Tasmania Road Trip Highlights and Secret Stops

Just imagine cruising along a windswept coastal highway that clings to the shore, with the scent of eucalyptus wafting on the breeze, granite mountains and turquoise bays unfolding with every turn. You are in Tasmania, Australia’s island gem, where driving from A to B is less an objective and more an adventure.

Whether nature enthusiast, history aficionado, or gourmet food lovers seeking oysters and pinot noir—whatever your vice, Tassie’s diminutive size (only 68,401 square kilometers!) means you can pack a lifetime of experience into a single vacation. And with the Take a Local app, you’ll be in on all of the secrets that even most Australians have yet to uncover!

Buckle up—here we take on the top sights and off-the-map treasures that make a Tasmanian road trip unlike any other.

Why Is a Tasmania Road Trip the Best Way to Explore the Island?

Freedom Meets Feasibility

Tasmanian roads are designed for road-trippers. Contrary to the endless highways of the mainland, Tassie is compact, and you can travel around the entire island in 7–14 days without spending hours on the road.

Famous spots like Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park are just 2–3 hours from each other, with loads of time for spontaneity—such as pursuing waterfalls in Mount Field National Park or tasting whisky in a Bicheno distillery.

Avoid the Crowds

Farewell crowded traffic and jostling for parking at popular viewpoints. Tasmania roads are blissfully free of traffic, even in peak season. You will be alone in spots like the Tarkine Rainforest or the Bay of Fires on a daily basis.

A Buffet of Landscapes

Hike alpine tracks, stroll on sand beaches, and hike through temperate rainforest in one day. Tasmania’s diversity is its strongest suit—every travel day is different.

Unmissable Destinations: Tasmania’s High Points

1. Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay

This is Tassie’s poster child for a reason. Climb Mount Amos in the morning for a bird’s-eye perspective on Wineglass Bay’s curved shore, or kayak around Honeymoon Bay for a closer look at its crystal waters.

Tip: Pair your adventure with fresh oysters from the quirky local van, Melshell Oysters.

2. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Surrounding the iconic Dove Lake Circuit, this UNESCO World Heritage environment is every trekkie’s dream come true. Catch a glimpse of wombats and pademelons during the twilight hours—Ronnie Creek is a hot spot for wildlife.

3. Port Arthur Historic Site

Walk through Tasmania’s convict past in this stunning open-air museum. Don’t skip the evening ghost tours, which are as scary as they are billed.

4. Bay of Fires

So-named for the orange lichen that cloaks its boulders, this is a coast of pure enchantment. Swim in Binalong Bay, stop by the historic Eddystone Point Lighthouse, or camp under the starry night sky at The Gardens Conservation Area.

5. Hobart & kunanyi/Mount Wellington

Begin in the charming Tasmanian capital city. Hike up Mount Wellington for panoramic vistas, or unwind in Salamanca Market (open Saturdays only!) or cutting-edge MONA museum.

Where are the best-kept secrets of Tasmania on the road?

1. The Tarkine Rainforest

Head into Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, with clean air, massive myrtle trees, and bush rivers cutting through the terrain. It’s the best Tasmanian devil spotting ground—just be careful (and have your camera handy!).

2. Strzelecki Peaks & Flinders Island

Few visitors make it to this remote island in the Bass Strait, but for those that do, there are wild walks up Strzelecki Peaks and beaches so empty you’ll think you’ve discovered your own personal paradise.

3. Tessellated Pavement, Eaglehawk Neck

This natural rock outcrop is shaped like a giant chessboard. Visit during dawn for golden light that emphasises the geometrical patterns.

4. Derby’s Floating Sauna

Unwind after a Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails ride in a wood-fired sauna on Lake Derby. It sounds as good as it seems.

5. The Western Wilderness

Escape the crowds and head west to Strahan, and cruise around the Gordon River flanked by Huon pine trees and stop by the haunting remains of former penal settlement Sarah Island.

Pro Tips for Your Tasmania Road Trip

• • Get a Parks Pass: Purchase an 8-week vehicle pass (for up to 8 people!) and save on admission to all of the national parks.

• • Drive smart: Watch for wildlife at dawn/dusk, and bring layers—Tassie’s weather moves faster than a TikTok trend.

• • Eat local: Look no further than Tassie salmon, Ashgrove Cheese, and a sneaky glass of Tamar Valley pinot.

• • Slow Down: Spend at least 10 days to prevent FOMO. Trust us—you won’t want to go home.

Ready to Start Your Road Trip? Have a Local Guide Along the Way

Tasmania’s secrets are not always marked—unless you happen to have our local GPS audio tours, that is. Take your own local GPS guide with you, with insider facts on Aboriginal shell middens, hidden surf spots, and Tassie’s hidden roadside pie spots along the way.

No page-flipping-through-the-guidebook and turn-off confusion—just pure Tassie magic, direct into your ear. So go ahead, download the app, select your adventure, and let yourself get swept up in Tasmania’s wild soul. Because the most exquisite journeys are never the places you arrive, but the stories you gather along the way. Now set your course and recall that in Tasmania, each mile is a memory in the process of being created.