Photo by Laura Smetsers

planning a trip to Tasmania

If you live in Australia, you've almost certainly seen the photos. Cradle Mountain reflected in still water, that white sand at Wineglass Bay, tiny towns that look whimsical and inviting. Tasmania punches so far above its weight for a state you can reach on a two and a half hour flight.

I'm UK born and have called Brisbane home for coming up on four years now, and Tasmania has been on the "next trip" list almost that whole time. The problem was always the same: I wanted a decent trip, minimum two weeks, ideally three, and other overseas trips kept eating my annual leave first. This year, it finally won.

Planning this one has honestly been so much smoother than the logistics of an overseas trip. So here's exactly how I've gone full Type A on our Tasmania trip, laid out so you can steal whatever's useful for yours.

first, figure out what kind of trip you actually want

This sounds obvious, but it changes everything else. A romantic long weekend, a family trip, and a hiking heavy adventure holiday are three completely different Tasmanias.

For us, this trip is a mix of sightseeing the popular spots with a couple of solid day hikes built in. I'm also toying with a separate long weekend with my mum later on, because I think she'd love Hobart on its own (MONA, the Bonorong wildlife sanctuary, Old Hobart Town Model Village) without the hiking. That’s not her style, and that’s okay. Which is why Tasmania really does have something for everyone.

how long to go for

I've deliberately held out for a longer trip, because even two weeks felt like it would mean rushing.

We've landed on 17 days: a few days in Hobart to start, then a loop covering the south coast, east coast, Derby, and Cradle Mountain, before looping back to Hobart to fly out. North and West Coast I promise I’ll be back!

getting to Tasmania

You’ve got two options. Flight or ferry.

At one point we did consider doing this trip as a road trip with our own 4WD Prado. But factoring in fuel, days travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne either side, and the cost of the ferry - we’ve decided we’ll save that for when we likely do a trip around Australia in the future. My annual leave is too precious to waste.

Flying

We've booked Brisbane to Hobart direct with Virgin Australia (my preferred airline carrier). Booking ahead is worth it, particularly in high season, and particularly if you want to avoid connecting through Melbourne. Jetstar and Qantas also fly into Tasmania, into both Hobart and Launceston.

Find flights to Hobart

Find flights to Launceston

Ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania is the only passenger and vehicle ferry linking the mainland to Tasmania, sailing between Geelong (about an hour from Melbourne) and Devonport. The crossing itself takes 9 to 11 hours across Bass Strait.

Worth flagging: two brand new ships, Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, are set to enter service from 31 October 2026, with a new terminal at Devonport to match. Bigger capacity, more cabins, and dedicated pet-friendly areas. If you're planning a sailing after that date, keep an eye on the official Spirit of Tasmania website as new sailing dates and cabin types are being released in stages.

The consensus among everyone I've spoken to is book the ferry crossing well ahead, especially if you're bringing your own vehicle. If you're set on driving over, don't finalise the rest of your trip until you've locked in your crossing dates.

how to get around once you're there

Where you want to go does play into how you’re going to get there.

The options are

• Walking - perfect for city breaks

• Tours with shuttle services - sometimes it nice to be chauffeured and take in the scenery at your leisure

• Hiring a car - ideal if you're hopping between fixed accommodation

• Hiring a campervan or RV - best if you want full freedom and plan to move often, and to actually use Tasmania's free and paid camping

We're starting in Hobart, where we'll use walking and public transport for our first 3 to 4 days, plus the odd shuttle tour. After that, we've booked a Cruisin Motorhomes campervan for the remaining two weeks so we can explore at our own pace and take advantage of the free camps on offer.

when to go

Peak season is December to February, and we've deliberately avoided it, hoping for quieter roads, easier camp spots, and lower campervan hire prices. We've landed on November.

Worth knowing going in: Tasmania's weather is genuinely changeable no matter the month. It's even snowed there in December before, so "shoulder season" doesn't mean guaranteed mild weather. I’ll come onto that when I share what we’ll be packing.

Spring (September to November): wildflowers, lambing season, unpredictable weather, good hiking conditions on clearer days

Summer (December to February): peak season, warmest and driest, but busiest and priciest

Autumn (March to May): good for hiking, cooler and quieter

Winter (June to August): cold, especially at altitude, but Hobart's Dark Mofo season and cosy pub culture make it its own kind of appealing

For actual forecasts closer to your trip, the Bureau of Meteorology's Tasmania page is the one to bookmark.

where to stay

Our type of stay is different depending on the leg of the trip. In Hobart, we've booked a small, elegant hotel, The Waggon Stables Boutique Accommodation, a short walk out of the main strip (cheaper and cosier than a lot of the central options). For the rest of the trip, our accommodation is on wheels in a Cruisin Motorhomes campervan.

what to do

When planning our activities, GetYourGuide is my preferred website of choice. The range is huge, the cancellation policy is flexible, and most listings have enough reviews that you know what you're actually signing up for.

So far we've booked, or are looking at:

• Mount Wellington/kunanyi Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus from Hobart

• Tasman Peninsula on a cruise from Port Arthur

• Tassie Devils Tour at Cradle Mountain

Browse and book through GetYourGuide, and use code THEGRACEOUTDOORS5 for 5% off your booking.

For hikes, I plan every route through AllTrails before we go, since it gives you real distance, elevation, and recent trail condition notes from people who've actually walked it recently.

• Wineglass Bay Lookout Track, the classic, steep but short

• Dove Lake Circuit, an easier loop right under Cradle Mountain

• Three Capes Track, a multi-day coastal walk that needs advance booking through Three Capes Track

• Browse everything else on AllTrails Tasmania

what to buy or book ahead of time

• National parks holiday pass, covers entry to all of Tasmania's national parks for up to 8 weeks, buy it here before you arrive

• Three Capes Track or Overland Track permits, if either is on your list, these book out and need to be sorted months ahead via Parks Tasmania

• Travel insurance, sorted before you fly, not after

• An eSIM, if you're coming from overseas, so you're not stuck without signal on remote stretches (and there are a lot of them)

questions people (including myself) are googling before a tasmania trip

how many days do you need in tasmania?

A week gives you a decent taste, but 10 to 14 days lets you actually relax into it. If hiking is a priority, lean toward 2 weeks or more to build in time for some recovery/chill day.

is tasmania expensive to visit?

It can be as budget or as splurgey as you make it. Camping and self-catering keep costs low, while accommodation in Hobart and Freycinet during peak season pushes prices up fast.

do you need a car in tasmania?

Realistically, yes, outside of Hobart itself. Public transport between regions is limited, and a lot of the best spots are only reachable by road. But there’s also tours that offer single up to multi day options.

You can find multi day tour options here on GetYourGuide (my preferred site for booking activities).

can you bring fruit and vegetables into tasmania?

No, fresh produce, plants, seeds and non-Tasmanian honey are all restricted. Check the Biosecurity Tasmania guide before you pack the car or your suitcase.

is free camping actually legal in tasmania?

Yes, and it's genuinely one of the state's best features for self-contained vans. Rules vary by council and site, so always check signage and apps like Wikicamps before pulling up for the night.

A quick note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you book or buy through them — at no extra cost to you.