Road tripping in Tasmania
Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife and National Parks; if that's what you are looking for, head over to the island state of Tasmania. It's the perfect place to go whether you are a family looking for a vacation or a couple in need for #vacationgoals or even a solo traveller who needs to find himself. Tassie; as they call it, has it all. The eerily quiet Mount Cradle to the loud banter of seals in the Tasman Peninsula, it's a trip to cherish.
By Sea: if you are not short of time and would like the idea of adventure that the Bass Strait has to offer, one could take the many options available to catch a ferry/cruise between Melbourne and Devonport.
Hiring a car is the best possible way to get around Tasmania and to see what the state has to offer. the public transport is barely there and could slow things down if one must choose.
Budget Travelling? I am a vegetarian and a very picky eater at the same time, so imagine the rolling eyes I get everytime I go ask for menu cards and check if certain dishes can be modified. At the same time, as an unsaid rule- we don't spend much on the food in the entire trip but splurge big time on one or two fine dining experiences during the entire leg of the trip. Head to Coles/ Woolworths first thing and stock up with bread, sandwich spread, few veggies, chips and flavoured milk along with your favourite juice.
Launceston is Tasmania's second largest city which will not only mesmerise you with it's stunning architecture but beautiful autumn colours which the century old parks have to offer. The city is known for it's food and wine culture. Launceston's best attraction is the pure wilderness offered by Cataract Gorge right in the heart of the city. The entrance is free.
Drive to Cradle Mountain in the evening which roughly takes about 3 hours to get there.
Overnight at Cradle Mountain
This is what wilderness is all about. We booked a lodge in the middle of Cradle Mountains and were welcomed by a wallaby which perched right in front of our door. There are plenty of hikes and trekking options to take. Lake St. Claire is a must see spot.
PS: make sure to reach the parking spot early morning as it tends to get overly crowded and they do close the parking spot due to unavailability.
Drive to Bicheno takes about 5 hours.
Overnight at Bicheno.
If it's one drive that you must do in Tasmania; it's the East Coast road trip. One could spend days travelling to every nook and corner of this serene drive, but if you are on a tight schedule; here are the must see point of interests on the East coast drive:
I would highly recommend the Tasman Island Cruises in the Tasman Peninsula region. The cruise gives the absolute rush of the boat hitting the high Antarctic waves but there aren't many times that you feel so close to a wildlife that you have only seen on the lies of National Geographic channel. From Albatross to Dolphins and the Sea lions sunbathing on some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia; it's an adventure not to be missed. I booked my Tasman Cruise via the Pennicott Wilderness Journey, be sure to pre-book as they tend to get booked early on. Spend the rest of the day at Port Arthur amidst a slice of history.
You can go fine dining at some of the local restaurants set in the heart of the CBD in Hobart.
Overnight at Hobart.
Mount Wellington gives you the best view of Hobart city and has something in store for everyone. From beautiful hiking trails to Instagram ready Pinnacle Observation Shelter and many waterfalls to explore. Be sure to keep an eye out on the Mount Wellington weather updates from the local authorities. Incase you are one of the few unlucky ones like myself; who had the misfortune to find Mt Wellington closed due to weather, don't lose your hopes and you are in for a bigger surprise destination. Mt Field National Park! It's a bit of a drive further Mt Wellington, but the views are splendid. A rain forest with tall trees, beautiful waterfalls and a trail that reminds you of the Jurassic Park movie. If you are in mood for some off-road adventure; head upto the Lake Dobson which is 16km from the Mt Field National Park visitor centre. Plenty of road signs to guide you up there, be aware that it is a dirt road and is narrow; but totally worth the effort. Plenty of parking spots near the lake.
Overnight at Hobart/ Fly out at night.
Make sure you have a great time.
Fun facts of Tasmania
- One third of the state is covered in reserves and national parks
- It has the cleanest air in the world
- The island state is bigger than the country of Sri Lanka
- The cute but dangerous Tasmanian Devils are only found here
- The largest Lavender farm in the world is in Tasmania
Getting to Tasmania
By Air: there are plenty of airports in Tasmania with good connectivity to the mainland of Australia. Consider looking at flight options offered by Jetstar during the sale promotions and you could manage to get a round ticket as low as AUD90 (from Sydney).By Sea: if you are not short of time and would like the idea of adventure that the Bass Strait has to offer, one could take the many options available to catch a ferry/cruise between Melbourne and Devonport.
Getting around in Tasmania
Hiring a car is the best possible way to get around Tasmania and to see what the state has to offer. the public transport is barely there and could slow things down if one must choose.
Budget Travelling? I am a vegetarian and a very picky eater at the same time, so imagine the rolling eyes I get everytime I go ask for menu cards and check if certain dishes can be modified. At the same time, as an unsaid rule- we don't spend much on the food in the entire trip but splurge big time on one or two fine dining experiences during the entire leg of the trip. Head to Coles/ Woolworths first thing and stock up with bread, sandwich spread, few veggies, chips and flavoured milk along with your favourite juice.
5 days Road Tripping in Tasmania
Day One- Arrive in Launceston
Launceston is Tasmania's second largest city which will not only mesmerise you with it's stunning architecture but beautiful autumn colours which the century old parks have to offer. The city is known for it's food and wine culture. Launceston's best attraction is the pure wilderness offered by Cataract Gorge right in the heart of the city. The entrance is free.
Drive to Cradle Mountain in the evening which roughly takes about 3 hours to get there.
Overnight at Cradle Mountain
Day Two- Cradle Mountain
This is what wilderness is all about. We booked a lodge in the middle of Cradle Mountains and were welcomed by a wallaby which perched right in front of our door. There are plenty of hikes and trekking options to take. Lake St. Claire is a must see spot.
PS: make sure to reach the parking spot early morning as it tends to get overly crowded and they do close the parking spot due to unavailability.
Drive to Bicheno takes about 5 hours.
Overnight at Bicheno.
Day Three- East Coast drive
If it's one drive that you must do in Tasmania; it's the East Coast road trip. One could spend days travelling to every nook and corner of this serene drive, but if you are on a tight schedule; here are the must see point of interests on the East coast drive:
- Bay of Fire
- Wineglass Bay
- Freycinet National Park
Day Four- Tasman Island Cruise and Port Arthur
I would highly recommend the Tasman Island Cruises in the Tasman Peninsula region. The cruise gives the absolute rush of the boat hitting the high Antarctic waves but there aren't many times that you feel so close to a wildlife that you have only seen on the lies of National Geographic channel. From Albatross to Dolphins and the Sea lions sunbathing on some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia; it's an adventure not to be missed. I booked my Tasman Cruise via the Pennicott Wilderness Journey, be sure to pre-book as they tend to get booked early on. Spend the rest of the day at Port Arthur amidst a slice of history.
You can go fine dining at some of the local restaurants set in the heart of the CBD in Hobart.
Overnight at Hobart.
Day Five- Mount Wellington
Mount Wellington gives you the best view of Hobart city and has something in store for everyone. From beautiful hiking trails to Instagram ready Pinnacle Observation Shelter and many waterfalls to explore. Be sure to keep an eye out on the Mount Wellington weather updates from the local authorities. Incase you are one of the few unlucky ones like myself; who had the misfortune to find Mt Wellington closed due to weather, don't lose your hopes and you are in for a bigger surprise destination. Mt Field National Park! It's a bit of a drive further Mt Wellington, but the views are splendid. A rain forest with tall trees, beautiful waterfalls and a trail that reminds you of the Jurassic Park movie. If you are in mood for some off-road adventure; head upto the Lake Dobson which is 16km from the Mt Field National Park visitor centre. Plenty of road signs to guide you up there, be aware that it is a dirt road and is narrow; but totally worth the effort. Plenty of parking spots near the lake.
Overnight at Hobart/ Fly out at night.
Few more places to check out:
- The Nut at Stanley
- Gordon River Dam
- Bruny Island
- Lavender Farms
- Seven Mile beach
- MONA museum
Things to note:
- the Pass for National Parks can be bought in advance and can be used for almost all the parks in Tasmania
- you will need an umbrella; the weather changes within seconds here
- keep warm clothes handy even in Tassie summers
- download off-line maps to be safe
- driving at night should be limited as the wildlife tends to be attracted to the car lights during night time
- you can book your hotels from this link and get yourself $25 off on your hotel booking.
Make sure you have a great time.
Sounds amazing!
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