If you’re planning a visit to Tasmania and you’re short on time, this 14 Day Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary is just for you. This self-drive Tasmania itinerary hits all the highlights of this incredibly diverse, naturally beautiful state.
Being a small state, Tassie is ideal for a road trip. We recently spent six weeks on a road trip around Tasmania in our campervan, but we understand not everyone has that much time. And to be honest – we could have spent more time here!
We are sure you’ll fall in love with Tasmania on this trip, and will soon be planning your return!
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Getting to Tasmania
You can either fly to Tasmania, or take your own vehicle from the mainland (Geelong) to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. The crossing of Bass Strait takes around 10 hours and can be quite rough (we got lucky). It is also quite expensive – so if you’re coming to Tassie for a short time, we would recommend flying and hiring a car.
Getting around Tasmania
With a small population, Tasmania doesn’t have an extensive public transport system. It’s possible to get local busses, or transfers to some of the popular attractions (like Port Arthur), but you’ll enjoy your time much more with the freedom of your own vehicle. A self-drive Tasmania Road Trip is the perfect way to see this beautiful state.
The good news is that Tasmania is only small, with short distances between each attraction. But be warned! Most of the roads are quite windy in Tasmania, given the mountainous terrain, so travel times will probably be longer than expected.
You can hire a car at the airport in Hobart. If you’re keen on camping, why not hire a campervan or motorhome?
The Ultimate 14 Day Tasmania Itinerary
We’ve designed this two-week Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary as an anti-clockwise loop starting and finishing in Hobart.
Day 1 – Arrive Hobart
After arriving at Hobart Airport and hiring a car, head to the city centre to check out the historic area, and the Salamanca Markets (if you’re lucky enough to be here on a Saturday).
Wander through Battery Point, along Constitution Dock and the old woolstores area. Stop for a craft beer at the Hobart Brewing Company, or perhaps check out some of the cool bars and restaurants around Salamanca Point (we can recommend The Brick or Manky Sally’s).
If you’d like to get a view over the whole city and harbour, head up Mount Wellington for fantastic views.
Don’t miss the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) – you don’t need to be arty-farty – this is one of the weirdest and coolest museums we’ve ever visited!
Where to stay in Hobart
You’ll find a range of accommodation in Hobart to suit all budgets. We actually stayed with friends when we were in town, but you can check prices and availability here on booking.com:
Day 2 – Hobart to Port Arthur
92km, 1hr 15 minutes driving time
Get an early start this morning to drive down to the Tasman Peninsula to visit the Port Arthur Historic Site. The site opens at 9am.
You’ll want to spend all day wandering around this incredible open air museum learning all about the convict history of Van Diemens’ Land. We especially enjoyed exploring the “Separate Prison” – don’t miss the isolation room which is COMPLETELY dark.
The entrance ticket includes a 20 minute cruise on the harbour, the self-guided audio experience and talks by expert local guides at key locations throughout the complex.
Tickets cost $53 for adults, $41 concession and $26 for children. Your ticket is valid for 2 days. Book your ticket online and avoid the queues at the entrance.
Our favourite place to stay near Port Arthur is the 3 Capes Cottage, at Eaglehawk Neck.
Day 3 – Eaglehawk Neck to Coles Bay (Freycinet National Park)
180km, 2hrs 30 minutes driving time
Before you leave the Tasman Peninsula, make sure to check out the Tessellated Pavement and Tasman Arch. Perhaps have an early lunch at the Doo-licious Food Truck at Doo-town.
Leaving Eaglehawk Neck continue up the East Coast of Tasmania and make your way to Coles Bay. On the way you might like to stop off at the Devils Corner Winery to enjoy a wine tasting. We didn’t make it there, but we DID buy a bottle at the bottle shop in Coles Bay, and that’s the next best thing right?
Coles Bay is a small town with some very fancy resorts. It’s big claim to fame is being the gateway to Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay. The views of the “Hazards” – the pink granite outcrops as you drive into town is spectacular.
Day 4 – Freycinet National Park
Enjoy a full day to explore this beautiful part of Tasmania. Hike up to the Wineglass Bay lookout for one of the most iconic views in Tasmania. If you’re feeling energetic, you can hike down to Wineglass Bay beach.
This unspoiled beach is only accessible by hiking or by boat, which really adds to its charm. Soak up the sun on the orange rocks or take a stroll along the beach.
Return the way you came, or you can take the longer route along Hazards Beach, passing some secluded little coves along the way.
Day 5 – Coles Bay to St Helens (Bay of Fires)
114km, 1 hr 30 mins driving time
Today you will be driving up the East Coast of Tasmania, hugging the coast most of the day. This is a spectacular drive, so stop and soak in the beauty. You might stop off at Bicheno to see the Blowhole.
St Helens is the largest town on Tasmania’s East Coast and is a great place to base yourself while you explore the Bay of Fires. There’s a supermarket, pharmacy, hardware store, even a hospital.
If you’re into Mountain Biking, the trails at St Helens are fantastic. If you don’t have your own bike with you, you can hire a bike (or e-bike) in town. Shuttles to some of the longer trails are also available.
Day 6 – Bay of Fires
A full day to relax and enjoy the Bay of Fires. You’ll find day use areas with toilets at the main beaches – Swimcart Beach is very popular. You can walk along the beaches to explore all the orange rocky areas.
Don’t miss The Gardens, an area to the north of the Bay of Fires with even more of the beautiful orange rocks.
If you like oysters, we recommend stopping in at Lease 65 – they sell delicious oysters by the dozen, shucked and unshucked. Nigel reports they are some of the best he’s ever had.
Where to stay in St Helens and the Bay of Fires
If you’re travelling with a caravan or campervan, the Bay of Fires is one of the best places in all of Tassie – there is an abundance of free camps right on the beach. We thought the pick of the bunch was Swimcart Beach – which is really the only campsite that has ocean views right from the van door.
BUT – you will need to get here early, especially in January as this place fills up very quickly. We arrived at 10am and were able to pull into a spot as someone was leaving.
Day 7 – Bay of Fires to Stanley
367km, 4 hr 15 min driving time
It’s a long drive today across the top of the state, but you will be rewarded once you hit the north coast. You may like to stop for lunch in Launceston, and perhaps check out Cataract Gorge.
On the way you can pass through Sheffield, which is known for it’s murals. If you’re lucky you might even bump into Ludo and his pet llama Pedro.
Make a quick stop in the town of Penguin to see the big penguin and the penguin rubbish bins. This town was named for the little penguins that roost here, but we found the best place to see them is at Stanley.
Stanley
Stanley is right up in the north west corner of Tasmania, and is one of the prettiest towns in the state. It is dominated by the “Nut” a ancient volcanic plug situated on a promontory called Circular Head. You can ride the chairlift to the top of the Nut for incredible views along the coast.
In the evening head down to Godfreys Beach on the northern side of the peninsula to the Godfreys Beach Penguin Viewing Platform. The penguins at Stanley come to roost just after dark.
The platform is a great place to view the little penguins, as the red lights have been set up already. The best spot is right at the end of the platform, but be warned! It gets busy here.
*Alternatively, you could stop in Launceston on Day 7 and then drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain on Day 8
Where to stay in Stanley
We stayed at the Stanley Recreation Grounds, a council run site for fully self-contained caravans, campervans and RVs. It’s $10 a night to stay here, they have water and a dump point but no other facilities.
There is a Big4 Caravan Park closer to town, and the main street is dotted with historic miners cottages that have been turned into BnBs. This would be a lovely place for a romantic getaway!
Day 8 – Stanley to Cradle Mountain
175km, 2 hr 5 min driving time
Head back along the North Coast to Burnie. We recommend stocking up on any food you might need as this will be your last opportunity to visit a larger supermarket before you get back to Hobart.
From Burnie you will head inland to Cradle Mountain.
The view of Cradle Mountain is one of the most iconic in all of Tasmania. Even if you’re not a keen hiker, there are plenty of short walks you can do here to make the most of your time and the views.
Day 9 – Cradle Mountain
From the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre you will need to take a shuttle bus down to the end of the road at Dove Lake. Accessing the park with your own vehicle is only possible during the hours when the shuttle isn’t running and parking is very limited.
The road is single lane, and the shuttle bus drivers communicate over 2 way radio to ensure they pull over to let each other through at designated points.
The bus costs $15 for adults and your ticket lasts 72 hours. Tickets are supposedly non-transferrable, but when we were there in February 2024 we were just issued a paper ticket which the bus driver looks at as you get on the bus.
Dove Lake
The final stop on the shuttle bus route is Dove Lake. You can hike all the way around the lake (we recommend walking anti-clockwise). This is an easy hike with just a few stairs. The hike was very busy when we visited.
If you walk anti-clockwise you will arrive at the Boathouse near the end of the hike. This is one of the best photo spots of Cradle Mountain, but you might have to wait to get a good shot! We came here first thing in the morning before doubling back and doing the Marion’s Lookout hike.
The best place to see wombats at Cradle Mountain is along the path from the Ronny Creek carpark. You’ll need to come early in the morning or late afternoon – outside of the shuttle bus times. The best time to see wombats is close to dawn and dusk.
Devils @ Cradle Mountain
Although we spent 6 weeks in Tasmania, we didn’t see any Tasmanian Devils in the wild. Sadly we did see one dead on the side of the road. We really wanted to see one of these endangered animals, so we booked onto the After Dark Feeding Tour at Devils @ Cradle.
Normally we don’t support animals in captivity, but this sanctuary is doing so much work, not just for the Tasmanian Devils they rescue and rehabilitate, but they have breeding programs, and they are studying the devastating facial tumour disease that is seriously threatening the population of Devils.
We loved learning about the Devils from one of their expert carers. The information was really interesting and hearing them screech at each other when they were feeding was incredible! It’s no wonder they were named “devils”.
It’s not just Tasmanian Devils at the sanctuary, they also have other carnivorous marsupials (and relatives of the Tassie Devil) the spotted quoll and eastern quoll.
NOTE: While this is called the “After Dark” feeding tour, in January the sun doesn’t set till around 10pm, so this 5:30pm tour is definitely in daylight!
Prices for the After Dark Feeding Tour are $37.50 for adults and advance bookings are recommended.
Where to stay at Cradle Mountain
There is a Discovery Parks Caravan Park right by the Visitors Centre. We stayed overnight in the Long Vehicle parking area. While this isn’t an official camp, there were plenty of other vans parked there overnight and reviews on WikiCamps report that the rangers turn a blind eye to people staying here. Obviously keep respectful and leave no trace!
Day 10 – Cradle Mountain to Strahan via Montezuma Falls
158km, 3 hours drive time (plus hiking time to Montezuma Falls)
You’ll enjoy a spectacular mountain drive today as you head south from Cradle Mountain to Strahan which is on the west coast.
On the way, you’ll pass through the historic mining town of Rosebery and pass under the old mining railway bridge. Just past Rosebery you can turn off for the Montezuma Falls hike.
Montezuma Falls is the tallest waterfall in Tasmania. The waterfall is reached by a 5km hike. While this hike is long it is relatively flat all the way, so its fairly easy. The hike follows the old mining railway and you can see evidence of this railroad along the trail. You’ll even see an old mine shaft that you can walk into.
Just before the waterfall you’ll come to a suspension bridge, which also offers great views of the falls. The hike to Montezuma Falls will take around 3 hours and is dog friendly.
Zeehan
Zeehan is a small mining town with a fuel station and small grocery store. It seemed pretty deserted when we drove through. There are some good mountain bike trails near Zeehan, but there’s probably no other reason to stop here.
Continue driving to Strahan, the most important town on Tasmania’s West Coast and the gateway to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area.
Day 11 – In Strahan
The town of Strahan is full of history and character, including that of the convict era. After the penal colony was shut down, Strahan became an important centre for the pining industry, particularly Huon Pine, prized by ship builders for its resistence to borers.
In more recent times, Strahan was the centre of the conservationist “No Dams” movement against the damming of the Gordon below Franklin River in the 1980s. This important environmental struggle ended up being a major election issue in the 1983 general election.
The best way to see this World Heritage Wilderness and the former penal colony at Sarah Island is on a half day Gordon River Cruise. Our cruise took us out of Macquarie Harbour, through Hell’s Gates, included a guided tour on Sarah Island and a walk through the rainforest up the Gordon River.
After your cruise, take some time to wander the town, and in the evening make sure you check out “The Ship that Never Was”, Australia’s longest running play. The play tells the story of an escape from Sarah Island, and is very funny, with full audience participation.
Tickets are $25 for adults, and can be purchased from the Strahan Visitors Centre. Oh, and you can take drinks and snacks into the performance!
Where to stay in Strahan
If you’re in a self-contained campervan or caravan we recommend staying at the Strahan Golf Club – you can park up here for $10 a night. Parking is on a first come – first served basis, so arrive early to get a good spot! Payment is by the honesty box (cash only) in the office. There is water here but no power.
You’ll find a Big 4 Caravan Park down by the beach, and there is an abundance of small boutique hotels and BnBs in town if you’re in a regular car.
Day 12 Strahan to Lake St Clair
131km, 2 hours driving time
Today is a day for chasing waterfalls! You can visit Hogarth Falls just outside Strahan, and then Horsetail Falls and Nelson Falls after passing through Queenstown.
All three waterfalls are just a short walk (around 20 mins) from the carpark, and we would consider all of them easy to moderate.
Queenstown is an historic mining town and you can see evidence of mining and logging on the surrounding hillsides. Queenstown makes a good place to stop for lunch.
If you’re lucky, the West Coast Wilderness Railway may be running again (throughout 2024 it has run on a very reduced schedule, only travelling to the first station and back. Check the WCWR Website for up to date information.
Don’t miss The Wall in the Wilderness, just outside Derwent Bridge. In 2005 sculptor Greg Duncan began sculpting what is now known simply as “The Wall”, a 3m high, 100m long sculpture of life in Tasmania, made from Huon Pine.
A self-guided tour of the wall costs $18 and can be booked online at The Wall website.
NOTE: Photos and video are not allowed at the Wall.
Where to stay at Lake St Clair/Derwent Bridge
We found a great free camp on the banks of the King William Lake. Other options include the Lake St Clair Lodge or Derwent Bridge Chalets and Studios.
Day 13 – Lake St Clair to Mount Field National Park
123km, 2 hours driving time
Mount Field National Park is definitely worth a stop on your way to Hobart. This popular National Park is famous for it’s waterfalls. Russell Falls is one of the most beautiful we saw the whole time we were in Tasmania.
There are a several great hikes in the Park, we did the Three Falls Circuit, which goes to Russell, Horseshoe and Lady Barron Falls. Along the way you can detour into the Tall Trees Link Track. We were blown away by the height of these trees!
Where to stay at Mount Field National Park
There is a campsite right at the National Park, which charges $20 per site. We chose to stay at the National Park Hotel, a short drive from the Park. Sites here are $25 with $15 redeemable on food or drinks in the pub.
Optional Detour – Gordon Dam
If you don’t feel like hiking, or if you’ve had enough of waterfalls, take a detour down to the Gordon Dam. The drive itself is breath-taking with beautiful mountains on the way.
The Gordon Dam was built in the 1970s and is an engineering marvel, being double arched. The Dam was built to store water for power generation, at an underground hydroelectric scheme.
You can walk out along the dam wall, if you’re game enough to go down the steep stairs first! Before the Pandemic there was an abseiling outfit operating here, but sadly they haven’t resumed operations.
Day 14 – Mount Field National Park to Hobart
75km, 1 hour driving time
On your final driving day you’ll leave the Tasmanian wilderness behind as you head down the Derwent Valley. You’ll have beautiful views of the river. Maybe stop in New Norfolk for a coffee.
Arriving back into Hobart, check out any sights you may have missed on your first day before heading back to the airport and home.
We are sure you will love Tasmania as much as we did, and you’re probably already planning your next visit here!
Essential Information for your 14 Day Tasmania Itinerary
Permits and Passes
A massive 40% of Tasmania is National Parks, reserves and UNESCO World Heritage area. There is so much natural beauty here. You will require a Parks Pass to visit any of the 19 National Parks in Tassie. A daily pass is $46.60 per vehicle, but you can buy a “holiday pass” which is valid for you vehicle and up to 8 passengers for 2 months for $93.15. This is probably the most economical way to see the parks.
In addition, you will need to pay $15 for the Cradle Mountain shuttle bus. This ticket is valid for 72 hours.
NOTE: If you are just buying a National Parks Day Pass for Cradle Mountain ($29.10 per person), this includes travel on the shuttle bus.
Food and Water
Tasmania is a foodie’s heaven! You’ll find plenty of delicious local food here, and many road-side stalls selling local produce. The seafood and dairy produce is especially good – Nigel was loving the Oysters!
If you’re self-catering in your caravan or campervan around Tasmania, you’ll need to plan ahead, as the larger supermarkets are really only found in the cities and larger towns. Elsewhere you’ll be relying on smaller, expensive IGA stores.
Despite being a verdant, rainy state, the most expensive water tank fill up of our entire big lap of Australia was in Tasmania. We paid $15 to fill the tank in Zeehan.
Fuel
If your vehicle has a small fuel tank, make sure you plan ahead, especially on the West Coast! We use the Petrol Spy App to locate fuel stops and find the best prices.
Phone and Internet
Mobile phone and internet service is unreliable and patchy in most of Tasmania, and more so in the remote west of the country.
We recommend downloading Google Maps for navigation, and the Tasmania state page on WikiCamps.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Tasmania?
This 14 day Tasmania Itinerary could be driven at any time of year, however, summer is definitely the most popular time to visit Tasmania. We spent 6 weeks in Tasmania, from the beginning of January to mid February. Everywhere was busy, due to the school holidays.
In hindsight, we would have been better to delay our trip until after school had gone back. We recommend the best time to visit Tasmania is late February and March.
Is Tasmania expensive for a holiday?
Compared to the rest of Australia, we found Tasmania an affordable destination for a road trip. This is mainly due to the small distances travelled, we were able to save a lot of money on fuel – especially compared to the vast distances in the outback or WA where you can drive for days between each town!
Eating out is comparable to mainland Australia. We found one of our biggest expenses was entry fees and attractions.
Is it easy to get around Tasmania without a car?
The short answer is “No”. There are no passenger train services in Tasmania (apart from historic tourist trains) so you’d be relying on busses. If you have limited time, you will see much more if you self-drive. You can hire a car from the airport in Hobart or Launceston, and a car will get you to all the best places to see.
Is 2 weeks long enough to see Tasmania?
While Tasmania is a small state (around the same size as Ireland or the state of West Virginia, there is a LOT to see here, and most of the roads are narrow and winding. For this reason, you’ll be travelling slower than usual.
We believe that two – weeks is a minimum time to spend to see the highlights of Tasmania.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve found this 14 day Tasmania Itinerary helpful in planning your road trip around Tasmania. Is it enough time? We spent 6 weeks there and could definitely have stayed longer. But if you’re rushed for time, a 2 week Tasmania Road Trip is a perfect taste of the “Apple Isle” and will be sure to leave you wanting more, and planning your return!
If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a comment or send us an email through our contact page.
Where to next?
If you have more time in Tasmania, why not check out Bruny Island? Or, if you want to see something completely different, head to the Northern Territory and Australia’s outback.
Your Tassie suggestions are spot on! We only had two weeks and, you’re right, it’s enough for an amazing adventure. That said, we are planning to return with plenty of extra time to explore at a slower pace. Tasmania has so much to see and do ?
I mean, you could spend a lifetime there! Such a great place, especially for hiking!
Thanks for reading!