Take an island state blessed with natural beauty. Drop in a visitor or two with a rented car, campervan or motorhome. That’s the perfect combination, because although Tassie is relatively small compared with Australia as a whole, it’s not that small. 68,402 sq. km. (26,410 square miles). If it were square, that would be around 260 km each side, and if you’re going to make the most of it, you need to be mobile and independent.
Here are ten options, in no particular order, because it’s not our preferences that count here.
The East Coast Trip
If you flew into Hobart airport, you’re on the east coast, so this is a logical option. You’ll be taking in Freycinet National Park, with its endless variety of flora and fauna, which is enough to keep certain people in the area for a whole week, not to mention the fabulous Wineglass Bay, but if you can drag yourself away, head up to places with alluring names such as Scamander and Bay of Fires. Why is it called that? Get up there and find out.
Hobart to Bruny Island
If you’re into islands, they get cuter as they get smaller, and here you have Bruny, which is off Tasmania, which is off Australia. It’s a natural paradise but with added civilisation, not least in the form of a laidback restaurant scene, plus loads of fresh produce.
Hobart to Dove Lake
Cut across the interior via Cradle Mountain and you’re in the central highlands. Yes, it’s not only Scotland that has highlands, and it can get a bit chilly up here, but that can be a refreshing change, and you’ll soon be back in the sun again.
The Loop: Launceston, Sheffield, Hobart, Coles Bay
If you flew into Launceston, here’s a great one for you, with incredible scenery both wild and agricultural plus restaurants and bars where you can sit and marvel at what you’ve just seen and plan what lies in store next.
The Big Two: Launceston to Hobart
Travel between the capital and the second city, the direction depending on where you arrived, and you’ll get an overall picture of the island that can be achieved in a couple of days at your leisure or less than three hours if you’re short of time. But be warned, you will want to linger along the way.
Launceston to Cradle Mountain
Another fairly short one that can have you relaxing in the splendour of the Tasmanian views while ticking boxes to tell your friends about.
Kunanyi/Mount Wellington
Kunanyi is famous for its running event, one of the most arduous in Australia, but you can enjoy the elevated scenery from the comfort of your campervan. This route is so popular they do bus tours of it, but under your own steam you can take detours, have extended breaks in spots you particularly like and even stay up there overnight if you want to.
The Southern Wine Regions: Coal River and Derwent Valley
This option is not just about gawping at random nature, it’s marvelling at the sort of symmetry that comes about when mankind and the world are working in tandem. Spend all day in one or the other, or knock off both in one fell swoop, which may last several days or a whole week. The views are spectacular, and there’s history all over the place. It’s all about individual ideas of what is worth seeing, and you can take a wine tour, stock up on some samples and find yourself a nice place to stay before getting stuck in.
Tamar Valley including Cataract Gorge
The famous Tamar Valley isn’t all about wine; that’s just the best-known aspect of it. There’s also river cruising and exploring to do, so head down there and do what you feel like doing. It’s the independence thing again.
