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From Hobart For A Day Or Drive The Whole Of Tasmania
Kettering is just over 30 minutes from Hobart. It is from here you catch the ferry to Bruny Island. If you like a gourmet food trail, Bruny Island has plenty to offer.
From Hobart head to Richmond for early breakfast at The Richmond Bakery, Ashmore on Bridge Street or any of the great cafes in the area.
Mount Wellington / Kunanyi And Huon Valley trail. The 4,170-foot (1,271-meter) peak offers unbeatable views over the Hobart and the estuary area.
The ferry terminal is in Triabunna, only 75 minutes from Hobart. It is a picturesque drive. The highlight is the approach to Orford. The Tasman Highway hugs the Prosser River and provides some lovely views.
Mount Field is only 90 minutes from Hobart. The drive takes you through the Derwent Valley. Mount Field is the perfect place to get a taste of the Tasmanian wilderness. The best-known feature of the Park is the multi-tiered Russell Falls.
(03) 6231 3313
Monday to Saturday – 8.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday – 10.00am to 4.00pm
Long beaches with dramatic coastline this is a journey of peace and pleasure. One of the best scenic coastal drives in the country.
This trip is essentially a drive Up and Back: up to Bay of Fires and back down the coast or alternately head back via Campbell Town and stop in at historic towns dotted along the way including, Campbell Town and Ross. The trip is 4 to 6 days depending on how long you want to enjoy the picturesque coastline.
The Full Loop of Tasmania is 8 to 10 days, starting and ending your journey in Hobart. This trip can extend up to 12 or 15 days depending on the extra locations you visit. We think that you need the time to truly experience all that Tasmania has to offer.
A spectacular trip that takes in the untouched beaches along the east coast, the rugged wilderness of the west and includes must see attractions such as Wingless Bay, Cradle Mountain and Bay of Fires.
We are conveniently located in the middle of Hobart.
73 Warwick St, Hobart TAS 7000
(03) 6231 3313
Monday to Saturday – 8.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday – 10.00am to 1.00pm
Kettering is just over 30 minutes from Hobart. It is from here you catch the ferry to Bruny Island. If you like a gourmet food trail, Bruny Island has plenty to offer.
From oysters to wine and cheese to craft beer there is a variety of local produce to sample whilst traveling the island. To burn off the food there are walks and beaches all over the island.
If you’re on a day-trip then we advise heading back to the ferry before dusk because as you will see, there is a lot of roadkill on the island. If you are staying for more than a day then a couple of other things we recommend are, the Bruny Island Cruises; Pennicott Wilderness Cruises, watching the penguins return home (around dusk) at the Neck Lookout. Watching the sunset over the D’Entrecasteaux Channel at Hotel Bruny.
From Hobart head to Richmond for early breakfast at The Richmond Bakery, Ashmore on Bridge Street or any of the great cafes in the area.
A few places to visit on the way:
From Richmond drive to Port Arthur with nature’s cathedrals, rugged cliffs, white belly sea eagle, echidnas, fur seals, and Australia’s great southern reef – Kelp forest at Eaglehawk – the peninsula is the place to experience the sublime. You can spend several hours enjoying what are some of the most scenic coastline vistas in all of Australia.
A few places to visit on the way:
You can easily enjoy a full day in Richmond and its surrounds, and fill a day or more down the peninsula. Visit as many or as few options to suit your holiday.
Mount Wellington / Kunanyi And Huon Valley trail
The 4,170-foot (1,271-meter) peak offers unbeatable views over the Hobart and the estuary area.
Start the day with breakfast and coffee in the cosy Ginger Brown café in South Hobart. Drive to the Mount Wellington / Kunanyi pinnacle and enjoy the expansive views of Hobart and surrounds that stretches down to the Peninsula.
From dry woodlands to windswept summits, Mount Wellington Park is threaded with tracks and trails. Shorter walks in the eastern foothills are well suited to families, while exposed tracks extend beyond the summit of the mountain to wild and remote places.
After your walks enjoy a pint and lunch at the Longley Hotel (the world’s longest Huon pine bar) and if you are traveling on a Sunday, kick back with the locals and listen to some live country/blues/folk music.
Further south the Huon River Cruises and Masaaki’s Sushi in Geeveston is worth the trip along with a stop off at Willie Smith Cider Apple Shed.
There are plenty of fresh Apple stalls along the side of the road.
For those looking for fruit picking jobs this great area to start your search.
Mona
It is easy to spend a day at MONA. As well as owning the most extraordinary art collection in the southern hemisphere, it also also has a winery – home of the Moorilla label and a microbrewery that produces Moo Brew.
There are plenty of bars and cafes if you need to come up for sunlight there is good coffee in the café in the museum entrance.
Allow yourself 3 to 4 hours to spend wandering around ancient, modern and contemporary art in the museum itself and then another couple to enjoy lounging outside with platters and sampling the wine and beer.
In the summer months, MONA adds a Saturday market – MoMa – where Tasmanian designers offer a range of exquisite works alongside scrumptious food and drinks from boutique makers.
Salamanca Markets
If visiting on a Saturday you can kick start the day with breaky at the Machine Cafe in Salamanca Square or one of the great cafes nestled within historic sandstone warehouses in the area.
The award-winning Salamanca Market was once the largest outdoor market in all of Australia. The iconic Saturday tradition brings Hobart’s waterfront alive with the vibrant atmosphere of cultural commerce.
Now called Tasmania’s Own Market it is a selection of your favourite Salamanca Market stallholders, running each Saturday from 8.30 am to 3 pm. The new look market consists of around 170 stallholders representing artisans, designers and producers.
You will find fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee and delicious breakfast and lunch options to enjoy, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products.
Located on Salamanca Place, between Gladstone Street and the Silo’s.
The ferry terminal is in Triabunna, only 75 minutes from Hobart. It is a picturesque drive. The highlight is the approach to Orford. The Tasman Highway hugs the Prosser River and provides some lovely views.
Maria Island is bursting with wildlife. From the Marine reserve to the fury beauties that call this island home. If you want to see a wombat or Tassie devil in the wild, make time to check out this little island. No cars are allowed on the island, but you can rent a bicycle. With walks, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, wildlife, painted cliffs and convict history there’s a bit of something for everyone to enjoy. Maria Island is perfect as a day trip from Hobart, or if part of your East Coast trip it also offers camping, or you can stay in one of the old Penitentiary buildings.
Mount Field is only 90 minutes from Hobart. The drive takes you through the Derwent Valley. Mount Field is the perfect place to get a taste of the Tasmanian wilderness. The best-known feature of the Park is the multi-tiered Russell Falls.
The park offers an array of natural wonders and incredible plant diversity that increases with altitude. From Russel Falls, you can do a couple of short walks and see Horseshoe and Lady Barron Falls or the Tall Trees track. For those that want to encounter some of the park’s unique alpine species then ascend to the Pandani Grove walk around Lake Dobson, where if you are lucky you could see a platypus.
During autumn, the slopes of the mountains that back onto the Tarn Shelf fill with brilliant colour as the Nothofagus gunnii (Australia’s only native deciduous tree) turns from red to gold.
Long beaches with dramatic coastline this is a journey of peace and pleasure. One of the best scenic coastal drives in the country.
This trip is essentially a drive Up and Back: up to Bay of Fires and back down the coast or alternately head back via Campbell Town and stop in at historic towns dotted along the way including, Campbell Town and Ross. The trip is 4 to 6 days depending on how long you want to enjoy the picturesque coastline.
HOBART TO Swansea (1 – 2 days)
From Hobart take the Tasman Highway north to Triabunna. Triabunna is where you catch the ferry to beautiful Maria Island and start the day with a bushwalk, views of Orford, Spring Bay and Hazards Mountains.
It is easy to spend a full day on this island exploring the walks, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, wildlife, painted cliffs and convict history.
From Triabunna head roughly 40 minutes north to Swansea one of the country’s most scenic coastal drives. Along they way you will find Boomer Bay Vineyard and Kate’s Berry Farm. The Berry farm is a good place to pick up a punnet of fresh berries or chocolate and ice cream.
Swansea is an ideal location to explore the plenitude of wineries spread along the east coast. At some east coast cellar doors, tasting plates of the region’s delicious produce can be enjoyed alongside the winery’s best vintages.
SWANSEA TO FREYCINET, Coles bay, winglas bay (1 day)
From Swansea you will drive north past the Vineyards to Coles bay to explore the perfect contours of one of Tasmania’s most celebrated locations Wineglass Bay.
Choose whatever walk suits you, ranging from the easy 10-minute walk to Sleepy Bay to the challenging three-hour (return) walk to the summit of Mount Amos in the range of granite mountains known as the Hazards.
The 11-kilometre Wineglass Bay Hazards Circuit that loops around a portion of the Hazards mountain range, down to beaches, coves and marshland before returning is the most popular walk and is highly recommended. Alternatively, on the other side of Freycinet Peninsula, you can swim in the sheltered waters of Honeymoon Bay. Another way to experience Freycinet is by water with the award winning Freycinet Adventures who offer guided sea kayak tours & Aqua Taxi transfers tours depart from the town of Coles bay
Camping in Freycinet National Park can be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Freycinet. Booking during peak season is strongly recommended. There is a range of accommodation in Coles Bay, Bicheno and Swansea.
FREYCINET TO ST HELENS (1 day)
Travel north from Coles bay toward St Helens; stopping at Bicheno on the way.
Bicheno is a beautiful fishing town with a few cafes, restaurants and stores to stock up on food.
As you leave Bicheno heading north, watch for the turnoff inland to the left to the Douglas Apsley National Park. The conservation area is dotted with gorges, waterfalls and bushwalks. In good weather it’s a stop for a swim at the river waterhole.
Spend the afternoon exploring the shops and galleries in the charming fishing village of St Helens.
From town, you can also walk or drive to Peron Dunes, a great spot for sand boarding.
ST HELENS TO BAY OF FIRES (1 day)
20 minutes north of St Helens is the resort town of Binalong Bay, the gateway to the Bay of Fires.
The Bay of Fires Conservation Area offers beachside camping and the elevated sites amongst the acacia trees have amazing views of the coast and sea.
There are some great Glamping options available in the area if you are looking for something different.
The Bay of Fires is one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 regions in the world. The area is also known for its snorkelling and diving, with scenic reefs, corals, and underwater caves and abundant sea life.
Bay of Fires is a truly special region with clean white beaches, blue water and granite rocks splashed with orange lichen.
Bay of Fires back to Hobart via Campbell Town (Fingal) is 3hrs 40 min or back down the coast is 3hrs 50min. We recommend making this a full day drive back and to take your time on the drive back and enjoy the scenery. It’s totally different in reverse.
The Full Loop of Tasmania is 8 to 10 days, starting and ending your journey in Hobart. This trip can extend up to 12 or 15 days depending on the extra locations you visit. We think that you need the time to truly experience all that Tasmania has to offer.
A spectacular trip that takes in the untouched beaches along the east coast, the rugged wilderness of the west and includes must see attractions such as Wingless Bay, Cradle Mountain and Bay of Fires.
HOBART TO FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK (2+ days)
From Hobart take the Tasman Highway north to Triabunna. Triabunna is where you catch the ferry to beautiful Maria Island. It is easy to spend a full day on this island exploring the walks, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, wildlife, painted cliffs and convict history.
From Triabunna head roughly 40 minutes north to Swansea and experience one of the country’s most scenic coastal drives. Along the way you will find Boomer Bay Vineyard and Kate’s Berry Farm. The Berry farm is a good place to pick up a punnet of fresh berries or chocolate and ice cream.
Swansea is an ideal location to explore the many wineries spread across the east coast. At some east coast cellar doors, tasting plates of the region’s delicious produce can be enjoyed alongside the winery’s best vintages.
From Swansea you will drive north past the Vineyards to Coles bay to explore the perfect contours of one of Tasmania’s most celebrated locations Wineglass Bay.
Choose whatever walk suits you, ranging from the easy walk to Sleepy Bay to the challenging walk to the summit of Mount Amos in the range of granite mountains known as the Hazards.
The 11-kilometre Wineglass Bay Hazards Circuit that loops around a portion of the Hazards mountain range, down to beaches, coves and marshland before returning is the most popular and is highly recommended. Alternatively, on the other side of Freycinet Peninsula you can swim in the sheltered waters of Honeymoon Bay.
Camping in Freycinet National Park can be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Freycinet. Booking during peak season is strongly recommended. There is a range of accommodation in Coles Bay, Bicheno and Swansea.
FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK TO LAUNCESTON (1 day)
From Freycinet, head north to St Marys over the Elephant Pass, down the Fingal Valley and into Launceston. Make a short detour and cut off through the back roads to the historic town of Evandale. The Ingleside Bakery Café in Evandale does a Swagman’s lunch.
It is just under a 3 hours drive point to point, but if you allow time to look around at different stops it will take all day
Launceston Tourist Attractions
In town you can visit art galleries and museums including the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery or the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, while just a short walk from the city centre lays Cataract Gorge. Cross the suspension bridge above the water or ride the world’s longest single span chairlift.
Spend the night in Launceston where there are many accommodations options including camping, hostels and hotels.
If you have a day to spare, take a day trip from Launceston to the Tamar Valley and enjoy wines from over 20 vineyards that dot the shores of the Tamar River.
LAUNCESTON TO CRADLE MOUNTAIN and Sheffield (1 day)
The journey from Launceston to Cradle Mountain runs through rolling farmland and historic towns such as Longford and Deloraine and it is worth a stop in at Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm. A must is the dehydrated chocolate raspberries with a coffee from their cafe.
Further along the road you’ll come across Ashgrove Cheese a good place to taste the award winning Tasmanian farm milk, cheese, cream and butter from the local area.
After, cut inland to the town of Sheffield and up onto the Alpine Plateau to Cradle Mountain. Sheffield is nestled in under Mount Roland in an area of rolling hills and gentle valleys. The town is now famous for its extensive display of murals; the murals depict the early history of the area on every available blank wall.
The town has successfully turned itself into a tourist destination and is a surprise to the unsuspecting visitor.
You can spend the whole day getting to Cradle Mountain if you stop everywhere mentioned. To drive without stopping will take about 3 hours.
CRADLE MOUNTAIN (1+ day)
To really appreciate the beauty of Cradle Mountain we recommend that at a minimum you spend a full day exploring the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The drive to and from the park is very technical so you will appreciate the down time from behind the wheel.
The mountain is situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. At 1,545 metres above sea level, it is the sixth-highest mountain in Tasmania.
There are a variety of walks available in the area, though it is always a good idea to check the expected weather conditions at the Visitor Centre before venturing into exposed areas.
A walk around the mirrored waters of Dove Lake is very beautiful but can get busy in peak season.
The weather can change with alarming speed, so sensible precautions are advised.
CRADLE MOUNTAIN TO STRAHAN (1 day)
The scenic route south from Cradle Mountain to Strahan via Queenstown is a 3-hour drive that runs across the Alpine Plateau through old mining towns, and then drops down to the wild west coast at Strahan.
Its only in the last 50 years or so that the main roads came to this part of Tasmania. You will be driving through landscapes almost untouched by modern civilization.
This will give you a good appreciation for the early settlers who braved the weather of Tasmania’s west coast to mine for silver, lead and zinc in really harsh conditions.
In Queenstown you can join an underground mine tour or walk among the wilderness to scenic lookouts. Enjoy lunch at The Empire landmark hotel, which hints at the grandeur of Queenstown’s past.
A few places to visit on the way:
Just a 45-minute drive from Queenstown sits harbour-side Strahan, the gateway to Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Strahan is set at the head of Macquarie Harbour, and is one of the few sheltered harbours on the west coast that can be reached by road.
Its history is one of miners and loggers, today it is a fishing and tourism centre so it is always wise to book your accommodation in advance during peak times when heading to Strahan.
STRAHAN TO HOBART (1 day)
Travel back through the heart of Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed wilderness.
A few places to visit on the way:
It is just under a 5 hours drive point to point, and 7 hours with the inclusions of Strathgordon, a drive best completed in daylight hours.
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