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Tasmania Self-Drive ItineraryThis island south of Australia has far fewer tourists, making it perfect for travellers who want to leave the beaten path. Whether you're an Australia first-timer or simply coming back to a country you've already visited and fell in love with, we're certain Tasmania will steal your heart as well. You won't have any difficulty driving through Tasmania on your own; the island roads are peaceful, the distances are reasonable and the routes are scenic. Anytime you step out of your car, you'll be standing in one of Tasmania's 19 national parks. During this trip you'll visit Cradle Mountain, an inland park known for its breathtaking waterfalls, glaciers and wide mountain lakes. While at the coastal Freycinet Peninsula you'll hike past the sea and steep cliffs and search for the infamous Tasmanian Devil hidden deep between steep rock walls of the Cataract Gorge. At the end of each day, you'll spend the night in cosy guest houses and family bed & breakfasts. The combination of freedom to do as you please, cosy accommodation and breathtaking nature make this trip unforgettable. |
| Duration |
11 days Departs daily |
Accommodation |
Guest houses, B & B's and hotels |
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Price |
£792 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
All hotel accommodation as mentioned below and compact hire car |
| Compact hire car |
Excludes |
Domestic flight to Tasmania |
Day 1: Hobart arrivalOne way to reach Tasmania is of course by air plane. If you catch a plane, you'll fly into Hobart. However, you can also take the night ferry 'Spirit of Tasmania' which sails between Melbourne and Devonport daily. The ferry leaves early in the evening and arrives in Tasmania the next morning after about 14.5 hours of sailing. This module starts off when you arrive on Tasmania. After arriving at the harbour or airport you'll take a taxi cab to your accommodation. Today you can explore Hobart on foot; we recommend visiting the Tasmanian museum and Battery Point. Hobart may be the capital of Tasmania; however it seems to resemble a small, cosy fishing town more than a chaotic capital city. Similar to Sydney, it's lies on the waterfront and it also lies across 7 hills..... like a miniature Rio de Janeiro. Mount Wellington towers out above the city and is regularly covered by snow. This second oldest capital of Australia features a mix of modern, colonial and maritime architecture. Tonight you'll spend the night in a family bed & breakfast. The b&b has nicely decorated rooms with modern art on its walls and en-suite bathrooms. An elaborate breakfast is included during your stay. |
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Day 2 - 3: Hobart - Lake St. ClairToday you'll pick up the hire car we've reserved for you for the next few days from the city centre office in Hobart. Once you have your car, you'll drive to Lake St. Clair National Park via Mount Field National Park. Although you probably won't spend hours and hours here, this is an area that is definitely worth visiting. The 40m Russell Falls are the tallest waterfalls in Australia and in the centre of the edge of the falls; you'll actually see a tree growing. A relatively easy, yet enjoyable walking track will take you to Lady Baron and Horseshoe Falls. If you would like to go on a more vigorous bushwalk, these are also available. While at Lake St. Clair National Park, you may see platypuses and tazzie-devils. For the next two nights you'll stay at a self-catering chalet inside the park. You'll be able to whip up your own tasty meals in the chalet's fully equipped kitchen. |
Day 4 - 5: Lake St. Clair - Queenstown - Cradle Mountain National ParkToday you'll drive through forests and across hills until you reach Queenstown. From one minute to the next, the lush green scenery around you will seem to disappear and you'll look out over barren, scarred mountain walls and the tell-tale signs of mining.... quite an abrupt transition. The gold mining town of Queenstown was once the world's richest mining town. After lunch in Queenstown, you'll continue on towards Cradle Mountain National Park. You may want to take a peak at the visitor's centre before you go on a bushwalk through Cradle Valley. This afternoon you can explore the park from lookout point to lookout point. The combination of deep blue lakes, green forests, mountain tops in the mist, glaciers and steep rock walls makes this park the ultimate Tasmania holiday experience. The weather is known to be quite unpredictable here, so be prepared for all weather conditions. You'll spend the night in one of the park's cosy cottages. All cottages have a fully equipped kitchen and some cottages even have their own wood-burning stove. |
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Day 6 - 7: Cradle Mountain National Park - Launceston - Cataract GorgeThe following morning, after a bacon and eggs breakfast (English breakfasts are common on Tasmania as well), you'll drive towards Launceston. This is the second largest city on Tasmania after Hobart and third oldest city in Australia. Launceston has a small, compact city centre that's easy to explore on foot. Walk through elegant streets and century-old parks or visit the seaport with its waterfront eateries. The city's traditional city centre has various fine restaurants, cheerful cafes, shops and museums. Just a short 10-minute walk along the boardwalk will take you out of town and to the urban reserve, Cataract Gorge. The gorge has steep rugged cliffs that attract rock climbers, but it also has chairlifts for all who would like to enjoy the panoramic views. Tonight you'll spend the night in a cosy Victorian style bed & breakfast. Your room has an en-suite bathroom and it looks out over the garden. Breakfast is included during your stay. |
Day 8: Launceston - Swansea - Freycinet PeninsulaNext up on the itinerary is Swansea, a beautiful historic township which lies across from Freycinet National Park. You'll spend the night in Swansea tonight. The guest house you'll be staying at looks out over Oyster Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula. After you've had a chance to check into the guest house and drop off your bags, go for a walk to the picturesque Wineglass Bay which is (as you may have guessed) indeed shaped like a wineglass. Another fun place to visit is Bicheno, where you can spot Fairy Penguins on one of the towns beautiful beaches. To get there, just book a 1-hour tour at the Fairy Penguin Rookery. If you return to the guest house during a warm, lazy late afternoon, have a chilled glass of wine on the veranda. If the weather is chilly, you may want to have a seat at the warm, crackling fireplace on a cool evening. Before you leave town, we definitely recommend trying a fish dinner (caught locally). Breakfast is included during your stay. |
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Day 9: Swansea - Port Arthur - TasmanToday you'll travel on to the Tasman Peninsula and Tasman National Park. A fun 'shortcut' for you to take is the Tarrana Forest Drive. It will take you off the highway, straight through the forest and all the way to Port Arthur. While in Port Arthur, we recommend going on the evening 'Ghost-tour' to the Port Authur historic site and ruins. The story-telling and atmosphere of the site might actually give you the willies. Once you reach the historic Port Arthur prison, where criminals from all over the world once were locked up, you'll take the Tasmanian "Great Ocean Road" to Waterfall Bay. You'll spend the night in another warm and inviting guest house tonight, this time in Eaglehawk. A cup of tea will be waiting for you on your arrival. At your request the guest house will prepare a 3-course dinner for you during your stay and you'll receive a courtesy bottle of fine wine. An elaborate breakfast is included during your stay. Both breakfast and dinner are served in the privacy of your own room (with a view). |
Day 10 - 11: Tasman - HobartJust before the end of this trip you'll return to the capital of Tasmania, Hobart. You'll spend one more night here before flying back to the mainland. Don't forget to stroll through the local market on Saturday morning. The Salamanca Place market starts out at 8:30 and is a wonderful place to meet locals and those who come to market weekly searching for new must-haves. The atmosphere is lively and fun and we're sure you'll enjoy this last stop on your Tasmania self-drive itinerary. You'll even find a food stall that serves small Dutch pancakes. The pancakes are prepared right in front of you by a Dutch couple that has lived here for quite some years now. On day 11 of this trip you'll leave Hobart and you'll fly to Sydney or Melbourne. |
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This trip can also start off in Devonport (arrival or departure by ferry) and Launceston. After this module you can continue your trip to Melbourne for instance and take the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide or Sydney.
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