TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
1 Week Itinerary
In December 2022, I visited Tasmania for a week. I took a road trip along the East Coast and through Central Tasmania where the journey began and ended in Devonport. I left Tasmania wondering why I hadn’t visited earlier because the state has some stunning wilderness that rivals anywhere else in the world. From infinite hikes that lead to breath taking views to neighbouring islands full of diverse wildlife, Tasmania is a nature lover’s dream.
If you’re planning to visit Australia’s most southern state (and I recommend you do), here’s my one-week itinerary.
☆ Quick Tip ☆
If you want to use your own vehicle for the week as we did, I suggest boarding the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. The ferry departs from Geelong, Victoria and takes about 10 hours to reach Devonport, Tasmania.
There are normally two daily voyages to book from: day or overnight. I would suggest taking the overnight journey so that you can sleep through the voyage (the scarce onboard entertainment makes time on the day voyage move extremely slow) and if possible, pay extra for a cabin (especially those prone to sea sickness) as the provided options made an uncomfortable trip.
The costs for the Spirit of Tasmania vary but as rough guide we spent (AUD) $1k for boarding passes (2x adults & 1x car: Nissan Tida) and $200 for a cabin (one way).
Itinerary Breakdown
1. Bay of Fires
2. Bicheno Blowhole & Freycinet National Park
3. Maria Island
4. Hobart
5. Bruny Island
6. Mt. Field National Park
7. Devonport
Day 1: The Bay of Fires
Defined by the orange lichen-covered boulders that give the East Coast beaches a fiery look, The Bay of Fires possess some gorgeous beaches that make the 3.5 hour drive worthwhile. There’s no better way to end a long travel day than spending the afternoon/evening swimming in the clear blue water and laying on the soft white sand of The Bay of Fires.
For this leg of the trip, we stayed in St. Helens which is about 10 minutes from the Binalong Bay end of The Bay of Fires.
Day 2: Bicheno Blowhole & The Freycinet National Park
Heading down south and just an hour’s drive from St. Helens is a sight that rivals The Bay of Fires beauty: The Bicheno Blowhole. With free parking nearby, The Bicheno Blowhole makes a great pit stop to stretch the legs before visiting today’s main agenda: The Freycinet National Park which is only a further 15 minutes away.
The Freycinet National Park is Tasmania’s oldest national park and offers countless worthwhile hikes. One hike that shouldn’t be skipped is the moderate hike to the Wineglass Bay lookout. This hiking trail is breathtaking, both figuratively and literally because although it only takes 1 hour to complete the return trip, some parts of the hike can get steep and challenging.
For this leg of the trip, we stayed in Swansea which is about 30 minutes from the Freycinet National Park.
☆ Important Information ☆
• At Bicheno there are no protective barriers and when the blowhole erupts, it can make the rocky floor slippery. So, caution is advised.
• A valid parks pass is required to enter any Tasmanian national park. We purchased a 2 month holiday pass for $93 (cheapest option) that enables entry into all parks except Cradle Mountain.
Day 3: Maria Island
Maria Island is an essential day trip for animal lovers as it’s the home to countless adorable wombats. A good spot for wombat sightings is the Darlington area where many can be found lounging and/or feeding on the grass. Outside of wombats, Maria Island also possesses a range of hikes that vary in difficulty.
The cost for a round trip ticket was $54 each and took about 30 minutes one-way.
For this leg of the trip as well as the following two nights were Hobart which is about an hour from the Maria Island ferry departure (Triabunna) and 30 minutes from the Bruny Island ferry departure (Kettering).
☆ Important Information ☆
• In an effort to preserve the island, motor vehicles aren’t allowed. Visitors can only explore by foot or renting a bicycle ($40).
• While on the island, I suggest closely monitoring the time as the ferries have a sporadic departure schedule and if you miss one you could be waiting for another 2 hours for the next
Day 4: Hobart
The capital city of Tasmania has many things to keep visitors occupied during their stay but there are few more popular than….
1. The Salamanca Market
Every Saturday, more than 300 stalls make up the Salamanca Market where vendors sell a range of goods including food, art, clothing and countless handmade items. This makes a great location to purchase souvenirs for loved ones as a lot of stalls sell locally made products.
Due to its popularity, nearby car parking can be difficult to find. We were forced to park near the Macquarie Wharf (15 minute walk).
2. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
MONA is arguably Hobart’s top attraction and a popular destination for tourists. Known for its unique architecture and eccentric artwork, MONA houses a collection of pieces that may not be for everyone. Artwork focusing on genitalia or pieces like the poo machine that simulates a human digestive system could be too abstract for some (me included). However, there are a number of other pieces that execute complex ideas to a high level that make a trip to MONA worthwhile.
The entry fee for MONA was $39.
Day 5: Bruny Island
Another essential day trip from Hobart is Bruny Island. With countless walks, eateries and activities on offer, it could be argued that it’s worth a longer visit. A vendor that cannot be missed is Bruny Island Honey as their honey ice cream is the bee’s knees. The Bruny Island Chocolate Company is also worth a visit just for their rocky road while the Mavista Falls rainforest walk offers a calm and pleasant stroll.
The cost for a round trip ticket was $53 each (it’s free to travel without a vehicle) and took about 20 minutes one-way.
Day 6: Mt. Field National Park
Located an hour North-West of Hobart, Mt. Field National Park is an essential pit stop enroute to Devonport. It houses a jaw-dropping waterfall in Russell Falls and some really Tall Trees that stand over 100m high (among the tallest in the world).
For this leg of the trip we stayed in Devonport which is about 3.5 hours from Mt. Field National Park.
Day 7: Devonport
Before boarding the ferry back to Victoria, the city of Devonport should be explored. The intimacy of the city creates a peaceful end to the road trip. Something that is free and worth visiting is the Devonport Regional Gallery which showcases many art pieces by emerging Tasmanian artists.