tailed and eastern quolls, as well as joey devils.

Address: 3950 Cradle Mountain Rd, Cradle Mountain TAS 7306

Day 6: Cradle Mountain

On day 6 you’ll spend some time exploring the beautiful Cradle Mountain. You can take as little or as long as you’d like exploring this area.

This is an easy going day for you to spend in nature after a full on journey.

• Have breakfast at your hotel and then pack a lunch
• Head to the visitors centre and take the shuttle bus to Dove Lake
• Take the Dove Lake walk (approx 1.5 – 2 hours)
• Take the bus to other stops exploring Cradle Mountain, stopping somewhere to eat your lunch

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain and the Dove Lake

The stunning Cradle Mountain is the result of an eroded glacier, and by visiting you’ll understand just how magnificent this area is.

Your visit will start at the visitor centre where you’ll pick up your ticket for the shuttle bus (this is included in your national park pass fee) and get some information on the park. There’s a good cafe here if you’d like to have something to eat before exploring (or to stock up on water).

You’ll then make your way to the bus stop. The shuttle buses arrive frequently – usually 10 to 15 minutes between each – however the hours they run depends on when you’re visiting (usually between 9am – 5pm in winter and 8am – 6pm in summer).

The shuttle bus stops at various points along the way, and you can get a map and ask for information at the visitors centre.

I recommend taking the bus to Dove Lake and doing the Dove Lake walk, which is a beautiful walk around the lake. It’s fairly flat and much of it is on a boardwalk, and you’ll get some stunning views of the lake and mountain and will get to walk through the forest.

If you’re after something short and easy, The Rainforest Walk is a good option and is entirely on a boardwalk.

There is a list of the walks you can do here.

The area is a wealth of rainforests, rivers, wildlife and bushland and you can spend as long as you’d like soaking up the natural beauty. This is a day to take it easy in nature and to feel unrushed and relaxed in a stunning setting.

Day 7: Returning To Hobart

Driving Time: 4 hours

It’s time to finish your 7 day Tasmania adventure with a drive back to Hobart (note if you are leaving from somewhere else, you would drive there today). On the way, have a delicious breakfast at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and explore historic Ross.

• Leave early and head to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for breakfast (approx driving time 1.25 hours)
• Drive on to historic Ross and explore (approx driving time 1.25 hours)
• Head back to Hobart ready to fly out  (approx driving time 1.5 hours)

There is more information about Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and Ross on day 1 of the east coast itinerary.

Tasmania 6 Day Itinerary

If you’ve only got 6 days in Tasmania you can make some modifications to the itineraries above. If you’re looking for an east coast 6 day itinerary Tasmania, you could just cut off the last day. Otherwise, Eaglehawk Neck is only 25 minutes from Port Arthur, so you could combine some attractions from day 6 with day 5 and squeeze in some attractions in the Tamar Valley on day 6.

If you’re looking at what to see in Tasmania in 6 days on the West Coast, I recommend you leave early for Cradle Mountain on day 5, remove Zeehan from your Tasmania self drive 6 day itinerary and see Cradle Mountain and Devils@Cradle on day 5. You can then head back to Hobart on day 6.

8 Days Tasmania Itinerary

If you’re lucky enough to have time for a Tasmania self drive 8 day itinerary, you have a couple of options. For an east coast Tasmania 8 day self drive itinerary, I recommend you add some attractions from day 7 to day 8 so that you can spend longer exploring the Tamar Valley region, and so that your final day isn’t so rushed.

For a west coast Tasmania self drive itinerary of 8 days, after visiting Cradle Mountain you could add a visit to Wynyard, Boat Harbour and Stanley on day 6/7, and head to back to Hobart from there. You can read about the attractions in these spots here.

Final Words About Your Tasmania Driving Holiday

Strahan waterfront

Tasmania really is an exceptional place for a road trip, and both the east and west coast are vastly different from each other – in both climate and attractions.

Whatever you choose to do, remember you can always return again for another Tasmania road trip. We will be here to help you discover the best attractions Tasmania offers!

We hope you enjoy these suggestions for what to do in Tasmania for a week so that you can have your perfect trip. You can find more information to plan your perfect trip to Tasmania in our planning guides to Tasmania here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post The Perfect Tasmania Driving Holiday: Tasmania Itinerary 7 days appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.

From the powder-white sand to the aqua water, the best beaches in Tasmania, Australia definitely do not disappoint. There’s a reason why the Tasmania beach, Wineglass Bay, is often found in the top 10 lists of the best beaches in the world.

However, that’s not the only beach deserving of the title of the best beach in Tasmania. There are so many great options that it has stiff competition!

To help ensure you visit at least one or two of the best beaches Tasmania offers, below you will find our list of the top 10 beaches in Tasmania so you can decide which one of the beautiful beaches in Tasmania you can add to your itinerary! There’s also a handy map of all our top beaches of Tasmania to help you plot your path.

Best Beaches In Tasmania

Note that we didn’t come up with this list all by ourselves. We asked some of our well travelled blogging friends for their best picks of the Tasmania Australia beaches too!

Also make sure you pay attention to any warning signs at beaches and research the safety of any of the options for yourself.

Bay of Fires

One of the top beaches in the world, let alone Tasmania, is the beautiful Bay of Fires on Tasmania’s north east coast. This isolated conservation area is located about two and a half hours drive from the closest airport in Launceston and you are going to feel like you have left everything behind!

This coastal area consists of many rock gullies which create little and big beaches and inlets to explore. Despite the fact that it has become increasingly popular in recent years, even at peak times it does not feel busy and it’s easy to have a beach to yourself.

The beaches are just stunning with white, powdery sand, crystal clear, aqua water and the startling contrast of the bright orange, lichen covered boulders. They are also in pristine condition with no trash or signs of people in sight.

You can drive to some of this area while some is only accessible via hiking. Either way, it’s not a difficult beach to explore and is best suited to beach lovers who don’t mind not having the beach directly outside their front door.

It’s possible to camp at certain areas along the beach so you can wake up to the best views in the world. This may be the best free accommodation in the world! If you prefer something more comfortable, the NRMA St Helens Waterfront Holiday Park is a great pick.

If you love getting away from it all in a stunning location and are looking for east coast beaches Tasmania, don’t miss Bay of Fires.

Contributed by David from Survey Fanatics

You can read more about visiting nearby St Helens here.

Wineglass Bay

When it comes to the best beach in Tasmania, the answer is clear. Wineglass Bay.

Often listed in top 10 lists of the best beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay located within Freycinet National Park on the east coast of Tasmania deserves this title.

Its stunningly pretty thanks to the white sand, aqua blue water and the contrasting orangey rocks that line its bay. Add in the complete lack of development around and all the bush and it’s a total winner.

This is not the easiest beach to access which is part of its appeal. You can only get here by foot or boat. It’s about a one hour hike here from the car park in Freycinet. While it isn’t long, the path is steep with many stairs going up and down a mountain pass. This is a win since it helps keeps the masses away.

This beach is best for campers and hikers. You can camp for free at the end of the beach. If you’re not a camper, you can also stay at the nearby Big 4 Iluka on Freycinet.

Wineglass Bay is most popular in summer up until Easter and is best visited either side of this so you can still have great weather and less people.

Contributed by Suzi from Survey Suzi

Denison Beach

Australia is well-known for its beautiful beaches and Tasmania is no exception. In an island famous for its forests and wilderness, you can also find some stunning beaches. On the East Coast of Tasmania, Denison Beach is an infinite stretch of white sand that you could easily miss.

This is possibly the longest secret beach in Tasmania. Hidden behind sand dunes, the beach can be accessed through a number of paths and there are a few places to stop along Tasman Highway.

The beach is pristine, with seemingly untouched white sand and rolling surf. It’s a pretty wild place with little or no shelter. Denison Beach is ideal if you are driving along the coast and want to stop for an undisturbed swim.

Be mindful that the beach is mostly unpatrolled and the surf can be dangerous. If you are intending to spend some time on the beach, you should bring a sun shelter and have plenty of water, as the wind and sun will dry you out.

Denison Beach is only 5 minutes drive from Bicheno, a quaint coastal town somewhat forgotten in time. There are plenty of options for accommodation there, including caravan parks. In order to find this beach, look for a gap in the sand dunes and go explore.

Contributed by Delphine from LesterLost

Hopground Beach

A 700 metre curve of beach on Maria Island between the intriguingly-named Painted Cliffs and Magistrates Point, Hopground Beach is the best beach in Tasmania because it is so different from any other Tasmanian beach.

The beach’s main attraction is the Painted Cliffs which have eye-catching honeycomb patterns in the sandstone that have been shaped by forces of nature of thousands of years. These potholes and notches were caused by groundwater percolating through the sandstone and staining the rock and erosion from the waves that have created a unique work of art that cannot be found at any other beach in Tasmania.

Hopground Beach is one of the natural attractions on Maria Island, which is a small island off Tasmania’s east coast, that attracts adventurous travellers keen on nature and hiking.

Maria Island is a Tasman Sea island that is accessed from Tasmania’s mainland by ferry from Triabunna to the north of Orford (more information here). It takes a over an hour to drive to the Triabunna jetty from Hobart and the Painted Cliffs end of Hopground Beach is 2 kilometres from Darlington along a well-signposted track from the dock.

As Maria Island is a destination for those who love hiking and camping, there are few amenities, so pack food and plenty of water. The closest campground is at Darlington, which has a camping area, and there’s bunkhouse accommodation in the Penitentiary where convicts originally stayed. Bernacchi House which is heritage listed and dates back to 1880, is a more luxurious option.

Find more information about Maria Island accommodation here.

Contributed by Christina from Travel2Next

Freer’s Beach, Shearwater

The beach here is very flat and when the tides go out, you have lots of sand with some large puddle areas left behind by the retreating water. This makes it a great place for families with young kids, and fishermen.

Families can enjoy the vast flat areas of sand for kids to play around in, while also having water with predictable depth and relatively calm currents.

Fishermen can comfortably stand in waist deep water without the ever present threat of being taken out by a wave. You can cast out into the depths where salmon, mullet, sand flathead, whiting, pike and cod are abundant in the area.

The view from the beach is spectacular at every turn with the water glistening under the sun.

The town of Shearwater is small, but has an unusually modern feel for such a regional area. You rarely find houses more than ten years old once you get more than a block away from the main street of town or the beach. The main cause being the influx of retirees into the area once a golf course was built.

Some of the local Bed & Breakfasts offer a nicer option than the hotels. The Castagni Bed and Breakfast is highly recommended with the owner feeding the local kangaroos each night just outside the dining area. It is quite a spectacle with 20-30 kangaroos slowly emerging from the surrounding bushland.

The larger city of Devonport is also just a 10 minute drive away with plenty of options for accommodation there. This is also a good choice if looking for beaches near Launceston, Tasmania.

Contributed by James from Team AJ Travels

Boat Harbour

My personal pick for the most attractive beach in Tasmania is Boat Harbour. This small beach has some of the whitest sand I have seen at a beach ever along with beautiful, clear, aqua water.

Located about 30 minutes drive from Burnie, this one of the best swimming beaches in Tasmania is generally nice and calm with smaller, family friendly waves. There are rock pools to explore and views all around. If you are extra lucky, you may catch sight of a dolphin, seal or whale.

By the beach is a take away kiosk, surf club house and playground. There are no big hotels here with a nice splattering of beach houses instead.

We have had an excellent experience staying at the Seascape Beach House.

Ocean Beach, Strahan

Taking out the prize for the longest beach in the state, Ocean Beach Tasmania definitely also has one of the more remote and rugged feels of the hidden beaches Tasmania.

Located along the west coast about six kilometres west of Strahan, this is not a beach recommended for swimmers. Instead it’s for people who love long beach walks and solitude as it’s easy to get that here!

It’s also perfect for gorgeous photos and four wheel driving.

Best Beaches In Hobart

If you are looking for the best beaches near Hobart, this is the part of this list of nice beaches in Tasmania you’ll want to pay attention to!

Hobart is located around the River Derwent and there are both river beaches and ones pointing out to sea around Hobart so you can take your pick!

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is the perfect place to head if you are looking for best surf beaches in Tasmania that work great for beginners.

This one of Hobart beaches is only about 30 minutes from the centre but feels a world away. Surrounded by a coastal reserve and bordered by capes and cliffs, this is a pretty spot for a swim, surf, walk or play. It can be hazardous for swimmers though so be careful.

Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach is my personal favourite of the best beaches Hobart and is located near the airport. In fact, if you flew into Hobart, you probably saw it from the air!

A surprising seven miles long, this beach is another of the surf beaches Tasmania that are easily accessible. There are several access points within the suburb of Seven Mile Beach with Lewis Park being a popular one. There is some parking here as well as BBQ, picnic facilities, playground and toilet block.

The beach itself is pretty and a popular place for a dip on a hot day.

Long Beach

For an ultra easy choice of beach Hobart, head to Long Beach Tasmania. Located in the suburb of Sandy Bay, this is just an easy ten minute drive from the city and plenty of buses operate here as well.

While it’s not the best looking or most exciting of the beaches in southern Tasmania, it is surrounded by facilities. The beach itself is narrow but there is a big playground and reserve area, toilet and change blocks and nearby shops and cafes. It makes for a super easy day trip of the Hobart best beaches.

Map Of Best Beach In Tasmania Options

Final Words About Tasmanian Beaches

I hope you have found this guide to the best beaches in Tasmania useful. There truly are many fantastic beaches in Tasmania so keep a look out whenever you are near the coast as you are sure to see one.

As a general rule, the prettiest beaches are on the east coast, but, as you can see from above, there are plenty of exceptions to this rule. I hope you have a great time working out your own pick for the best beach in Tasmania!

Looking for more places to visit on your Tasmanian road trip? Find our 14 day itinerary for Tasmania here and our 10 day one here. You can also find all our top Tasmanian planning information here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post Top 10 Best Beaches In Tasmania Perfect For Your Road Trip Stopover appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.

Tasmania is a fabulous destination to explore by car. The state boasts great local food and wine, numerous historical sites and vast national parks and natural wonders, with much of the state being protected national park.

Your Tasmania self drive holiday itinerary below includes all of this and more, and we believe 10 days is a great amount of time to spend exploring. The state is rather spread out, and by driving from place to place on the easy (and relatively low trafficked) roads, you’ll have the freedom to see the best of Tasmania.

When planning Tasmania holidays, self drive options are very popular. This is because Tasmania is a state made to be explored by your own vehicle whether that’s a rental car or your own. Public buses only run between the main places and you’ll want to see more than this! You’ll love the freedom that comes with a self drive Tasmania itinerary.

Scenic view of Hobart from Mount Wellington

To help you come up with your perfect Tasmania self drive itinerary, below we give you exactly this! It’s designed for 10 days in Tasmania and there are also some suggestions if you would prefer a Tasmania 9 day itinerary.

If you have a bit longer, you may prefer to read our 14 day itinerary for Tasmania self drive here.

So keep reading for your day-by-day, step-by-step 10 days Tasmania self drive itinerary which includes stops, driving times and accommodation suggestions. There is also a 10 days Tasmania itinerary map so you can better picture the route you will be taking.

Note this self drive itinerary Tasmania is on the fast side – it assumes you want to experience as much as possible and get a great taste of Tasmania on your trip. If you like to take things easier, I recommend removing a destination or two or removing some of the stops between places. Just read through and remove the ones from your Tasmania 10 day itinerary that sound least interesting to you.

This trip is suitable for couples, friends, solo travellers and families. If you have young kids, I recommend removing some stops to make it a bit easier however.

Finally, if you have any questions about this Tasmania self drive itinerary blog, let us know in the comments below – we are happy to help you in this ultimate Tasmania tours self drive option!

Perfect Self Drive Tasmania Itinerary 10 days

Remember, this is a full Tasmania 10 day road trip. If you have fewer days, simply pick the days that most appeal – there are more tips for less days below. For more days, read our itinerary here.

Overview

Days 1-2 explore Hobart
Day 3 drive to Strahan stopping at the Lake St Clair part of the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park
Day 4 explore the west coast from Strahan
Days 5-6 drive to Cradle Mountain and exploring the Dove Lake area at Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park
Day 7 head to Launceston
Day 8 hike to famous Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park
Day 9 explore Tasmania’s convict heritage at Port Arthur Historic Site
Day 10 finish in Hobart

Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake

The highlights of these self drive tours Tasmania are:

• Walk through the streets of Richmond and Battery Point on a heritage trail
• See the best of Hobart including Mt Wellington, Mona and Salamanca Place
• See the renowned river reflections on a Gordon River Cruise and the beautiful beaches at Strahan
• Ride the historic West Coast Wilderness Railway through an ancient world heritage listed forest
• Explore Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
• Sample Tasmania’s famous wine and produce in the Tamar Valley and visit the mining Heritage Centre in Beaconsfield
• Hike an easy track and take in the scenery at the famous Wineglass Bay
• Explore the heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site and sail the harbour on a cruise

This one of our Tasmania self drive tours is designed to start and finish in Hobart, but you can start and finish from any point.

If you are starting at the Spirit of Tasmania and looking for a self drive Tasmania itinerary from Devonport, I recommend you start on Day 7 and drive straight to Launceston when disembarking. Once you hit day 10, start over on day one and finish up at Cradle Mountain before driving back to Devonport.

If you are looking for a family 10 day road trip Tasmania, this also works great for families but with younger kids, I definitely recommend slowing it down.

Tasmania Self Drive Map: 10 days In Tasmania

The following map shows you the route this 10 day Tasmania road trip takes around the state. You get to discover the main regions.

Day 1: Arriving in Hobart

Welcome to Hobart! This is the beginning of your itinerary Tasmania in 10 days, and today you’ll explore the capital of Tasmania.

As today is your first day in Hobart, you’ll take it pretty easy.

• Arrive in Hobart and collect your hire car. There are many hire car companies at the airport.
• Head straight to the top of Mount Wellington to see the city and understand the layout.
• Have lunch.
• Check- in to your hotel.
• Explore Battery Point on a heritage walk, then make your way to Salamanca Place and Hobart’s Waterfront.
• Choose one of the many restaurants for dinner. For excellent seafood, try Drunken Admirals.

Where To Stay In Hobart

• BEST – MACq 01 Hotel (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Somerset On The Pier (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Central Hotel Hobart (See latest prices here)

Mt Wellington

Mt Wellington (which is officially known as kunanyi) is iconic in Hobart and can be seen from all around the city. It is the first stop on your Tasmania self drive itinerary 10 days.

Driving from the airport to Hobart takes about 20 minutes, and then it’s a further 30 minute drive to the top of Mt Wellington. It’s a relatively easy drive to the top, with many places along the way to stop, take a walk and take photos of the view. The Springs is a popular place to stop and get a coffee, take a walk and use the bathroom.

Continuing up the mountain, you’ll reach the pinnacle where there’s a sheltered observation deck with signs to acquaint you with the city. The view from here really is stunning, and it’s a great place to become familiar with the layout of Hobart. There are also outdoor observation decks, as well as walks and rocks to climb.

It’s worth noting that this is a mountain and as such it can be very cold (dress warmly) and some days can be cloudy obscuring the views. However I still think it’s worth the drive up for the many walks and the fresh mountain air.

Address: Wellington Park TAS 7054

Battery Point

Battery Point is a historic inner city suburb of Hobart, and the best way to explore it is on a heritage walk. You can find a guide to this walk here.

There are many points of interest and you can check to see which ones interest you. I suggest starting at Salamanca Place (you’ll return there afterwards) and taking the historic Kelly Steps (which were built in 1840) and exploring Battery Point from here.

Points of particular interest include the trendy cafes, shops and restaurants on Hampden Road (including Narryna Heritage Museum), Arthurs Circus and Princes Park.

The streets are very pretty with historic cottages and the cafes are a great place to stop for a coffee.

Battery Point is where we live and I’m sure you’ll quickly love it as much as us.

Salamanca Place and Hobart’s Waterfront

After exploring the streets of Battery Point, return to Salamanca Place and see the lined sandstone buildings which have been converted to trendy shops, bars and restaurants.

If you’re looking for souvenirs the shops here sell excellent products Tasmania is famed for (like woodwork, fudge, wine etc), and there are numerous trendy bars to stop for a drink later on. This is where the best bars in Hobart are located.

After exploring Salamanca Place and Salamanca Square, start making your way to Parliament House Gardens and then cross the street to Hobart’s Waterfront.

Hobart’s Waterfront

The waterfront is usually crowded with sailing boats and some nights a food market is held. Enter the floating pontoon at Brook Street Pier, see the converted warehouses near MACq01, explore Mawson’s Huts replica museum and take a photo of the old steam crane.

When the hunger pangs start hitting, there are plenty of places to go for dinner on the waterfront and in Salamanca. This area is known for its excellent fresh seafood, and a particularly good place to sample it is Drunken Admiral. Booking ahead is recommended.

There are plenty of other choices however, including the floating takeaway shops and many other restaurants nearby.

Day 2: Enjoying Hobart

Day 2 of this road trip in Tasmania is all about seeing more of Hobart.

• Start the day at MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). You can either take a ferry from the waterfront or drive (about a 15 minute drive)
• Head in the direction of Richmond and eat lunch at a restaurant nearby (I recommend Coal River Farm).
• Explore the town of Richmond and then return to Hobart and have dinner in Salamanca Place (Richmond is about 30 minutes from Hobart).

MONA

MONA is a world renowned museum built by the eccentric David Walsh, and it’s the only must see museum on your Tasmania travel itinerary 10 days.

You have two options of getting here – you can drive or take a ferry. The ferry is a nice 30 minute journey where you can take in the Derwent River views on the way. However if you’re heading to Richmond afterwards, I’d recommend driving.

MONA is impressive for several reasons. Firstly, it’s located on the grounds of a winery and mostly located under the ground, etched into the sandstone. It’s also home to a wealth of artwork, and some particularly interesting and strange pieces can be found here.

You can download the Mona O app to your phone which is like your own tour guide so that you can read and listen tot things which interest you (and ignore the things that don’t).

The museum is set over several floors and some exhibits are interactive making it great for visiting with kids. When we visited there was an interesting maze, a room with TV sets and people singing (which was oddly uncomfortable) and a Poop Machine (to show how strange the exhibits can be)!

You can also find a library and various bars and eating options as well as a big grassy area outside and a playground.

There are also historical artifacts to be found here from an Egyptian sarcophagus and other artwork from the past. Some exhibitions do require an extra ticket but most things are included in the price of entry.

You can pre-purchase tickets online, and it really is an interesting (albeit sometimes strange) place which I highly recommend visiting.

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale TAS 7011

Richmond

Richmond is a pretty historic town about 30 minutes from Hobart. This is a popular place to visit for both tourists and locals, and the town features colonial style architecture, Australia’s oldest stone span bridge, churches, museums, cafes and galleries.

Richmond is very easy to explore on foot, and you can find a range of places to buy souvenirs, stop for coffee and do and see some interesting things. If you’re visiting with kids, we recommend adding a visit to the Pooseum to your list, a museum which features a variety of animal poo!

Two attractions we recommend are detailed below.

Richmond Gaol

Tasmania’s gaols are important historical relics when it comes to early colonial history, and Richmond Gaol is one of the oldest and a very interesting place to explore.

The gaol is on the small side and it’s easy to explore in under an hour. You are free to do a self guided tour using the information boards and the map, and there are sound effects to add to your experience.

The buildings of the gaol feature the main gaol building where convicts were housed, a cook’s house, solitary confinement cells, the women’s quarters and the flogging yard. There are several historical artifacts on show, and you can enter the solitary confinement cells for an insight into the experience of being in solitary confinement.

Whilst it’s only a small gaol, as the oldest intact convict gaol in Australia, it’s definitely worth seeing.

Address: 37 Bathurst St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review.

Old Hobart Town Model Village

If you’re interested in what Hobart would have looked like in the 1820’s, a visit to the Old Hobart Town Model Village is a must. This large model village is an interesting place to explore and is like looking through a window back in time.

This clever model village took several years to construct with the builder studying records carefully to offer a true picture of Hobart in the 1820s.

You can walk around looking at the model and read descriptions of buildings and what life was like in Hobart during that time. Street names are given to add context to today and it’s very interesting to see just how much the city has evolved since then.

A lot of thought has been put into the model village and there are some funny, stereotypical human figures to spot making it interesting for kids (and adults) to see what they can find. There’s also a good gift shop here.

Address: 21a Bridge St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review.

Day 3: Lake St Clair And Strahan

Driving Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

It’s time to head out of Hobart on this 10 day itinerary Tasmania and explore the central highlands and west coast.

• Have breakfast in Salamanca and then head to Lake St Clair Visitor Centre (takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes)
• Have lunch, take a look at the Visitor Centre and then go for a walk. I suggest taking the Watersmeet Walk and then heading to Platypus Bay if you would like more.
• Continue driving to Strahan (takes about 2 hours)
• Visit the West Coast Visitor Centre and see the West Coast Reflections museum (note it closes at 4pm)
• Have dinner. We recommend Bushman’s Bar and Cafe. It’s best to book ahead as there can be a shortage of places to eat in Strahan.

Where To Stay In Strahan

• BEST – Aloft Boutique Accommodation (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Big4 Strahan Holiday Retreat (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Motel Strahan (See latest prices here)

Click here for more Strahan accommodation options.

Lake St Clair

The first stop outside of Hobart on your Tasmania suggested itinerary 10 days is at the southern end of Lake St Clair. Not only is this a great place to stretch your legs after a long drive, but it’s a stunning location and perfect for a short walk.

On the premises is a large visitors centre where you can get some information on the walks and see a small museum. There’s also toilet facilities and a restaurant (however when we visited they stopped serving lunch at 1:30pm).

You can start your walk at Cynthia Bay and there are many long walks you can do. However the best walks for this itinerary are the Watersmeet Walk and Platypus Bay. They can be combined if you have the stamina for more and take between 30 minutes to 2 hours return.

The setting really is stunning, and you’ll see the famous waratah along the path. I recommend walking back to the visitor centre by the beach, where you can see the calm lake and spot Pumphouse Point in the distance.

You need a national park pass to visit this park, as well as many other parks. You can purchase one pass for your entire trip at Lake St Clair, or pre-purchase online here.

West Coast Reflections

West Coast Reflections

Located on the waterfront of Strahan is the West Coast Visitor Information Centre, and here is where you’ll find the West Coast Reflections museum.

Set over two floors, this small museum offers information on the history of the area and its people, important historical events (like the Franklin Dam controversy) and the life of convicts, early settlers and indigenous Australians.

For a small museum, there’s a lot of information here and it gives a good background of sites you may soon see (like the Gordon River and Sarah Island). Entry is cheap ($2 for adults, $1 for kids).

The West Coast Visitors Centre also hosts the play ‘The Ship That Never Was’ – a story of how convicts hijacked a ship in Macquarie Harbour. This is an entertaining and popular play to see and runs for about an hour and 15 minutes. It’s worth considering if you’re looking for things to do at night in Strahan.

Day 4: Strahan

On this day of the 10 days in Tasmania itinerary, get ready for some stunning scenery on the Gordon River

• Take a stunning Gordon River cruise and visit Sarah Island
• Stretch your legs with a walk along Ocean Beach or West Strahan Beach

Gordon River Cruise

A Gordon River cruise is a fabulous way to spend a day in Strahan and takes most the day. The two main cruise lines you can book with are World Heritage Cruises and Gordon River Cruises. We cruised with Gordon River Cruises.

The day starts at the cruise terminal on the waterfront (which is close to the West Coast Visitor Centre). This is quite a large building with a lot of souvenirs for purchase. We then boardered the cruise and were taken to our seats ready for the journey.

On board, there is a cafe, an outdoor area at the front of the boat where you can take in the amazing scenery and regular entertaining videos giving some information on the area and history of early colonial life here. Macquarie Harbour is actually the largest natural port in Australia!

The boat switches on its electric motor when on the Gordon River for a quiet cruise experience to truly experience the peace of this area. It really is a beautiful part of the world.

The first stop is Heritage Landing, where you can either walk with a tour guide or alone. The track is very easy and only a short walk. There’s probably enough time to circle it twice.

You’re then served a delicious buffet lunch on board with a focus on Tasmanian produce.

Next you make your way to Sarah Island which was an infamous penal settlement. Most of the structures are in ruins, but you can see where they once stood, and the island is very pretty to explore. Again, you can see it as part of a tour or walk unguided.

The boat has two deck options – Main Deck and Premium Upper Deck. We sat in the Main Deck and opted for a window seat which was very comfortable. Premium Upper Deck also includes morning tea, it’s own viewing deck and also an open bar.

The cruise really is a relaxing and scenic way to spend a day, and if conditions are right, you may be lucky enough to see the famous water reflections caused by the tannin water.

Address: 24 Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468

Click here for more information and the latest prices.

Ocean Beach

Strahan has some lovely beaches and whilst the weather is not always ideal for swimming, it’s still worth taking a walk along one. Ocean Beach is just a 10 minute drive from the town centre and down a dirt road to the car park.

The beach itself is huge and long, and you could spend a long time walking here (or swimming in the warmer months). You can also drive your suitably equipped car or 4WD on it!

There’s a sign when you arrive which states that looking out to the ocean, the next landmass is the southern tip of South America! Thus some days you can expect some strong winds (known as the Roaring 40’s) and some big waves.

West Strahan Beach

The amazing view in West Strahan Beach

West Strahan Beach is just a small beach located in the town centre and an easy place to take a walk or swim. It may even be within walking distance of the place you’re staying.

The beach has a rather secluded feel and it’s interesting to see this pocket of sand as it’s not located on the oceanfront.

The water is just like that of the Gordon River – darkened by the natural tannin and suitable for swimming. There’s also a playground for kids.

Day 5: Wilderness Adventures

Driving Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

On this day of your Tasmania road trip 10 days, get ready to see some amazing wilderness.

• Take a trip on the amazing West Coast Wilderness Railway (note this doesn’t always run daily so you may need to switch it with the Gordon River cruise on day 4)
• Drive to your accommodation at Cradle Mountain. This is quite a scenic drive
• Get close to Tasmania’s most famous animal with an after dark feeding tour at Devils@Cradle

Where To Stay At Cradle Mountain

• BEST – Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Cradle Mountain Highlanders (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain (Dorm Rooms Available) (Click here for more details)

West Coast Wilderness Railway

West Coast Wilderness Railway

Today, you’ll witness the engineering marvel which is the West Coast Wilderness Railway, as well as experience the tranquility and ruggedness of the ancient cold temperate rainforest.

The train departs from both Regatta Point Station at Strahan and Queenstown Station in Queenstown. There are several types of tours you can do taking either a half or full day. If you can, I recommend a full day tour which takes you to Lowana Yard, through the historic rainforest to Teepookana and Lower Landing and other stops on the way to Queenstown. However a half-day tour is a great option too and will take you as far as Dubbil Barril.

Turning the train on the half day tour

There are various activities at each stop, like walks (guided or unguided), honey sampling, panning for gold etc. At Queenstown you can purchase additional activities like river rafting.

There are two carriages to choose from – Heritage and Wilderness. Wilderness is fully catered and includes an open balcony. Heritage is comfortable and allows you to purchase snacks and drinks.

There are cafes at both stations, and the journey is a wonderful way to spend a day appreciating this unique part of the world.

Address: 62 Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468

Devils@Cradle

After you’ve settled in to your hotel at Cradle Mountain, I recommend an after dark tour at the Devils@Cradle wildlife sanctuary.

These tours run daily between 5:30pm – 8:30pm and take about an hour and 15 minutes. This is the best time to see Tasmanian devils as they are mostly a nocturnal animal.

The main event of the tour is the feeding which is a very interesting (and somewhat violent) thing to see (and hear!) for kids and adults.

You’ll also get to see other animals like the spotted-tailed quoll and the eastern quoll too.

As this is a wildlife sanctuary that helps in the conservation of the threatened Tasmanian devil, your visit also helps in the conservation efforts so it’s something you can feel good about. After dark tours really are the best way to see the Tasmanian devil!

Address: 3950 Cradle Mountain Rd, Cradle Mountain TAS 7306

Day 6: Cradle Mountain

On this day of the 10 day driving itinerary Tasmania, you explore the Cradle Mountain part of Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.

• Drive to the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre after packing a lunch
• From here, take a shuttle bus to Dove Lake
• Explore this region, picking a hike that suits your taste and ability

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain is a must see spot when you are in this part of the world, and today you’ll explore this beautiful area.

Your visit will start from the visitors centre where there is a shop, a cafe and where you can get some information on the park and it’s walks. This is also where you get your shuttle bus ticket (note if you already purchased a national park pass, this ticket is free but must be picked up from here).

You then make your way to the shuttle bus stop. Buses are frequent, arriving every 10-15 minutes, although how long they run changes during different seasons.

There are several walks you can do, and the bus makes several stops along the way where you are free to hop off and on, until it reaches Dove Lake. From here I recommend the Dove Lake walk which takes about 2.5 hours return but is very easy, mostly flat and mostly on a boardwalk. Crater Lake is also a good option taking about 2 hours.

If you’re visiting with kids or if a long walk doesn’t interest you, it’s easy to visit Dove Lake to take in the scenery (and some photos) and then catch the shuttle to another part of the park to take an easier walk. A good option is the Enchanted Walk – a very easy 20 minute track – or the Pencil Pine Falls and Rainforest Walk which takes just 10 minutes and runs through a rainforest and past a waterfall.

Of course, this is a spot where you can spend as much or as little time are you please. I recommend having some idea of what you want to do before you visit. You can plan your walk here.

Day 7: Launceston And Tamar Valley

Driving Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

In this part of the road trip Tasmania 10 days adventure, you drive on to Tasmania’s second biggest city, Launceston after exploring some of the Tamar Valley.

• Leave Cradle Mountain early to have a delicious breakfast at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm in Elizabeth Town (approx driving time about 1 hour 15 minutes)
• Head to Tasmania Zoo to check out Tasmania’s wildlife (approx driving time about 35 minutes)
• Pick a winery for lunch. We recommend Iron Pot Bay Vineyard (approx driving time about 35 minutes)
• Drive to the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre (approx driving time about 15 minutes)
• Head to your accommodation in Launceston

Where To Stay In Launceston

• BEST – Peppers Silo (See latest prices here)
• MIDRANGE – Best Western Plus Launceston (See latest prices here)
• BUDGET – Village Family Motor Inn (See latest prices here)

Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm

Tasmania has some fantastic berry farms and one of the places to sample the finest raspberries is the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm.

This pretty farm includes a good shop, farm animals on site and the main cafe. You can also take a walk by the lake and there are activities to keep kids entertained. The cafe is popular, particularly around lunch time. I recommend calling ahead of time to make a booking.

Raspberries are, of course, seasonal but their dishes are served year round (from frozen and freeze dried raspberries). There are plenty of raspberry dessert dishes on offer here including drinks (like white hot chocolate and raspberry) as well as savoury main meals.

Some of the animals you’ll see on the farm include wallabies and alpacas, and you can also do some free raspberry tastings. It’s a great place to stop for lunch.

Address: 9 Christmas Hills Rd, Elizabeth Town TAS 7304

Click here to read our full guide to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm.

Tasmania Zoo

Just a 25 minute drive from Launceston is Tasmania Zoo. This is a great place to spend a few hours, and with over 1000 individual animals and 100 species calling the zoo home, there is plenty of variety here.

The zoo is home to native Tasmanian animals, other native Australian animals and rare wildlife species from around the globe. One of the reasons this zoo is popular is because it’s home to the Black Crested Macaque (the only zoo in Australia to host one).

Other animals include the Tasmanian Devil, the Sumatran Tiger, the Red Panda, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo and many more.

The bush setting is a nice place to spend some time, and with a cafe and BBQ areas, you could also opt to have lunch here. There are also feeding machines where kids (and adults) can feed some of the animals, and you can watch other animals being fed at times.

Address: 1166 Ecclestone Rd, Riverside TAS 7250

Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre

The Beaconsfield Mine was made infamous in 2006 when two of its miners became stuck, with a successful rescue effort that took two weeks. Today, the mine is no longer active, and has been given a new life as a heritage centre.

This is an interesting place to visit which gives some good information about mining and the surrounding area of Beaconsfield where gold was first discovered in 1847. It’s particularly interesting given the fact that the site is a defunct mine. There’s also information on the dramatic incident of 2006, and you can explore the outside of the mines.

The centre has a lot of interactive pieces of industrial interest with levers to operate and tunnels for kids to run through, and you can even pan for gold. Kids are also encouraged to search for animals however we as a family were unsuccessful at this.

There’s also a good shop and a few pieces of historical mining significance, and you can spend upwards of an hour exploring the centre.

Address: West St, Beaconsfield TAS 7270

Day 8: Freycinet National Park

Driving Time: 2 hours

The next stop on this 10 day self drive itinerary Tasmania is Freycinet National Park and the stunning Wineglass Bay.

• Have breakfast early before heading to Cataract Gorge in Launceston. Take the chairlift one way and walk around the Gorge over the suspension bridge in the other. Leave by 10:30am
• Drive to Freycinet National Park stopping at Freycinet Marine Farm for a seafood lunch on the way
• Hike to Wineglass Bay

Where To Stay At Coles Bay

Coles Bay is the best place to stay for access to Freycinet National Park

• BEST – Freycinet Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Swansea Backpacker Lodge (Click here for more details)

Cataract Gorge

First Basin in Cataract Gorge with swimming pool, a chairlift and a footbridge.

Just outside the centre of Launceston is Cataract Gorge. This stunning site is an excellent way to spend a morning. The gorge is a natural formation with plenty to see and do including a chairlift, swimming pool, suspension bridge, restaurant and plenty of walks.

A ride on the chairlift is the best way to see the gorge. Two people can sit in a single chair. It’s not overly high but there is only a band around your middle so I’d recommend adults sit with younger kids.

The suspension bridge is also fun to walk over, with a very clear wobble as you walk. The path has information on the plants and their use to the ancient indigenous population.

Another interesting thing to try is The Inclinator – you can use this to get from the entrance to the base of the basin and back again. It’s self operated and fun to ride with kids.

Entrance is free but you do need to purchase a ticket to ride the chairlift. It’s a fabulous place to spend the morning.

Address: 69 Basin Road, Launceston, TAS 7250

Freycinet Marine Farm

If excellent seafood interests you then a stop at Freycinet Marine Farm is a must. Tasmania is well known for its top quality seafood, and as this is a marine farm, it has some of the freshest seafood you’ll find.

The site is actually a collection of small buildings with places to sit down for a meal, and we recommend having lunch here. There is ample seating and I think you’d be unlucky not to find a spot to sit. They also offer take away.

The menu itself is small but it makes up for its size in flavour – everything we tried was delicious, particularly the mussels and oysters (probably because they are farmed here!). There are several other seafood options, chips and drinks.

They also run tours on their farm where you can catch and shuck oysters yourself if this interests you. We would have done this if we hadn’t visited with kids. Still, we loved visiting here and whilst it isn’t cheap, it’s worth it.

Click here to read our full review.

Wineglass Bay

The stunning Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay is a stunning location and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tasmania. A visit here is a must.

Wineglass Bay sits inside Freycinet National Park and the beach is rated among the top 10 beaches in the world, and you’ll see why by viewing the beauty of this area from above.

There are several different walks you can do here. However by far the most popular is the gentle uphill track to the lookout where you can take in the scenery of the bay. This track is well surfaced with places to stop along the way and plenty of things to see.

We saw people of all ages hiking the track, and it takes most people between 30 minutes to one hour one way, depending on how many stops you take and your fitness level.

The view from the lookout is well worth the walk and is simply stunning. There are plenty of spots to take photos. However, it can be quite crowded during busy periods.

If you have more time and if hiking interests you, you can do the full Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit where you can hike down to the beach and return to the car park from the opposite direction. However this can take upwards of 5 hours so it’s certainly not suitable for everyone, but hiking down to the beach is the only way to touch the sand.

Whatever you decide, simply seeing this spot with your own eyes after hiking the trail to the lookout is a rewarding experience in itself.

Address: Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay Rd, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Day 9: Port Arthur

Driving Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

The next stop on this suggested 10 day itinerary Tasmania is Port Arthur, the perfect place to learn about Tasmania’s convict past.

• Drive to Port Arthur Historic Site after breakfast and explore the site. Make sure you take the included walking and boat tours
• In the evening, return to the site for the spooky ghost tour

Where To Stay At Port Arthur

• BEST – Port Arthur Villas (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – NRMA Port Arthur (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Fox and Hounds Inn (Click here for more details)

Port Arthur Historic Site

Understanding modern day Tasmania starts with understanding its past, and one of the best kept historical sites in the state is the UNESCO listed Port Arthur Historic Site.

Once a convict gaol where over 12,000 prisoners were sent, the prison is now an expansive and interesting site to explore, and one of the top tourist attractions in the state.

Many buildings still stand, while others are in ruins, and you are free to explore the gaol, houses, gardens and surrounding area by yourself. We loved exploring the old houses and the relics from the past contained inside them.

Your entry fee to the site includes a guided 40 minute walking tour which I highly recommend taking to get more connection to the area. When you book and pay for your ticket (which can be done online), you select a time for your walking tour. I recommend booking ahead to get your preferred time.

Your entry price also includes a harbour boat cruise while sails past Isle of the Dead which was a burial island for convicts. Again, you select your time when purchasing your ticket – another reason to book ahead.

You can also opt to have lunch here as the visitor centre has a good cafe and restaurant. There is also a gift shop.

There are also additional tours you can purchase like a tour of the Isle of the Dead, and an after dark ghost tours which can be very popular.

Of course, a site like this has its share of ghost stories, and the after dark tour is a 90 minute entertaining tour of the site complete with ghost stories and descriptions of events.

Regardless of what you choose to do, Port Arthur is a fascinating place to visit.

Click here to buy your entry pass and here to book the ghost tour.

Address: Historic Site, Visitor Centre, Port Arthur TAS 7182

Day 10: Back To Hobart

Driving Time: 1 hours 45 minutes

It’s time for the final day of this Tasmania self drive 10 day itinerary Drive back to Hobart ready to fly out. If you started this itinerary in Launceston or Devonport, head back to day one of this itinerary to keep going.

• Drive from Port Arthur to Doo Town – a town of interesting house names (approx driving time 30 minutes)
• See the Blow Hole and Tessellated Pavement in Eaglehawk Neck
• Return to Hobart and then explore Richmond if it’s still on your list (see day one)

Doo Town

What can you expect from a place named Doo Town? A lot of funny house names!

Not far from Port Arthur, as you enter the stunning area of Eaglehawk Neck, is the little town of Doo Town. This is a place that embraces its name by naming the houses in a similar fashion, all using the word “doo”.

People have been quite creative and it’s an entertaining drive through the town to see what you can find. For some reason, with every name it becomes funnier. There seems to be an endless amount of ways the word doo can be used, so doo drop in and see what you can find

Address: 301 C338, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

Blow Hole and Tessellated Pavement

Adding to Tasmania’s profile of exceptional natural beauty is Eaglehawk Neck. Among the interesting geological sites to see here are both the Blow Hole and the Tessellated Pavement.

The Blow Hole is the remnants of a cave eroded by water where water from the sea washes through to create a blowhole effect. It can be reached by a short walk up a path from the car park nearby. The blowhole effect can only be seen during high tide. However, it’s still a scenic spot to visit at any time.

Just a 10 minute drive down the road and you’ll reach the Tessellated Pavement, a stunning site which almost looks man-made. This extremely rare natural tiled rock is the outcome of erosion and salt crystals from the sea, and it’s incredible to see and contemplate the wonders of nature.

This is a popular photo spot and you can get right up close, but to do so, I highly recommend wearing clothes and shoes suitable for wet conditions.

Address: Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

9 Days Tasmania Itinerary

If you are looking for a Tasmania itinerary 9 days, I recommend choosing between either the Gordon River cruise or the West Coast Wilderness Railway on day 4. Then on day 5, head straight to Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre in the morning and explore around Dove Lake. You can then drop day 6 from the itinerary to make it a 9 day itinerary of Tasmania.

Final Words About Your Self Drive Tasmania 10 days Itinerary

Tasmania Bridge in Hobart

There’s no doubt that Tasmania is a fabulous destination to visit. With stunning natural beauty, excellent food and wine and interesting towns to explore, there’s no shortage of things to do in this small state.

By following our 10 day itinerary, you’ll make the most of your limited time here. Whilst some days may seem full on, we know you’ll leave feeling like you’ve had an excellent overview of the state.

Chances are, you’ll also leave with a taste for more. You can always return to our site to read about all the other interesting things to see and do in Tasmania!

We hope you enjoyed this Tasmania 10 day driving itinerary, perfect for your Tasmanian trip. You can find more information to plan your perfect trip to Tasmania in our planning guides to Tasmania here or find our 14 day itinerary here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post Self Drive Tasmania: The Perfect Tasmania Itinerary 10 days appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.

Tasmania is Australia’s southernmost state and a fantastic place to visit. Around 40% of the state is designated national park land, offering visitors stunning natural beauty with a vast array of nature treks, mountains and beaches to explore.

In addition to natural beauty, Tasmania has interesting historical sites from early colonial days, as well as laid back towns and cities and a thriving cafe and culinary culture. You can’t plan a trip to Tasmania without planning to sample its world renowned wine and produce.

It is also one of the easiest states to explore by car, making driving tours Tasmania the best way to explore this state. Our 14 day suggested itinerary for Tasmania is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of all this state has to offer.

Below, you will find the best road trip Tasmania offers! We use our experience exploring the state to give you the perfect plan with all the details you need for a Tasmania 2 week itinerary. We walk you through exactly what to do each day of your Tasmanian road trip, give you suggestions on where to stay, tell you approximate driving times and show you your Tasmania itinerary 14 days on a map.

You can simply stop following our self drive Tasmania 14 days itinerary if your trip finishes in less time by removing stops that don’t appeal to you as much. If you have a few days longer, I recommend you spend more time at the stops that most appeal to you, as this Tasmania driving itinerary does not have much downtime. If you like lots of downtime on your trips then I recommend removing a place or two from the 2 week Tasmania itinerary.

If you are searching for ideas for a 3 week Tasmania itinerary, you will also find recommended ways to extend your best Tasmania road trip below.

Finally, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments below – we are happy to help you in this ultimate Tasmania trip planner.

Going for a shorter period? You can find our best 10 day itinerary here and 7 day itinerary here.

Perfect Tasmanian Road Trip Itinerary 2021

Tasmania Bridge in Hobart

Remember, this is a full 14 day itinerary Tasmania. If you have fewer days, simply pick the days that most appeal – there are more tips for less and more days below.

Plans for the best road trips Tasmania are written to take advantage of every moment. This plan is fast moving and you will see a lot. Again, you can choose to remove some days to take it easier if you wish.

Overview

1. Days 1-2 in Hobart
2. Day 3 driving to Strahan stopping at the Lake St Clair part of the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park
3. Day 4 exploring the west coast from Strahan
4. Days 5-6 driving to Cradle Mountain and exploring the Dove Lake area at Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park
5. Days 6-7 heading to Stanley and exploring
6. Days 8-10 driving on to Launceston and Low Head and exploring the Tamar Valley
7. Days 10-11 heading to the east coast and exploring the Bay of Fires region
8. Day 12 hiking to famous Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park
9. Day 13 exploring Tasmania’s convict heritage at Port Arthur Historic Site
10. Day 14 finishing up in Hobart

The highlights of this road trip around Tasmania are:

• Walk the historic areas of Richmond and Battery Point
• Be amazed (and shocked) at the world renowned museum of MONA
• Sample some of the delicious seafood and produce the state is famed for
• See the West Coast’s ancient, cool temperate rainforest on either a train ride or boat cruise
• Take a chairlift to the Nut at Stanley and see the sites around town
• Explore the glacial lake and see the imposing mountains at Cradle Mountain
• Explore the Tamar Valley region to sample top produce at wineries, see local wildlife, museums and more
• Spend a day exploring the stunning Bay Of Fires
• Sample excellent seafood at Freycinet and climb the gentle track to see the wonders of Wineglass Bay
• Witness Tasmania’s convict past at both Richmond Gaol and Port Arthur Historic Site
• See the geological wonders of Eaglehawk Neck like the Blowhole and Tessellated Pavement

…and much much more!

This one of our best Tasmania road trips is detailed as starting and finishing in Hobart, but you can start and finish from any point.

If you are starting at the ferry and looking for a Tasmania itinerary 14 days from Devonport, I recommend you start on Day 6 and drive straight to Stanley when disembarking. Once you hit day 14, start over on day one finishing up at Cradle Mountain.

If you are looking for a Tasmania family holiday itinerary, this also works great for families but with younger kids, I definitely recommend slowing it down.

Tasmania Road Trip Map: 14 Day Tasmania Itinerary

The following map shows you the route this road trip Tasmania takes around the state.

If you wish to go for more or less time, this map will also give you a good indication of what places you might be able to add or remove.

Day 1: Arriving in Hobart

Today, you arrive in Hobart. The start of your 2 weeks in Tasmania is all about enjoying Tasmania’s capital city.

This plan assumes you arrive first thing in the day, if you arrive later, consider dropping Richmond.

• Arrive in Hobart. I recommend you pick up your car hire at the airport so you are all set to go
• Head straight to Richmond. This small historic town is not far from the airport (approx driving time 20 minutes)
• Explore Richmond Gaol and Old Hobart Town Model Village
• Have lunch
• Head to your hotel and check-in
• Explore the waterfront and Salamanca Place area in Hobart and Battery Point. You can do this on foot.
• Eat dinner in this area. We recommend Drunken Admirals for some fabulous seafood

Where To Stay In Hobart

• BEST – MACq 01 Hotel (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Somerset On The Pier (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Central Hotel Hobart  (Click here for more details)

Richmond

Just a 25 minute drive from Hobart is Richmond. This small town is popular with both tourists and locals with museums, galleries, cafes and gorgeous architecture, making this a lovely place to begin your driving tour of Tasmania.

Aside from just being a pretty town, Richmond showcases a lot of early colonial style architecture. Particularly impressive are some of the churches you’ll find dotted around town. Richmond is small and very easy to explore on foot, even with young kids, and you can easily spend a few hours here.

You’ll find Australia’s oldest stone span bridge, plenty of places to sample delicious food, parkland to relax and unwind, souvenir stores and interesting museums like the Pooseum, an interactive museum, best for kids, which showcases everything there is to know about poo!

Two of the must see sites in Richmond to add to your itinerary for Tasmania are mentioned below.

Richmond Gaol

One of the most interesting sites in Richmond is the Richmond Gaol. As a penal colony, Australia’s gaols were very important in its early history, and Richmond Gaol is Australia’s oldest gaol that still stands.

The gaol is relatively compact making it easy to explore, and there are information boards and sound effects to add context and atmosphere to the experience of visiting.

You can see the main building of the gaol including the cooks house with the original oven, women’s quarters, the flogging yard and chain gang holding rooms. You can also see a collection of historical relics.

One of the creepiest parts of the museum is the solitary confinement cells where you can get a sense of what this experience would have been like. The cells of the gaol remain exactly as they were in the past and you can lock yourself into one.

Address: 37 Bathurst St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review.

Old Hobart Town Model Village

Old Hobart Town Model Village

Another interesting thing to see in Richmond is the Old Hobart Town Model Village. This village is like looking back in time and is the result of years of effort to recreate what Hobart was like in the 1820s.

The model village is quite large, with plenty of information boards, street names and detailed descriptions of what life in Hobart was like at this time. A few buildings in the model still stand today, and these and their history are given special attention.

The people in the town are interesting too, like convicts attempting an escape, a woman killing a snake, a boy falling from a tree and lots and lots of drunk people. This makes it enjoyable for kids as well who can get a list of things they need to try to find.

Address: 21a Bridge St, Richmond TAS 7025

Click here to read our full review.

Battery Point

Heading back to Hobart from Richmond, I suggest you park at Salamanca Place and explore Battery Point. This is a beautiful inner city suburb of Hobart, and it is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring it’s heritage trail and getting lost in it’s pretty and historic streets. It’s where we live and it’s gorgeous.

From Salamanca Place, you can climb the historic Kelly’s Steps which connects you to Battery Point via Kelly Street. These sandstone steps, built in 1840, are the perfect place to begin your walk. Must see spots include Arthurs Circus, Princes Park, Hampden Road and several of the numerous streets dotted with colonial style homes.

Hampden Road is the commercial heart of Battery Point, and here you’ll find restaurants, trendy cafes, shops and the Narryna Heritage Museum.

Salamanca Place and Hobart’s Waterfront

When you’re done exploring Battery Point, head back to Salamanca Place (simply called Salamanca by locals) and take a look at the imposing sandstone buildings complete with shops, restaurants and plenty of bars and pubs.

Salamanca has some of the best bars and pubs you’ll find in Hobart. These are all stretched along Salamanca place, and you’re quite literally spoilt for choice. This is the perfect opportunity to relax and take in everything you’ve seen.

The shops in Salamanca sell some of the goods Tasmania is known for like wine, fudge, wool and art, and every Saturday Salamanca hosts a vibrant market. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, this is definitely worth seeing.

Hobart’s Waterfront

When you’re finished with your drink, explore the nearby Parliament House Gardens, and then make your way to the waterfront.

Walking along the waterfront, some places to see include Brooke Street Pier, the converted warehouses near the MACq01 and some of the numerous fish and chip restaurants and boats (offering both dine in and takeaway).

When it comes to dinner, both Salamanca and Hobart’s waterfront have fantastic options to suit all budgets. For fine dining experiences I recommend one of the restaurants in Salamanca. For a budget friendly (and local approved meal), nothing beats fish and chips.

Day 2: Enjoying Hobart

Day 2 of this road trip in Tasmania is all about seeing more of Hobart.

• Start the day by heading up Mt Wellington for the best views of Hobart (driving time of about an hour return from the centre of Hobart)
• Eat lunch back at Salamanca Place. Machine Laundry Cafe is a good spot
• Head out to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). Ideally, take the ferry from the waterfront return for great views and a great experience along the way

Mt Wellington

Mt Wellington, also known as Kunanyi or just “the mountain” by locals, is the imposing mountain which can be seen from all around Hobart. It is a must see destination on scenic drives Tasmania.

Driving to the top of Mt Wellington is very easy. Heading through the suburb of South Hobart, you’ll pass the historic Cascade Brewery and can make your way up the mountain from here.

While driving is easy, the roads can be quite narrow and there are usually plenty of other cars making the journey. Just go slow. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the top, and there are plenty of lookouts and stops along the way to take in the view. The Springs is a particularly nice spot to stop, take a walk and grab a hot drink (and use the toilet).

Continue making your way up to the top of the mountain. Once you reach the pinnacle you’ll find plenty of parking to stop and explore. There is a good observation shelter which includes a sign with landmarks to help grasp the layout of Hobart, as well as a brief history of the site.

There are also open air lookouts dotted around to get different views of the city, as well as rocks to climb and the tall telecommunications tower which can be seen from a distance.

There are also plenty of walks you can take from here. Note that it can be snowing during the winter months (and sometimes during summer as well!), and at times the pinnacle may be closed due to poor weather. It can also get very cold and windy, and warm clothes are essential.

It’s a great place to spend a short amount of time exploring (or longer if the nature trails interest you) to take in the views and the fresh, cool air.

Address: Wellington Park TAS 7054

MONA

If there’s one museum you’ll want to see while in Hobart, it’s MONA. This is a particularly impressive and world renowned museum, not only because of the impressiveness of the site, but also because of the weird and wonderful exhibitions.

MONA is located by a winery and the building is mostly below ground, etched into the sandstone. There really is something for everyone to enjoy here and you’ll notice interesting things at every turn.

The museum is like a labyrinth of exhibitions which are always changing, complete with tunnels, mazes, artwork, chambers, a library, bar and vending machines with beer. There are also restaurants and cafes for when you need a break.

An example of the strangeness of some of the exhibitions include the Poop Machine which kids certainly enjoy. There seems to be a large focus on the repulsiveness of the human body.

More sober exhibitions include an Egyptian sarcophagus and other ancient artifacts, as well as interesting artwork, short films and much more. Exploring the different floors is interesting in itself.

I love that they give you The O – this is a device which gives explanations on different art pieces. It’s like having your own guide and means you can learn more about the things which interest you.

Most of the museum is included in the ticket price, but there are certain exhibitions and shows which require an additional purchase. It is possible to buy tickets online. It’s definitely a must see.

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale TAS 7011

Day 3: Lake St Clair And Strahan

Driving Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

It’s time to head out of Hobart on this option of the best road trips in Tasmania to explore the west coast.

• After breakfast, get in the car and drive to the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre (approx driving time 2 hours 20 minutes)
• Eat some lunch at the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre and then take a hike. There are a variety of options here depending on whether you would like an easy 30 minute option like to Watersmeet or something longer
• Drive on to Strahan (approx driving time about 2 hours)
• Head to the local museum, West Coast Reflections, on arrival if time
• Eat dinner at the Bushman’s Bar and Cafe. We recommend booking ahead for dinner in Strahan and note there can be a shortage of places to eat especially on a Sunday

Where To Stay In Strahan

• BEST – Aloft Boutique Accommodation (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Big4 Strahan Holiday Retreat (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Motel Strahan (Click here for more details)

Click here for more Strahan accommodation options.

Lake St Clair

One of the top rated Tasmania scenic drives is a visit to Lake St Clair. This is a must see spot on our suggested itinerary Tasmania.

Lake St Clair is located in Lake St Clair National Park, which is also home to Cradle Mountain. On this visit, you will see the southern end of Lake St Clair and take one of three walks to get a taste of the stunning beauty of Lake St Clair (we will visit Cradle Mountain on day 5).

From Cynthia Bay, there are three walks you can take ranging from about 30 minutes to 2 hours. It’s easy to start one walk and then extend it if you’re ready for more. The Watersmeet Walk is just a short 30 minute circuit and easy with kids and you can easily extend it to reach Platypus Bay and lamairremener tabelti.

You will need a national park pass before you visit this national park, and you can buy a pass that gives you entry to all national parks for the duration of your trip. Get yours here.

West Coast Reflections

West Coast Reflections

Upon entering Strahan on your Tasmania driving tour, it’s worth paying a visit to the West Coast Reflections museum located at the West Coast Visitor Information Centre.

This small museum offers a little background on the lives of the people on the West Coast, including Indigenous Australians and convicts, and the importance of the mining and forestry industry and the activism it gave rise to.

There’s also information on the local rainforests and caves, and if you have more time, you can see the play ‘The Ship That Never Was’ here – the longest running Tasmania play about 10 convicts hijacking the last ship built at Macquarie Harbour (a true story!).

Museum entry is cheap – only $2 for adults and $1 for children. If you have time, add it to your Tasmania holiday itinerary.

Address: The Esplanade, TAS, 7468

Day 4: Strahan

Today, you have your biggest decision of this 14 day Tasmania self drive itinerary – pick one of the first two options below (you don’t have time for both).

• Take the amazing West Coast Wilderness Railway starting in Strahan and either returning to Strahan or finishing in Queenstown
• Take a stunning Gordon River cruise

West Coast Wilderness Railway

Originally built to carry materials mined in Queenstown to the port of Strahan, the West Coast Wilderness Railway is not only an engineering marvel but simply the best way to see the rugged and mountainous beauty of the west coast.

From Strahan, you’ll board an old steam train which departs from Regatta Point Station and travels through the rich rainforest.

You can choose to take either a full day or half day tour, and pick from two different tiers of carriages – heritage, which is comfortable and offers drinks and snacks available for purchase, and Wilderness, which is a fully catered service including drinks and offers use of an open balcony. Note that it’s recommended to dress warm as it can get quite cold.

The train makes multiple stops along the journey depending on which tour you choose to take, and there are activities at each station included in your ticket price where you do things like sample honey, mine for gold and go on short guided walks.

The full day tour stops at Queenstown where there is a cafe and a museum, and you can choose to do extra activities like river rafting if this interests you.

The Wilderness Railway is one of the most unique and interesting ways to appreciate the beauty, history and ruggedness of the west coast.

Address: 62 Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468

Gordon River Cruise

The Gordon River is famous for its stunning beauty and runs through lush cold climate rainforest. The best way to see it is with a Gordon River Cruise.

There are two main cruise lines – World Heritage Cruises and Gordon River Cruises. We took the Gordon River Cruises cruise. This luxury river cruise departs Strahan and takes you on a 6 hour journey down the Gordon River aboard the Spirit of the Wild – a boat which uses technology which makes the cruise relatively quiet so that you can truly experience the peace and tranquility of Gordon River.

Our cruise started from Strahan and sailed past the historic Macquarie Harbour to Hell’s Gate (the entrance to Gordon River from the Southern Ocean). Sailing silently down the Gordon River, the cruise stops at Heritage Landing where you can take a walk through the rainforest and see Sarah Island which was a penal colony with some interesting monuments.

Along the way we were given plenty of information on the history of the area, the difficulty of navigating the harbour and the life of early settlers and convicts.

The Main Deck has two options – centre and window, and both include a lunch of Tasmanian produce. You can also choose to sit in the Premium Upper Deck, which also includes morning and afternoon tea, a viewing deck and an open bar.

The sites along the cruise are simply phenomenal and need to be experienced to be appreciated. Famous too, when conditions are right, is the reflection on the river due to the darker colour of the water. It’s an ideal way to spend a day.

Click here for more information and the latest prices.

Address: 24 Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468

Day 5: Cradle Mountain

Driving Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Today, it’s time to explore the Cradle Mountain part of Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park on your Tasmania route.

• After breakfast, grab supplies for a picnic and drive to the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre
• From here, take a shuttle bus to Dove Lake
• Explore this region, picking a hike that suits your taste and ability
• Check in to your accommodation
• Go on an after dark feeding tour at Devils@Cradle

Where To Stay At Cradle Mountain

• BEST – Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Cradle Mountain Highlanders (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain (Dorm Rooms Available) (Click here for more details)

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in central Tasmania, and your drive around Tasmania itinerary should definitely include a stop here.

Driving into the Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre, you’ll already get a sense of the isolation of this spot and the vastness of the landscape. The Visitor Centre itself is a hive of activity where you can visit the cafe for a coffee, purchase souvenirs from the gift shop and then take the shuttle bus to Dove Lake or one of the stops on the way.

There are plenty of walks you can do from here. If you have the time, I recommend the Dove Lake walk where you’ll get excellent views of Cradle Mountain and the surrounding area around Dove Lake, as well view the local flora. It’s 6 kilometres long and takes about 2.5 hours at an easy pace. The track is mostly flat and very well surfaced.

If taking a long walk isn’t your thing, you can visit Dove Lake to get some amazing photos, and then go on a shorter walk closer to the visitors centre. Some good shorter walks include the Enchanted Walk (20 minutes) and the Pencil Pine Falls and Rainforest Walk (just 10 minutes return).

I recommend taking a look at the walks before you visit so you can plan one for your Tasmania trip itinerary that suits you. You can find all the walks here.

Devils@Cradle

Devils@Cradle is a wildlife sanctuary at Cradle Mountain that helps in the conservation of the threatened Tasmanian devil. You can visit the sanctuary both day and night and get up close to the Tasmanian devil, as well as the Spotted-tailed and Eastern quoll. Knowledgeable guides will give you interesting information about the lives of these animals.

The night feeding tour is really the showcase event. As Tasmanian devils are mostly nocturnal by nature, they are most active at night, and seeing a group feeding experience is a unique and fascinating experience for both kids and adults.

The night tours take about 1 hour and 15 minutes and operates between 5:30pm and 8:30pm daily.

Address: 3950 Cradle Mountain Rd, Cradle Mountain TAS 7306

Day 6: Wynyard, Boat Harbour And Stanley

Driving Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

In this part of the Tasmania road trip planner, you’ll explore some of the beautiful North West coast of Tasmania.

• After breakfast, jump in the car and head for Fossil Bluff and Table Cape near Wynyard. Switch this with Tasmazia if you have kids (approx driving time about 1 hour 20 minutes)
• If it’s October, also visit Table Cape Tulip Farm
• Next, head to the stunning Boat Harbour beach, especially if it’s summer (approx driving time about 15 minutes)
• Drive on to Stanley and check into your accommodation
• Have dinner at the Stanley Hotel Bistro

If you are planning family driving holidays Tasmania, consider heading to Tasmazia instead of the Wynyard attractions in the morning.

Where To Stay In Stanley

• BEST – Horizon Deluxe Apartments (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Stanley Village Waterfront Accommodation (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Stanley Cabin and Tourist Park (Click here for more details)

Click here for more Stanley accommodation options.

Fossil Bluff

Heading north from Cradle Mountain on your driving around Tasmania itinerary, the next place to visit is Fossil Bluff.

Fossil Bluff is a stunning beach with a backdrop of cliffs. These sandstone cliffs have fossils from millions of years ago. It’s great to explore alone or with kids, and to see the fossils in the rocks and shells. There’s also a short uphill walk where you can take in the view. However, it might be a little challenging for some.

The beach itself is small and suitable for swimming in the warmer months, and there are some picnic facilities nearby, making it a great place to stop and have a picnic lunch.

Address: 26/28 Freestone Cres, Wynyard TAS 7325

Table Cape

A short drive from Fossil Bluff is Table Cape, the next stop on your Tasmania driving holiday itinerary. Table Cape is a stunning site positioned on top of a dormant volcano.

From the car park at the top, there is a lockout area where on clear days you can see to over 175 kilometres away. From the car park, a short walking track leads you to the lighthouse in the distance.

Following the track which lines the cliff face, it’s quite common to see wildlife along the way. At the end of the short walk, you’ll reach the impressive Table Cape Lighthouse. Here you can read about its interesting history, see the beautiful view and the tulip farm in the distance, and see remnants of long demolished buildings.

Address: 363 Table Cape Rd, Wynyard, Tasmania 7325

Table Cape Tulip Farm

If you’re visiting Tasmania between September and October, you might be lucky enough to see the Table Cape Tulip Farm come to life. This is one of the most unique things to add to your itinerary planner Tasmania in Wynyard.

The Tulip Farm is positioned very close to the lighthouse and is open year round, but it is an absolute delight to see in spring. This is when the Tulips bloom and the annual Tulip Festival is held, a carnival-like atmosphere where people from all around the state come to see the tulips.

They are simply amazing to see with an array of colours which seemingly go on forever. The farm also has a cafe and art gallery too.

Address: 363 Table Cape Rd, Wynyard, Tasmania 7325

Click here for all the Wynyard accommodation options.

Boat Harbour

Boat Harbour beach

Tasmania has some beautiful beaches, and if you’re visiting in the warmer periods of late spring and summer, Boat Harbour is definitely one to add to the list.

This is a gorgeous white sand beach and, in fact, regularly rated among Australia’s top 10. It’s generally a quiet beach making it a great way to spend some time relaxing with rock pools and the frequent sighting of dolphins and seals in the distance adding to its charm.

Even if you’re not visiting during summer, it’s worth seeing the beauty of this beach and taking a quick look at the surrounding Boat Harbour area.

Tasmazia

If you want to add something different to your Tasmania travel route which kids will praticularly enjoy, a visit to Tasmazia is perfect.

This is a super unique experience for the whole family and a lot of thought has been put in to make the experience as fun and interesting as possible. There are eight different mazes to explore (among the largest complex in the world), a lavender farm, model villages with funny names, a shop and a cafe.

You can spend hours exploring all the site has to offer, with something different on every turn, making for a super fun day for the whole family. The cafe also specialises in pancakes to keep the kids impressed.

There are model embassies from many different countries complete with satirical humour, and there are surprisingly good jokes on every turn. This is a place to keep you entertained and laughing.

Address: 500 Staverton Rd, Promised Land TAS 7306

Day 7: Stanley

Today’s part of the Tasmania two week itinerary is enjoying what scenic Stanley has to offer.

• Have breakfast and then head to The Nut
• Take the chairlift to the top of The Nut (or walk) and go for a walk around it
• Next, head to Highfield Historic Site and explore the property
• Have lunch at a bakery in town then go on a 75-minute Stanley Seal Cruise

The Nut

The showpiece of Stanley is the Nut, and it’s the main place to add to your Tasmania itinerary planner while here.

It’s impressiveness can be seen from all around Stanley and, with a captivatingly flat surface, it’s very easy to explore on foot.

There are two ways to reach the top of the Nut – either by walking or taking the chairlift. Note, the walk is difficult. It is very steep and will likely require a few stops along the way. However, it is free and rewarding.

The chairlift ride takes just 5 minutes and offers great views, but it doesn’t operate all the time and there is a fee (last time we checked it was $17 return for adults and $11 for kids).

Once you reach the top, you can take a circuit walk of the Nut, which takes about an hour. You can take in the views of Stanley and the sea. It really is a pretty site.

As the Nut is mostly flat, the walk is easy, but it can be cool and windy, so it’s advised to dress appropriately.

Address: Browns Road, Stanley, TAS 7331

Click here to read our full guide to visiting The Nut.

Highfield Historic Site

The restored Tasmanian farm house at Highfield Historic Site

After walking around the Nut, head to Highfield Historic Site, which is only 3 kilometres away and offers a great chance to see an early restored Tasmanian farm house. The site has plenty of history to absorb as well as pretty manicured gardens.

The rooms and layout of the house are very well kept, and there’s some authentic and interesting furniture and paintings to see, as well as pretty views of Stanley and the water from the house.

The entrance price is $12, and it’s a great place to take in a bit of history about Stanley.

Address: Highfield, 143 Green Hills Rd, Stanley TAS 7331

Stanley Seal Cruises

Seals are relatively abundant around Tasmania, and one of the best ways to get a glimpse of them is with a Stanley Seal Cruise. These cruises leave twice a day – 10am and 2pm – and take about 75 minutes. They pretty much give you their guarantee that you will see an Australian Fur Seal on the cruise.

The trip is comfortable and the guides are informative, and there is usually an abundance of marine life to spot around the Nut and surrounding area. Bottle Nose Dolphins are also frequently sighted.

It’s a great way to get up close and see the seals in action. There’s also a nice cafe on the Dock, the Dockside Cafe, great for a late breakfast or lunch.

Address: 6 Wharf Rd, Stanley TAS 7331

Day 8: Launceston And Tamar Valley

Driving Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

In this part of the 14 day self drive Tasmania itinerary, you move on to Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city, and the Tamar Valley region.

• Get going early so you are all set for a delicious brunch at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm in Elizabeth Town (approx driving time about 2 hours)
• Drive to Tasmania Zoo to check out Tasmania’s wildlife  (approx driving time about 35 minutes)
• Next, head to Cataract Gorge in Launceston. Take the chairlift one way and walk around the Gorge over the suspension bridge in the other (approx driving time about 25 minutes)
• Take a tour of Boags Brewery
• Drive on to Low Head and check into your accommodation  (approx driving time about 40 minutes)

Where To Stay In Low Head

• BEST – Low Head Pilot Station (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – Low Head Tourist Park (Click here for more details)

Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm

Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm is a must visit to taste some of the fantastic produce and food Tasmania is prized for.

Of course, the main event here is the raspberries, and while these are seasonal, you can find raspberry dishes all year round. You can also sample Tasmanian wine or have a full three course meal.

The farm is a beautiful setting where you can walk by the lake, and there is also play equipment and a treasure hunt for kids. You can also see alpacas and wallabies on the property, and there is an excellent shop filled with raspberry products and some free tastings.

This is a very popular place to stop for brunch, so I recommend you book ahead.

Address: 9 Christmas Hills Rd, Elizabeth Town TAS 7304

Click here to read our full guide to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm.

Tasmania Zoo

With over 100 different species to see, Tasmania Zoo is a great way to spend a couple of hours exploring. Here you can see some of the animals Tasmania and Australia are famous for, as well as rare species from all over the world.

Animals include the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the Tasmanian Devil, the African Lion and the Red Panda, just to name a few. This is also the only Australia zoo with the Black Crested Macaque.

In addition to plenty of interesting animals to see, there is a food machine where you can fill a cup and to feed some of the animals, there is a cafe, toilet facilities and a BBQ area which is great if you’d like to have a picnic lunch in the bushy surroundings.

Address: 1166 Ecclestone Rd, Riverside TAS 7250

Cataract Gorge

First Basin in Cataract Gorge with swimming pool, a chairlift and a footbridge.

In the city of Launceston you’ll find Cataract Gorge, a gorgeous place to visit with walks, places to swim in the warmer months, a cafe and restaurant, peacocks and wallabies and a chair lift (the longest single span chairlift in the world!).

A ride on the chairlift is the best way to see the beauty of this area and the natural basin below, with a single chair fitting 2 passengers comfortably.

You can take a walk around the gardens and see the peacocks and wallabies, and you can also take a walk on the suspension bridge and ride The Inclinator – a free self operated people mover which takes you from the entrance to the lawn below.

This is a pretty sensational place sitting just outside of Launceston CBD, and you can spend as long as you like exploring the area.

Address: 69 Basin Road, Launceston, TAS 7250

Boag’s Brewery

Tasmania’s breweries are a significant part of its history, and the Boag’s Brewery in Launceston is worth seeing if this interests you with this particular brewery operated since 1881.

The tour gives you an introduction to the beer making process, a behind the scenes look at the factory and the chance to sample different Tasmanian beers.

The tours are known for being entertaining and fun, take about 90 minutes and run most days.

Address: 39 William St, Launceston TAS 7250

Day 9: Tamar Valley

Driving Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Our favourite part of this two weeks in Tasmania is exploring the Tamar Valley. Today, you will hopefully feel the same.

• Start at the Low Head Maritime Museum at the Low Head Pilot Station
• Head to the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre (approx driving time about 30 minutes)
• Pick a winery for lunch. We recommend Iron Pot Bay Vineyard (approx driving time about 15 minutes)
• Visit Seahorse World and Platypus House (or stop at some more wineries for tastings)  (approx driving time about 20 minutes)
• In the evening, take a Low Head penguin tour

Low Head Maritime Museum

The Low Head Maritime Museum is an interesting museum where you can learn about the history of sailing in the Tamar Valley and see some relics from the past.

The museum is located among pretty cottages and positioned in the convict built Pilots’ Row – a row of four cottages – and is the oldest pilot station in Australia still operating.

The museum is quite expensive with 13 different rooms focusing on things like shipwrecks, telegraphs and communications, navigation, whaling history and more. They also have a few interactive pieces like a ship’s helm and morse code telegraph key, which makes it enjoyable for kids and adults.

Address: 399 Low Head Rd, Low Head TAS 7253

Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre

Many people in Tasmania and around Australia are familiar with the Beaconsfield Mine as this is the site where in 2006 two miners became stuck for two weeks

The site is no longer an active mine, and it’s been transformed into an interesting heritage centre providing an insight into mining, Beaconsfield and the dramatic incident and rescue in 2006.

You can also walk around the original site and appreciate the interesting and complex work done here. They’ve also been quite mindful to make this attraction interesting for kids with tunnels to crawl through, levers to pull and activities like panning for gold.

Our kids were also given a list of animals to try to locate (however although we tried hard, we failed!). There’s plenty to see here and I highly recommend taking the short drive to check it out.

Address: West St, Beaconsfield TAS 7270

Seahorse World

Located in Beauty Point is Seahorse World, an awesome place where you can learn about and see a surprising array of seahorses.

A visit to Seahorse World is conducted by tour, where you are taken around the facility and introduced to the world of seahorses. We were surprised with just how small they can be. You also learn about how seahorses breed and how the male is actually the one who carries the babies!

The facility is also a breeding centre, and there are several areas in the facility where the seahorses are housed, varying on their age.

You can also see other species of marine life (like endangered fish), and are given the opportunity to touch some seahorses, crabs and starfish. Tours are run hourly and I highly recommend booking ahead. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Address: 200 Flinders St, Beauty Point TAS 7270

Click here for the latest prices or read our full review here.

Platypus House

Right next to Seahorse World in Beauty Point is Platypus House. This is the place to learn about platypus’ and echidnas and see them up close.

Platypus House is similar to Seahorse World in that you visit by guided tour, with tours running every hour at least. Again, I recommend booking ahead to get your preferred time.

Both echidnas and platypus’ come from the same group – Monotremes – and the guides give plenty of information on them. You’re introduced to the 14 year old male platypus, as well as a few females. We were then taken to a room with three echidnas, and sat in a circle while they fed (unphased by us!). This was very unique and interesting to see the animals so close up.

Tours take about 45 minutes and it’s a great place for families to visit for memorable close encounters with echidnas and platypus’, and one you won’t soon forget.

Address: 200 Flinders St, Beauty Point TAS 7270

Click here to read our full review.

Low Head Penguin Tour

If there’s one thing you must do in Low Head, it’s a Low Head Penguin Tour. These amazing tours take place every evening after sunset, when the penguins return from sea and are an incredible way to see the fairy penguins.

Tours take place at the Low Head Coast Reserve. You can only access the reserve by tour in the evening, and I highly recommend this tour for the best up close encounter we have experienced with penguins. The guides are knowledgeable and experienced. I also recommend you dress warm and call up in advance to see when tours are run (it’ll be at sunset).

The group can be split into smaller groups, each with their own guide, who directs you to the beach and will likely point out other wildlife (like wallabies, bandicoots and possibly penguins) on the way.

The beach is where the majority of the penguins gather for the night. It’s an amazing thing to see. When we visited, the penguins were with babies, and the guide provided some fascinating information about the penguins.

The tour finishes up in the shop, where our kids were given stickers. It really is an incredible experience for all ages.

Address: 485 Low Head Rd, Low Head TAS 7253

Click here to read our full review.

Day 10: North East Tasmania

Driving Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

It’s time for a change of scenery with your Tasmanian road trips heading to the east coast.

• Drive to Pipers Brook Vineyard to start the day with a tasting (approx driving time about 35 minutes)
• Head to Little Blue Lake for a quick photo (approx driving time about 1 hour 5 minutes)
• Drive into Pyengana and have lunch at the famous Pub in the Paddock (approx driving time about 50 minutes)
• Drive on to St Columba Falls and take the short walk to these big falls (approx driving time about 10 minutes)
• Stop for some Pyengana cheese on your way to Binalong Bay/St Helens

Where To Stay At Binalong Bay/St Helens

Binalong Bay is the closest point to the Bay of Fires which you will be exploring tomorrow. Another option is the town of St Helens nearby which has more options.

• BEST – Pelican Point Sanctuary (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – NRMA St Helens (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park (Click here for more details)

Little Blue Lake

For a quick photo opportunity, I recommend stopping at Little Blue Lake. This pretty blue lake (with a less pretty history) is blue regardless of the weather.

The blue colour is the result of alluvial tin mining in the past which has left the lake a perpetual blue (and rendered it unswimmable due to heavy metal contamination).

It’s worth a quick visit and photo being located on the way to your next stop.

Address: 1753 Gladstone Rd, South Mount Cameron TAS 7264

Pub In The Paddock

A well known and traditional pub to stop for lunch is the Pub In The Paddock located in Pyengana. This pub has a colourful history, being first licensed in 1880 and once had an active dance hall and picture theatre.

It’s now mostly frequented by a steady stream of tourists. However as one of the oldest pubs in Tasmania, it’s still an interesting place to have lunch.

One of the main attractions of this pub is Priscilla II, a pig that feeds on special beer which you can buy from the bar. True to its name, you can get a nice traditional pub meal here and it’s a nice, interesting place to have lunch.

Address: 250 St Columba Falls Rd, Pyengana TAS 7216

St Columba Falls

St Columba Falls

For more of Tasmania’s best natural beauty, a visit to St Columba Falls is a must. At 90 metres tall, the falls are one of Tasmania’s highest and a stunning sight to see (and hear).

The walk to the base of the falls is easy enough on a good path and takes about 7 minutes (our 4 year old was able to do it), although it can be slippery. It’s a beautiful walk through tall trees with man ferns, sassafras and myrtle rainforest trees.

The area features a 4,200 hectare mountainous catchment area, and during times of higher rainfall, the falls become huge and thunderously loud. However, at any time, they are an incredible sight.

There is a viewing platform at the base of the falls where you can appreciate their magnificence and the power of nature, and there are walks nearby (like Halls Falls walking track) if you so wish.

Address: 395 Saint Columba Falls Road, Pyengana, Tasmania, 7216

Pyengana Dairy

Tasmania is well known as a destination of great cheese, and Pyengana Dairy is the place to sample the famous Pyengana cheese.

The dairy company is a place where you can get a little insight into the cheese making process. There are two windows where you can see cheese making in action and you can see cheese maturing in their cellar.

Of course, you can also sample some of their fabulous cheeses and purchase some that you enjoy. Pyengana Dairy also has a nice cafe where you can spend some time taking in the views and relaxing over a coffee or cheese platter.

Address: St Columba Falls Rd, Pyengana TAS 7216

Day 11: Bay Of Fires

Today is the easiest day in this itinerary for 2 weeks in Tasmania with a beach day!

• Explore Bay of Fires

If you are looking for a Tasmania winter itinerary, I would still keep this day. You won’t want to swim but this area is still pretty to explore and by this point of this driving itinerary Tasmania, you deserve an easier day.

Bay Of Fires

A short drive from St Helens is Bay Of Fire and this is a must see on your Tasmania road trip.

This conservation area is famed for its magnificent beaches with white sand and crystal clear water, as well as its striking orange coloured boulders. The area is complete with walks with wildlife and beautiful nature sights, and it’s an area you can easily spend a day exploring.

Binalong Bay is one of the best known spots on the Bay Of Fires. Located at the southern end of Bay Of Fires, this is a small town where many people camp, and there are also a few nice cafes to stop for lunch.

The long beach here is a great place to swim on warmer days, or to take a walk and see the many native birds on the beach. You’ll also find the orange boulders to explore that the area is famous for.

Half way between Binalong Bay and Ansons Bay is The Gardens. This stretch contains fabulous beaches, as well as a car park and boardwalk where you can stop and take a short walk to a lookout for fabulous photos.

Other spots to see include Skeleton Bay, Policemans Point and Ansons Bay. There is a wealth of beaches and scenery to explore, and the area is likely to have you constantly stopping to see something new.

Of course, if you want to swim, it’s best to visit this area in the warmer months of the year. However, even without swimming, it’s a stunning place to explore.

Address: 280 Ansons Bay Road St Helens Tasmania 7216

Day 12: Freycinet National Park

Driving Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

The next stop on your travel itinerary Tasmania is Freycinet National Park and the stunning Wineglass Bay.

• Drive to Freycinet National Park stopping at Freycinet Marine Farm on the way
• Hike to Wineglass Bay

Where To Stay In Coles Bay

Coles Bay is the town at the entry to Freycinet National Park

• BEST – Freycinet Lodge (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Swansea Backpacker Lodge (Click here for more details)

Freycinet Marine Farm

The first place I recommend you visit in Coles Bay is Freycinet Marine Farm. Tasmania has some fantastic seafood, and Freycinet Marine Farm is the place to sample some of it straight from the sea.

This small collection of buildings is a place where you sit down for a meal or get take away. There’s plenty of seating and most of it is undercover. I highly recommend stopping here for lunch.

There isn’t a huge range of options on the menu but everything is delicious – particularly the mussels and oysters which are farmed here. They also serve chips and other seafood, and you can wash down your meal with a nice glass of wine.

Prices aren’t overly cheap but if you love seafood, it’s worth every penny. They also offer tours where they take you to their farm and you can catch and shuck your own oysters – you can’t get fresher than that!

Address: 1784 Coles Bay Rd, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Click here to read our full review.

Wineglass Bay

One of the most spectacular and iconic spots in Tasmania is Wineglass Bay. The beach here is considered among the top 10 beaches in the world.

This is a very popular place to visit, and for most people it’s the main reason to visit Freycinet. You have several options here. Firstly, you can walk the uphill track to the lookout. This is a well made track and usually highly trafficked with people of all ages.

There are plenty of spots to stop along the way, and depending on your fitness level and whether or not you have kids with you, one way can take between 30 minutes to an hour.

At the top, you’re rewarded with a view from above of the gorgeous beach and coast. The lookout has plenty of room to take photos. It really is a beautiful spot.

From the lookout you can choose to hike down to the beach. However, this isn’t for everyone and most people don’t do it. It can take about 3-4 hours return and can be quite steep. However, it’s the only way to make it down to the beach.

Alternatively, you can take the Hazards Beach Circuit which starts at the car park, but this is longer and more suitable for experienced hikers. There are other walks you can do too.

The trek to the lookout is rewarding enough for most people and allows you to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of this area.

Address: Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay Rd, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Day 13: Port Arthur

Driving Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

The next stop on this driving tour Tasmania is Port Arthur to learn about Tasmania’s convict past.

• Drive to Port Arthur Historic Site and explore the site taking the included walking and boat tours
• Return to the site at night for the ghost tour

Where To Stay In Port Arthur

• BEST – Port Arthur Villas (Click here for more details)
• MIDRANGE – NRMA Port Arthur (Click here for more details)
• BUDGET – Fox and Hounds Inn (Click here for more details)

Port Arthur Historic Site

The Port Arthur Historic Site is a UNESCO world heritage site and known as one of the best relics from Australia’s convict past.

Port Arthur was the most important convict gaol in Tasmania and, from the 19th century, over 12,000 convicts were sent here and not just any convict. Port Arthur was only for the worst crimes, and, over the years, it became known as one of the most brutal gaols in Australia.

Presumably, it wasn’t a nice place. However now it is an extremely popular tourist attraction and a must see destination while in Tasmania.

A ticket to Port Arthur includes full entry to the site, a 40 minute guided walking tour of the site providing some background and broad history and a 25 minute boat cruise. When you pay for your ticket, you can select your walking tour time. For this reason, I recommend booking ahead, however you can buy tickets on the day and there’s also a gift shop, restaurant and cafe.

You can then explore the prison by yourself. It is very extensive with buildings (both restored and in ruins), gardens, walks and other interesting relics from the past. The separate restored prison is also a must see and gives you a feeling of what life must of been like for these convicts. We also really enjoyed exploring the old houses.

The included cruise sails the harbour past the Isle of the Dead – a burial spot for convicts – and you can also purchase an additional tour to explore this island.

There’s also after dark tours you can do, the most well known being the Port Arthur Ghost Tour. There’s been many reported paranormal events at Port Arthur which has resulted in this very popular 90 minute tour with an entertaining guide where you’re told both funny and creepy ghost stories and asked to judge for yourself whether ghosts exist!

It really is a fabulous place to visit.

Click here to buy your entry pass and here to book the ghost tour.

Address: Historic Site, Visitor Centre, Port Arthur TAS 7182

Day 14: Back To Hobart

Driving Time: 1 hours 45 minutes

It’s time for the final day of your Tasmania travel itinerary Head back to Hobart ready to fly out. If you started with this itinerary at another point, head back to the top for day one.

• Drive to Doo Town and check out the funny house names (approx driving time 30 minutes)
• Discover the Blow Hole and Tessellated Pavement
• Head back to Hobart visiting Richmond if you haven’t already (see day one)

Doo Town

In the pretty location of Eaglehawk Neck is the quirky town of Doo Town.

Doo Town is a place where the majority of the homes are named using the word “doo”. This is a trend that started in 1935 and continues today, and it’s an entertaining place to drive around and spot all the different names.

Some are quite funny to see and it’s clever how many names they’ve created. There’s even a cafe nearby, aptly named Doo-lishus. The town is positioned adjacent to water on the Tasman peninsula – a beautiful spot to see in its own right.

Address: 301 C338, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

Blow Hole And Tessellated Pavement

Eaglehawk Neck has several fascinating geological sites, and one particularly famous is the Blow Hole. From the car park, it’s just a short walk to the Blow Hole, a very interesting site to see set in a beautifully scenic location.

Once a small cave, the water has patiently eroded the rock which has resulted in the blowhole effect seen today. To see the Blow Hole in action, you need to visit during a time of high tide. However at any time it’s still an impressive site to see.

A short 10 minute drive from the Blow Hole is the Tessellated Pavement. This is one of the most photographed spots in Tasmania, and is a natural phenomenon of tiled rock due to a combination of erosion and salt crystals of the Tasman sea.

You can get right up close to the pavement but I recommend wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. Note also the tide can come in! It’s an impressive site to see and an extremely rare phenomenon which is just another example of the uniqueness of Tasmania’s wilderness.

Address: Eaglehawk Neck, TAS 7179

Tasmania Itinerary 12 Days

If you are looking for a 12 day Tasmania self drive itinerary, I recommend dropping one of the following stops:

• Strahan
• Stanley
• Tamar Valley
• Bay of Fires

Pick whichever seems the least interesting to you.

Tasmania Itinerary 21 Days

3 weeks in Tasmania? Lucky you! With some extra time, I recommend you take the above a bit slower and add an extra night to:

• Strahan – if you would like to do both the Gordon River cruise and West Coast Wilderness Railway
• Cradle Mountain – if you like hiking
• Low Head – if you like wineries
• Coles Bay – if you like beach towns
• Hobart – if you want to visit more museums and attractions

The Neck at Bruny Island – I’ve never seen anything like it!

I also recommend you add a couple of days at the end of your Tasmania trip plan on Bruny Island. Read more about Bruny Island here.

If you are looking for adults-only Tasmania itinerary ideas, consider a couple of nights at Pumphouse Point on Lake St Clair. Read more about this here.

There’s also many other national parks to explore. One of the most visited from Hobart is Mt Field National Park. It’s about a one hour drive from Hobart, and from here you can do an easy 15 minute walk to see the stunning and iconic Russell Falls.

Final Words About Your Road Trip Tasmania Adventure!

With so many natural wonders, excellent food, history, museums and sites, Tasmania is a fantastic place to visit with a wealth of experiences waiting to be had.

This 14 day itinerary has focused on the top things to do in the state and, by following it, you’ll be sure to have an action packed, exciting yet still relaxing holiday.

We hope you enjoyed this best Tasmania itinerary, perfect for your Tasmanian road trip. You can find more information to plan your perfect trip to Tasmania in our planning guides to Tasmania here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post Ultimate Tasmanian Road Trip: 14 Day Tasmania Itinerary appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.

With so much natural beauty and some wonderful kid friendly attractions, a Tasmania holiday with kids is always a great idea. The brilliant thing about Tasmania is compared to other Australian states, it is small, so you can easily see some of the most popular family things to do in Tasmania over a week or two.

We visit Tasmania with our kids at least annually and I have a great insider knowledge of this state – because I grew up there! It’s our favourite place to holiday and our kids love it.

Feeding a kangaroo with a joey at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Given that Tasmania is not part of the Australian mainland, you will need to fly there or take a ferry. Flights are plentiful and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry runs from Melbourne at least once a day and can take both cars and people.  

Whichever way you arrive, you will want to have a car with you as this is the easiest way to get around to all the major places in Tasmania. There are some great things to do in Hobart with kids, as well as Launceston and other parts of the state, so a car will help you get around with ease.  

Below, you will find in our guide everything you need to know about the very best kids activities Tasmania offers. The guide covers all the major cities including Hobart, Launceston and more as well as the best family accommodation Tasmania offers. There is also a handy map of all the things to do in Tasmania for families.

The Best Things to do in Tasmania with Kids

Here are the best things to do in Tasmania for kids, which I’ve listed under the areas of Hobart, Launceston, the West Coast of Tasmania, the North West of Tasmania and the East Coast of Tasmania. This will make it easier when planning your itinerary for travelling Tasmania with kids.

Read through all the family activities Tasmania offers and select the ones that fit your interests and timeframe.

The Best Things to do in Hobart with Kids (and the rest of Southern Tasmania)

When you’re looking for things for kids to do in Tasmania, Hobart, as the main city on the island is the natural place to start. Below I’ve listed some of the fun things to do in Hobart with kids.

Hobart Waterfront

The waterfront is one of my favourite kids activities, Hobart offers especially if you’re blessed with a sunny day. For starters, it’s packed full of Tasmania’s best seafood, and the area has cafes, restaurants, bars and even floating shops – providing plenty of cover even if it’s a grey or rainy day. 

If you’re looking for what to do in Hobart with kids, the Hobart waterfront is a great place to start – it’s a lovely area to stroll around and take in the sea air while sampling tasty treats. Older kids may love looking at all the boats in the harbour, too. 

Address: Franklin Wharf, Salamanca 

MONA

Mona – the Museum of Old and New art is hands down one of the Hobart attractions for families that I recommend the most. As well as being Australia’s largest privately owned museum, it’s one of the most captivating museums I’ve visited – one that’s sure to capture the kids’ attention as well as your own. Its modern and historic art installations are confronting and controversial as well as entertaining.

The museum puts on many special things for kids to do in Hobart, with exhibits geared towards kids of all ages. There are light and sound exhibits, storytelling workshops, and there are two different kids playgrounds as well which double as art features of their own – one made almost entirely from net.

Some exhibits aren’t kid friendly and you can get a map to avoid those.

The museum offers a restaurant and a winery and brewery on site too, but for a fun family activity I recommend bringing a picnic with you to enjoy in the more kid-friendly and purpose built picnic section. 

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale, Tasmania   

Salamanca Market

Another of my go-to family things to do in Hobart, is a visit to the Salamanca Market. The markets are located just back from the Hobart Waterfront, so you can easily combine the two into one day, if you visit on a Saturday. 

Every Saturday, the Salamanca Market opens at 8.30 am and runs until about 3 pm. Stalls line the whole area down to the waterfront, selling souvenirs, local crafts and lots of tasty food and drink – be sure to get there early before it’s gone and the crowds arrive – as this is one of the top Hobart attractions for families and it can get very busy!

Even if you can’t go on a Saturday, the market is still one of my favourite family activities Hobart has to offer. During the day or evening time, the streets are lined with Georgian warehouses, with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants that are open week-round. There are also some great parks nearby for the kids to enjoy too.

Address: Salamanca Place, Hobart

If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do in Hobart for families, the following Hobart attractions for kids are within easy reach of the downtown area and offer some great family-friendly outdoor space.  

Royal Botanical Gardens

Another of the popular things to do in Hobart, kids will love is the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. A short walk or drive from Hobart city centre, the gardens occupy over 14 hectares and you can either take a private guided tour of the gardens, or simply explore at your own pace. 

There’s a stunning Japanese Garden, a conservatory, a garden showcasing rare MacQuarie plants and a herb garden. You can take a picnic along to enjoy at the Gardens, or there are restaurants and cafes on site.

Address: Lower Domain Rd, Hobart, Tasmania

Mount Wellington

Often simply referred to as “The Mountain” by locals or as “Kunanyi” in indigenous language, and at 1270 meters tall, it looms over the city of Hobart and offers some amazing views down over the city and beyond. 

In winter, the summit is often topped with snow, and it is one of the fun things to do in Hobart with children year round, whether your kids want to play in the snow or just admire the views. Even on a cloudy day (although the views won’t be as good), visiting Mount Wellington can be a fun Hobart family experience as you can experience the feeling of being above the clouds!

As you start thinking, hmm – hiking 1270m to the top doesn’t sound like the one of best activities in Hobart for kids – don’t worry, there’s a road! The road goes all the way to the summit so you can drive up, or of course there are hiking trails and cycle paths too. 

Occasionally the Pinnacle Road will close due to bad weather – so do check in advance if you’re planning on driving up in winter. 

Address: Pinnacle Road, Hobart, Tasmania

Tahune AirWalk

Tahune Air Walk is sure to make an impression on kids of all ages and a great way to show them an experience of some of the beautiful nature of Tasmania. 

Located about 90 minutes drive outside of Hobart, the AirWalk makes for a nice day trip. The walkway reaches up to 45 meters above the forest floor, crossing the Huon river, and extends for a total distance of 620 meters.

If you have older and more adventurous kids, there’s a Twin Rivers Adventure package that’ll take you rafting through the rapids or kayaking quieter stretches of the Huon and Picton rivers within the park. 

Address: Arve Rd, Geeveston, Tasmania

Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs

Located in the Huon valley about 90 minutes drive from downtown Hobart, the Hastings Caves are dolomite caves that were formed millions of years ago. There are well structured walkways and purpose built stairs through the caves, making this another great option for family activities near Hobart. 

Entry is only possible with a guided tour, and you need to arrive 20-30 minutes before your time-slot for your tour of the caves. Start at the visitor centre before entering the caves themselves.

In addition to the caves, you can visit the Hastings Thermal Springs by the visitors centre. This is our kids favourite part and there is a pool where you can swim as well as plenty of picnic facilities. The pool is filled with the spring water.

There are also a 10-minute platypus walk and a 30-minute hot springs circuit which our kids enjoyed.

Address: 754 Hastings Caves Rd, Hastings, Tasmania

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

If your kids keep asking you about Tasmanian Devils – this is the place for you. About 30 minutes’ drive from Hobart and a 5 minute drive from Brighton town centre, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is home to animals from across Australia, including the famous Tasmanian Devils, who are sadly an endangered species. 

You can visit during the day, or via a pre-booked night tour, and kids will be able to meet many of the animals and perhaps feed them too, making this yet another great family day trip from Hobart. 

Address: 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania

Find our full review to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary here.

Salmon Ponds

The Salmon Ponds is a historic trout hatchery, located about 45 minutes from Hobart in the beautiful Derwent Valley. Opened in 1861, it is the oldest trout hatchery in the Southern Hemisphere.

Trout are still farmed there today, and as well as visiting the beautiful grounds, you can feed the trout as well. There’s even a Museum of Trout Fishing that you can visit, and see the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame. 

I love the Salmon Ponds because it’s a beautiful, low key spot, easy to wander at your own pace. There are picnic facilities, a barbeque spot and a cafe as well that serves great pancakes! 

Address: 70 Salmon Ponds Road New Norfolk, Tasmania

Richmond

Another place to visit around 30 minutes’ drive from Hobart is historic Richmond town. Set on the Coal River valley, it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Tasmania for visitors.

Kids will love visiting the traditional sweet shop to buy old-style lollies, or, if they’re older, learning about convict history at the oldest Gaol in Australia. They can even try out solitary confinement!

Address: Richmond, Tasmania

Port Arthur

Another historic site offering for the family, Port Arthur is a heritage listed historical site about 90 minutes’ drive through spectacular scenery south of Hobart on the Tasman Peninsula. 

Port Arthur is a convict site, with ruins of a penitentiary, a church built by the inmates, and multiple houses and institutions. It’s an important historical site with lots of interesting stories that children will be able to relate to, including ghost tours for older children.

You could visit Port Arthur as a day trip from Hobart, but many visitors prefer to stay overnight nearby. 

Address: Visitor Centre, Port Arthur, Tasmania

Doo Town

Located near Port Arthur, Doo Town is a quaint, quirky village that’s famous for its house names – which all have ‘Doo’ in them. Doo Town started in the 1930’s as a small village of holiday homes or ‘shacks’. Doo Town won’t keep you busy for very long, but it’s fun to drive through and have a giggle with your kids at the house names! 

Find more guides to Hobart here and southern Tasmania here.

The Best Things to do in Launceston with Kids

When you’re looking for the best places to visit in Tasmania with kids, another great place to visit on the island is Launceston. Located in northern Tasmania, Launceston is well known for Cataract Gorge, great hiking trails and several sites of historical interest too – there are some great kids activities Launceston has to offer. 

Below I’ve listed some of the best things to do in Launceston with kids.

Cataract Gorge

If you’re looking for things to do in Launceston for kids, Cataract Gorge is probably the number one choice, and is a popular tourist site around 1.5 kilometres from Launceston town centre. 

Adventure minded kids will love the suspension bridges and chair lift. There’s a swimming pool, cafe / restaurant and several kilometers of hiking trails to wander at your own pace to enjoy the beautiful scenery. One of my recommended Launceston things to do for family! 

Address: 74-90 Basin Rd, West Launceston, Tasmania

Grindelwald

Just a 15 minute drive north of Launceston along the Tamar Valley, Grindelwald is another popular one of Launceston attractions for kids. The town is modelled on its namesake village in Switzerland: The mountain village of Grindalwald. 

In town, there are plenty of characterful shops to explore, a chocolate cafe, 18-hole mini-golf, paddle-boats available for hire and even the world’s largest bouncing pillow available for children! 

If you’re already passing through Launceston, kids will love visiting here as well, and this is one place I always recommend for its things for kids to do in Launceston as well as one of my suggestions for what to do in Tasmania with kids.

Address: Grindelwald, Tasmania

Tasmania Zoo

Located in Riverside, 18 kilometres from Launceston, the Tasmania Zoo is a privately owned zoo that also takes in locally rescued animals, and is the only accredited zoo in all of Tasmania. If you’re looking for what to do in Launceston for kids, I highly recommend a visit here. 

Kids can join the daily feeding times which include the Tasmanian devils, meerkats and larger cats, too. The zoo also has a cafe, picnic and bbq area and gift shop. 

Address: 1166 Ecclestone Rd, Riverside, Tasmania

City Park

Part of the cultural heart of Launceston, the City Park is a heritage park, initially set up by the Horticultural Society of Launceston.

There are several different gardens, a monkey house that is home to a group of macaques that the kids will love seeing, a greenhouse and other children’s activities include riding one of the small trains that run around the park some days.

Located in Launceston itself, this is another source of plenty of children’s activities, Launceston. 

Find more things to do in Launceston here.

Things to do in the West Coast of Tasmania

Below, I’ve listed some of the best things to do in the West Coast of Tasmania with kids.

The West Coast Wilderness Railway

A reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining Railway, the West Coast Wilderness Railway runs between Queenstown and Regatta Point, Strahan, with trips up to Cradle Mountain too. There are steam train tours which are some of the most popular Tasmania attractions for kids. 

The west coast scenery is breathtaking, and families can choose between half day or full day trips. Trips operate year round on a seasonal timetable – book well in advance. There’s also a railway museum at Queenstown.

Address: 62 Esplanade, Strahan, Tasmania

Gordon River

One of the most beautiful corners of Tasmania, your kids will love a chance to go on a Gordon River cruise in western Tasmania. Boats depart from Macquarie harbour, and in summer there are also sea-planes that land mid-river and allow you to explore into the rainforest. 

The perfect way to experience some of wild Tasmania that the whole family will remember for years to come!

Find more things to do in Tasmania’s west here.

Things to do in the North West of Tasmania

Below I’ve listed some of the best things to do in the North West of Tasmania with kids.

Cradle Mountain

One of the most famous areas of Tasmania to visit for outdoor lovers, Cradle Mountain in Lake St Clair National park, offers a wilderness experience for the whole family to enjoy. Cradle Mountain is named after the shape of its peak and is another of my recommended stops when touring Tasmania with kids. 

You don’t need to be a serious hiker to enjoy Cradle Mountain and the national park – you can drive to the beautiful Dove Lake and soak up the views of the mountain from there, or if you have older kids, you can spend the day hiking up Cradle Mountain. 

If you want to stay here for a few days, there are plenty of family-friendly accommodation options near Cradle Mountain. 

Address: Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

The Nut

Another must-visit for families who like being outdoors or if you’re looking for fun things to do in Tasmania with kids, the Nut in North Western Tasmania is a coastal bluff area, and all that remains of an ancient volcanic plug. 

Heading up to the summit is a must, for views out over the Bass Strait, the surrounding town of Stanley and neighbouring beaches. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk up – or there’s a more relaxing cable car giving you plenty of time to admire the views with your little ones. 

Address: The Nut, Stanley, Tasmania

Tarkine Forest

One of the most beautiful places to visit in Tasmania with kids, the Tarkine Forest is one of Tasmania’s most pristine forest areas, located in North West Tasmania. The forest is a huge area of temperate rainforest with strong links to Tasmania’s aboriginal people. 

Dismal Swamp is a sinkhole in the middle of the forest, thought to be the only Blackwood forest sinkhole in the world. There’s a visitor centre, walkway above the trees that looks over the sink hole, followed by a 110 metre slide down to the sink hole floor! (Open for kids over 8). It’s a great way for children to have fun and learn more about the forest. 

Despite damage by bushfires in 2016, the forest area is recovering, with most attractions re-opened. 

Address: Dismal Swamp, Redpa, Tasmania

Find more things to do in Tasmania’s north west here.

Things to do on the East Coast of Tasmania

Below I’ve listed some of the best things to do in the East Coast of Tasmania with kids.

Maria Island National Park

Maria Island is located off the East coast of Tasmania and is 30 minutes by ferry from Triabunna. You can come here on a day trip, get permission to camp overnight or there is simple hostelling style accommodation with bunk beds available. 

The Island is a great place to visit with kids, as it offers dramatic scenery including cliffs and beautiful beaches, convict probation era history at the Darlington penitentiary buildings on the island, and beautiful views from several points over the island and across to Freycinet National Park. 

You can bring bikes to the island or rent them on Maria Island to cycle around, and if your kids love the water, there are designated fishing zones, or you can go kayaking. Note that if you’re bringing bikes on the ferry, these need to be pre-booked at least the day before. 

Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park

There are some great activities for kids in Tasmania in Freycinet National Park and at Wineglass Bay. Arguably one of the most beautiful spots in Tasmania, Wineglass Bay is frequently listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you love spectacular scenery, this part of Tasmania is definitely not to be missed. 

Wineglass Bay is located within Freycinet National Park and it’s important to know that there’s no road access – which means it’s more work to get here, but the reward is fewer crowds. You can kayak in, or there’s a one hour walk in and out over fairly steep headland from Coles Bay. 

It’s possible to camp in the area too. 

Binalong Bay and the Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires is another beautiful Tasmanian beach and another must-visit Tasmania with kids location. Located in north-eastern Tasmania, the bay is famous for its clear, turquoise waters, fine white sand and dramatic orange-coloured rocks.

The name is thought to refer to the Aboriginal fires spotted by Captain Tobias Furneaux when he sailed past in 1773, but it could also refer to the orange tinged granite boulders along the bay.

Binalong Bay is located at the southern end of the Bay of Fires, and has plenty of activities that the kids will love. It’s also the entry point to the Bay of Fires area. There’s fishing, a diverse range of sea life such as whales, seals and shearwaters which you can head out to spot, and plenty of hiking routes. 

There’s also beach-side camping facilities available within the Bay of Fires Conservation area if you can’t bring yourself to leave! 

Find more things to do in Tasmania’s east here.

Your Tasmania Family Holiday Map

With the Google Map below, you can zoom in and see where all the above attractions are to help plan your Tasmanian family holiday.

Family Accommodation Tasmania

When it comes to places to stay in Tasmania with kids, there is a great range of hotels in the city centres as well as places in the city outskirts. No matter what your budget, your holiday style or who you are travelling with, you’ll easily find a great place to stay.  

Below I’ve listed a few different places across Tasmania to consider for your family trip.  

Sullivans Cove Apartments Review

If you’re looking for where to stay in Tasmania with kids, downtown Hobart is a great place to start. Sullivans Cove Apartments is located right in downtown Hobart in the Salamanca area, meaning it’s close to the Waterfront area, Salamanca Market and close to many of Hobart’s best things to do for families. 

The apartments are luxurious, well fitted, and come with fully equipped kitchens complete with dishwasher (the apartments are self-catered), wifi and laundry service. There’s a local supermarket just five minutes walk away too. Apartments are available as one, two, three bedrooms or penthouses, with options for sleeping up to 8 people. 

This is one of my top recommendations for family friendly accommodation in Hobart because of its fantastic location and beautiful apartments. 

Click here for the latest prices.

East Coast Holiday Park Review

 If you’re looking for family friendly accommodation Tasmania has with easy access to the Freycinet National Park and the surrounding area, Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park is a great option to consider. 

The holiday park has a great location just 320 metres from Bicheno beach, and has plenty of facilities on site which are ideal for your holiday Tasmania with kids, such as BBQ, a communal dining room (each cabin also comes with a kitchenette), games room and children’s playground. Activities in the surrounding area include fishing, swimming and golfing. 

Room sizes vary from one bedroom cabins to deluxe two bedroom cabins or cottages, making this a great place for small or extended family groups. 

Click here for the latest prices.

Tamar River Apartments Review

The Tamar River apartments are stunning and one of my favourite family friendly places to stay in Tasmania. Located just a short drive from Launceston, the apartments are on the Brown Brothers Tamar Ridge Estate, which is a great spot and close to many things to do for kids in Tasmania.

Apartments are self-contained and modern and come fully equipped with kitchen, washing machine and dryer plus ironing services. Two bedroom apartments have two bathrooms and master bedrooms have deep bathtubs with incredible views looking out across the vineyards to the Tamar river. Living rooms have smart TVs with Netflix. Many apartments are river facing and have outdoor seating areas with BBQ.

This is a beautiful option to escape to with your family if you feel like enjoying the beauty of Tasmania in luxurious accommodation.

Click here for the latest prices.

Final Words

As you can see, there are so many things to do in Tasmania with children whether you have days or weeks to spend exploring this beautiful part of Australia. 

I hope I’ve given you some inspiration beyond the top 10 things to do in Tasmania with kids and sparked some ideas for exploring some of the less well known but beautiful areas of Tasmania, too. There really is plenty for families to enjoy here, whatever your tastes.

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I hope you enjoyed our guide on the best things to do in Tassie with kids. Check out our fun experience at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Read all about the delicious Pancake Train Margate as well. You can find all our planning guides here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post Best Things to do in Tasmania with Kids appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.

It was a big decision but it felt necessary for the wellbeing of all of us as Melbourne slid into bigger lockdowns and all of our mental health suffered. Plus, there’s nothing like a global pandemic to want and need family support and more open space. We knew we could have a much better life in Hobart and it was a very attractive thought to all of us.

Leaving was not easy – Melbourne was our home and where all our friends and my husband’s family live. It’s where my husband’s job was. It was going to be costly. But it felt like the right choice for us.

It also wasn’t easy from a logistical point of view. The border into Tasmania is shut to Victorians and we needed to rent a house from back in Melbourne so we could be considered Tasmanian and apply for entry. Bigger still was the prospect of two weeks hotel quarantine on arrival.

If you had told me when I moved to Melbourne that I would need to apply to apply to go back and enter a two week quarantine, I would have called you crazy, but here we are. And it is a scheme I completely agree with.

However, the thought of two weeks in a hotel room with three kids is a very daunting prospect. Daunting enough that I rung the Tasmanian public health hotline and asked a whole lot of questions before we considered going. I also googled a lot but found a lack of information on what hotel quarantine is actually like.

So, as we sit here in hotel quarantine on day 11, I decided to write this blog post for others who have hotel quarantine in their future, especially if they have families, to know what they can expect. I’ll also update it after we leave to share our experiences of leaving hotel quarantine.

Of course, this is just our experience at one motel in Devonport. A lot probably depends on where you are placed and your experience may certainly differ. But it will at least give you some point of reference,. especially if you have kids, and hopefully help you feel a bit better and less anxious as overall, we have had a very positive experience of hotel quarantine.

I also want to add that this article is not meant to be a complaint of hotel quarantine in anyway. I completely agree with it and I remember rolling my eyes when reading media reports of people complaining about hotel quarantine earlier this year.

Any of the (small) complaints I made below are just to give anyone who is going to go through this too an idea of what exactly to expect.

Arriving In Tasmania

I was definitely nervous when I woke up on the Spirit of Tasmania on July 28 as we came into Devonport wondering what was ahead. The one story I had read about quarantine after the Spirit of Tasmania involved a three hour wait on a bus. However, it was all very efficient and easy.

We left our cabins mask on (they needed to be worn in all public areas on the ship) and went to our car. We kept the masks on until we were in our hotel room in quarantine.

After driving off the ship, there was usual line up for the check for fruit, vegetables and other things that aren’t allowed to come into Tasmania. However, at this checkpoint, they also checked for our G2G pass which was our approval to enter Tasmania.

We were through quickly although we saw people in other cars showing multiple forms of paperwork/ID and seemingly need to talk for longer. I assumed they hadn’t got the G2G pass.

We were then directed a way to drive and parked in a nearby parking lot in lines. There were plenty of police around to tell us what was happening and what would happen next. We basically waited there until everyone coming off the boat was processed.

We then drove in procession to a nearby car park. On arrival, we were shown where to park and told to take everything we wanted to the bus that was parked near the entry. They made it clear we could take as much as we wanted.

We loaded our belongings in the bottom of the bus then boarded keeping socially distanced. After a little while, someone came on and said we were all going to the Gateway Hotel in Devonport.

This is where my stomach dropped.

The thing I was most worried about with hotel quarantine was that we would be separated. As a family of five who travel frequently, I know how hard it is to get connecting hotel rooms and rooms that cater to five. I was nervous this would necessitate two separate rooms.

After this, I was most worried about us being stuck in one small hotel room.

This was the main thing I asked when I rung the hotline before we committed to going and I was assured families wouldn’t be separated and that they do everything they can to get families self contained units with outdoor space.

I had found a list of hotels online of where we could be placed and I knew the Gateway meant that we would not have self contained accommodation and there weren’t rooms for five.

I asked if we would be able to stay together and what would happen and they said it would be sorted at the hotel.

It didn’t take long before our bus and another were on the way to the hotel which was close by.

Checking In For Hotel Quarantine

On arrival, they took two groups of people off the bus at a time to get their bags and go into reception for check in. There was a family of three, otherwise every one was in ones or twos.

They put us in a corner and gave us a document to fill in saying we would take longer to process so we would be last. We were nervous and ready to get settled in.

We then found out the good news – while we had to go to a single hotel room to start with, they were getting us connecting rooms that we would be moved into in a few hours! Score!

I was so relieved and from that point, I’ve been able to stay positive and feeling ok during this experience.

Our Room

Our temporary room was a triple and small with barely any floor space especially when you added our luggage (which was about the equivalent of a suitcase and small backpack each). I was very glad it was only temporary!

Soon we were taken to our connecting rooms which were much better. One was still small but with more space thanks to only having one bed and the other was bigger with a single bed, king bed and a pull down single bed. Both rooms had desk areas, TVs, two lounge chairs and a coffee table, cupboard with hanging space, tea and coffee making facilities, small fridge, basic cutlery, bowls, glasses, mugs, tea towel, some detergent and bathrooms.

They were basically standard hotel rooms. Very comfortable but not fancy.

Outside the hotel rooms is a chair where basically everything goes that goes in and out of the room. So our food is left there and we put our rubbish back out there.

Twice during our stay (so every 4-5 days) linen was left here for us to change our beds and bags to put our old linen in. Each room had a garbage bag that we could fill with our personal washing to get our washing done once during our stay that we could then leave outside.

Anytime we open the door, we have to have a mask on.

There is free wifi at our hotel but it only works in one room. We used phone data mostly. The TV in the room with wifi could connect to our netflix account and there were Foxtel channels too.

We could open the windows – in fact in one room, we could open it so wide that it seemed somewhat alarming for a situation where you don’t want people to leave especially as we are ground floor. It felt like it would be very easy to leave if you did not take this seriously although I do not know if they had someone watching the outdoor area through cameras.

Food

The up and the down side of being in a hotel instead of self contained accommodation is that all our food was made and delivered to us. It was really fantastic not cooking for two weeks and I loved the sound of knocking on our door meaning our food was sitting outside.

The downside though was that we were on someone else’s timetable for food and that the options weren’t always what we wanted/to our tastes and the serves could be small.

Overall though, I was very happy with the food. Nothing I ate was bad and some meals were very good. You can see the menu pictured for a typical day. There was also a kids’ menu with the usual types of kid dishes.

Breakfast was cereal, milk, fruit and most days, also some type of bakery product with bircher museli once a week.

The only real problem was the serving sizes – breakfast was small compared to what kids normally ate and lunch was generally small. So we could be very hungry in the afternoons. Our meals were mucked up quite a few times too – they would not realise there were five of us in the room and deliver just the adult meals or just the kid ones. Easily fixed though so this was not a big deal.

We ordered some food from Coles Online to help with snacking. Thankfully, we brought some things with us like a chopping board and knife which was very handy.

Lunch and dinner was brought in disposable containers. We used bowls in our room for breakfast and cutlery for all meals and washed this ourselves.

Our hotel had paid room service which we could use to order a very limited range of junk food and a limited range of alcoholic and hot beverages.

We were able to order food from anywhere that would deliver. This was very limited in Devonport though and we could only find McDonalds, KFC, pizza and Indian options. So we only ordered out once.

On that note, you can order anything that you like – I ordered another sim card for internet and some books during our stay. Don’t expect anything to be fast though which really limits your options if you are in Devonport.

Outside Time

We were very happy to find out that there was the opportunity to exercise outside the room, and we ended up being able to do this all but one day of our stay. We hadn’t expected this so it was a huge bonus.

We needed to book it in and this could be hard at the start of our stay as they would book out easily. I found out there were 88 rooms of people quaranting and one area with half hour slots meant that not everyone could have a turn. However, they gave us priority with the kids which I am very thankful for.

After our first week, they added two more outdoor areas and it was much easier for anyone who wanted to go out to do so.

If you are a smoker, you get three times a day to go outside but I don’t think they got the exercise time.

The space isn’t the most exciting area in the world. The main area is pictured here and is six car spots big. The other two they created during our stay were three car spots big.

When going outside, we had to wear masks and gloves although they ended up giving up on our 4 year old wearing gloves – they were all far too big and he couldn’t keep them on.

The People

If there is one thing that contributed most to our time in quarantine being a positive experience, it’s the friendly, helpful attitude of all the people we dealt with during our stay and on arrival.

EVERYBODY from the first person we talked to when we drove off the boat to the people on the other end of the phone when we needed more rubbish bags or a meal was missing, were always kind and accommodating.

It can feel somewhat disconcerting and demonised to need quarantine but those feelings would not hang around for long when people were so nice and treating us like humans that need help rather than a hassle or possible corona carriers.

Which isn’t to say at all that people didn’t take the situation seriously. I didn’t really see anyone during the stay bar the security guards that took us to exercise and the people who tested us for coronavirus. We socially distanced, we wore masks.

But this is exactly why a kind voice on the phone makes all the difference. Or a kind, calming presence when we arrived in Devonport and were anxious. It made everything ok and enabled us all to stay positive and ok.

I also appreciated regular calls from the Government Liason Officer at our hotel. He seemed to really care about our wellbeing and helping us all get through ok. It was very much appreciated.

If anyone from our experience reads this, a HUGE THANK YOU! You made all the difference.

Coronavirus Testing

Right before we left for Tasmania there were calls to bring in mandatory testing for people in hotel quarantine in Tasmania. This was not brought in but the premier said people were being “strongly recommended” to be tested on days 5 and 12 of their quarantine stay.

My only real complaint of our hotel quarantine stay was that did not seem to be the case.

To me, strongly recommended would be more than a mention of it during a call on our second or third day of quarantine telling us to ring them if we wanted to get a test.

On our 11th day, we rung the hotline to organise one and got told that they couldn’t and we should wait until they ring us. I didn’t notice the call and they left a voice message. I rung back and the person organising it was busy so I was told they would ring back. Not long after they did and we booked in.

While this isn’t the biggest deal in the world, I’m sure some people would give up after their first call wasn’t a success and that is a problem as I strongly support mandatory testing of people in quarantine or at least strongly encouraging.

I don’t think I would have even realised that we were meant to have a test and it was recommended on days 5 and 12 had I not watched the press conference where Peter Gutwein said it myself.

While I am 99.999999% sure we didn’t have coronavirus and we had no symptoms during our stay, I’m sure other people have thought this and ended up with a case. After what happened with Victorian hotel quarantine and the huge disaster that has happened because of this, it really disappoints me that there isn’t a system in place to really encourage people to be tested.

If you aren’t going to make it mandatory, maybe at least make people opt out instead of opt in. Or knock on the door with the test. And definitely don’t make people ring multiple times to organise it.

Tasmania is in the great position of having no community cases of coronavirus at the moment. I wish it would work that bit harder to keep it that way. If someone reads this with the power to change the situation, please do.

Checking Out And Leaving Quarantine

Check out was straightforward although I was surprised when we had to catch taxis back to the car park where our car was at our own expense. I had assumed they would bus everyone back.

Because there were so many of us, it was arranged I would go in the first arranged taxi and get the car and get back to pick up the others and our luggage. We needed to be out before the next busload of people arrived from the Spirit so I was out at 6:45am.

In the morning, a security guard knocked on our door when it was time for me to leave and escorted me to reception. I got a piece of paper that said the dates we had been in quarantine. I then hopped in a taxi another family was using and went with them back to the car near the Spirit of Tasmania.

Once in the taxi, I took my mask off and talked to the other mum who seemed even happier than me to be out. It was a very strange feeling to be out of the room, out of a mask in public for first time in weeks and to be talking to someone sitting next to me.

At the car park, someone checked my ID and wrote down the number plate of our car and I was off!

It was really really hard to drive back to the hotel to pick up everyone else. I had this irrational fear that I would be sucked into the hotel, back into quarantine and would never be able to leave.

I would never leave my family like that though so naturally I went back It then took 20 minutes for someone to get my family from their room so they could leave too.

We packed up the car and drove off as quick as legally allowed! We may have wound down the windows and screamed “FREEDOM!!!!!!!!” as well

Tips For Hotel Quarantine

Here are some tips for anyone else entering hotel quarantine:

• Don’t be afraid of taking a lot of luggage.
• If there is food or drink you particularly like, take it with you if you can. I am a huge Pepsi Max addict and I found it harder than I should to go two days without it until I could get the Coles delivery!! Someone who arrived when we did had a carton of beer with them. Smart!
• Take some cleaning supplies. I was really happy we took some cloths, detergent, paper towel and spray and wipe. It was very handy. If there is one thing I wish we had taken, it’s a handhield vacuum to clean up after meals.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for anything you need. It didn’t even occur to us to ask if we could use a vacuum until our seventh day and it made our lives so much better!
• We took a chopping board, knife, scissors, bottle opener – all were handy.
• If you want internet, don’t rely on getting some. Take a sim card with a good data plan. Also check the expiry date if you do that! We bought two Telstra sim cards to take with us and discovered once we were in quarantine and tried to use them that they had expired and we couldn’t. Grrrr.
• We took a cord to connect our laptop to the TV which gave us more viewing options. I highly recommend.
• If you have the choice of exercise, book as far ahead as they will let you.
• Take sports shoes. If you get the chance to exercise as well, you don’t want to be like me who only took big boots
• Our youngest struggled a bit as he is only 4 and no doubt can’t grasp exactly what is going on. Otherwise, the kids were fine. They had us and our attention which made it easier than at home when lots of things are competing for our attention.
• It does end! You will get through this and it will be an experience that you won’t forget

Final Words

I was so worried about hotel quarantine, but it turned out to be fine. While it wasn’t a holiday or anything I want to do again, it wasn’t terrible and I won’t look back at in horror.

It was not much different to being at our home in Melbourne during lockdown. The space was smaller, but our lives were also simpler and it was nice to have a break from cooking and most cleaning. Plus, I found it much easier to deal with than lockdown in Melbourne because it had a set end date. I knew when it would be over and that we had a whole new life ahead of us.

As long as I compared it to what we had left behind and not what was coming up next, I found it very easy to stay positive. I even found time passed quite quick until the last few days when it seemed to take forever.

But then it was done and we were excited to move forward.

If you are heading into hotel quarantine, I wish you all the best and hope you can focus on the positives as well. Just remember how important it is to the wellbeing of everyone and that it will end.

Read more about visiting Tasmania here.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

diveintotasmania.com.au

The post Our Experiences In Hotel Quarantine In Tasmania appeared first on Dive Into Tasmania.