Tasmania Road Trip: Basics, Preparations, Tips

Tasmania Road Trip Overview 

Even though only 519,000 people live in Tasmania, it's becoming increasingly popular as a vacation spot, and after ten days here, we can see why.

The scenery is constantly changing, and there is a wide range of food options using locally grown food, world-class wines, beautiful beaches that are never crowded, epic mountain ranges, lots of hiking trails, cute coastal towns, rural farm villages, wildlife that is out of this world, and a very laid-back Aussie vibe.

The trip around Tasmania by car is about 1250 km long and takes about 17 hours to drive. The path goes around the island anticlockwise, starting and ending in Hobart. Along the way, places like Cradle Mountain National Park, the Museum of Old and New Art (Hobart), the Bay of Fires, and more can have beautiful views.

Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary 

The road trip through Tasmania takes seven days and has many beautiful sights. The road below will lead you to some well-known spots. It's possible to make small changes to the tour route or pick a new one.

Day 1: Hobart to Freycinet National Park

Length: 200km

Time: 2 hours 45 min

Best Stops: Sullivans Cove, Great Oyster Bay, Maria Island, Swansea, Coles Bay

(Data Source: Google Maps)

Start your day by walking along the shore to Salamanca Place in Hobart, past the pretty sandstone warehouses from the 1800s. After that, take a two-hour drive north. You'll see beautiful views of Great Oyster Bay and Maria Island along the way.

Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea makes delicious jams that you can try. It's a 45-minute drive from Swansea to Coles Bay, a fun holiday town by the water that's a great place to start exploring Freycinet National Park.

Before going into the national park, have lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm with fresh fish from Tasmania. The oysters are famous. You can pick any walk, from the short 10-minute walk to Sleepy Bay to the difficult three-hour (round-trip) hike to Mount Amos in the Hazards, a group of granite mountains.

Beautiful views of the white sand circle and ice-blue water of Wineglass Bay can be seen from the 90-minute round-trip Wineglass Bay lookout walk. The Freycinet Visitor Centre can help you book a campsite in Freycinet National Park. If you'd rather stay elsewhere, many options exist in Coles Bay, Bicheno, or Swansea.  

Day 2: Freycinet National Park to Bay of Fires

Length: 172km

Time: 2 hours 42 min

Best Stops: St Helens, Peron Dunes, Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires

(Data Source: Google Maps)

From Freycinet, it takes about an hour to drive north to St. Helens. You can swim, surf, or eat fresh fish in the morning. Follow the one-hour walk to the beautiful Peron Dunes to learn more about the area.

Binalong Bay is the entrance to the incredible Bay of Fires. It's a short drive from St. Helens to this bay. This beautiful area has sandy beaches and orange lichen-covered granite rocks on either side.

View the area's beauty differently while taking the Sloop Rock Express or Bay of Fires Discovery boat tour through the clear blue water. How could you learn more about this fantastic place's fascinating history?

At the Bay of Fires Bush Retreat, you can spend an evening relaxing outdoors. You'll be given a plate full of Tasmania's best foods at dinner. If you go in the winter, book a King Room at the refuge or the Tidal Waters Resort, which is nearby. 

Day 3: Bay of Fires to Launceston

Length: 269km

Time: 4 hours 54 min

Best Stops: Derby, Mount Victoria Forest Reserve, Queen Victoria Museum, National Automobile Museum of Tasmania

(Data Source: Google Maps)

You can go west in the morning to the small town of Derby on a river. Go straight 65 km (40 miles) or take the 2.5-hour drive through the Mount Victoria Forest Reserve, which is very beautiful. 

For mountain biking, Derby has some of the best trails in the world. It also has some beautiful antique and craft shops. You can look around the shops in town, hike, or go to Lake Derby and relax at the Floating Sauna.

Keep going on the road until you reach Launceston, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. Launceston is one of Australia's oldest towns. This town is home to several museums and galleries, including the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania and the stunning Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Cataract Gorge is only a short walk from the city's heart.  

You can walk across a bridge that hangs over the water or ride the world's largest single-span chairlift. Stay the night at one of the many lovely hotels in Launceston.

Do something fun in the north for a day if you have time. Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links is just an hour's drive from Launceston and is a beautiful course that golfers will love. If you'd instead do something more relaxing, you could go to Tamar Valley, just north of Launceston, which lies along a quiet estuary. You can get wine from more than 20 farms that are spread out along the valley's edges. 

Day 4: Launceston to Stanley

Length: 228km

Time: 2 hours 50 min

Best Stops: Deloraine, Devonport, Bluff, Mersey River, Narawntapu National Park, Wynyard, Stanley

(Data Source: Google Maps)

The ancient town of Deloraine is a 40-minute drive west from Launceston as you face the water. The town has many art studios and craft stores to look around. The city hosts one of Australia's largest working craft fairs in November. For breakfast, you can go to a bakery.

After that, drive north for another 40 minutes until you reach Devonport, a busy city on the coast known for its fantastic beaches, walks, and bike paths. Walk along the water, surf at the Bluff, or row or sail on the Mersey River. Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and pademelons graze quietly in Narawntapu National Park, where you can see wildlife. You might even see a Tasmanian devil.

Return to the ocean and take a leisurely hour-long drive through the seaside towns of Ulverstone, Burnie, and Wynyard,  which are full of tulips. In an hour, you can end the day in Stanley, a fishing town framed by The Nut, a steep volcanic cliff.

Take The Nut Chairlift to get to the platform. Walk the two kilometres (1.2 miles) around the top for amazing views. Consider taking a scenic ride with Osborne Helitours to see more. You will fly high to see the harsh shoreline and islands at sea.

A "paddock to plate" trip takes you to the best places in Tasmania to eat and see the scenery. Once you're back on land, visit Stanley Village to find unique locations and a restaurant on the water.

Day 5: Stanley to Cradle Mountain

Length: 510km

Time: 6 hours 558 min

Best Stops: Lake St. Clair National Park, Dove Lake, Fury Gorge, Mount Ossa, Pumphouse Point

(Data Source: Google Maps)

The journey from Stanley to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, a forest recognised as a World Heritage site, requires two hours. Climb Cradle Mountain or walk around Dove Lake, where the water resembles a mirror. For lunch, go to the high-class Highland Restaurant in the fancy Cradle Mountain Lodge.

A scenic ride with Cradle Mountain Helicopters is the best way to enjoy the beauty of the national park. You can choose from several flights above Dove Lake, Australia's deepest gorge (Fury Gorge), Mount Ossa, and Cradle Mountain. Fly fishing is also possible in the clear mountain streams and Dove Lake from September to April. You can also go on a nighttime wildlife walk to see wallabies, wombats, and possums.

The family-friendly Cradle Mountain Hotel is a great place to stay the night, or you can check out Pumphouse Point, a fantastic converted electrical pumphouse that floats in the water.

Day 6: Cradle Mountain to Strahan

Length: 161km

Time: 2 hours 26 min

Best Stops: Queenstown, Strahan

(Data Source: Google Maps)

Along Anthony Road, you'll take the scenic road south. You can get to Queenstown on this 62-mile (100-kilometer) drive through woods and sparkling lakes. Queenstown used to have the world's richest gold and copper mine.

You can tour an underground mine in Queenstown or walk through the forest for beautiful lookouts. A prominent landmark hotel called The Empire is excellent for lunch. It makes you think of how grand Queenstown used to be.

Strahan, on the harbour and only 45 minutes by car from Queenstown, is the entrance to Tasmania's World Heritage-listed Wild West. In the afternoon, you can boat on Macquarie Harbour or walk along Ocean Beach, Tasmania's longest beach, which is often windy.

View 42 Restaurant & Bar at Strahan Village Hotel serves fresh Tasmanian fish at the end of the day.

Day 7: Strahan to Hobart

Length: 303km

Time: 4 hours 26 min

Best Stops: Tarraleah, Mount Field National Park, Tarn Shelf, New Norfolk, River Derwent

(Data Source: Google Maps)

Follow the Lyell Highway back through the heart of Tasmania's wildness, which is on the World Heritage List. Stop in Tarraleah, about a 2.5-hour drive from Strahan and the country's first hydroelectric system site. Many of the cottages in the highland town built in the 1930s have been fixed up; some are beautiful examples of the Art Deco style. Also, take the chance to see the small luxury hotel The Lodge.

Take a 100-kilometer (62-mile) side trip to Mount Field National Park if you have time. There, you can bushwalk through lush fern woods to the beautiful Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Lady Barron Falls, and from the Tarn Shelf, you can see stunning views.

After that, go to New Norfolk and see its iconic town square, unique shops, and the oldest salmon farms in the Southern Hemisphere. Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art, is a must-see when you get close to Hobart. It has Australia's largest privately owned art collection.

You can eat at the hotel's restaurant, The Source, which serves creative share plates with a view of the River Derwent. You can also spend the night in one of the posh pavilions at Mona, named after critical Australian artists or architects.

How to Plan Your Tasmania Road Trip

For a seven-day road trip, getting ready ahead of time is always intelligent. Here is a list of things you should do to prepare for your road trip through Tasmania.

Decide How to Get Around Tasmania

A reliable vehicle is essential for any road trip. On the island, you have three choices.

Option 1: Drive Your Car

On its way from Port Melbourne in Victoria to Devonport in Tasmania, the Spirit of Tasmania stops at Port Melbourne. The trip across the Bass Strait can be done during the day or overnight. It takes between 9 and 11 hours. There are shared and private rooms, and pets are welcome! Follow the sailing schedule link to find exact times and prices.

Option 2: Rent A Car

The most common and easiest option is to take a car and camp or stay in hotels or bed and breakfasts. Many hire car companies exist at both Hobart International Airport and Launceston Airport. However, you should book ahead of time because there may be more cars on the island during busy times.

Option 3: Rent a Campervan or RV

Renting an RV or campervan costs a little more, but consider how much you can save on lodging! Campervans and RVs are very popular on the island, so there are many places to rent them. Using Motorhome Republic's search tool would be best for seeing the available units for your dates. If you're looking for a deal, some readers have pointed out that peer-to-peer rents are now offered by a new company called Outdoorsy. It's like Airbnb but for RVs.

Plan for Stops

You will likely need a break every two or three hours. When planning your road trip stops, consider any interesting towns, parks, shops, or restaurants you'd like to see. It's all fun to go on a road trip.

• Make a big-picture road trip plan
• Choose your overnight stops
• Add short, easy-to-reach stops along the way to get the most fun in the least amount of time
• Plan for fuel stops and vehicle checks
• Be realistic about time constraints

Determine When to Visit Tasmania

If you want warm weather and significant outdoor events, summer (December to February) is the time for you.

The best times to hike and explore the great outdoors are still in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November), when it's warm but a little cooler. It will also be cheaper to travel and stay than in the summer.

Winter, from June to August, is an excellent time to visit if you like snow-covered mountains. It's also usually the cheapest time to go.

Get A Tune-Up

Having a mechanic check your car for problems before you leave is a good idea if you drive it a long way for several days. Change your oil, add more fluid to your windscreen wipers, and check all your lights to ensure they work. Follow these steps to avoid getting lost or having technical problems on your road trip.  

Pack Road Trip Essentials

Tasmania is a big state with many ways to drive there. If you want to drive on dirt roads in the middle of the desert, you should bring a satellite phone, extra tyres, and a good tool kit.

The more you take care of and maintain your car, the more likely it is that something will break down or stop working out of the blue. If this happens, you'll need your car's guidebook to determine what's wrong: a broken light or windscreen wiper.

Our master camping list has almost everything you'll need for a great trip if you're camping along the way. We also have a general packing list for car trips that you can use.

You should also bring things that will make the ride more comfortable and fun, like sunglasses, blankets (to keep you warm this winter), pillows, eating tools and travel mugs, reusable water bottles, a car window shade, reusable bags, breath mints, and sling bags.

A generator is a good thing to bring on car trips because you need power. A sun generator is excellent because it doesn't pollute and can be used repeatedly. The best things to bring on a road trip through Tasmania are the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro and 500.

In your trailer, they only take up a little space and are easy to move. When you go to national parks and outdoor areas, these generators are good for the environment because they use solar power to reduce your carbon footprint.

Jackery Solar Generators for Road Trips

Jackery Solar Generators comprise a portable power station and Jackery solar panels. For Tasmania road trips, this portable solar setup is ideal. It has a pure sine wave inverter, an MPPT regulator, and a premium lithium battery to ensure that your electronics and outdoor items always have power. 

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro and the Jackery Solar Generator 500 are the most suitable generators for car trips. They're strong and last a long time.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro is more than just a gadget—it's your ticket to steady power on the go, thanks to its vast 1002Wh capacity and 1000W output power. It can easily hold a full wall charge in just 1.8 hours and has been charged a thousand times. This is a game-changer for people seeking efficient and environmentally friendly energy options.

Include two SolarSaga 80W solar panels to increase the energy you generate by 25%. This is a cost-effective and sustainable option for trips outside or backup power for your home.

To make things easier for you, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro portable power station has a handle that can be folded up for easy storage and travel. This makes it the perfect thing to take with you on your outdoor adventures. This small power source promises to keep you fired up with its impressive 1,000-charge cycle life and lightweight design.

Jackery Solar Generator 500

This Jackery Solar Generator 500 is made to withstand harsh weather thanks to its advanced temperature monitors and robust construction that can work in hot and cold conditions. Because it's so durable, it's an excellent choice for camping trips, outdoor activities, and backup power in an emergency.

With a capacity of 518Wh and a 500W inverter that can handle surges up to 1000W, the Jackery Explorer 500 can support multiple appliance charging, making it a versatile power solution for various needs. It is also designed for convenience, featuring a portable and light design that makes it easy to carry and use wherever power is needed.

The power station has three ways to charge it: solar panels, a wall outlet, and a car plug. This gives you options for how to charge it. With a noise level of 37.9dB, it's a quiet power option that won't bother you on the Tasmania road trip.

Top Considerations When Driving in Tasmania

The following are essential road rules and road signs if you're new to Tasmania:

Don't Drive At Night: Plan your daily trips whenever possible. Tasmanian roads are home to a lot of animals.    

Notice The Petrol Stations: Most gasoline cars have a range of 400 km, so you'll need to fill up at least twice or thrice during your trip. Luckily, many gas stations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week along the way. On the Hume Highway, you can stop to refuel every 50 km to 100 km. Stop at bigger towns like Kiama, Batemans Bay, and Eden to get gas if you're going along the coast.

Along the way from Sydney to Melbourne, there are many places to charge your electric vehicle (such as a Tesla or BYD). Plan your charging stops with this free live map from PlugShare. Before you go, ensure you know how far your car can go on electricity so you don't run out.  

Be Safe and Alert While Driving: Being careful and safe on the road is the last thing you can do to ensure your road trip is secure. Remember that you want to avoid all the problems you just thought of. So, while you're commuting, think about the following:

• Keep an eye on the road for dangers.
• Bear in mind that aggressive or tailgating cars may be out there.
• Only pull over on the side of the road if you have to, especially at night.
• Before you leave, make sure you have a lot of gas.
• Don't fall asleep at the wheel; take breaks and stretch at well-lit rest stops.
• You can listen to music or roll down the window if tired.
• Split up the driving so you stay energised and active on the highway.

Is the Tasmania Road Trip Worth It?

The southern tip of Australia is at the end of this 7-day road trip through Tasmania. The southern tip has beautiful scenery, historical places, art, and culture.

In Tasmania, most roads only have one lane going in each way. Some streets are small, windy, and have sharp turns. There may also be dirt roads. Consider the weather, give yourself plenty of time, be careful, and pull over in a safe spot so that other drivers can pass behind you.

The Jackery Solar Generator is a clear choice if you want to take a road trip and need a rugged, small solar generator.