Tasmania route & travel tips: Hiking, wildlife & wow views

Tasmania is the wildest, greenest and perhaps most surprising part of Australia. Think rugged mountain tops, wild animals, bright blue bays and rainforests where you feel like you’re in Jurassic Park for a moment. We did a nearly two-week road trip across this island full of contrasts in February. In this blog I share our Tasmania route with all our tips, highlights and practical info. And of course: what you absolutely shouldn’t miss! This way you can plan your own unforgettable road trip through Tasmania soon too – using our route as an example!

Why Tasmania?

Tasmania is perfect if you love nature, hiking and peace and quiet. The island is relatively compact (about 1.5 times the size of the Netherlands), but bursts with variety. Within a few hours you drive from an alpine mountain landscape to white beaches with turquoise sea. And: it’s really quiet here. Outside the well-known spots (and even there it’s manageable) you have many hiking trails, roads and viewpoints all to yourself.

Moreover, you find unique animals here like the Tasmanian devil, wombats, wallabies and platypuses. And we haven’t even talked about the delicious food, the wineries and the fresh air (according to some the cleanest in the world).

Best travel time for Tasmania? Summer!

We were there in February, which is comparable to August in Europe. Perfect weather for hikes, not too crowded and still long days. The summer months December through February are popular, but spring and early autumn are also quite good. In winter you can even ski!

What’s good to know: many Australians have their summer vacation starting from Christmas. In January it can therefore be quite a bit busier, also in Tasmania. Now Tasmania is so vast that you won’t notice much of it. It’s just not comparable to Europe and the holiday crowds there. The most important thing is to take the weather into account.

The ultimate route for a 2-week road trip

Above you’ll find a map of our route through Tasmania. For your picture: we drove about 1,500 kilometers here. Tasmania is about 1.5 times the size of the Netherlands!

1. Starting point: Hobart & Mount Wellington

We started our trip in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. But to be honest: we skipped the city itself a bit. Instead we drove straight to Mount Wellington for a first dose of fresh mountain air. Four seasons in one day is no joke here: from sun to snow in an hour. The walk along the Organ Pipes is highly recommended. You walk here past impressive basalt columns, formed by millions of years of volcanic activity. The view from the top is breathtaking – if you’re lucky with the weather, you see Hobart, the Derwent River and even parts of the south of the island. The weather is unpredictable here, but that’s exactly what gives you that magical misty atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.

2. Staying overnight at a sheep farm

Just a little tip in between: you can also stay overnight uniquely in Tasmania. We slept our first 2 nights at Curringa Farm in Hamilton, so we could go early to Mount Field National Park the next day. Quiet, romantic AND practical. With views over rolling fields, a BBQ package with meat from their own farm and wallabies coming to visit in the evening, this was a dream place to land after a long journey.

3. Mount Field National Park

Waterfalls, centuries-old trees and… mosquitoes. The Three Falls Circuit is a beautiful hike where you among other things see Russell Falls and Lady Barron Falls. Don’t forget to look up at the Tall Trees Walk! Mount Field is one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks, and you literally walk here between giant trees more than 100 meters high. Russell Falls itself is so photogenic that it used to be on stamps – and rightly so. You only hear the rushing of the water and the whistling of birds here. If you go a bit further into the park, you reach Lake Dobson, where via a gravel road you discover a totally different landscape: alpine, quiet and raw.

4. Gordon River Cruise & Strahan

Via a long drive towards the west coast we arrived in Strahan, a small port town. Here we booked the famous Gordon River Cruise: sailing through world heritage area, along mirror-smooth water, rainforest and prison island Sarah Island. You learn about Australia’s colonial past, sail through Hell’s Gates (a narrow passage to open sea) and walk between centuries-old trees at Heritage Landing. The reflections in the river are magical – at some moments it feels like you’re gliding through a painting. The atmosphere on the boat is relaxed, the lunch on board consists of local products, and despite the somewhat gray weather it was still nice to have seen!

5. Cradle Mountain National Park

One of the absolute highlights! We did a substantial 13 km hike via the Face Track – tough, but fantastic. And we spotted an echidna! Don’t forget to bring warm clothing, even in summer. Cradle Mountain is the rugged heart of Tasmania. Here you walk between jagged mountain tops, clear lakes and dense forests. We started in mist and rain, but ended under a clear blue sky with a view of the iconic peaks. Wombats, wallabies and with some luck even Tasmanian devils live here. The hike is challenging with sections of scrambling (depending on which route you take), but every bend rewards you with a new view. In the evening we visited a sanctuary for Tasmanian animals and saw the devils up close.

6. Stopover in Launceston

Launceston surprised us as a relaxed stopover full of charm. We enjoyed the nature in Cataract Gorge, had lunch with scones, spotted monkeys in the park (for real!) and tasted local beer. The city combines colonial atmosphere with modern cafes, and in the surroundings you find vineyards, museums and beautiful hiking trails. Perfect for a day of relaxing during your trip through Tasmania.

7. Ben Lomond National Park & Jacob’s Ladder

A bit of a detour, but SO worth it. Jacob’s Ladder is a spectacular mountain pass and the drive there is an experience in itself. At the top you can hike beautifully over a kind of moonscape. The road there winds steeply upwards along a rock face without guardrails, and at the top a deserted ski village awaits with surreal views over the valley. We did a short walk over the plateau here, spotted a snake and saw countless wallabies. The peace here is intense: you literally hear nothing but the wind. Geology fans can indulge here in bizarre rock formations that are millions of years old. You do need a 4WD to get here. Don’t try this with your camper!

8. Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay

This is one of those places you have to see. We did the full hike to Wineglass Bay and the next day a boat trip. Two totally different perspectives on the same bay – both worth it. Wineglass Bay is not one of Tasmania’s most photographed spots for nothing: white sandy beaches, turquoise water and pink granite mountains together form a backdrop that seems straight out of a travel brochure. The hike is tough, but along the way you feast your eyes. On the boat trip we saw seals, albatrosses and even a sea eagle. And after that? Back to our lodge with a view over the bay, where we savored under a starry sky with a glass of wine in hand.

9. The Great Eastern Drive

The island’s most beautiful coastal route, including vineyards, beaches and the iconic Bay of Fires. A must for every road trip through Tasmania. This route combines the best of the Tasmanian east coast: the cozy atmosphere of coastal towns, wine tastings at small-scale vineyards and rugged nature in abundance. The Bay of Fires is literally a color spectacle, with bright orange rocks, snow-white beaches and deep blue sea. Stop along the way for oysters, dive into a deserted bay or take a walk along the coast. And the best: you have many of these spots all to yourself.

10. Tasman peninsula & Port Arthur

We ended our trip with a mix of rugged coast and colonial history. Port Arthur is impressive and moving, especially if you love history. Don’t forget the Unzoo, where you can feed kangaroos! The rock formations in Tasman National Park are spectacular: from the rugged cliffs of Devil’s Kitchen to the mysterious pattern of the Tessellated Pavement. You can do beautiful hikes here, like to Cape Hauy or Cape Raoul. In Port Arthur itself you walk among ruins of an old penal colony, where British history suddenly feels very close. The contrast between the peace of the landscape and the weight of the past makes this place unforgettable.

Driving in Tasmania

Your first kilometers driving in Tasmania might feel a bit exciting – especially if you’re not used to driving on the left. But honestly? After an hour you’ve got it. And then it’s pure enjoyment! The roads wind along mountain faces, through forests and along rugged coasts. Sometimes it feels like you’re driving through a nature film. And even though Tasmania is just a small island, don’t underestimate the distances. You often drive slowly because of bends, hills or animals on the road – but that makes it all the more relaxed.

Tip: arrange your car rental with Discover Cars with free cancellation and a wide selection

In the morning and around sunset you have the best chance to spot animals. Fun? Yes. But also keep your eyes peeled! Wallabies, wombats and kangaroos cross without warning. We had to slam on the brakes multiple times. So: drive slowly, especially on remote stretches.

Camper or car rental?

First of all, it’s about what you like: are you a camper or do you prefer a bit more luxury? You’ll probably combine Tasmania in your road trip through Australia. Something else to consider is that Tasmania is quite a bit fresher than mainland Australia. Especially at night it can cool down considerably.

The roads are generally in good condition, but can be quite narrow. Many beautiful spots are on gravel roads, which is perfectly doable as long as you drive slowly. If you don’t research well and blindly follow Google Maps (which I did with our rental car), you sometimes end up driving tens of kilometers on a gravel road. Up to you if you like that with a camper. Always download offline maps – we used Google Maps ourselves. Coverage is sometimes limited.

Hotels and accommodations are unfortunately not the cheapest in Tasmania. The choice is yours. We found our car very pleasant here. In part 2 of our road trip through Australia (from Adelaide to Sydney) we did drive with a camper.

Tips for on the road

• ⛽ Fuel up in time: some stretches have 100+ km without a gas station. And fueling is often more expensive in Tasmania than on the mainland.
• 🛻 Gravel roads are normal: but keep your speed low and drive defensively. Especially with campers.
• 📱 Download your navigation offline: coverage is limited, especially in national parks and on the west coast.
• 🚘 Let your car engine brake on steep descents, like at Jacob’s Ladder. Saves your brakes!
• 🕓 Plan realistically: 150 km might sound short, but can easily take 3 hours.

Handy tips for your Tasmania road trip

Good preparation is key. We experienced it as a very accessible destination, but you are in a fairly remote part of Australia. Here are some extra practical tips:

• 🎟️ Buy a National Parks Pass: you need this for almost every park and it’s valid per license plate. You buy it online or at the first park you visit.
• 🐛 Bring mosquito spray: especially in rainforest areas like Mount Field or near stagnant water.
• 🧥 Dress in layers: the weather changes quickly, especially in mountain areas like Cradle Mountain.
• 🧭 Look for wildlife early or late: around twilight the animals become active!
• 🛏️ Book accommodations (and ferries!) in time: February is popular and many nice spots fill up quickly.
• 🍎 Bring snacks and plenty of water: not everywhere along the way is something for sale. Or not what you want… stock up in your car or camper.

In short: going well prepared means maximum enjoyment of this pristine island. And the nice thing is: even if you have to adjust things on the spot, Tasmania is very suitable for that. Flexible traveling is actually part of the charm here.