Roadtrip in Tasmania

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Exploring Tasmania

Travel

15 days


Route

Hobart to Hobart

1742km


Best Time of the Year

All year round

Highlights

  • Summiting Cradle Mountain 
  • Eddystone Point at Night 
  • Wildlife on Maria Island 
  • Camping on a secluded remote beach 
  • Summiting Mt Amos and descending to Wineglass Bay 
  • Exploring Montezuma Falls in West Coast Tasmania 

The Journey

Days

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Day 1
Hobart to Eaglehawk Neck​

Distance 77km - Driving Time 1hr

I've been so excited for my visit to Tasmania, which I had been planning for six months!  Finally the time was here, and my mates Charlotte from the UK and Samuel from the USA were to join me on this trip.  After a quick and easy flight from Melbourne, we picked up our Campervan from Britz HQ at Hobart International, and away we went!  

Before we left Hobart, we stocked up our fridge and pantry with food, drinks, and snacks for our adventure.  After that we drove up to Mount Wellington summit and watched the golden light of sunset over the harbor and the city.  The view up top is amazing!  Before it got too dark we drove over to Eaglehawk Neck.  This small strip of land connects the Tasman Peninsula to the rest of Tasmania.  We found a nice camping spot here for the night so we could start our first full day well-rested and fresh.  

Day 2
Eaglehawke Neck to Remarkable Cave

Distance 25km - Driving Time 24min

My favorite thing about having the campervan is the freedom it provides - having everything you need with you, you don’t need to plan your trip too far in advance. We woke up to catch sunrise at the Tessellated Pavement, a beautiful rocky beach with strange geometrical rock formations. After that we drove to Cape Raoul and hiked four hours to the Cape, one of the most beautiful sights in Tasmania! On the way back we stopped by historic Port Arthur and on the way we stopped by the side of the road to pick fresh blackberries for dessert. That night we cooked a i green curry, snacked on blackberries and camped near the Remarkable Cave, a popular surf and tourist spot on the Peninsula.

Day 3
Remarkable Cave to Triabunna

Distance 135km - Driving Time 2hrs

Remarkable Cave is truly remarkable! At low to mid tide it is safe to walk through the cave and reach the beach (It can be dangerous at high tide, so check the charts!) We swam here in the morning and watched the surfers enjoy the swells, and then we hit the road again to start the Great Eastern Drive! This stretch of highway is known for its amazing views, quaint towns, and beautiful beaches. Our first stop on the drive was Triabunna, gateway to Maria Island. We stopped at the pub for a beer. We camped behind the pub for a gold coin donation, and had amazing fish and chips at The Fish Van.

Day 4
Maria Island

Distance 223km - Driving Time 3hrs 4min

In the morning we packed our backpacks, food and snacks and took the ferry from Triabunna to Maria Island. This small and beautiful island has a rich history as a penal colony, but despite it’s ease of access, only 20,000 tourists visit the island per year! Some consider it Australia’s best kept secret. The island provides a campsite and bunk rooms in the old penitentiary as well as incredible wildlife, walking and cycling trails, and stunning marine life. We walked a few of the trails and spent the sunset at the Painted Cliffs, an amazing rocky cliffside that glows ochre in the dying sun. The island has no shops, restaurants, or motorized transport - so bring everything you need!

Day 5
Triabunna to Coles Bay

Distance 108km - Driving Time 1hr 25min

After an amazing and peaceful night on the Island, we took the morning ferry back to Triabunna. Immediately we got back on the road, because we were super stoked for our next destination - Coles Bay / Frecinyet National Park! One of the crown jewels of the Great Eastern Drive, we were really excited to explore this park for two days. On the first day we climbed Mount Amos, one of the most imposing peaks of the Hazards mountain chain. From here we camped in our tents so we could watch sunrise over Wineglass Bay! Charlotte, Sam and I thought this was a true highlight of our time so far in Tasmania - the view and tranquility of watching sunrise alone on a mountaintop at one of the most pristine locations in the world. Later that day we trekked down to Wineglass Bay and went swimming. It was the clearest water and cleanest beach I have ever seen! Since we spent the previous night on the mountain, we were super stoked to stay the second night at Iluka Holiday Park, where we had showers, did laundry, and grilled up a nice little barbecue.

Day 6
Coles Bay to Cosy Corner, Bay of Fires

Distance 125km - Driving Time 1hr 43min

After spending a few days hiking and camping on mountaintops, we thought a nice chill day by the beach would be in order. We left Coles bay and continued on the Great Eastern Drive until we reached Binalong Bay, the start of the amazing Bay of Fires Conservation Area. These remote and pristine beaches are dotted with rocky outcrops covered in red, yellow, orange, and green lichen that give the area its’ name. After having a nice picnic at Binalong Bay, we headed up The Gardens road to a popular campsite called Cosy Corner, where there was no fire ban and we had some beers by the campfire. It was great to relax in such a beautiful and remote location!

Day 7
Bay of Fires to Eddystone Point

Distance 68.5km - Driving Time 1hr 14min

We felt like another day in the wilderness would do us good, so we continued up Northeast Tasmania and had another chill and relaxing day at Eddystone Point. This is an indigenous Australian heritage site that has been recently used as a lighthouse location to protect ships off the Northeast corner of Tasmania. We went for a swim, had a ploughman’s lunch, and took a siesta, as it was a very warm and sunny day. We decided to stay the night nearby at a free campsite called Deep Creek, but I ventured out to the lighthouse at night to capture astrophotography shots in the perfectly dark and clear skies of this area.

Day 8
Eddystone Point to Bridport

Distance 97.2km - Driving Time 1hr 22

Today was a driving day - we slept in and left Eddystone Point around noon and drove to Bridport. We took care of a few errands (shopping, laundry, posting cards, etc) and stayed at the Seaside Lodge / YHA in Bridport. Our proprietor Murray was such a nice gent, and we really enjoyed our stay in quiet Bridport. We checked out the tidal flats that form the waterfront of Bridport. For dinner we had a nice meal at the Bridport Hotel. Our friend Charlotte had to return to the UK the next day, so we had a great little sendoff for her and wished her well! It was also a nice resting point for the next leg of our trip, entering the Tasmanian Wilderness.

Day 9
Bridport to Cradle Mountain

Distance 226km - Driving Time 3hrs 5min

Now that the Great Eastern Drive was finished, we started our time in the Tasmanian Wilderness. Another one of my mates, Porter, came along for this trip. So after swinging by the Launceston airport to drop off Charlotte and pick up Porter, we headed off to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania’s most-visited National Park. We checked into Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain Holiday Park and had lunch in the camp kitchen by the roaring fire. After that we headed up to the National Park and did the Dove Lake Circuit, a walk that traverses Dove Lake under some amazing views of the mountain. That night we made a Thai Laksa for dinner and relaxed because we were about to have a demanding morning…

Day 10
Cradle Mountain

Nice and early we awoke and drove out to Dove Lake because today we planned to summit Cradle Mountain! Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating! Clouds, rain, and high winds were imposing but we did not let that stop us! The walk takes about 5-6 hours total, to reach the 1545 meter summit and return. After pushing through strong winds and rain we made it to the top, and even though we couldn’t see anything, we felt so accomplished! Afterward we dried out a bit by the fire in the holiday park kitchen and made burgers for dinner, while putting back a few beers to celebrate our day’s accomplishment.

Day 11
Cradle Mountain to Strahan

Distance 138km - Driving Time 1hr 53min

The next day we hit the road again, this time delving deeper into the Tasmanian Wilderness through the wild west coast. We our goal was to make it to Strahan for the night. On the way we stopped through the remote and small mining towns of Roseberry and Zeehan, and stopped for a short nature walk at Montezuma Falls. We made it to Strahan and did another short waterfall walk, Hogarth Falls, before dinner. In Strahan we just wanted a nice easy meal so we visited Hamer’s Hotel and had some fish and chips. That night we visited the sand dunes just north of town - you’d never know they were there if you didn’t have a look!

Day 12
Strahan to Mount Field National Park

Distance 260km - Driving Time 4hrs

We were getting close to wrapping up our trip, so we had some driving to do. It was time to cross the mountains to head back toward Hobart. We left Strahan early and passed through Queenstown mid-day and had a look at some of the old supermines in the area. We continued through the mountainous road until we got to Nelson Falls. This remote bush walk is a great stopping point on this drive - a short 20 minute walk rewards you with a beautiful waterfall.

We continued on from here and made it to Mount Field National Park, another great bushwalking location, where we visited Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls. That night we camped in the National Park caravan park.

Day 13
Mount Field National Park to Bruny Island

Distance 165km - Driving Time 3hrs 20min

Leaving Mount Field, we drove a few hours out to Bruny Island. Bruny Island is on the Southeastern portion of Tasmania and only a 20 minute ferry ride from the mainland. It's a must do! The island has some amazing boutique food and wineries, as well as some stunning scenery and walks. The most famous view of Bruny island is The Neck, 20m narrow strip of land that connects the Northern and Southern part of the island. Definitely stop here for a look and climb the long staircase! We took a cruise on a jet bout to see some of the sights from the water.

We also stopped at Get Shucked Oyster Shack, where we had some freshly caught Bruny Island Oysters. That evening we visited Cloudy Bay on the Southern portion of the island, and we camped out at a nice free campsite called The Pines nearby. It was our last night with the van, and we were sad our trip was almost over, but we had such a great time!

Day 14
Bruny Island to Hobart

Distance 83.4km - Driving Time 1hr 56min

This morning was a working day - packing bags, tidying up the van, and driving back to Hobart. The staff at Britz were so helpful and really made the trip for us. I know that next time I visit Tasmania I’ll be heading back to Britz because it really is a destination you must see on the road, and the freedom and flexibility of the camper van is just too good to pass up! Thanks so much to everyone at Britz for helping make this holiday one to remember!

Day 15
Road trip highlights:

  • Where the best view was?
    Mount Wellington over Hobart. For how close it is to the city, this is one amazing place!
  • Where you stopped for a picnic? 
    we loved to cook and eat on the road, so we picnicked everywhere: Spring Beach in Bay of Fires, Binalong Bay, Zeehan, and many picnics at Cradle Mountain to name a few!
  • Where was your favourite place/town visited and why? 
    As one in love with the alpine, my favorite spot had to be Cradle Mountain National Park. It is such a unique and beautiful location for Australia, unlike any other. The walks were top notch.
  • What was your favourite experience/activity & why?
    I took a Bruny Island Adventure Cruise with Pennicott Journeys. It was a three hour jet boat ride (not for the seasick!) around the southeastern side of Tasmania and all the way to the Great Southern Ocean. We saw Dolphins, Seals, and amazing rock formations.
  • Best café for coffee? 
    I really enjoyed The Coffee Shack in Strahan, Tasmania. We actually met the owners at a nearby waterfall hike and they were the nicest, most down to earth couple. The next morning we visited them at the cafe, and had some amazing coffee and sweets.
  • Favourite pub/restaurant?
    We really had a great meal at the Bridport Hotel, it was the last night of the trip for my friend Charlotte who flew back to the UK the next day, so we had a great meal and a few drinks to send her off.
  • Did you have a favourite Holiday Park you stayed in and why?
    We stayed in Discovery Holiday Parks during the trip - and my favorite was definitely their Cradle Mountain park. We were in the park during cold and rainy weather, so we spent a lot of time in the camp kitchen which was incredibly cosy. There was always a roaring fire, plenty of space to cook and relax, and friendly campers.
  • What would be your top tip for other campervan travellers?
    My best piece of advice is not to plan too much. When traveling on the road, things change quickly: weather being the biggest factor. But also, you’ll plan something in advance and then when the time comes you may be more interested in something else. Having a Britz stocked with water, food, fuel, and supplies is fantastic because if you want to spend an extra day at that beautiful remote campsite, you can!
  • Can you share a recipe from something you cooked in the campervan? 
    My favorite meal we cooked in the van was a Prawn Red Curry Laksa. Fry up some fresh deveined and peeled prawns in red curry paste. Add and sauté some onion, garlic, and green bean. when the vegetables are soft, add a full can of coconut cream and a half can of water. Let this simmer for about 15 minutes so the flavors can blend, and then add the juice of a lime. Serve this over pre-cooked Udon or Hokkien Noodle and garnish with bean sprout, lime, and basil.
  • What is your greatest memory of the whole campervan holiday?
    My greatest memory was watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Amos in Frecinyet National Park. We were alone on top of the mountain after an hour long hike up, and the view of Wineglass Bay was so spectacular. After this moment I knew I made the right choice to visit Tasmania.