Tasmania’s east coast invites you on an adventurous journey along the Great Eastern Drive! This scenic route of over 220 km takes you past stunning views, unique nature and the many wine fields. I tell you more about this beautiful route and share my experiences!
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About the Great Eastern Drive
The Great Eastern Drive is not just any route; it is one of the most beautiful roads in Tasmania with many highlights along the way. This panoramic road winds along the east coast of Tasmania and connects some of the island’s most spectacular landscapes. From the famous Freycinet National Park to historic coastal towns and pristine beaches – this route has it all.
What makes this route so special is the variety. You drive from one breathtaking view to the next, along a coastline where turquoise water laps against white beaches and rocky cliffs rise from the ocean. It is a road trip where you regularly pull over, but it is handy to make a planning for yourself. Sometimes you need to go just off the road or be well prepared if you go hiking!
Freycinet & Wineglass Bay: Highlight of the east coast
Driving from Hobart, you reach the beautiful Freycinet peninsula after about 2.5 hours of driving. This peninsula undoubtedly forms one of the absolute highlights of the Great Eastern Drive. The Freycinet National Park houses the world-famous Wineglass Bay, a perfectly shaped bay with snow-white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water.
The iconic hike to the Wineglass Bay lookout is a must-do, with its breathtaking vistas over the perfectly shaped bay. But Freycinet is more than just this famous bay.
Honeymoon Bay offers an intimate beach experience, while Cape Tourville with its accessible lighthouse walk provides spectacular views over the coastline. For the real hiking enthusiasts, the climb to Mount Amos is a challenge that is rewarded with an even more impressive panorama. And don’t forget the culinary side of this area – Freycinet is famous for its fresh oysters, which you can taste right at farms like Freycinet Marine Farm. Prefer a relaxed outing during the day? Then book a boat trip with the Wineglass Bay Cruise.
No wonder locals and visitors consistently point to this area as one of the most beautiful places in all of Australia.
Bay of Fires: where orange rocks take center stage
In the north of the Great Eastern Road you find the Bay of Fires. This place is known as one of the most visited destinations in Tasmania.
The drive there is already a feast for the eyes. Along the way you pass quite a few wineries and you are continuously treated to beautiful views over the Tasman Sea. Driving to or from Freycinet? Make sure you stay on the A3 to avoid gravel roads.
What makes this place so unique are the brightly colored orange rocks that dot the coastline. This orange tint comes from lichen that grows on the rocks. The contrast between the orange-red granite rocks, the snow-white sand and the deep blue ocean makes this coast iconic. What is especially nice about this area: you have lots of little beaches where you can lie comfortably. Whether you are looking for a piece of private beach or go to the more famous beaches.
If it is sunny (and we were lucky), Bay of Fires is really a place where you can easily spend a few hours – or much longer if you have the time. Just staring at the ocean, listening to the waves and searching for the perfect composition for a photo will keep you perfectly entertained.
Practical tips for the Great Eastern Drive
Timing
- Plan enough time for this route – at least three days so you don’t have to rush. Don’t make it an asphalt vacation
- If you like wine, plan half a day for visiting wineries around Swansea
- Stay on the A3 and don’t let your navigation take you on shortcut roads. These are often gravel roads and not suitable for campers
- For some national parks you need the National Park Pass. This is available at every park and applies to all parks in Tasmania based on your license plate
What do you bring?
- Good hiking shoes for the many coastal walks
- Swimwear (even in the Tasmanian climate there are perfect days to swim)
- Picnic supplies for spontaneous stops at breathtaking places
- A warm sweater or jacket, even in summer it can get chilly along the coast
Is this route worth it?
Absolutely! The Great Eastern Drive is a route that offers everything that makes Tasmania so special: pristine nature, culinary highlights, friendly people and an atmosphere of peace and space.
Whether you come for:
- The iconic landscapes like Freycinet and Bay of Fires
- The surprising wine route with cool climate wines
- The fresh seafood straight from the Tasman Sea
- The countless walks through diverse landscapes
- Or simply the feeling of freedom that a road trip along this coast gives you
The Great Eastern Drive takes you past all the highlights of the east coast! And by the way… it is also almost the only main road along the east coast. So even if you don’t plan it consciously, you will still cover a large part of the Great Eastern Drive.
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