Best itineraries for Tasmania: Self-drive routes & multi-day tours

This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2014. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.

---

I spent the first 22 years of my life living in this naturally beautiful Australian state.

My childhood was filled with day trips up the coast, hiking in national parks, visiting waterfalls and viewpoints, and breathing in that crisp, clean Tassie air (every time I step off the plane in Hobart, I take an alarmingly large breath — it just hits differently!).

Through countless conversations with travellers, I realised that while everyone wants to see Tasmania, most people have no idea how to plan the perfect trip. Some prefer the freedom of a self-drive road trip, while others would rather join a multi-day guided tour so they don’t have to worry about driving at all.

In this guide, I’ve put together the best itineraries for Tasmania — including realistic self-drive routes and the top multi-day tours that follow similar loops. Whether you love road-tripping or want someone else to handle the logistics, this post will help you plan the ideal Tasmania adventure.

Quick summary:
Tasmania may look tiny, but planning the perfect trip takes time. In this guide, you’ll find the best 7-day, 10-day, and 14-day Tasmania self-drive itineraries, plus realistic driving tips, the top places to visit, and the best multi-day guided tours if you’d rather not drive.

Recommended tours:
🚐 4-Day Wild Tasmania Tour – Wildlife-focused small-group trip with comfy stays and hikes across Tasmania’s wild regions.
🚐 5-Day Tasmania West & East Coast Tour – Discover Cradle Mountain, wild rainforests, pristine beaches, and Tassie’s cultural stories.
🚐 6-Day Tasmania Wilderness & Wildlife Tour – Explore Freycinet, Bay of Fires, and Cradle Mountain with immersive wildlife encounters.
🚐 7-Day Super Value Tasmania Tour – Full east- and west-coast highlights including Port Arthur, Gordon River, and Cradle Mountain.

---

How to get to Tasmania

Fly into Hobart or Launceston

The easiest way to get into Tasmania is by flying. Both Hobart and Launceston airports have on-site car rental desks. A small car is fine — no need for a 4WD.

Take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry

If you’re travelling from Melbourne, you can bring your car or campervan on the Spirit of Tasmania, arriving in Devonport. This is especially handy for longer itineraries.

Best Time to Visit Tasmania

Tasmania is a year-round destination, but here’s what each season looks like:

Summer (Dec–Feb): Warmest weather and longest daylight hours. Busy over Christmas and New Year.

Autumn (Mar–May): Crisp air, colourful foliage, and fewer crowds.

Winter (Jun–Aug): Cold and sometimes snowy — cosy, atmospheric, and perfect for mountain scenery.

Spring (Sep–Nov): Cool days, wildflowers, and great hiking conditions.

You can expect changeable weather any time of year, so be prepared for all weather conditions no matter when you travel. Every time I head down to Hobart to visit my family, I take clothing that I would wear on the coldest winter days in Sydney (no matter what time of year I head down), and I always pack waterproof boots and a rain jacket.

Best places to visit in Tasmania

These are the highlights included in the itineraries:

• Hobart – MONA, Mt Wellington, day trips to Bruny Island and Huon Valley
• Tasman Peninsula – Port Arthur, Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise, dramatic coastal scenery and hikes
• East Coast – Coles Bay, Freycinet NP, Wineglass Bay, Bicheno
• North-East Coast – Bay of Fires, St Helens
• Launceston – Cataract Gorge, Tamar Valley wineries
• North-West – Stanley and “The Nut,” Penguin
• Cradle Mountain – Cradle Mountain NP
• Strahan – rainforest, Gordon River cruise
• Midlands – Mount Field Narional Park waterfalls and alpine lakes

How long does it take to drive around Tasmania?

The biggest mistake travellers make is assuming you can see the whole island in a few days. You can’t. Here are realistic driving times for Tasmania:

• Hobart → Coles Bay: 2.5 hrs
• Hobart → Cradle Mountain: 4.5 hrs
• Coles Bay → Launceston: 2 hrs
• Launceston → Strahan: 3.5 hrs
• Strahan → Cradle Mountain: 2 hrs
• Hobart → Strahan: 4.5 hrs

All the itineraries in this guide keep driving to around 4 hours per day max so you don’t spend your whole trip in the car.

Recommended Tasmania multi-day tours

If the idea of navigating winding mountain roads and packing/unpacking every few nights doesn’t appeal, joining a multi-day Tasmania tour is a brilliant alternative. Tasmania has some excellent small-group guided tours that cover the island’s biggest highlights — from Cradle Mountain to Wineglass Bay — without needing to hire a car.

These Tasmania tour packages are perfect if you’re short on time, prefer not to drive, or just want a stress-free way to see the state’s national parks, wildlife, and scenic coastlines. Here are some of the best multi-day tours in Tasmania:

4-Day Tasmania Tour

🚐 Recommended tour: 4-Day Wild Tasmania – Wildlife-focused small-group adventure with cosy stays, waterfall hikes, and Tassie’s best nature spots. Itinerary: Hobart → Mount Field → West Coast → Cradle Mountain → Bay of Fires → Freycinet → Hobart.

5-Day Tasmania Tour

🚐 Recommended tour: 5-Day Tasmania West & East Coast – Explore mountains, rainforests and beaches, choosing between motel or hostel accommodation for your comfort level. Itinerary: Hobart → Mount Field → West Coast → Cradle Mountain → Bay of Fires → Freycinet → Hobart.

6-Day Tasmania Tour

🚐 Recommended tour: 6-Day Tasmania Wilderness & Wildlife – Discover Freycinet, the Bay of Fires, and alpine Cradle Mountain with abundant wildlife encounters. Itinerary: Hobart → Mount Field → West Coast → Cradle Mountain → Launceston → Bay of Fires → Freycinet → Hobart & surrounds.

7-Day Tasmania Tour

🚐 Recommended tour: 7-Day Super Value Tasmania – See Tasmania’s east and west coasts, Port Arthur, Gordon River, and top national parks. Itinerary: Hobart → Mount Field → West Coast → Cradle Mountain → Launceston → Bay of Fires → Freycinet → Hobart & surrounds → Port Arthur.

Each of these multi-day guided tours includes transport, accommodation, and a fully planned Tasmania itinerary, making them an easy and efficient way to explore the state — especially for first-time visitors.

---

Tasmania self-drive road trip itineraries:

Below are my recommended self-drive routes, designed with manageable driving days and realistic pacing. These routes are also similar to the multi-day tours listed above — so you can choose whichever style suits you best.

7-Night Tasmania Itinerary (Hobart → Launceston)

Start: Hobart
Finish: Launceston
Total Driving Time: ~11 hours

• 2 nights in Hobart
• 1 night on the Tasman Peninsula
• 2 nights in Coles Bay or Bicheno
• 1 night in Launceston
• 1 night in Cradle Mountain

This itinerary is for those who can only wrangle a week off work and therefore have to travel weekend to weekend. If you can, try to fly into Hobart on a Friday night so that you can make it to Salamanca Market on the Saturday morning.

This Tassie road trip is truly a ‘best of’ itinerary that hits up the flashiest destinations in a short timeframe. You will be happily exhausted by the end of it and will feel like you got to see what Tasmania is all about.

10-Night Tasmania Itinerary (Hobart Loop)

Start: Hobart (or Launceston)
Finish: Hobart (or Launceston)
Total Driving Time: ~17 hours

• 2 nights in Hobart
• 1 night on the Tasman Peninsula
• 2 nights in Coles Bay or Bicheno
• 1 night in Launceston
• 1 night in Cradle Mountain
• 2 nights in Strahan
• 1 night near Mount Field

With 10 nights in Tasmania, you’ll be able to visit a decent amount of the state including the major cities, the small towns, and the national parks. You can choose to start this loop in either Hobart or Launceston. It’s a fairly comprehensive itinerary but at a reasonably fast pace.

14-Night Tasmania Itinerary (Hobart / Launceston / Devonport Start)

Start: Hobart, Launceston or Devonport
Finish: Hobart, Launceston or Devonport
Total Driving Time: ~23 hours

• 3 nights in Hobart
• 1 night on the Tasman Peninsula
• 2 nights in Coles Bay or Bicheno
• 1 night in St Helens
• 1 night in Launceston
• 1 night in Stanley
• 2 nights in Cradle Mountain
• 2 nights in Strahan
• 1 night near Mount Field

If you can manage to get two weeks in Tasmania for your holiday, this is the best way to fill it. On this itinerary, you’ll get to see Tasmania’s best destinations with a little extra time to do it all at a more relaxed pace.

This option is also the best one for those of you coming over on the Spirit of Tasmania, because that boat is fairly expensive and you will want to make the most of the trip over. It’s easy to start and end the loop in Devonport if this is your deal.

---

Entering Tasmania’s national parks:

Tasmania has an insane amount of national park. What’s an insane amount? 45%! You might think the state is just a tiny island, but when you think about it, 90,758 square kilometres (35,042 miles) is actually pretty large. That’s a crazy amount of national park to explore.

All of the suggested itineraries include entering two or more national parks, which means you will need a National Parks Pass each time you enter a park. If you’re travelling around Tasmania on a multi-day tour, your pass should be included.

If you’re doing a self-drive itinerary around Tasmania, I’d suggest getting a National Parks Holiday Pass for your vehicle, which costs $95.50 AUD (as of 2026). This allows you to enter all parks over a two month period. This will save you the hassle of buying a day pass at each park, and should end up being cheaper, too.

---

FAQs about planning a trip to Tasmania

How many days do you need in Tasmania?
I think the ideal trip length is 10–14 days, which gives you enough time to see the East Coast, Cradle Mountain, West Coast, and Tasmania’s major cities at a comfortable pace. A 7-day trip is still good, but expect faster travel days and fewer detours.

Can you visit Tasmania without a car?
Absolutely. Tasmania has excellent multi-day guided tours that follow similar routes to the road trip itineraries in this guide. They include transport, accommodation, and entry to national parks — ideal if you don’t want to drive or navigate mountain roads.

What is the best month to visit Tasmania?
For the warmest weather and long daylight hours, visit between December and March. For fewer crowds, choose spring or autumn. Winter offers moody landscapes, snow-dusted mountains, and cosy vibes — just pack lots of layers!

Which direction should you drive around Tasmania?
Most travellers start in Hobart or Launceston, depending on flights. If you’re arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania, starting in Devonport makes the most sense. All three of the self-drive itineraries in this post work from any starting point, and it doesn’t really matter which direction you go around.

Is it easy to drive in Tasmania?
Generally yes — but expect winding roads through mountains, wildlife on the road at dawn/dusk, limited fuel stations in some areas (like on the west coast), and cold or wet weather at any time of year. Drive slowly and allow extra daylight for travel.

Should I book accommodation in advance?
Yes. Tasmania’s popular areas — especially Cradle Mountain, Coles Bay, and Strahan — can book out months ahead (especially in summer). Multi-day tours include accommodation, making it much simpler if you’re planning last-minute.