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This itinerary will see you fly into Hobart and rent a car, ready to indulge in the ultimate Tasmanian escape. Your first day will see you experience Hobart, discovering the oldest and most historic parts of the city. Having strategically chosen to fly in for the Saturday markets, you will browse local arts, crafts and handiworks, and will treat yourself to fresh, gourmet produce for lunch.

You are in the vicinity of one of Australia’s leading whiskey distilleries, which offers affordable tastings and 45 minute tours. The afternoon will see you drive to the top of what locals call “the mountain” for spectacular views over the city of Hobart and the wilderness forest to the west of the city. Have dinner on the waterfront and take a leisurely stroll before heading in for the night.

On your second day you will discover Tasmania’s rich natural beauty, driving a stunning coastal route to spend your final two days in a pristine National Park. You will stay in a spectacular waterfront location, in a secluded bushland setting – the ultimate romantic retreat.

You will be ideally located for bushwalking, kayaking, snorkelling, and further outdoor/beach activities, as well as nature and wildlife viewing – for your location lends itself to an abundance of Tasmanian wildlife. You will be surrounded by award winning a la carte restaurants & bars featuring the finest local produce, fresh seafood & wines.

A 2.5 hour drive back to Hobart to catch the flight you so desperately would rather miss! Should you not wish to drive, additional transportation is available between Hobart and your romantic escape. This trip is recommended sooner rather than later, as it begins to get quite cold towards the beginning of April.

A Taste of Tasmania: 3 Day Itinerary For the Ultimate Tasmanian Escape

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Arrive: Friday

Fly into Hobart late Friday evening and pick up your car rental from the airport terminal. Taking transit time into consideration, your car rental will work out to be 4 days.

No trip planning necessary today – get a good night’s sleep ready to begin exploring Hobart in the morning. How to spend 4 days in Tasmania.

Accommodation: Book for Friday and Saturday night at Corinda House. A stunning historic grand estate house built in the 1870s, The Corinda Collection offers self-contained cottages and hotel style rooms, set amid stunning gardens, just a 15-minute walk from the Hobart waterfront and CBD.

Alternatively, you could catch an early morning flight into Hobart on Saturday. Recommended to travel on Friday night however to be fresh for the day ahead.

Day 1: Saturday

Wake up early and take a leisurely stroll from your hotel to the famed Salamanca Markets. Open from 8am – 3pm, Salamanca Place is lined with over 300 stalls showcasing local arts, crafts and handiworks, as well as fresh, gourmet produce which you should treat yourself to for breakfast/lunch. You will need a few hours to fully explore the markets.

Lark Distillery is within walking distance, located on the waterfront. Hit up the Cellar Door for various tours which cover an exploration of the world of single malt whiskey, or instead head to the whiskey bar for an afternoon tasting or nightcap later in the evening. Best Tasmanian Whisky in Hobart

Connected to Salamanca by Kelly’s Steps, continue your day (on foot) at Battery Point. The oldest and most historic area of Hobart, Battery Point is the most authentic way to step back in time – historic houses and architecture remain unchanged since the early 1800’s. Historic things to do in Hobart

Make your way back to the hotel and pick up the car. Only a short drive from Hobart City is Mt Wellington and Wellington Park. Enter “Pinnacle Road” into your GPS and drive to the summit for absolutely spectacular views of the city. If you don’t want to drive you can book a Hobart City tour with your holiday expert, KKday Australia.

After returning to the hotel, have dinner on the waterfront and take a leisurely stroll before heading in for the night.

Day 2: Sunday

Today you will be driving from Hobart to Coles Bay/Freycinet Peninsular. Wake up and check out early, and begin driving towards the historic town of Richmond. Detour through Richmond Tasmania

A 25 minute drive from Hobart, make a stop in Richmond and explore the area for an hour or so. Richmond is a beautiful village with a fascinating goal, famous bridge and lovely countryside. Tasmania’s most important historic town, stop for a stroll down the winding streets which will provide a glimpse of what life may have been like during Tasmania’s colonial era.

Richmond is famous for its tea rooms, antique shops, convict heritage, and two huge timber human mazes. Although be warned, you may be lost within the mazes for a good hour! Things to do in Richmond Tasmania

Drive the coastal route (Tasman Highway A3) from Richmond towards Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay. (2 hour drive) There are many secluded beach pull off’s along the way should you feel like stretching your legs.

Freycinet is a world-renowned National Park and the best destination to discover Tasmania’s rich natural beauty. It is home to Wineglass Bay, named one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge. Luxury eco accommodation in a spectacular natural setting. The lodge is located within the National Park, offering an intimate connection with the stunning scenic environment.  Book for Sunday and Monday night. Itinerary for Freycinet National Park Tasmania. 

Alternatively there is an abundance of much more affordable accommodation available in Coles Bay.

Keep in mind that you will be subject to park fees: $24 per vehicle per day.

Spend the afternoon taking a short stroll around the National Park – walking is the best way to experience your surroundings. You’ve been driving for a while today, so save the Wineglass Bay bush-walk for tomorrow. Check out Cape Tourville Lighthouse which is a 15 minute drive from Coles Bay and has an easy 20 minute walking circuit offering spectacular views of Sleepy Bay and Wineglass Bay. How much is Freycinet National Park Tasmania?

Spend the evening watching the sun set over the Ocean from the lodge deck, or take a romantic stroll along one of the Peninsula’s white sand beaches.

The lodge has a number of inhouse dinner options available which offer local produce, fresh seafood & wine. Opportunity also to sample premium Tasmanian single malt at Hazards Bar and Lounge or to book onto the Freycinet Whiskey Tasting, run at 8.30pm each evening. Book at the lodge front desk at least half hour before the tasting begins.

Day 3: Monday

Freycinet National Park is a mecca for bushwalking. Today you will explore the park’s walking trails and bushwalks. Best bushwalks in Tasmania. 

Take the day to complete a circuit walk of the Peninsula, walking to the lookout for views of the internationally acclaimed Wineglass Bay.

The Wineglass Bay Lookout walk is 1 and a half hours return. Add an extra hour to your walk and continue downhill through the open forest until you reach the bay itself. A 20 minute walk to the southern end of the beach gives you amazing views of the Hazards – stunning pink granite mountains rising straight from the sea. Walking trails are well signposted. Things to do in Tassie

The Wineglass Bay/Hazards Beach walking circuit is also an option for the day. 4 – 5 hours return, you will walk through diverse coastal vegetation and forest and trace the coastline around the base of the Hazard mountains for unforgettable views of the Tasmanian coastal landscape and scenery. This walk starts at the track to Wineglass Bay Lookout – ask the front desk at the lodge for walking maps. 3 days in Tasmania itinerary. 

Spend the evening relaxing; watching the sunset over the National Park never gets old! 4 days in Tasmania itinerary.

Check out the next day and make the 2.5 hour drive back to the airport to catch your afternoon flight…or miss your flight and stay in Tasmania until you feel like going home! Warning: This may be never!! 5 days in Tasmania.

Practical Tips

Flights to Hobart: Both Qantas and Virgin Australia fly directly into Hobart from Melbourne and Sydney. Virgin will often offer cheaper fares, and runs an online “Happy Hour” every Thursday 4-11pm AEDT with an abundance of domestic sales and deals. How to get to tasmania.

Your itinerary involves driving across the State, so remember to pack or book a GPS along with your car rental.  In case of an accident, use a car repair comparison service to get multiple quotes and save money.

Pack warm clothes. Tasmania is prone to unpredictable cold fronts. Also keep in mind that it is likely to be at least 8°C colder on the top of Mt Wellington than in Hobart – plus the wind chill factor! Take a jacket.

Budget Park Entrance Fees Because Freycinet Lodge is located within Freycinet National Park, park entry fees apply for all guests.

A recommendation: Compare prices on Tasmania Hotels via HotelPlanner.com – find discounts to brag about.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging since 2007, with the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure. Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, TwitterYouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Featured photo by Mapping Megan. Wineglass Bay Pinterest image by Ben Ashmole. Maria Island Pinterest image by Mapping Megan. Salamanca by Jorke Odolphi. Mt Wellington by Mapping Megan. Hobart Waterfront by Soma Kondo. Richmond by Mapping Megan. Wineglass bay by Ben Ashmole. The Hazards by Mark Wassell

    50 Comments

  1. Good itinerary!! As a local I agree with most of it, but would suggest a few additions. On the road to Freycinet I would highly recommend stopping by Kate’s Berry Farm just a few kilometres before Swansea. The berry ice creams and the pies there are amazing! After passing through Swansea it is worth keeping your eyes peeled for wineries, there are five between Swansea and the turn off to Coles Bay. My personal favourite is Devil’s Corner. I am told their recent renovation has extended their facilities from just offering cellar door, to now also having a restaurant.
    In Coles Bay, I recommend eating at Tombolo, it is the best food (at an affordable price) in the bay.
    Also for those who are more energetic and have the time, the hike up Mount Amos (departs from the same starting point as the hike into Wineglass Bay) is challenging, but the view over Wineglass Bay is simply spectacular – better than from the lookout. Only the track doesn’t provide a way to descend to Wineglass Bay Beach.

    • Thanks for the amazing tips Cat! Berry ice creams sound amazing, I’ll have to make that stop when I’m in Tas next – really hoping to get back soon. I’m also from Tas, Claremont baby :D But we left for Canberra when I was 14 so I really enjoy getting back to actually travel and explore the State because we didn’t really appreciate the beauty as much as we should have when we were kids.

      Might plan for a few extra days and create a winery trip :D Thanks!

  2. Fantastic. I am considering a cheeky visit to Tassie at Christmas/New Years, shall refer to your guide fo shiz. Also very helpful advice from Cat above.

    • Oooohh you’ll love it!! It’s my home state so I’m very proud :D … and maybe a little bit bias but deservedly so! If you want shoot me an email and I’ve done up a PDF travel guide on what to do around Hobart – happy to send it through :)

  3. It looks like one can do many things here even in a short period of time. Useful tips – and, as usual, great photos!

    • Absolutely Lori – I would definitely recommend 1 – 2 weeks in Tasmania is you have the time, though really you can still get a fabulous insight and taste for the State even if you only have the weekend.

  4. Freycinet looks absolutely gorgeous – I know we would love it there. I have heard such great things about Tasmania – how amazing you can see so much and enjoy it in a few days too (though I’m sure it’s the longer the better!).

    • Absolutely Sarah, Freycinet is a dream! I hope you do have the chance to visit soon, even if it’s only for a few days, there’s definitely still a lot you can see :)

  5. Based on those photos, I feel like I could spend 3 days just at Wineglass Bay!! It’s so beautiful there. Really seems like a good mix of things to do if you have just a short time, though.

    • You absolutely could! I would personally recommend 2-3 weeks for Tasmania, because there’s truly so much to do, but you can easily see a lot of the State if you’re in more of a rush too.

  6. Wow, Tasmania looks amazing. I don’t know what image I had in mind, but it definitely wasn’t this! Thanks for the detailed itinerary! I have pinned in my Australia folder.. I am dying to make it down under and it will happen some day!!

    • Tasmania is one of the most naturally beautiful States in the country, though admittedly I’m a little bias having grown up there :D I absolutely recommend a visit to Tasmania as part of your Australian itinerary when you have the chance to travel here though – hope you can visit soon!

  7. This looks lovely! I have to admit I knew nothing about Tasmania (other than the Tasmanian devil). The beaches and the wine trips look like a perfect combo!

    • Can’t go wrong with a pristine beach and fine wine :D And they have the Tassie devils there too :D

  8. This itinerary is a great way to see the best of Tasmania during a long weekend. Who wouldn’t love a weekend filled with beaches and wine?

    • That’s what I thought :D! Put me on a beach somewhere with a bottle of premium Australian wine and I’m golden.

  9. I have this saved on my Pinterest board. I plan to visit Tasmania sometime next year. A road trip is something I’d love to do. May I ask around how much you paid to rent a car from the airport?
    Thanks for sharing this.

    • Hi Shilpa – you’ll love Tasmania, so excited that you’ll be visiting! Car rentals can vary depending on the time of year – from memory we paid around $70 AUD a day. It will depend on the time of year though because you can get cheaper deals in off season and obviously prices peak over summer which is November – February. Around that mark though :)

  10. This taste of Tasmania with the coastal drive from historical Richmond to Freycinet and the gorgeous Wineglass beach looks like a beautiful weekend escape. Thanks for the itinerary recommendations.

    • Hope you can put the itinerary into action soon!

  11. Hello! My husband and I will be traveling through Tasmania from March 8-11. Unfortunately, we will only be there for three days and are having to decide between traveling into Cradle Mountain or Freycinet/Hobart. Which would be a better route to go during March? And with such a small amount of time? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!!

    Cheers,
    Whitney

    • Hi Whitney, thanks for stopping by. If it’s your first trip to Tasmania I would recommend the Freycinet/Hobart combination. Reason being Hobart is a fascinating capitol city, and a great introduction to Tasmania if you haven’t previously been. Combining with Freycinet gives you the chance to sample both the city / historical culture of Hobart, as well as the wild landscapes and nature for which Tas is known.

      It depends on what your priorities are though because Cradle Mountain is a gorgeous area, with fantastic opportunities for outdoor adventure. Though I think you’ll get more variety out of a combination of Hobart and Freycinet if it’s your first time.

      Hope that helps! Have an amazing trip to Tas … having to decide between the two just means you’ll have to return for a second trip :D

      Take warm clothes with you, because March is usually when the season starts to make a noticeable switch.

    • I vote for Cradle Mt. The animals, wombats are amazing. Took a night tour and saw hundreds of marsupials and the clear sky was brilliant with stars! Visited a devil breeding facility, such an incredible experience! Bring warm clothing.

    • So glad to hear you had a fabulous time Virginia! Absolutely agree that the wildlife around Cradle Mountain is fantastic :)

  12. Hi Meg,
    it is a very helpful itinerary. We are planning to fly from sydney to TAS during april long weekend. any suggestions as its our first trip to tas..also weather will be fine this ?? just to add i love beaches ;)

    • Hi Sonam, so glad we could help :) April will be a reasonably cold month as it’s mid Autumn (Fall), starting to lead into winter. It’s mainly wind chill though so definitely pack some warm clothes.

      If you love beaches I would absolutely recommend renting a car (do this asap if you’re traveling on the long weekend, as public holidays like this tend to be busy and the prices might hike up substantially the closer you get to the holiday) and driving up to Wineglass Bay (our day 2 suggestion).

      Wineglass is in Freycinet National Park and you can drive the coastal route (Tasman Highway A3) where there are all of these amazing secluded beaches off the side of the road.

      You don’t have to stay overnight as I have suggested in the above itinerary, it’s a little over 2 hours each way from Hobart, so you could definitely make a day trip out of it and base yourself in the city if that was more convenient.

      Hope you have an amazing time! Feel free to touch base inbetween now and then if you have any other questions about your trip :)

  13. Hi Meg,
    Could you please help us plan our trip in Tas. I am traveling with my husband & young adult daughter. We are from the US & vacationing in NZ & Australia in June. We will be arriving in Tas (from Melbourne) on June 12,2018 (Tues)at 1:55 pm. & departing for Sydney on June 16th at 6am. We have 3 1/2 days & 4nights to spend in Tas. Your itinerary is more for warmer weather. Since it is winter during the time of our visit, please kindly let us know what places/activities to do (long hours of hiking/bushwalking as described in the above itinerary might be difficult to do in a cold weather). What area/town should we stay for our first 2 nights & the 3rd & 4th nights? Thanks so much for your insights & suggestions.

    Marla

    • Hi Maria, thanks for reaching out, it sound like you have a fabulous vacation planned!

      For your 4 days in Tasmania (assuming you’re flying into Hobart?) you can still keep our suggested itinerary for Day 1, ie visiting Salamanca Market (even though the markets won’t be on on a Tuesday, this is still a great place for history, shopping, and enjoying the waterfront), taking in the sights around Hobart, and venturing up to Mt Wellington for the view. Do pack really warm clothes though, especially if you go up Mt Wellington, as it gets very chilly, and sometimes the mountain might have a little bit of snow.

      But yes, for the other 3 days, the beaches and bush-walks are probably better in warmer weather. That said, winter is colder, sure, but it doesn’t make the sites like Freycinet any less beautiful – I wouldn’t recommend you go swimming, but you can stay at the lodge in Freycinet and enjoy views overlooking the Hazards mountain range, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine Great Oyster Bay. The air is crisp, but the beaches are still beautiful to walk. And some of the bushwalks are actually better at this time of year because you don’t have to push past hoardes of other tourists. There are a range of trails so you can pick shorter hikes of an hour if you’re not keen on long full day bushwalks.

      Depending on your interests, and your budget, instead of Freycinet, you could make your way up to Cradle Mountain after visiting Hobart – this is probably one of the State’s biggest attractions, and you’ll have the benefit of seeing sites like Dove Lake without the crazy summer crowds (the tourism in summer gets intense). It’s quite a beautiful setting when it’s covered in snow, and there is a lodge within the park where you can settle into cozy accommodation, with great local produce, and take short walks if you’re up for it. Cradle Mountain is a 4 hour drive from Hobart though so I would recommend renting a car and you would probably want to spend two nights here to make it worth the drive up.

      But otherwise you can take great day trips from Hobart if you’re more a fan of settling into one place and using it as a base; if you’re interested in history, there’s Port Arthur which is one of the countries most well preserved convict sites (though I would only do this if you’re interested in the history behind it), if you’re interested in wildlife, Bruny Island is a great choice; the scenery is absolutely stunning in winter, though keep in mind that you might get hit with rain at this time of year, so pack compact umbrellas or a raincoat (good tip in general actually). The Huon Valley is another great day trip from Hobart where you’ve got Tahune Airwalk, (personally I prefer to do all of these with a rental car because you have flexibility, and can adapt your itinerary if the weather is bad, but you can book via a tour company too), as is Mount Field National Park, and being that winter has high rainfall, the waterfalls in Mt Field are going to be at their fullest which is cool.

      So you can either do Day 1 & 2 in Hobart and Day 3 & 4 up around Frecyinet like I’ve described above. Or trade Day 3 & 4 for Cradle Mountain. Or if you’re not feeling the moving around, stay in Hobart for 4 days, but do day trips to different parts of the state on Days 3 & 4.

      I’m really going to advocate for getting a car rental because it makes everything so easy, and Tas is a very safe place to drive. In terms of which area to stay at in Hobart, it’s not really a very big city and the majority of tourist accommodation is concentrated in the same area, so you can’t really make a bad choice if you enter “Hobart” into a booking search. It will just depend if you care about being closer to the waterfront, or a couple of blocks back. There are a few different accommodations in South Hobart, and Sandy bay, but I would stick to the main CBD.

      Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions at all :)

  14. At several chains, including Omni and Fairmont, you can avoid paying a daily fee for in-room Wi-Fi by signing up for the hotel’s loyalty program.

    • Thanks for the tips. I don’t believe there are any Omni or Fairmont properties in Tasmania, but that’s good advice for hotel chains in general :)

  15. Hey! Planning a 4 day trip to Tassie (24th to 28th December 2018). Any suggestions?

    • Hi Anushree, it really depends on what you like and what you want to see, because there’s quite a lot to do for different interests. If you’re not keen on the above itinerary, 4 days would give you enough time to spend a day in Hobart and then spend the rest doing day trips like the Huon Valley, Bruny Island, Port Arthur (very touristy, and I would say only go if you’re really interested in the history, otherwise it’s probably a day best spent elsewhere). So you could definitely base yourself in Hobart for a day, and then check out the surrounding regions with a car rental :)

      Have a great trip to Tassie!

  16. Hi Meg,
    We are a family of 4 (2 teens) from India planning a trip to Australia in May. We intend self drive – 3 days in Tasmania in last week of May. Pl suggest.

    • Hi Hetal, thanks for reaching out. It will largely depend on the type of things you like to do as to which areas you should visit, ie does your family like food, or are they more interested in history, nature etc. There are some really fabulous itineraries on Spirit of Tasmania website if the itinerary in our post doesn’t appeal to you, and you can filter for road trip suggestions based on your family’s interests: https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/destinations/tasmania-road-trip-planner

      Hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip to tasmania :)

  17. Hello Meg,

    I am planning vacation with my wife in Australia. We are coming from India for for 12 days trips. Can you please suggest places. Minimum how much time we should spend in Tasmania.

    • Hi Sujit, thanks for reaching out. How long you’ll spend in Tasmania depends on a lot of things;

      – How long you want to spend on the Australian mainland for other destinations.

      – How much of the State you want to see, whether you want to drive, or just base yourself in one place and do day trips.

      – What your interests are.

      You could easily spend the whole 12 days road tripping around the whole State, but let me know the answers to the above questions and I can suggest a couple of places.

      Thanks!

  18. Hello Megan
    Thanks for reply.We would be preferring staying in city and planning day trip around.

    we would like to explore nature, sea-beaches, culture and city life in Australia.I will be having around 12 days starting from Melbourne – Plan is to spend 3 days in Melbourne, 3 days-Tasmania, 2 days in sydney, 2 day gold coast. will fly back from Melbourne.

    can you please suggest/modify above itinerary based on your experience.

    I also heard of great barrier of reef but it seems costly to travel & stay there.

    Also in Tasmania is it safe to travel by renting car? As i am traveling with my wife only.

    Looking forward for your valuable suggestion.

    • Hi Sujit

      The above itinerary is a pretty good combination of culture, beaches, and city life, but if you would prefer to be based in the one place (Hobart) for the whole 3 days, you can spend 1 day exploring Hobart, and pick two day trips into the surrounding region. One great day trip from Hobart would be Bruny Island (great for nature and sea beaches). Your other day could be doing Freycinet National Park, like I’ve mentioned above, but just not staying overnight there (it’s 2 and a half hours from Hobart each way).

      Tasmania is very safe to travel via rental car, driving is the best way to get around, and there’s very minimal traffic on the roads. Just watch out for wildlife on the roads if you’re driving at night, but during the day it’s not a problem.

      Great Barrier reef is very expensive because it’s a top tourist destination. If you’re only spending 2 days on the Gold Coast though you probably won’t have much time to take in the GBR anyway, as it’s quite far away from the Gold Coast. From the Gold Coast though you can take a day trip to Moreton Island which is a beautiful spot and has a lot of fish and a shipwreck for kayaking / snorkelling.

      Hope that helps!

      Safe travels :)

  19. Hello.

    we are planning 19 people from Melbourne to Tasmania for 2 nights during April 2020

    What is your suggestion?

    • Hi Tina, what suggestions are you looking for? The above itinerary would work for groups as well as solo travelers :)

      Best

  20. Hi Meg, I’m planning a trip with my boyfriend at the end of the year, he can only get away for 3 days inclusive of weekend.
    I have read your suggestions. I was thinking of basing ourselves in Hobart, hiring a car and driving around to save the hassle of changing hotels. or shall we base ourselves somewhere else?
    What would your recommendation be for a quick relaxing getaway. He is not much of a bushwalker.

    • Hi Singhy, awesome that you’ll be visiting Tasmania soon :) Basing yourselves in Hobart and hiring a car is a great idea if you’re not keen on changing hotels. Ultimately, there are a tonne of really great day trips that you can do within a couple of hours of the city, so you can definitely pick one place for the 3 days and set yourself up in a comfortable base.

      Still spend day 1 in Hobart as per my above suggestions; for day trips on days 2 and 3, a lot of the typical attractions I would recommend do include a bit of bushwalking (Russell Falls, Mt. Field National Park), but if you’re not big walkers you could spend a day exploring Bruny Island (you drive the car onto a 20 minute ferry), and there are beautiful beaches there to explore.

      If you’re interested in history, Port Arthur is a historic site that’s an hour and a half from Hobart – it’s one of the original Australian Convict Sites created by the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries and you can walk around the crumbling ruins of the old prisons.

      If you’re interested in museums you could spend a relaxing day around Hobart jumping between places like MONA and the Hobart Museum & Art Gallery. Or if you love wildlife, but without the bushwalking element, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to go, and you can see the Tasmanian Devil, koalas and wombats up close.

      Hope that helps! Have an amazing trip down :)

  21. Hi,

    I am planning for a Tasmania trip for 3 days 4 nights in Jan 2020
    I wanted to follow
    Day 1 – Drive to Cradle mountains and stay there
    Day 2 – visit the Bays and Wildlife park and return to Hobart
    Day 3 (Sat)- Sight seeing around Hobart and visit Salamanca market

    Do you think it makes sense ? Can you suggest any good budget accommodation at Cradle mountains ?

    • Hi Dipanjan, that sounds like a great itinerary :)

      From the sounds of it, I’m guessing you’re driving in on Spirit of Tasmania? If so, Devonport to Cradle Mountain is roughly 2 hours, you can do a bit of a detour for breakfast that day if you’re so inspired, and stop at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm which is a great foodie stop (big breakfasts and awesome pancakes with raspberries from the farm).

      Re Cradle mountain accommodation, we’ve stayed at The Cradle Mountain Hotel, and that was a great experience – here’s a link to the review I wrote if you’re interested: https://www.mappingmegan.com/cradle-mountain-hotel-review-tasmania/

      If you’re then heading from Cradle up to Bay of Fires, thats a 4 & a half hour drive, you could do a 40 minute detour to Liffey Falls along the route which is a truly incredible waterfalls in the region.

      For budget accommodation for Bay of Fires, most people stay in St Helens though we stayed in Scamander, and there are great safari style glamping tents at Scamander Sanctuary Holiday Park. This is right on a BEAUTIFUL ocean beach (like a 5 minute walk anyway), and you’re only an hour from Bay of Fires, so makes for a good base for easy exploring of Binalong Bay.

      As you’re coming down the East Coast to Hobart, I thought the stop at East Coast Nature World in Bicheno was well worth an hour – great wildlife park with gorgeous tassie devils and you can watch the feeding.

      The drive down to Hobart is about 3 & a half hours. It’s a lot of stuff to pack into 3 days and you’ll have a lot of driving and a very packed itinerary – with summer hours and long days though you should be able to pull it off, just understand that it will be a packed itinerary (sunset in January is around 8 – 9 pm so you get a lot of daylight which is nice for packing stuff in!).

      Hope you have an amazing trip! XX

  22. Hello Megan,
    Can you help me build an itinerary for two and a half days that does not involve renting a car , however I would still like to see the Freycinet National Park ? Is uber an option ?
    Also what hotels and restaurants do you highly recommend ?

    • Hi Sasmrita :)

      If you’re not planning on renting a car, you can easily fill two days exploring Hobart, or spend one day exploring Hobart and then jump on a day tour for the other; I would recommend Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, they have some fabulous day tours that leave Hobart in the morning, and bus you over to explore Bruny Island, or the Tasman Peninsula (I just did the Tasman Peninsula cruise tour and it was incredible!)

      Their website is https://www.pennicottjourneys.com.au/

      Freycinet is two and a half hours drive from Hobart, so I don’t think uber would be an option unfortunately. They probably would do it, but you’d be looking at $277 – $370 for just a one way ride, at which point you could rent a vehicle for around $60. (That’s based on a quote I just did up quickly off the Uber website).

      So I would explore Hobart for the two days, or do one day and look at Pennicott Wilderness Journey’s for a tour for the second. Look up images of the Tasman Peninsula, because it’s just as stunning as Freycinet, so you wouldn’t be disappointed :)

      Re hotels and restaurants, what’s the budget range you’re looking for? ie Budget / mid range / splurge? Easier for me to recommend knowing that info, because otherwise I might recommend places that aren’t right for you :)

      Hope you enjoy your time in Tasmania!

  23. Hi Megan, thanks for this. Is very helpful.
    Just wondering if this is possible to do without a car, any bus service that you would recommend?. I drive in the other side of the road and I’m bit scared of start trying there.

    • Hi Loreto, so glad our post was helpful for you :)

      Buses for getting around the State are honestly pretty limited, but check out http://www.tassielink.com.au – if you’re wanting to go from Hobart to Freycinet, you can catch a Hobart – Bicheno bus, and then connect onto one that goes from Bicheno – Coles Bay. The 737 leaves Hobart city at 4 pm and gets into Bicheno at 7pm – it should cost between $35 – $40 AUD.

      The other option would be doing day tours from Hobart – http://www.wineglassbay.tours runs day tours up to Freycinet – it’s a long day to do it this way, but it’s an option if you’re not planning to drive. Worth noting that I haven’t personally taken one of their tours, but they seem to get excellent Tripadvisor ratings :)

      Hope that helps!

  24. Looks great! We’re traveling to Hobart for the first time, staying 3 nights 4 days.

    Do you think going from Hobart to Freycinet and back can be done in one day? We’d love to hike wineglass bay, but not sure if it can ask be done in a day?

    • Hi Samantha :) It’s logistically possible, the drive from Hobart to Freycinet is 2 and a half hours, so if you left around 7 am for instance, you’d get there by 10 am.

      To then do the hike, it’s roughly 45 minutes up to the lookout, roughly a 1 and a half hour return. To continue walking down to the beach and back again (from the lookout) the whole hike to and from the carpark would be around 2 hours return (without spending any time at the beach though so plan for extra leisure time).

      Keep in mind the heat of the day, which at the moment in summer is around 2-3 pm. If you got there by 10, spent 3-4 hours on the hike + time at the beach itself, and then started the drive back by 2 pm you’d miss the heat of the day, and you’d get back to Hobart around 5 pm in time for dinner :) Right now, during summer, it’s light out until around 8 pm. As you get further into January / Feb though this starts falling back.

      It’s a big day and it’s a lot of driving, so you’d need to make sure you pack food, plenty of water, and sunscreen (because a long drive back when you’re sunburned is terrible – been there done that lol!!)

      Hope that helps! Xx

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