8 Day Taste of Tasmania Itinerary

Welcome to Launceston.

One of Australia's oldest cities: charm-filled Launceston is a boutique riverside town with Colonial and Victorian heritage buildings in abundance.

Located at the head of the picturesque Tamar Valley, Launceston's beautiful attractions include the spectacular Cataract Gorge Reserve and beautiful parks & gardens.

Settle in with a stroll along the waterfront, perhaps head out to the Tamar Valley region for a taste of Tasmania’s fine wines or take a short walk to the wild and beautiful Cataract Gorge, just 15 minutes from town.

Accommodation: Launceston - 2 Nights

Your Tasmanian adventure begins today with a full day luxury coach excursion into the heart of Cradle Mountain National Park.

Cradle Mountain Day Tour

Cradle Mountain National Park is an area of iconic scenery with a huge variety of walking trails to choose from. With around 5 hours to spend in this World Heritage Listed area, your knowledgeable local guide will advise on the perfect trails for all weather conditions and fitness levels.

After departing Launceston enjoy a short stop in quirky Sheffield – The Town of Murals. Cradle Mountain's history is depicted in artworks across the buildings throughout the town.

After a journey into the mountains, you will arrive at Cradle Mountain and enjoy a series of short walks to Rainforest City and Pencil Pine Falls. Choose the gentle and iconic Dove Lake Circuit for an easy 2-hour walk with amazing mountain views. Or you can climb to the loftier heights of Marion’s Lookout if you feel energetic!

Enjoy lunch by a quiet stream, watching the famous and friendly Cradle Mountain wombats around you in their natural habitat. After lunch, visit Weindorfer’s Chalet and see the ancient King Billy Pines on Weindorfer’s Forest Walk.

You return to Launceston via the award-winning Ashgrove Cheese Factory where you can sample the local varieties on offer.

Pick up your rental car and head for Bicheno, one of the East Coast’s best-loved holiday destinations. Even the locals choose to holiday here!

Bicheno

Blessed with the mildest climate in Tasmania, seaside Bicheno is the perfect place for relaxing foreshore walks, beachcombing and fishing. With great cafes, shops and luscious local produce, this friendly little town is the ideal base from which to explore the East Coast.

Bicheno Penguin Tour

At night begins to fall, see Little Blue Penguins return to their burrows on a twilight guided penguin tour.

This is a rare and thrilling chance to get very close to the world's smallest penguins in a private rookery. Watch as they emerge from the ocean after a hard day of fishing and head home for the night.

Accommodation: Bicheno - 2 Nights (or similar)

Approximate Distance: 164 km | 102 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 9 mins

Spend today among the pink granite peaks of Freycinet National Park and cruise to idyllic Wineglass Bay, rated as one of the ten best beaches in the world by Outside magazine.

Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park, with its stunning pink granite peaks, is located on Tasmania's east coast. At Wineglass Bay the pink granite mountains form the backdrop for secluded bays, pristine waters, white sandy beaches, local wildlife, and walking trails.

Wineglass Bay Cruise

Nestled underneath the Hazards Mountain range, Wineglass Bay is a location of primeval peace and beauty. Experience the tranquility from a truly unique perspective with award-winning Wineglass Bay Cruise. The scenery is stunning, the wildlife abundant, and you will experience a rare, intimate outlook on one of Tasmania’s most extraordinary places.

Expect to see abundant local wildlife including sea birds, penguins, dolphins, seals, and whales as you sail from the gentle shores of Coles Bay to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Stop for lunch at Wineglass Bay and enjoy some of Tasmania’s finest fresh produce.

Approximate Distance: 42 km | 26 miles   Total Driving Time: 38 mins

Follow the East Coast Drive's gentle curves through wine country, beach towns and forests as you journey from Bicheno to Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. Be sure to visit Kate's Berry Farm en route for delicious freshly picked berries, jams and ice cream!

Port Arthur: The Inescapable Prison

Come and discover the real people and living history of Port Arthur Historic Site. Established in 1830, over a thousand of Tasmania's most notorious convicts were housed here.

Take a Harbour Cruise around the Isle of the Dead and discover the grim and violent history of the early Australian Penal system with Port Arthur's expert guides. As you tour the prison building you'll get a real sense of the isolation experienced by the convicts in this “inescapable prison”.

Port Arthur Historic Site is a special place of vivid history. Full of powerful stories of hardship and loss, it's one of Tasmania's most rewarding travel experiences.

Accommodation: Port Arthur - 1 Night

Approximate Distance: 204 km | 127 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 1 min

The Tasman Peninsula boasts some of Tasmania’s most remote and dramatic coastal scenery. Take to the waves on a Wilderness Cruise this morning and see the spectacular peninsula at its best.

Tasman Peninsula Wilderness Cruise

Cruise between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck with unrivalled views over the rugged shoreline. With Australia’s highest sea cliffs as looming over you, you'll discover waterfalls, rock formations, archways and sea caves along the shore. At any time of year, you're likely to see the feeding frenzy of diving gannets, albatross and sea eagles, cliff-nesting cormorants and peregrine falcons, or a pod of playful dolphins surfing the bow wave of the boat.

On to Hobart

Travel onwards to Hobart via historic Richmond Village where you can walk across Australia’s oldest bridge still in use — a convict built, sand-stone bridge, reported to be haunted!

Tasmania's capital city, Hobart is a harbour town with heritage charm and a modern lifestyle. Nestled amongst the foothills of Mt Wellington, this lovely city is known for its dynamic art and gourmet food scenes.

Accommodation: Hobart - 2 Nights

Approximate Distance: 100 km | 62 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 29 mins

Spend the day exploring beautiful Hobart at your leisure.

Explore Hobart

From the bustling waterfront of Salamanca Place to the historic houses of quaint Battery Point, Hobart is a gorgeous place to wander and get lost in.

For those with energy to burn, take a bus to the summit of Mount Wellington for panoramic views over the city of Hobart, Bruny Island, and the Tasman Peninsula. Then hike back into town via the historic Cascade Brewery, rewarding your efforts with a few tastings!

Board a ferry at Brooke Street Pier and sail upstream to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). No ordinary museum, MONA's main building has been cut deep into the sandstone cliffs, and has its own vineyards and brewery on-site! Even if museums aren't your thing, this one is absolutely unmissable.

Hobart has fast become one of Australia's top gourmet hotspots, thanks to its amazing local produce. For a real foodie treat, take a day trip to pretty Bruny Island where artisan cheeses, freshly shucked oysters, juicy berries, and smoked local meats can be enjoyed with coastal views to die for.

Say farewell to Hobart today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 8 Day Taste of Tasmania Self Drive vacation. 

We hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.