If you’re wondering how to spend 7 days in Tasmania, this itinerary covers the highlights, hidden gems and top tips to make the most of your week on this enchanting island.
After travelling Australia in a campervan, Tasmania was high on our bucket list and it did not disappoint. It was our toddlers first experience of van life and what a destination to test the waters! Whether you’re a foodie, wilderness seeker, history buff or an 18 month old toddler…a week in Tasmania will prove an unforgettable adventure.
From the famous Salamanca markets in Hobart to finding wombats in the wild at Cradle Mountain, use our Tasmania 7 day itinerary to perfectly plan your trip.
7 DAYS IN TASMANIA ITINERARY - OVERVIEW
Day 1: Hobart > Mt Field National Park
Day 2: Mt Field National Park > Lake St Clair > Strahan
Day 3: Strahan > Gordon River Cruise > Cradle Mountain
Day 4: Cradle Mountain > Sheffield > Launceston
Day 5: Launceston > Bay of Fires > St Helens
Day 6: St Helens > Bicheno > Freycinet National Park
Day 7: Freycinet National Park > MONA, Hobart
Day 8: Return flight to Melbourne
BEST TIME TO VISIT TASMANIA
Before you can begin planning an itinerary for Tasmania, you’ll need to decide when to visit. The most important tip to remember is that as Tasmania is part of Australia it is located in the Southern Hemisphere, which means seasons are opposite to us in the North.
However, due to being an island and its location as the Southernmost part of Australia, Tasmania has its own rules when it comes to seasons entirely. The weather here is quite unpredictable, with more moderate temperatures in comparison to the mainland.
To help plan your Tasmania itinerary, use these seasons as a guide:
Winter: June to August
This is Winter in Tasmania where the average temperature is a chilly three and 11°Celsius (37- 51° F). It’s also common to experience snow during these months – not ideal if you’re spending your 7 days in Tasmania in a campervan! If snow is on the bucket list or if you fancy adding skiing to your Tasmania itinerary, head to Mt Wellington (near Hobart) Ben Lomond National Park or Mt Field National Park.
Spring: September to November
This is another great time to visit Tasmania. Not only because of Spring temperatures and less rainfall but because you can also witness Humpback whales migrate through Tassie’s East Coast.
Summer: December to February
This is considered “high season.” You can expect car rental and accommodation to be more expensive during these times. Although considered the Summer months, the average temperature ranges between 17 and 23°C (62-73° F)
Autumn: March to May
We found this the perfect time to spend 7 days in Tasmania as our campervan hire was cheaper, temperatures were cooler and there were no crowds. The scenery was extra spectacular with Autumnal leaves too. The West coast was particularly rainy during this time of year (we didn’t even see Cradle Mountain due to clouds and rain) but travelling from Scotland we still found the weather better than home and perfect for sleeping in a campervan.
GETTING AROUND TASMANIA
Now you know when to go, let’s plan how you’re going to do it. It would be impossible to complete this 7 days in Tasmania itinerary on public transport. Do not make the same mistake as we did and underestimate its size either. It’s roughly the size of Ireland, so expect long (although beautiful) drives between destinations.
Trains
Although there are a handful of scenic train journeys you can enjoy, it would be impossible to travel Tasmania in a week using passenger trains. This is because there are no regular train services.
Buses
If you cannot drive, there are a few bus companies but they run specific services in different areas. For example, Tassielink Transit is the most extensive bus network around Tasmania. It covers more than 50 regional and remote towns. You’ll need a Greencard to use this service. Redline is your best bet between regions. Their coaches link locations such as Burnie, Devonport, Smithton, Launceston and Hobart.
Alternatively you could go on a group bus tour. This 7 day Tasmanian Highlights tour covers the majority mentioned in our guide including Mt Field National Park, Lake St Clair, Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay. This 6 day Tasmania tour also includes all meals, accommodations as well as the unmissable highlights!
Campervan
After travelling mainland Australia in a campervan as well as New Zealand in a campervan, we knew a Tasmania road trip was next on our bucket list. We found it cheaper to fly from Melbourne then hire a campervan from Hobart and begin our 7 days in Tasmania from there.
Depending on the season, it might prove cheaper to hire from Melbourne and take the campervan on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry between Geelong and Devonport. Having a campervan also means you save money on accommodation as you’re travelling with both your kitchen and bedroom on wheels!
Car
Alternatively, hire a car and book accommodation around the state. You can either hire a car in Melbourne and take it across on or, fly across and hire a car when you arrive in Tasmania. Before hiring a vehicle, check that the rental company allows vehicles to go on the ferry.
Bike
When we were picking up our campervan at the airport, we got chatting with a couple who had just spent five weeks mountain biking around Tasmania. Thanks to the quiet roads and outstanding scenery it is an epic destination to explore on two wheels. Again, you could do this as part of a tour or create your own Tasmania itinerary at your own pace.
ACCOMMODATION IN TASMANIA
Now you have transport covered, let’s talk accommodation. If you’re relying on public transport or a car, you will need to book accommodation well in advance. Especially if you’re spending a week in Tasmania during school holidays or around Christmas when it’s peak travel time for locals as well as tourists.
Hostels and Hotels
In bigger destinations such as Launceston or Hobart, you won’t struggle to find hotels or Airbnbs. Hostels are also common and are a great way to meet other travellers if you’re backpacking Australia. We use Booking.com as we find it the most affordable way to compare hotels, apartments and hostels.
Free Accommodation in Tasmania
If you are hoping to spend more than 7 days in Tasmania or you’re simply looking to save some major dollars on accommodation, we have two options that we’d recommend.
First up, Workaway. Never heard of it? Workaway is a cultural exchange platform where you volunteer a few hours a day in exchange for a free place to sleep and meals.. There are over 100 hosts in Tasmania, all of which offer the opportunity to live like a local and experience the real Tassie.
Another way to save money on accommodation is house sitting. We used Trusted House Sitters during our time in Australia over Christmas as we found accommodation so expensive. It meant we could spend the peak season with home comforts and explore without the pressure of finding and booking accommodation that was budget friendly.
Camping in Tasmania
We are no strangers to camping in Australia and knew for us, this would be the best option for our Tassie road trip. Not only was hiring a campervan the most affordable accommodation for this 7 day Tasmania itinerary but we feel it’s the best way to experience the incredible scenery that Tassie has to offer. Campsites are well equipped, it meant we had all our toddler stuff on hand at all times and we could cook our own meals to save money too.
7 DAYS IN TASMANIA ITINERARY
DAY 1: Hobart to Mt Field National Park
Total drive time: 1hr 45mins
Hobart
We flew from Melbourne to Tasmania, arriving around 9am. We then picked up our campervan rental from the airport. We purposely planned starting our 7 days in Tasmania itinerary on a Saturday so we could visit the famous Salamanca Markets.
The Salamanca markets are on every Saturday 8:30am – 3:00pm. You’ll find over 300 stalls with delicious street food, artisans, breweries and producers.
If your Tasmania itinerary starts on a different day of the week, instead of the Salamanca markets, we recommend:
- Mount Wellington: Take a drive or hike up to the summit of Mount Wellington for stunning panoramic views of Hobart and the surrounding landscape. It’s especially breathtaking at sunrise or sunset.
- MONA (Museum of Old and New Art): Exploring the eccentric and world-renowned MONA is an experience you’ll never forget! We actually ended our Tasmania roadtrip with a day here and it was an absolute highlight! The museum itself is a piece of art, carved into the cliffs along the Derwent River.
- Do both: This guided tour of Hobart includes both Mt Wellington and MONA plus the famous ferry! It includes a tour guide plus transport so you can relax and enjoy.
After some delicious food and a little souvenir shopping at the markets we headed to Coles to do our big shop for the week. As we had previously travelled mainland Australia in a campervan, we knew large supermarkets are rare, so it’s best to stock up when you can. It’s also no secret that Australia is expensive, so used our trusted camping food list as our shopping list ready for some tasty meals on the road.
From Hobart, we then drove to Mount Field National Park – approximately 1hour 30 minutes. We arrived around 4pm to our campsite for the night.
Stay: Mount Field National Park Campsite | $20.00 powered site
The campsite was perfectly pleasant, set in a forest near Tyenna River and just a few minutes walk to the Mount Field Visitor Centre. There are 14 powered sites and many unpowered sites, suitable for campervans, caravans and tents. All spots are first come first served. We paid $20 for a powered site. There are also hot showers, toilets, BBQ areas and a nearby coffee shop.
DAY 2 : Mt Field National Park to Strahan
Total drive time: 4hr 15mins
Morning: Mount field National Park
Thanks to the location of the campsite, we woke up in the heart of Mount Field National Park. Perfect for a morning of hikes and exploring.
There are hikes here to suit all abilities and ages. Including:
- Russell Falls: Easy, 25 minute walk on a sealed, access-friendly trail to the base of the falls. If you can manage stairs (there are quite a few!) Then we recommend walking up to Horseshoe Falls too. Starts from the visitor centre.
- Tall Trees: Easy, 30 minute walk starting from Lake Dobson Road, Tall Trees Carpark. The towering swamp gums of Mount Field National Park are amongst the tallest trees in Australia. As the name describes, this walk allows the perfect opportunity to appreciate these giants first hand.
- Lady Barron Falls: Easy, 1-1.5 hours return. Situated on Lady Barron Creek, Lady Barron Falls is a scenic waterfall with a height of approximately 8 metres, with small cascades near the base. Start from Lake Dobson Road, just past the campground turn off.
- Three Falls Circuit: Easy 2-2.5 hours circuit that takes you past Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Tall Trees and Lady Barron Falls. Starts from the visitor centre. Enjoy all the highlights of Mt Field National Park with this waterfall loop walk. As a tip, we recommend doing this loop in reverse, so Lady Barron Falls is the first waterfall you visit. This is because from Lady Barron Falls towards to the visitor centre there is a staircase with hundreds of steps. It’s easier to walk down the staircase than up, so you may find the loop more enjoyable in reverse.
Lunch at Lake St Clair
The Drive from Mt Field National Park to Lake St Clair takes approximately 2 hours. We were greeted in the carpark by our first Echidna of our trip. Echidna’s are super cute spiky mammals native to Australia. They look like giant hedgehogs and our toddler was delighted to find one shuffling about next to our campervan! The lake is also home to wallabies, wombats and platypus so keep an eye out.
The Aboriginal name for Lake St Clair is leeawuleena, meaning ‘sleeping water’, and we really felt this during our crowd-free, calming visit. Not only is it Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, but Lake St Clair is actually the end point for Tasmania’s iconic Overland Track. This multi-day hike is definitely one for the bucket list if you have more than 7 days in Tasmania!
After a wander on the shores of the lake, and a few family photos we enjoyed a delicious lunch here and found the atmosphere in the restaurant particularly exciting as hikers were celebrating the end of their Overland Track adventures.
Afternoon: Franklin River Nature Trail
From Lake St Clair to Franklin River Nature Trail is around a 30 minute drive. The Franklin River Nature Trail is short and easy with a boardwalk track some of the way. The walk takes around 30 minutes return. It’s also a perfect picnic spot if you don’t fancy lunch at Lake St Clair.
If you have a little more time (or you’re not travelling with a tired toddler like us!) There are a few other rainforest trails, such as Donaghys Hill and a nature trail to the majestic Nelson Falls that are particularly impressive.
Iron Blow Look Out
If you fancy one more stop to stretch your legs before Strahan, The Iron Blow Lookout is a unique stop around 45 minutes from Franklin River Nature Trail. Located just off the Lyell Highway outside the small town of Gormanston, this lookout offers a mesmerising glimpse into the region’s mining history.
The site overlooks a vast crater and surrounding rainforest-covered hills. It almost looks volcanic, as if from another planet but it was made entirely by man. Equally devastating as it is impressive. From Iron Blow Look Out it is then a 50 minute (ish) drive to Strahan Beach Holiday Park.
Stay: Strahan Beach Holiday Park | $50.00 powered site
We arrived at Strahan Beach Holiday Park around 5pm which was the perfect time to still enjoy a stroll to the nearby beach West Strahan Beach for sunset. The campground offers all kinds of accommodation from cosy cabins to unpowered tent sites. We paid $50 for a powered campervan site.
The campsite has a playground, laundry facilities, camp kitchen and BBQ area, fire pit hire as well as toilets and hot showers. We enjoyed one of our delicious one pot camping meals, but the town centre is only 15 minutes walk if you fancied dining out.
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DAY 3: Strahan to Cradle Mountain
Total drive time 1hr 50mins
All day: Gordon River Cruises 8:30am departure
The Gordon River Cruise was a definite highlight from our 7 days in Tasmania itinerary and although pricey, we highly recommend you do it! It was less than a 5 minutes drive from our campsite to Strahan Esplanade, where we boarded the boat for our cruise at 08:30 am. You could also walk, which would take around 15-20 minutes. We grabbed a coffee from a nearby bakery before boarding.
There are two companies to choose from depending on your budget and the sights you wish to see along the way. You can choose either World Heritage Cruises (the red boat) or Gordon River Cruises (the grey boat.) Both companies offer the same itinerary that includes Macquarie Harbour, the Gordon River, Hell’s Gates, a guided tour of Sarah Island, and a walk through the forest at Heritage Landing.
The prices vary depending on where you sit on the boat (upper deck or main deck) and as the cruise takes around 6 hours lunch is included (with both tour operators). We opted for Gordon River Cruises as they offered a buffet lunch so you could enjoy as much local smoked salmon, salad, cold meats and treats as you wished. With the other cruise operator your lunch is individually packed and provided.
We also preferred the fact that the Spirit of The Wild boat used by Gordon River Cruises had a “whisper mode” thanks to its unique hybrid engine that used electric motors. This made it ideal for cruising the sensitive environment of the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, causing minimal disruption and noise.
Highlights of the Gordon River Cruise Include:
- Hells Gates
Your cruise will begin by passing through the notorious “Hells Gates” where the harbor meets the Southern Ocean. It was super windy but spectacular outside the boat so don’t get too comfortable indoors. You’ll also spot fish farms near here where trout and salmon is farmed. You’ll get to try some as part of the delicious buffet lunch! - Gordon River & Heritage Landing
Cruising quietly along the Gordon River was such a tranquil experience. Not only as you can absorb the pristine World Heritage-listed wilderness in perfect peace but the reflections on the water are stunning. You then hop off the boat at Heritage Landing where you can explore the rainforest on elevated boardwalks, learning about local flora and fauna. Our toddler loved the boardwalks a little too much and could’ve stayed running about here for hours. - Sarah Island
You will then disembark the boat again for a guided tour of Sarah Island. Our tour guide was unreal here – she was SO enthusiastic as she shared the spine-chilling convict tales we could have listened to her all day long. We don’t want to spoil the terrible tales too much, but essentially Sarah Island was used as a penal settlement where convicts were shipped to in order to prepare pine for ship building.
- Discover the world heritage listed Gordon River on a morning cruise
- Savor a delicious lunch of local Tasmanian produce
- Enjoy a guided tour of Sarah Island
- Stroll through a UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient Rainforest
Stay: Cradle Mountain Holiday Park | $85.00 powered site
After our cruise, we then drove to Cradle Mountain Holiday Park ready for night three of our Tasmania Itinerary. The drive from Strahan to Cradle Mountain National Park took around 1 hour 45 minutes and we arrived around 4:30pm. We were greeted by a friendly wallaby right outside our campervan!
If you plan on an early start for visiting Cradle Mountain the following day, this is the only campsite – Cradle Mountain Holiday Park. This is why the campsite is so expensive, we paid $85 for a small, powered site (wallabies are a free bonus ha!) Although there are also cabins, dorm rooms and unpowered campsites available.
DAY 4: Cradle Mountain to Launceston
Total drive time 2hrs 35mins
All day: Cradle Mountain
Despite waking up to torrential rain, Cradle Mountain was an absolute highlight from our 7 days in Tasmania itinerary. Cradle Mountain is a renowned landmark in Tasmania and the centrepiece of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Although Darren is an avid hiker, we knew our trail options would be limited with a toddler and torrential rain.
In true Scottish parenting style, we opted for the “no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” attitude and chucked on our waterproofs and Ruby into the hiking backpack. Regardless of the weather or your hiking experience, there are still so many ways to enjoy the breathtaking alpine scenery and wildlife at Cradle Mountain. In fact, there are over 20 different walking tracks around Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake, ranging from 20 minutes to 9 hours!
Cradle Mountain Highlights:
- Dove Lake Circuit: This takes around 2 hours and is the best option if you’re visiting with little ones or in torrential rain. As we were dealing with both, we found this track the best option. On a clear day, you can photograph those famous reflections of Cradle Mountain. Although it was grey and wet, we still loved this route and the beautiful Autumnal colours. It was also eerily quiet which we preferred, with only a handful of other hikers.
- Marion’s Lookout: For a more challenging trek, you can enjoy the epic views of Dove Lake by hiking up to Marion’s Lookout from the Dove Lake circuit. The viewpoint also offers incredible views of Cradle Mountain. The hike is around 5km and takes around 2 hours.
- Enchanted Walk: Another easy route, this short but majestic walk is only 1km and takes around 20 minutes. It’s the perfect opportunity to spot pademelons and maybe even platypus or wombats!
- Ronny Creek Wombats: No Tasmania itinerary would be complete without a wombat sighting! One of the best places to see a wombat in the wild is at Ronny Creek. The best time to visit is around an hour before sunset, the bus will drop you near a boardwalk where you can stroll along and witness these super cute creatures up close.
- Cradle Valley Board Walk: Stretching from Ronny Creek to the Cradle Mountain Visitor’s Centre, this beautiful boardwalk is another easy but picturesque route suitable for most abilities. It is 12km long and takes around 2-3 hours to complete.
- Cradle Mountain Summit: There is no better way to experience the iconic Cradle Mountain than hiking to the summit! This hike is not for the faint hearted and should only be undertaken by experienced, well equipped hikers. It takes around 8 hours to complete.
- Overland Track: As mentioned earlier, the overland track is a 6 day, 65km adventure that starts at Cradle Mountain and ends at Lake St Clair.
Dinner in Sheffield
After spending the majority of the day at Cradle Mountain we drove to Sheffield, which took around 1 hour. Nicknamed the “Town of Murals” there are so many vibrant paintings dotted around the town that depict the region’s rich history, natural beauty, and local culture. We grabbed a coffee and enjoyed the outdoor artworks
Alternatively, the town is nestled in the foothills of Mount Roland. This means there are plenty hiking opportunities at its nearby conservation area and Lake Barrington or you can hike to the summit of Mount Roland if you’re feeling adventurous. Walking time takes from three to five hours return.
Stay: Old Mac’s Farm – Launceston | $35.00 powered
This was hands down our favourite campsite from our entire 7 days in Tasmania. If we could, we would have spent two or three nights here as it was surprisingly cheap and so much to see.
As the name describes there are farm animals on the campsite which was a definite highlight for our duck obsessed daughter. There is also a cafe on the hill which we didn’t get a chance to try but would be perfect for breakfast before a big drive.
Fees are $20 per night per caravan/motorhome for unpowered camping or powered sites we paid $35 for a powered site. Note, tents are not permitted. There are toilets adjacent to the powered sites, but no showers.
Day 5: Launceston to Bay of Fires
Total drive time 2hrs 50mins
Morning: Cataract Gorge Reserve
On day 5 of our Tasmania itinerary we had planned to spend the morning at Cataract Gorge reserve. It is a recreational hub perfect for picnics, an outdoor pool and hiking trails.
The First Basin pool is only open in the Summer months from November to March but you can still visit the walking tracks, the world’s longest single-span chairlift, enjoy a Cataract Gorge cruise, dine at the nearby cafes and photograph the iconic suspension bridge with spectacular views all year round.
You may even spot a peacock or two wandering about! As we woke up to torrential rain, we decided to skip our visit and continue the drive to the East Coast.
Afternoon: Bay Of Fires
From Launceston to Binalong Bay took around 2 hours 15 minutes. Once we arrived, we were SO glad we skipped Cataract Gorge as we were greeted by blue skies and one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The sands here were powdery white and the water a tropical blue.
It was hard to believe we went from hiking through puddles at Cradle Mountain in our waterproofs to swimming in the sea at Binalong Bay within 24 hours! We then decided to spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful beaches up to the Bay of Fires since the sunshine was (finally!) on our side.
Highlights from our Bay of Fires road trip were:
Jeanneret Beach: It is only a 10 minute drive from Binalong Bay to Jeanneret Beach. It genuinely looks like a beach from the Maldives, absolute paradise – even in Autumn. Our photos really do not do it justice! If you fancied you could spend night 5 of your Tasmania itinerary here as there is a small camping area that’s free of charge.
Swimcart Beach: It essentially neighbours Jeanneret Beach so is only a short drive up the road. You can also camp for free here however it is best for self contained only. Like Jeanneret Beach it can get crowded in the Summer months but we found it super quiet during our visit in April.
Taylors Beach: Just 5 minutes up the road from Swimcart beach, you’ll find Taylors beach. There were only a handful of other visitors on this beach which made it even more incredible. Expect white sand and turquoise waters. The waves were a little wild to swim in during our visit but perfect for a paddle.
The Gardens: Five minutes up the coast we then arrived at The Gardens where you can explore the Bay of Fires Conservation Area, home to the iconic orange rocks.
Stay: Big 4 St Helens Holiday Park: $ per night
The drive was then only 25 minutes back down the coast from The Gardens to St Helens. We picked up some local cheese, wine and nibbles in St Helens before deciding where to camp that night.
Although there were many free campsites dotted along the coast, after no showers the night before we needed somewhere to freshen up and also top up water etc. Although it was quite busy and a huge site, we found the Big 4 St Helens Holiday Park very family friendly and just 300 meters from the waterfront of St Helens.
The showers and toilets were some of the best we’d come across during our 7 days in Tasmania and there was so much for little ones to do. The site is also a mountain bike base, so it’s ideal if you’re travelling Tasmania on two wheels.
Day 6: St Helens to Freycinet National Park
Total drive time: 2hrs 15mins
Morning: East Coast Nature World, Bicheno
No 7 days in Tasmania itinerary would be complete without ticking Tasmanian Devils off the bucket list! Thankfully, we found the perfect place to see not only Tasmanian devils, but also kangaroos and wombats roaming free – East Coast Nature World. From St Helens it was around a 50 minute drive.
Needless to say, we LOVED every minute of this adorable animal sanctuary. From wombats to wallabies, the animals were free to roam the 150 acres of natural bushland. You could also buy animal feed if you wanted to get close with the kangaroos – although (shocker!) our child fed it all to the ducks. There is also a cafe on site where we grabbed a coffee and enjoyed it as we strolled around the park.
- East Coast Nature World Opening Times: Daily 9:30am to 4pm.
- Tickets: Adults $32 Children (3-15 years) $19 Under 3 Free
Lunch: Bicheno
The picturesque town of Bicheno is a beautiful base with lots to see and do if you have time in your Tasmania itinerary.
- Swim & Sandwich at Waubs beach: After East Coast Nature World, the crystal clear waters of Waubs beach caught our eye so we decided to stop here for a swim and a picnic in the van. Despite the glorious sunshine, there was only us and one other couple on the entire beach – another reason to time your Tasmania itinerary for April!
- Penguins: Bicheno is home to around 1000 little penguins and there are different ways to find these fellas in their natural habitat. The most popular way to view the penguins is on a guided tour with Bicheno Penguin Tours. For a crowd free encounter, head to any stretch of coastline between Redbill Beach and the Bicheno Blowhole around sunset. Apparently, the Lobster Shack near the Gulch is a popular penguin meeting place but we unfortunately timed our visit over lunch so had no luck in spotting any.
Governor Island Marine Reserve: While you’re in the area, Governor Island Marine Reserve just off the coast across from the Gulch is one of the best scuba spots in Tasmania. While the water temperature is most comfortable in summer, visibility is better in winter. We had neither the time or the scuba skills so skipped this, but check out guided tours here.
Afternoon: Freycinet National Park
When planning our Tasmania 7 day itinerary, over and over again we were told not to miss Freycinet National Park and that it would be a definite highlight. As we only had an afternoon we opted for the two most popular sights – Honeymoon Bay and Wineglass Bay. Needless to say we were blown away and we urge you not to skip this region from your Tasmania itinerary.
Honeymoon Bay
From Bicheno to Honeymoon Bay was approximately a 35 minute drive. Although tiny, this secluded little bay is beautiful and the perfect spot for a paddle, snorkel and photo opportunities. You can also camp nearby depending on the time of year as it’s super popular. During the Summer months they use a ballot system, otherwise it’s first come first served. During our visit the car park was busy as it was afternoon, but the beach itself was quiet.
Wineglass Bay
We arrived at Wineglass Bay Lookout around 3pm and very nearly decided against the hike to the lookout as we thought it would be too late in the day. We spotted a parent just finishing and asked how long it took and she explained we’d manage it in around 2 hours with Ruby in the backpack.
We are SO glad we decided to go for it! Not only did it take less than 2 hours, the views were incredible and it was one of our favourite hikes we did during our entire 7 days in Tasmania. If you have more time on your hands (and not a toddler on your back!) then we’d highly recommend spending more time here and hiking down to the beach itself. Hiking not your vibe? You can also access Wineglass Bay via boat on a relaxing cruise from Coles Bay. This adults only tour from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay complete with lunch and wine also sounds amazing!
Ice Creamery Coles Bay
As a tip, the Ice Creamery in Coles Bay is the perfect treat after your hike (around a 10 minute drive from the Wineglass Bay hike car park) or better yet, head next door for fish and chips.
We’d heard lavender ice cream was particularly popular in Tasmania and this allowed us our first chance to try it. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful views over Coles Bay before hopping back in the van to our campsite for our penultimate night of our Tasmania itinerary.
Stay: BIG4 Iluka Holiday Park | $45.00 powered
The Big4 Iluka Holiday Park was just a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk from the ice cream shop. We arrived to find the most incredible sunset so hopped straight out the van to Muirs Beach across the road where we watched the sun set over the shore.
We paid $45 for a powered site, again the toilets and showers were amazing and there was a playground for kids to enjoy. There was also a restaurant/tavern on site which is perfect for beers after a busy day or coffee the next morning.
Day 7 : Freycinet to Hobart
Total drive time 2hrs 45mins
MONA, Hobart
We left our campsite around 9am, drove 2.5 hours to Hobart. We grabbed a salad from Kinoko Deli as we had time to kill before our ferry but there are so many great cafes, street food vendors and restaurants surrounding the docks that you’ll be spoiled for choice.
As mentioned, you could visit the MONA on the first day of your Tasmania Itinerary, but we saved it until last in order to squeeze in the Salamanca Markets. We have SO much to say about this museum, it really is like no other place we’ve ever been to. From the ferry ride where the seats are sheep to the gallery itself carved into a cliff – words cannot describe how insane it is.
After the museum we enjoyed a beer on the rooftop before the ferry back to Hobart.
- MONA opening times: Friday – Monday 10am – 5pm (this varies depending on season)
- Tickets: Adults are $38 each $32 concession, $15 for under 18s and free for under 12s.
- Ferry: The Ferry leaves Brooke Street Pier and Cost $28 each. You can also do the “posh pit” which includes free drinks and nibbles for the duration.
This tour includes a scenic drive from Hobart to the summit of Mt Wellington plus travel to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) before returning to Hobart by ferry.
Stay : Discovery Parks Hobart | $75.00 powered
We booked this Discovery Parks campsite as it was only a 20 minute drive to the airport which was ideal for returning our van first thing the following morning.
For $75 the site was basic and compact but you’re paying for the convenience of the location. There was a small playpark, fire pit and hot showers/bathrooms as well as a TV room. We also met the cutest wee wallaby outside our van which made the last night of our Tasmania itinerary one to remember.
DAY 8: Hobart to Airport
Sadly our 7 days in Tasmania were over. After breakfast we headed straight to the airport, returned the van and hopped onboard the 10:30am flight back to Melbourne.
We hope you found this Tasmania itinerary useful and you’re now armed with tips and things to do to make the most of your time. Although we don’t feel 7 days in Tasmania was nearly enough (we wish we could have stayed at least a month!) it allowed us to enjoy the highlights, and now you can too!
