Travel in Tasmania

Travel in Tasmania

I was born and raised in Hobart, and for the last 20 years have designed and delivered interesting trips to Tassie that show visitors its unique and unusual aspects.
In these Posts I will blend history, geography and current activities to help you gain some perspective on Tasmania before you arrive.
Tasmania has only matured as a destination over the last 10 years. Before this it was regarded as a bit of a backwater. Today it is enjoying a well earned reputation as a great place to spend a very interesting 10 days of your life (more or less is fine, too).
I will assume you are interested in visiting Tassie. Getting here is simple: you either fly (usually to Hobart or Launceston) or travel on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry from Melbourne to Devonport. It is possible to ferry one way and fly the other if you are not taking your own car.

How Big is Tasmania?

It is 200 Kms from Hobart to Launceston and the drive takes about 2 1/2 hours without hurrying or stopping. Hobart to Cradle Mountain is about 300 Kms and takes about 4 1/2 hours.
Cradle Mountain to Strahan is about 4 hours, longer elapsed time if you stop and look around any of the old mining towns enroute. Allow about 5 hours to drive back to Hobart. These drive maps will help throw things into focus:

List of Tasmania Self Drive Itinerary Maps for Travel in Tasmania

> Drive Map Hobart to Port Arthur | > Drive Map Port Arthur to Freycinet
> Drive Map Freycinet to Launceston | > Drive Map Cradle Mountain to Strahan
> Drive Map Stanley to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Launceston to Stanley
> Drive Map Launceston to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Strahan to Hobart

While travel in Tasmania is not difficult, it is easy to misjudge the timing and find you still have 2 or 3 hours driving to your next accommodation at 6 in the evening.
If you are coming to Tasmania as an overseas visitor, please look at Australian.com