Don’t Visit Tasmania Without Seeing This! 🇦🇺 🌿

This classic Tasmanian road trip itinerary between Hobart and Launceston will have you paddling in clear blue waters, exploring historic ruins, and making the most of small, lively towns. Here are the top road trip stops between Hobart and Launceston.

Airlines often run good flight deals to both Hobart and Launceston, meaning you can use this road trip guide in either direction. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry also transfers thousands of holidaymakers between Tasmania and mainland Australia each year, if you want to bring your own vehicle rather than hire one.

Remember to purchase a Parks Pass from Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service; you will need this to enter the national parks.

Before you embark on your adventure, stay road trip happy by packing your emergency roadside kit and updating your emergency roadside assistance plan. Electric car owners are advised to check EV charging availability along the route prior to leaving.

Hobart is a popular travel destination for Victorians, in part thanks to its relatively short distance from Melbourne. There’s plenty to do in this small but vibrant city, from the controversial gallery MONA to the Cascades Female Factory, where thousands of female convicts transported to Tasmania were forced to labour. Staying at the RACV Hobart Hotel will keep you right in the action, being just a short stroll away from Salamanca Market and the harbour, where you’ll find art galleries, craft shops and trendy restaurants in renovated 1830s Georgian warehouses. Don’t miss Mawson’s Huts on the waterfront, where Mawson’s polar expedition departed from in 1911 and where replica huts of his Antarctic mission stand today. The Mount Wellington Summit is worth a drive up for beautiful views over Hobart, with the promise of a better view of the Aurora Australis than in Melbourne.

Port Arthur is a relatively short drive from Hobart: under 1.5 hours. On the way, stop at Tessellated Pavement near Eaglehawk Neck, a geological marvel found in only a few places on Earth. This rock formation looks like tiles along the water, with Tasmanian crabs and other wildlife living in their crevices. Less than a 10-minute drive south, you can further explore the coastline at the Blowhole (spurts water in fierce weather), Tasman Arch (a large natural sea bridge) and Devil’s Kitchen (deep sea gorge).

Next up is the Tasmania Devil Unzoo, a cutting-edge cageless zoo working to save endangered Tasmanian devils. You can join the Devil Tracker Adventure in native forest via a guided 4WD tour to see first-hand how the Tassie devils are being tracked and monitored with special infrared night cameras.

Stop at Port Arthur Lavender for the lavender trail and enjoy fresh lavender-infused produce from the café.

This leg’s highlight is the Port Arthur Historic Site, a harsh and high-security 19th-century convict settlement for those who persistently re-offended during their time in Australia. A site entry ticket includes two days to explore the massive site, with its historic buildings and walking trails, plus a 20-minute harbour cruise and entry to the Port Arthur Gallery. Guides give complimentary site talks at key locations throughout the day, and you can also pick up a complimentary self-guided audio experience. There are guided tours available at extra cost, such as a creepy ghost tour.

If you’re up for another excursion, Remarkable Cave is only 10 minutes from Port Arthur and offers a 15-minute return walk to view the tunnel-shaped sandstone cave.

Maria Island National Park is a beautiful island accessed by a 30-minute ferry from the wharf at Triabunna, which itself is a 1.5-hour drive from Port Arthur. It’s rich in both Indigenous and European history, with abundant wildlife and amazing landscapes.

You’ll land at Darlington Probation Station, a small township abandoned to time. From here, there are plenty of walking and cycling trails to explore the island. On the walks, you’re sure to see wildlife like wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, ringtail possums, pademelons, potoroos, lizards, frogs and snakes.

Read more: https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/travel/australia/launceston-to-hobart-road-trip-drive.html

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