Tasmania Travel Guide | Wilderness Drives, Cradle Mountain & the East Coast

Getting there

Ferry or fly

Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong, or fly into Hobart or Launceston and hire a car.

Ideal length

5–7 days

Enough for a full loop; 4 days if you focus on one half of the island.

Terrain

Mountain & coast

Sealed highways with some gravel into the wilder national parks.

Budget from

$160 / day

Mid-range, covering car, fuel, park pass and modest accommodation.

The region

Overview

Tasmania rewards the unhurried. The distances look small on a map, but the roads fold through mountain passes, rainforest and along a coastline that changes character every hour — so the island is best driven slowly, with detours treated as the plan rather than the exception.

Most journeys form a loop. Hobart and the south anchor one end with history, food and the Tasman Peninsula's sea cliffs; the east coast strings together Freycinet and the Bay of Fires; and the wild west, reached through the central highlands, trades beaches for ancient forest and the moody grandeur of Cradle Mountain.

Best time to visit

When to go

Australia's seasons flip the northern hemisphere's, and this region has its own rhythm. Here's how the year shapes up.

SummerIdeal

Dec – Feb

Long days, alpine walks open and the east-coast water at its most swimmable. Book ahead — it's peak.

AutumnGood

Mar – May

The fagus turns gold in the highlands in late April, crowds thin and the light is superb for photography.

WinterVaries

Jun – Aug

Snow on the peaks and a stark beauty, but alpine roads can close. A season for Hobart, food and firesides.

SpringGood

Sep – Nov

Waterfalls run hard, wildflowers appear and shoulder-season prices return before the summer rush.

Suggested itineraries

A route to start from

Tap to open the day-by-day plan, then adapt it to your own pace.

7-day1,180 km

Tasmania · Wilderness

The Tasmania Loop, Seven Days

A full circuit taking in Hobart, the east-coast beaches, Cradle Mountain and the wild west, with time built in for weather.

7Days

1,180Distance

Nov–MarBest season

Day 1–2

Hobart & the south

kunanyi/Mt Wellington, Salamanca and a day trip to the Tasman Peninsula.

Day 3–4

East coast

Freycinet, Wineglass Bay and the orange-lichen boulders of the Bay of Fires.

Day 5–6

Cradle Mountain

Dove Lake circuit and alpine moorland in the island's wild heart.

Day 7

The west & return

Strahan, the Gordon River and the drive back through the highlands.

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Wilderness drives

Roads that are the destination

Some Tasmanian roads earn a place on the itinerary in their own right. The run from Derwent Bridge to Strahan crosses the buttongrass plains of the central highlands; the road into Cradle Valley climbs through myrtle-beech forest; and the Tasman Peninsula's coastal road threads past blowholes and the dolerite columns of Cape Raoul.

Lake St Clair to Strahan — highlands to the wild west
Cradle Valley approach — rainforest and moorland
Tasman Peninsula loop — sea cliffs and blowholes

National parks focus

Where the wild is protected

Almost a fifth of Tasmania is national park or reserve, much of it within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. A Parks Pass (per-vehicle, daily or holiday) covers entry, and the big four — Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Freycinet, Mount Field and the Tasman — anchor most trips.

Buy a holiday Parks Pass if staying 3+ days
Mount Field's Russell Falls is an easy rainforest win
Check alpine alerts before high walks, even in summer

Must-see

The places to build around

No. 01

Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake

The island's signature alpine landscape. The Dove Lake circuit is a flat 6 km loop beneath the jagged summit; arrive early or late to dodge the shuttle queues.

No. 02

Freycinet & Wineglass Bay

A granite peninsula on the east coast. The lookout walk over Wineglass Bay's perfect curve is the classic; the beach itself is a steeper reward.

No. 03

Bay of Fires

Not a fire in sight — the name predates the orange lichen that flares across the boulders above white sand. The quietest great beach in the country.

No. 04

Hobart & Salamanca

kunanyi/Mt Wellington looms over a harbour city of sandstone warehouses, Saturday markets, and the singular, subterranean art of MONA across the river.

Local tips

What we'd tell a friend

Fuel up before the west coast — stations are sparse between towns and some close early.
Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk; avoid driving country roads after dark where you can.
Tasmanian weather changes fast and cold. Carry a warm layer even on a summer alpine walk.
Book the Spirit of Tasmania ferry well ahead in summer if you're bringing a car from the mainland.

Budget overview

What it costs

Rough per-person daily guides, excluding flights or the ferry. Australian dollars, and always a moving target.

Backpacker

$75 / day

Hostels and camping, self-catering, one paid park pass and shared fuel costs.

Mid-range

$160 / day

A hire car, mix of motels and cabins, a holiday Parks Pass and the odd restaurant meal.

Comfort

$320 / day

Boutique stays, guided experiences, scenic flights and dining as part of the trip.

Plan your trip

Make Tasmania your next journey

Open an itinerary, browse the journal, or get in touch and we'll help you shape the route.

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