Thinking of travelling Tasmanian in a campervan? This guide covers everything you need to know from costs to campsites, highlights to hidden gems.
It’s no secret campervanning in Tasmania has become incredibly popular but, it’s not as easy as Instagram makes it out to be. While this enchanting Australian island offers insane scenery, friendly locals and bucket list adventures you’ll also be contending with unique wildlife, unpredictable weather and a rural infrastructure.
With our guide however, you’ll be well equipped with everything you need for a safe and successful time travelling Tasmania in a campervan. From packing lists to National Park passes, vehicle rental tips to a detailed road trip itinerary – we’ve got you covered!
WHY TRAVEL TASMANIA IN A CAMPERVAN
We loved campervanning in Tasmania for the flexibility and freedom, but it’s not for everyone. Undecided if a Tasmania road trip is for you? Here are our top reasons why we decided a driving holiday in Tasmania was the best way to see this incredible island.
- Breathtaking Scenery: Tasmania is known for its stunning landscapes, from pristine beaches to rugged mountains. After travelling New Zealand in a campervan, we found the scenery very similar. By travelling Tasmania in a campervan, you can soak in the beauty at your own pace.
- Wildlife Encounters: You can’t shout at a bus driver to stop every time you spot a wallaby or wombat – you can when you’re the one behind the wheel! You’ll find unique wildlife like Tasmanian devils, wallabies, and even platypus dotted all over the island. We’ll never forget doing the washing up in our van watching wallabies hop around outside near Cradle Mountain.
- Iconic Landmarks: Despite being a small island (around the size of Ireland) there is no shortage of iconic landmarks. A few faves include Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, and the Bay of Fires. All of which are accessible with a campervan (less so by public transport) and the majority have campsites nearby.
- Culinary Delights: As well as stopping every time you spot a fluffy friend, campervanning in Tasmania means you can explore the local food and wine scene on your own terms too. You’ll have the freedom to stop at wineries, farm shops, and seafood shacks whenever you fancy. We also LOVE cooking in a campervan so much we created an entire cookbook dedicated to it. It’s not only fun, but it saves some serious dollar instead of dining out for every meal which you’d need to do if you’ve planned your road trip in Tasmania by car.
- Outdoor Adventures: This was the number one reason we chose to travel Tasmania in a campervan – the outdoors! Whether it’s hiking, biking, or water sports, Tassie is famed for its outdoor activities. Not only was it easier to access these beauty spots in a van, but it meant we could keep our hiking boots, waterproofs etc. on hand at all times and not be dragging heavy backpacks on and off public transport.
- Remote Beauty: on the topic of outdoor adventures, it’s impossible to head off the beaten path on a bus or train. Exploring remote locations and hidden gems that public transport can’t reach is one of the best ways to truly get to know a destination.
7. Picturesque Drives: We are not strangers to epic road trips – we adored the Great Ocean Road in Australia and Te Anua to Milford Sound in New Zealand however, Tasmania offers some of Australia’s most scenic drives, like the Great Eastern Drive along the east coast or the Tarkine Drive in the northwest.
8. Freedom and Flexibility: With a campervan, you have the freedom to change your plans last minute. If you stumble upon a picturesque spot, you can stay the night without needing to book accommodation in advance. Travelling with a car may require you to stick to a fixed itinerary and book accommodations in advance, limiting your spontaneity.
9. Local Interaction: Another reason we loved campervanning in Tasmania – the locals! Not only are they super helpful with recommendations, shortcuts and hidden gems but it offers a more powerful insight into the local culture.
10. Family Friendly: Our road trip in Tasmania was our toddler’s first taste of van life and we found it SO much easier than expected. A campervan meant more space for naps, we could cook wherever and whenever she got hangry and we always had toys, snacks, outfit changes on hand. Campsites are also very family friendly with the majority offering laundry and kitchen facilities as well as hot showers, playgrounds and activities. Checking in and out of hotels (on time!), paying for and setting up travel cots and finding baby friendly restaurants on the road would add a whole different level of stress. The constant fresh air also means she slept better in a campervan than she ever has at home *sells house for a campervan ASAP*
11. Epic Campsites: We LOVED camping in Australia so couldn’t wait to hop over to Tassie to explore it on four wheels too. We found it was cheaper travelling Tasmania in a campervan than hiring a car + booking accommodation as you’ll be travelling with your bedroom & kitchen on wheels! Free camping is common and campsites are incredibly well equipped and affordable, saving you money on hotels or Airbnbs.
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR CAMPERVANNING IN TASMANIA
This completely depends on personal preference – to us, there is no “bad” time to travel Tasmania in a campervan. Many would argue that during the austral summer, from December to February is the best time due to warmer temperatures, more hours of daylight and ideal conditions for outdoor adventures.
However, this is peak season for tourists as well as locals. It’s when the school holidays are so accommodation, vehicle rental and campsite costs are higher. Some campsites also introduce a ballot system in the summer months or need to be booked well in advance so for us, this limits the spontaneity that van life offers.
If you crave a crowd free experience that’s a little more budget friendly, aim to go campervanning in Tasmania during the shoulder seasons of spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May).
We opted for April, and found the weather was still pleasant (although a little drizzly) campsites, hikes and beaches were quiet and prices more reasonable. This includes flights, ferries, van rental and tour tickets all proving cheaper and easier to book last minute in comparison to Summer.
WHERE TO HIRE A CAMPERVAN IN TASMANIA
Step 1: Hire from Tassie or Melbourne
There are two options you need to consider when researching campervan hire in Tasmania.
- Option 1: Hire your van in Victoria then take it across on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry between Geelong and Devonport.
- Option 2: Fly (or ferry) across, then hire your campervan once you arrive in Tassie.
The cost and convenience of these options will depend on the season. For us – travelling in April – we found it was much cheaper to fly from Melbourne to Hobart, then pick up a campervan at the airport in Hobart.
You can also hire campervans from Launceston if you’re flying into there instead or from Devonport if you’re taking the Tasmania ferry.
Step 2: Compare Online
We used Motorhome republic to find the best prices for campervan hire in Tasmania.
In both New Zealand and Australia we have previously used Travellers Autobarn for campervan hire and cannot recommend them enough. Their customer service is incredible, vans are well equipped and reliable and they offered the best price we could find after weeks and weeks of searching.
However, for campervanning in Tasmania we found Cheapa Campa (owned by Apollo) to have the best deal for our dates.
Step 3: Book (with a sneaky Discount Tip!)
Once you have done your own research online, we then recommend you take your quote to a third party. For our Tasmania road trip, we took our quote to Rat Pack travel. They are Aussie experts when it comes to campervan hire (and travelling Australia in general) so we asked them if they could beat the online price. They did! Better yet, they saved us over $100.
Motorhome Republic also offer a price beat promise where if you find a lower price, they’ll beat it by $150 so it pays to be a little cheeky and always ensure its the best price available.
FUEL UP BEFORE YOU SET OFF
Download The Ultimate Cooking in a Campervan Cookbook
- Recipes with ideas for breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Digital E-book so you can download instantly
- Use offline on your phone, tablet, laptop or print off
- Recipe ideas without the need for bulky cookbooks or Wi-Fi
Price: £7.99
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL TASMANIA IN A CAMPERVAN
We really struggled to find an honest breakdown of costs for travelling Tasmania in a campervan so, we took note of every penny we spent to help you guys out (not all heroes wear capes, huh?)
We will be honest, you could definitely do this cheaper if you missed out the major tourist attractions and rented off peak but as a guide, we spent:
HIRE: $150 per day
This will depend on the size of your campervan, time of year, duration of your trip and additional extras such as bedding packs etc. This is what we paid for a 3 berth, high top campervan in April. Find best prices here.
FUEL: $2 per Litre
Obviously the price of fuel will go up and down however, we used a few handy apps and websites that can help find cheap fuel near you. For example:
- Fuelprice.io Shares fuel prices in pretty much real time for 9,700 petrol stations across 230 Australian towns/cities.
- Fuel Map shows gas stations nearby as well as prices. You can also track daily fuel usage, like a diary if you’re nerdy about that sorta stuff.
CAMPSITES: $0 – $85 per night
If you plan on campervanning Tasmania on a budget and you’re self contained you could technically free camp your entire trip. For us, travelling with a toddler we needed a few home comforts like hot showers and laundry facilities which meant using paid campsites.
It’s cheaper to camp in the National Park Campsites, for example Mt Field National Park was only $20 and still had hot showers, camp kitchen, laundry etc. Then campsites near major attractions or in cities will be much more expensive.
For example, Discovery Parks own the nearest campsite to Cradle Mountain (and there is only one campsite here) so it is $85 per night! We also camped in Hobart just 20 minutes from the airport which was $75 per night.
PARKS PASS: $89 for 2 months
If you plan on campervanning in Tasmania it is essential you purchase a Parks Pass to enter all of the National Parks for the duration of your trip. We’ll explain the options later in this guide, but the best value for money for us was the “Holiday Pass” which was $89 for 2 months.
FOOD / DRINKS: $150 per week
If you’re trying to keep costs down, we highly recommend making a weekly meal plan (using our camping food list) then do a big shop when you pick up your van. You’ll struggle to find larger supermarkets like Woolworths, Aldi or Coles outwith the major destinations. Our food shop averaged $150 a week for three people. This included breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We did eat out a few times and there’s no denying our shiraz and cheese expense got a little out of hand some days.
ACTIVITIES: $0-$unlimited
Again, you could keep these costs super low, as one of the many joys of travelling Tasmania in a campervan is that the majority of activities are free – beaches, hikes, wildlife watching etc. However, we paid for some iconic activities that were all incredible value for money and worth the added expense. This includes:
- Gordon River Cruise: Around $320 for 2 people (all day, included lunch) – toddler was free.
- East Coast Nature World: Approx $30pp – toddler free.
- MONA in Hobart: $35pp entry fee + $25pp for return ferry.
Budget Tips for Campervanning in Tasmania
- Avoid one-way hire: If you can, try planning your Tasmania campervan road trip in a loop as it’s usually cheaper to pick up and drop off from the same place. Most companies charge extra for a ‘one-way’ hire.
- Start in Hobart: This will depend where you’re travelling from, but as we were coming from Melbourne we played around with many route options, dates and starting points and found over and over again picking up and dropping off in Hobart was cheaper than Launceston or Devonport. We also found this had the most campervan rental options which made pricing more competitive.
- Ferry prices: As mentioned, it may be cheaper to hire a campervan in Victoria then take it on the ferry. Always double check the your insurance small print as not all rental companies allow you to do this.
- Cook your own meals: Think five star dining isn’t possible on four wheels? Think again. Check out our vegetarian camping meals and one pot camping recipes to save some serious dollar dining out.
- Tolls: There are no toll roads in Tasmania, so you won’t need to worry about toll fees during your road trip which caught us out big time when we were travelling mainland Australia in a campervan.
- Relocation: If you are short on time and budget, look into campervan relocation. For as little as $1 a day you can relocate vehicles for hire companies!
- Save on Fuel: Some supermarkets offer a discount off your fuel if you spend over a certain amount. For example, Woolworths offer 4c off per litre at Ampol when you spent $30 or more on a groceries.
PLANNING THE PERFECT ITINERARY FOR TASMANIA IN A CAMPERVAN
We won’t lie, this is the hardest (although the most fun) part – deciding where to go campervanning in Tasmania. It can feel overwhelming as there is SO much to see and do. Our top tip would be don’t feel pressured to do it all. You’ll feel rushed and exhausted.
When campervanning in Tasmania (or anywhere!) by all means visit the highlights but the many joys of van life is creating your own adventure and heading off the beaten track. Leave some wiggle room for you to get lost, meet people and find your own hidden gems.
Before we get to the juicy details of our itinerary, there are a few points to consider when planning a route for Tasmania in a campervan:
Where to start your Tasmania campervan trip
Deciding where to begin your Tasmania campervan trip will depend on whether you fly or get the ferry. We recommend starting in Hobart, but you could also start in Launceston or Devonport. Then decide clockwise or anti-clockwise from there.
We chose to do the West Coast first as we knew the weather was going to be wetter there so wanted to end our road trip in the sunshine. We also knew there was more we wanted to see/do on the East Coast so we did the West first, to allow more time on the East.
How long do you need for campervanning in Tasmania?
FOREVER. You might think I’m joking, but the minute you sit behind that wheel or sleep under the stars you will quickly start googling vans for sale and writing your resignation letter for a lifetime on the road.
At an absolute minimum we recommend 7 days. This will give you just enough time to hit the highlights and do a full lap of the island.
To keep it relaxed instead of rushed, ideally you don’t want to drive more than 100-200km a day. This means most people opt for 10-14 days but for us, a month would’ve been the perfect amount of time to travel Tasmania in a campervan.
What are the main highlights on a tour of Tasmania?
When campervanning in Tasmania we recommend you do a full lap, not only so you see the entire island but because it will work out cheaper for campervan hire if you drop off your van in the same place you picked it up.
Although there is so much to see and do, as a general guide the main highlights (with driving distances) are as follows:
- Start: Hobart > Mt Field (80km)
- Mt Field > Strahan (250 km)
- Strahan > Cradle Mountain (140km)
- Cradle Mountain > Stanley (410 km)
- Stanley > Launceston (235km)
- Launceston > Bingalong Bay/Bay of Fires (240km)
- Bay of Fires > Coles Bay/Freycinet National Park (130km)
- Coles Bay > Port Arthur (240km)
- End: Port Arthur > Hobart (110km)
During our 7 days in Tasmania we had to skip Stanley and head from Cradle Mountain to Launceston. We then headed straight from Coles Bay to Hobart, skipping Port Arthur.
TASMANIA CAMPERVAN ITINERARY
When we picked up our van in Hobart, we got chatting to a couple who had just spent 5 weeks travelling Tasmania in a campervan and could have happily stayed much longer. After our own road trip, we completely understand why!
This is a very brief overview of our Tasmania campervan itinerary. We covered the main attractions in 7 days but wished we had more time to visit Bruny Island, Port Arthur and Stanley.
Day 1: Hobart > Mt Field National Park
Highlights
- Salamanca markets on every Saturday 8:30am – 3:00pm. You’ll find over 300 stalls with delicious street food, artisans, breweries and producers.
- Mount Wellington: Drive or hike up to the summit for stunning panoramic views of Hobart. It’s especially breathtaking at sunrise or sunset.
Stay: Mount Field National Park Campsite | $20.00 powered site
Day 2: Mt Field National Park > Lake St Clair > Strahan
Highlights
- Hiking Mt Field National Park: Hikes for all abilities including Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Tall Trees and Lady Barron Falls.
- Lake St Clair: Not only is it Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, but Lake St Clair is actually the end point for Tasmania’s iconic Overland Track and a beautiful picnic spot for food and photos.
Stay: Strahan Beach Holiday Park | $50.00 powered site
Day 3: Strahan > Gordon River Cruise > Cradle Mountain
Highlights
- Gordon River Cruise: Depart Strahan 8:30am for an all day river cruise including lunch and visits to Hell’s Gate, Heritage Landing and Sarah Island.
Stay: Cradle Mountain Holiday Park | $85.00 powered site (Top Tip: if you plan on an early start for visiting Cradle Mountain the following day, this is the only campsite – hence the pricetag!)
- 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
Day 4: Cradle Mountain > Sheffield > Launceston
- Hiking at Cradle Mountain: There are over 20 different walking tracks around Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake, ranging from 20 minutes to 9 hours. We particularly enjoyed the Dove Lake Circuit (takes around 2 hours) as it was easy with a toddler in the backpack but still offered impressive views.
Stay: Old Mac’s Farm – Launceston | $35.00 powered
Day 5: Launceston > Bay of Fires > St Helens
Highlights
- Best of the Beaches: We had a swim in the sea at Binalong Bay then headed up to Jeanneret Beach (literally, paradise + there is a free campsite) followed by Swimcart Beach (neighbours Jeanneret Beach, also free to camp here) and finished with Taylors Beach (picture perfect white sand and turquoise waters)
- Bay of Fires Conservation Area: home to the iconic orange rocks and more beautiful beaches.
Stay: Big 4 St Helens Holiday Park: $44 per night
Day 6: St Helens > Bicheno > Freycinet National Park
- East Coast Nature World, Bicheno: You cannot go campervanning in Tasmania without seeing a Tasmanian Devil. East Coast Nature World is an adorable animal sanctuary where you’ll see Tasmanian devils, kangaroos and wombats roaming free among other native animals.
- Freycinet National Park: Visit Honeymoon Bay the perfect spot for a paddle, snorkel and photo opportunities. Then we hiked to the Wineglass Bay viewpoint which offered insanely beautiful views. A definite highlight from our Tasmania road trip. Hiking not your vibe? This adults only tour from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay complete with lunch and wine sounds amazing! If we’d had more time, we would’ve also considered visiting Wineglass Bay on a relaxing cruise from Coles Bay.
Stay: BIG4 Iluka Holiday Park | $45.00 powered
Day 7: Freycinet National Park > MONA, Hobart
Highlights
- MONA, Hobart: A definite highlight from our time campervanning in Tasmania. Whether you do it on your first or last day of your road trip, visit the MONA! From the ferry ride where the seats are sheep to the gallery itself carved into a cliff – words cannot describe how insane it is.
Stay : Discovery Parks Hobart | $75.00 powered (Top Tip: If you’re campervanning in Tasmania this is a great site for the start or end of your trip as it is only a 20 minute drive from the airport) It meant we could then get up early and head to the airport the next day.
PERMITS & PASSES FOR CAMPERVANNING IN TASMANIA
As the island is 40% national parks it would be pretty impossible to go campervanning in Tasmania without a parks pass. It is essential you display your parks pass on your van in order to enter the national parks.
There are various options depending on the duration of your stay and if you plan visiting all parks or just a single park. You can purchase passes per vehicle, or per person if you are travelling by bus, motorbike, bike or on foot instead.
Please do not try and skip this small fee. The money raised from park fees are reinvested into the parks and pay for maintenance and upgrades of the visitor facilities such as walking tracks, toilets and visitor centres. Failing to display a valid pass may also result in prosecution.
Daily Pass – 24 Hours
You could purchase a daily pass which allows entry to national parks for a 24 hour period. This costs approximately $45 per day, per vehicle (Up to 8 people) – excluding Cradle Mountain.
Cradle Mountain Daily Pass – 24 hours
You will need a specific daily pass for Cradle Mountain, called an Icon Daily Pass which can be purchased from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center. This pass is charged per person, not per vehicle. This costs approximately $28 per adult and $12 for 5 -17 year olds. It also includes the Cradle Mountain Shuttle Bus service.
Holiday Pass – Up to 2 months
If you plan on campervanning in Tasmania, do not bother with a daily pass. We found it far more cost effective to buy a holiday pass. This cost only $89 for up to 2 months, so it lasted the duration of our trip.
Annual Parks Pass – Up to 1 year
If you plan on travelling Tasmania in a campervan for more than 2 months, purchase an annual parks pass. This costs just $95 (so only $6 for 10 months more than the holiday pass!) and permits access to all national parks for up to 12 months.
How to Buy a Tasmania Parks Pass
Applying for or renewing a parks pass takes around 15 minutes and can be done online – here. We did this before our Tasmania campervan trip, then simply printed the PDF and displayed it on our windshield.
Alternatively, you can purchase your parks pass when you arrive from the following places:
- National Park visitor centres
- At your nearest service centre
- Most accredited Tasmanian Travel Information Centres
- Onboard the Spirit of Tasmania ferry
WHERE TO STAY WITH A CAMPERVAN IN TASMANIA
Free Camping
Free camping in Tasmania is easy to do, as long as you’re self contained. You’ll find free campsites in picturesque areas such as beaches, near lakes or in the heart of the forest.
However, you’ll also find some pubs and hotels allow campervans to pitch up overnight in their carparks for free. Not so Insta-worthy, but does mean the money you’ve saved on a campsite, can be spent on a local business (and beer!) instead.
Parks Tasmania
Your next budget friendly option would be the national park camping grounds. These are maintained by Parks Tasmania and are dotted all over the island.
Prices range from free – $30 per night, noting the majority are for self-contained campervans or tents only and won’t have power. These campsites however usually do have toilets, camp kitchens and basic laundry facilities, which are hard to find when free camping.
The other bonus is that they are usually in the most beautiful locations, so are well worth utilising if you’re looking for budget friendly campsites when travelling Tasmania in a campervan.
Paid Campsites/Holiday Parks
The most expensive option is then Holiday Parks or privately owned campsites. The main holiday park chains are Big4 and Discovery Parks – you’ll find these near all major attractions or towns.
While these campsites are more expensive, it is usually because of there convenient location or the facilities on offer. You can expect on site shops, restaurants, playgrounds, hot showers and well equipped kitchens. We’ve even came across holiday parks with swimming pools, bike rental and games rooms.
As we were campervanning Tasmania with a toddler, we found holiday parks were ideal for those home comforts that make life a little easier.
HOW TO FIND CAMPSITES WHEN TRAVELLING TASMANIA IN A CAMPERVAN
Whether you’re a book-on-the-day type of person, or prefer to plan an itinerary well in advance, these are our 4 tried & tested methods for finding clean, safe and affordable places to sleep each night.
If you prefer, take a peek at our in depth video below which explains each of these methods in detail as well as a few favourite hacks we used for finding campsites while campervanning in Tasmania.
1. Use Camping Apps
When travelling Tasmania in a campervan, these apps won’t just help you find campsites but also hot showers, water points, petrol stations, toilets and more:
2. Ask Locals
If there was one thing we learned from camping in Australia its that the best campsites are the ones that only locals know about.
By popping in to local coffee shops, chatting with dog walkers, or simply asking your camping neighbour where they’re headed next you are bound to learn a tip or two about the local area and where your next night’s sleep will be.
When travelling Tasmania in a campervan, don’t be scared to ask a local as they’re the best source of information, from shortcuts to stargazing spots, hikes to hidden gems.
3. Facebook
This is another great resource as these groups are used by locals and tourists alike so you can post asking for recommendations, or search for a specific area. Facebook can be useful for the most up to date information too as users post in real time, unlike on apps which can take a while to publish and update.
As well as campsite recommendations, these groups are great for sharing road closures, bush fires, opening times and more:
4. Books
Apologies, Millenials you may roll your eyes but internet or phone coverage can be extremely limited at times when campervaning Tasmania. That’s why we recommend keeping an Australia camping guide like the one below handy so you have a back up when your phone battery dies or you’re stranded without signal and sleeping arrangements.
Book detailing campsites of Australia.
WHAT TO PACK FOR CAMPERVANNING IN TASMANIA
Generally, most rental campervans come equipped with the basics such as bedding, utensils and kitchen equipment. However, these are the essentials that saved us money, time and stress when travelling Tasmania in a campervan.
1. Head Torch
We’ve found so many camping packing lists miss out a head torch. Have you ever tried holding a torch for someone else as they pee in the dark? It isn’t sexy. It’s also ideal for the more romantic stuff like cooking under the stars or sunrise hikes.
LED USB rechargeable head torch.
2. Portable Speaker
Good tunes make everything better including your navigation and cooking schools. We also couldn’t have survived our Tassie campervan trip without our speaking blasting baby shark for our toddler 24/7.
Why not purchase an eco-friendly bamboo Bluetooth speaker from Amazon now?
3. Coffee Grinder / Nanopresso
Switch those wasteful takeaway coffees and make your own barista worthy coffee in your van instead! Not only will this help you save money (and the planet!) but we actually bring ours to music festivals when we’re camping there too. Yes, we’re that old.
Wacaco nanopresso portable espresso maker bundled with protective case.
4. Fairy Lights
Whether you’re parked outside a pub or you’ve just had a screaming match over the sat nav, fairy lights can make anywhere feel cute.
Warm white battery powered fairy lights
5. Camping Chairs
We found when campervanning in Tasmania, most rental companies will supply these. If not, you can pick some up quite easily.
Extra large padded folding outdoor camping chair with bag.
6. Portable Charger
If you don’t plan on using powered sites very often, this is an absolute essential for travelling Tasmania in a campervan. This is the best one we have ever used (still going strong 5 years since we bought it!) You only need to charge it once, then it lasts around 1 week – 7 full charges of a mobile phone. It can also be used to charge Go Pro & drone batteries!
Anker PowerCore 20100mAh portable charger.
7. Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
As well as a working mobile phone, you may need Wi-Fi for booking activities, campsites and finding directions. We recommend this one in particular as it can be used in almost any country and is open to all operators SIM cards – perfect for more road trip adventure. Just grab a local data SIM and connect your devices.
E5577Cs-321 4G LTE mobile WiFi hotspot.
8. Insect Spray
The creepy crawlies can legit make or break your trip. Whether it’s ticks, flies or mossies – no one wants to be kept awake itching! You might want to invest in ant spray too as they are horrendous for invading backpacks and campervans (some campervan hires come with).
100% deet mosquito, tick and insect repellent.
Download our Free Road Trip Packing List
Feeling organised? Download our free road trip packing list so you can tick off the items as you travel. This interactive PDF checklist works on both mobile and desktop so you’ll never leave home without a road trip essential again! Check out our other free downloadable tools such as our budget tracker and camping checklist on our resources page.
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MEAL IDEAS FOR TRAVELLING TASMANIA IN A CAMPERVAN
It’s no secret a campervan holiday in Tasmania is expensive. That’s why we try to save as much money as possible by getting creative in our wee kitchen on wheels. Lucky for you, we have SO many guides and top tips to help you save money on campervan cooking all while ensuring you are not limited to boring pasta.
You’ll find most campsites have kitchens, but if you only have a one-ring camping stove our recipes are ideal. They cater to those those limited on time, space and equipment with all meal ideas promising to be quick, cheap and easy.
Not to mention we have an entire cookbook you can download and use offline to save you scrolling the internet when hanger strikes!
The Best Camping Recipes
- One Pot Wonders: If like us, you are travelling Tasmania in a campervan with kids or simply only have one ring to cook on, you might appreciate our one pot camping meals – they require minimum ingredients, time and washing up but promise big portions and flavour!
- For Vegetarians: Not all campervans come with refrigerators or a way of storing meat, so we swear by these vegetarian camping recipes. They are all super quick and easy with ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Top Tips: Don’t miss our cooking in a campervan tips with storage ideas, recipe suggestions and more.
- A Recipe for Disaster: If it’s been a rough road trip, enjoy a giggle at our cooking videos on our YouTube. Please be warned these were made after a wine or two in New Zealand so we can’t promise you’ll learn much but it might inspire a camping recipe or two.
TOP TIPS FOR CAMPERVANNING IN TASMANIA
- Stay Left: Drive on the left side of the road, as is the rule in Australia. You also need to park facing the direction of traffic which earned us a cheeky fine as this is not law in the UK!
- Road Conditions: Be prepared for changing road conditions, especially in mountainous areas and rain and fog, especially in coastal areas. Always check for road closures and weather updates before you set off and remember Tasmania’s weather can change quickly.
- Star places on Google Maps: One of our most used apps for backpackers. Star the locations, campsites and hikes we’ve mentioned then you can download the maps to use offline. This will help plan your route saving you time and stress! Ideal when Wi-Fi & signal will be scarce!
- Leave enough time: Although, Google maps will give a driving time, always consider the weather, road conditions (gravel is common in Tassie) as well as the never ending photo/petrol/toilet stops. The most common thing to slow you down when campervanning in Tasmania is other campervans or caravans. Getting stuck behind huge motorhomes can be common, or tourists that are not used to the road so be patient.
- Watch for Wildlife: Tasmania is home to various wildlife that we could bet money on you won’t find at home. Drive cautiously, especially at dawn and dusk, to avoid collisions with these wonderful animals.
- Pull over: As campervanning in Tasmania is so popular, you can understand the locals frustration at being stuck behind tourists regularly on their way to work etc. For this reason, make use of passing places/pull over spots to let those faster moving vehicles past.
- Plan Fuel Stops: As well as the camping apps, don’t forget to download those fuel apps we mentioned earlier (especially for remote areas) so you can plan your fuel stops ahead of time to avoid running low in isolated locations.
- Mobile Coverage: While major towns have good mobile coverage, some remote areas may have limited or no signal. Download maps and directions before your trip.
- Responsible Traveller: It’s vital when travelling Tasmania in a campervan that you are a responsible traveller. Leave campsites as you found them (or even better!) don’t light fires unless permitted, avoid feeding the wildlife and always take your three for the sea. Many roads pass through pristine wilderness areas and National Parks. Respect the environment and follow Leave No Trace principles.
We hope this guide to Tasmania in a campervan has dispelled any doubts, and left no question unanswered. Driving holidays are a choice we keep returning to, now even with our children in tow and it doesn’t get better than a road trip in Tassie. With its untamed beauty, warm-hearted locals, and the chance to fall asleep under the stars, a home on wheels really is the best way to see this island. Let us know in the comments how campervanning in Tasmania goes for you and if you have any top tips we’ve missed!
