12 days · Coast + Wine
Southern Wine Coast
MELGT OCEAN RDADL
10 days · Slow Loop
Tasmania Slow Loop
HBACRADLE MTNFREYCINETLST
The one route on this page with no internal flights — a self-drive loop, cooler weather, and a genuinely different pace than the mainland.
- Length
- 10 days
- Gateway
- Fly in & out Hobart
- Best time
- Nov – Apr (cooler shoulder months either side)
- Pace
- Slow — self-drive loop, no internal flights
This route also runs as a small-group trip — next departure Nov 7, 2026. See group size, price and the full 2026 schedule →
Planning a Tasmania road trip itinerary
Tasmania is the one Australia itinerary on this site that doesn't need a single internal flight — a loop out of Hobart and back, at a genuinely slower pace than the mainland routes.
Best time for a Tasmania road trip
November through April avoids the coldest months, though Tasmania's weather shifts fast regardless of season — pack a real layer even for a summer loop, especially for the altitude at Cradle Mountain.
Do you need a 4WD in Tasmania?
No — every stop on this route is reachable by a standard rental car on sealed roads. The driving is slower than the distances suggest, not because the roads are rough, but because they're narrow and winding by mainland standards.
Is 10 days enough for Tasmania?
Ten days covers Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Launceston without feeling rushed. Add more time here rather than less if wildlife-watching at dusk near Cradle Mountain is a priority — it rewards patience over a tight schedule.
Day by day
The full route
One car, one loop, back where you started — the simplest logistics of any route here.
Days 1–2
Hobart
MONA by ferry, Salamanca Market if it lands on a Saturday, and the drive up Mount Wellington for a clear-day view over the whole city.
Days 3–5
Cradle Mountain
The Dove Lake circuit walk, sections of the Overland Track as day-walks rather than the full six-day version, and genuinely good odds of spotting wombats at dusk near the visitor centre.
Days 6–7
Freycinet
The walk up to the Wineglass Bay lookout, then down to the beach itself if legs allow. Coles Bay makes a quiet base for both nights.
Days 8–10
Launceston & the drive back
Cataract Gorge on foot from town, a Tamar Valley cellar door or two on the way through, then fly out of Launceston or loop back to Hobart.
Worth knowing
Before you go on this one
- Weather
- Tasmania's weather changes fast regardless of season — pack a real layer even in summer, especially at Cradle Mountain's altitude.
- Driving
- Roads are narrow and winding by mainland standards — the distances look short on a map but take longer than they suggest.
- Wildlife at dusk
- Same rule as the mainland — wombats and pademelons are genuinely common on rural roads at dawn and dusk.
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