This self drive Tasmania 10-days itinerary is what I like to call the ‘Essential’ Tasmania road trip.

Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, Freycinet…it covers Tassie’s best natural attractions in less than two weeks. So if 10 days in Tasmania is all you have, this is your perfect road trip itinerary!

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Self-drive Tasmania Itinerary (10 days)

Don’t worry if you have less than two weeks for your Tasmania itinerary. 10 days is plenty of time to see its iconic attractions, and a road trip is the best way to get around the island.

But there are so many things to see and do in Tasmania that you might be wondering where to start? How long to take? What are the ‘must see’ attractions in Tasmania?

To keep things simple I’ve created this easy-to-follow 10-day Tasmania itinerary for the best road trip.

It doesn’t matter if you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or with your family of five – this itinerary has you covered. A range of budgets is included as well, so you can choose your accommodation to fit your preferred style of travel.

With this self-drive Tasmania (10 days) itinerary there is something for everyone, no matter whether this is your first ever road trip, or your fiftieth!

The itinerary can be shortened to 7-days, or lengthened to 14-days or more – and I also include alternative route options to reduce your driving time and maximise sight-seeing opportunities.

Best of all?

As with all the road trip planning information on the Lap of Tasmania website, it’s completely free!

Day 1: Hobart to Strahan (via Mt Field)

Note: This is one of the longer days on the road, so I recommend starting as early as possible.

Breakfast – Bear With Me (Hobart)

Morning

• Explore New Norfolk – St Matthews church, Bush Inn and Drill Hall Emporium
• Salmon Ponds
• Russell Falls (Mt Field)

Lunch – Waterfalls Cafe and Gallery (souvenirs as well!)

Afternoon

• Wall in the Wilderness – OR – Lake St Clair
• Drive the ’99 Bends’ between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown
• Franklin River Nature Trail – OR – Nelson Falls Nature trail
• Iron Blow Lookout (Queenstown)

Dinner – View 42 (Strahan) – OR – Risby Cove (Strahan)

Accommodation

• Budget – Strahan Village (Strahan)
• Luxe – Wheelhouse Apartments (Strahan)
• Camping – Big4 Strahan Holiday Retreat (Strahan)

Day 2: Strahan

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – The Coffee Shack (Strahan)

Morning

• Macquarie Harbour Cruise – Promo Code: LAPOFTAS for 10% OFF

Lunch – Included in your cruise

Afternoon

• Ocean Beach
• Henty Dunes
• Strahan – The Ship That Never Was

Dinner – Risby Cove (Strahan)

Accommodation

• Budget – Strahan Village (Strahan)
• Luxe – Wheelhouse Apartments (Strahan)
• Camping – Big4 Strahan Holiday Retreat (Strahan)

Day 3: Strahan to Cradle Mountain

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – The Coffee Shack (Strahan)

Morning

• ‘River and Rainforest’ Wilderness Railway Tour

Lunch – On the train (included in the ‘Wilderness Carriage’ carriage upgrade) – OR – Risby Cove after the tour (if you select the ‘Heritage Carriage’)

Afternoon

• Zeehan – Spray Tunnel (if time allows)
• Vale of Belvoir Lookout
• Cradle Mountain Village – Explore short walks around the interpretation centre

Dinner – Discovery Resorts Cradle Mountain Village Restaurant – OR – Tavern Bar and Bistro (Peppers Lodge)

Accommodation

• Best of the Best – Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain Village – Use my LAPOFTAS code and SAVE 20%
• Camping and Cabins – Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain – Use my LAPOFTAS for 20% OFF
• Budget – Cradle Mountain Highlanders 
• Luxe – Cradle Mountain Lodge

Day 4: Cradle Mountain

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Cradle Mountain Hotel (non-guests are allowed)

Morning

• Option 1: Dove Lake loop walk
• Option 2: Cradle Canyons Tour (summer)

Lunch – Picnic hamper – OR – Tavern Bar and Bistro (at Peppers Lodge)

Afternoon

• Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery
• Waldheim Alpine Spa – Spa Treatment
• Peppers Lodge – Wine and cheese tasting
• ‘After Dark’ Tassie Devil feeding tour – book your tickets here

Dinner – Discovery Resorts Cradle Mountain Village Restaurant – OR – Tavern Bar and Bistro (Peppers Lodge)

Accommodation

• Best of the Best – Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain Village – Use my LAPOFTAS code and SAVE 20%
• Camping and Cabins – Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain – Use my LAPOFTAS for 20% OFF
• Budget – Cradle Mountain Highlanders 
• Luxe – Cradle Mountain Lodge

Day 5: Cradle Mountain to Launceston (via Stanley and Sheffield)

Note: This is a big, fun-filled day, so try to hit the road as early as possible.

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Cradle Mountain Hotel (non-guests are allowed)

Morning

• Hellyer Gorge scenic drive
• The ‘Nut’ – Chairlift to the top of the ‘Nut and explore

Lunch – Touchwood (Stanley)

Afternoon

• Coastal drive through Burnie, Penguin and Devonport
• Anvers Chocolates (Latrobe)
• See the murals at Sheffield (if time permits)
• Ashgrove Cheese / Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm / Van Diemens Land Creamery
• Hagley – Hazelbrae Hazelnuts (enjoy a picnic in their beautiful orchard!)
• Drive through the historic towns of Deloraine, Westbury and Hadspen

Dinner – Stelo at Pierres (Launceston)

Accommodation

• Camping – Discovery Parks Hadspen – Use the LAPOFTAS code for 20% OFF
• Budget – Leisure Inn Penny Royal Apartments 
• Mid-Range – Kurrajong House 
• Modern – Hotel Verge 
• Indulgence – Peppers Silo

Day 6: Launceston to Bay of Fires (via the Tamar Valley)

 Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Stillwater (Launceston)

 Morning

• Cataract Gorge (Launceston) – OR – Tamar Wetlands Walk
• Tamar Valley Wineries (after 11am) – Moores Hill, Small Wonder

 Lunch – Pipers Brook Vineyard Cafe (Pipers Brook)

 Afternoon

• Bridestowe Lavender Farm (allow an extra 40mins drive time)
• ‘Tin Dragon’ Trail – See the historic towns of Branxholm, Derby and Weldborough
• Pyengana – Tastings or afternoon tea at Pyengana Dairy Farm Gate Cafe or the Pub in the Paddock – OR – St Columba Falls
• Mountain bikers will want at least half a day to ride the world-class trails of ‘Blue Derby’

 Dinner – Meresta Eatery (Binalong Bay) – OR – Raida (St Helens) – OR – Naturaliste (St Helens)

 Accommodation

• Camping – Big4 St Helens Holiday Park (St Helens)
• Budget – Queechy Motel (St Helens)
• Relaxing B&B – Beaumaris Beach Guest House (Beaumaris Beach)
• Indulgence – Sea Eagle Cottage (Binalong Bay)

Day 7: Bay of Fires to Coles Bay (Freycinet)

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Lifebuoy Cafe (St Helens)

Morning

• Explore the Bay of Fires beaches, dunes and coves north of Binalong Bay
• Tastings at Ironhouse Brewery (Four Mile Creek) – OR – Walk to Apsley River Waterhole (Bicheno)
• See the Bicheno blowhole (Bicheno)

Lunch – The Lobster Shack (Bicheno)

Afternoon

• Freycinet Marine Farm (near Coles Bay)
• Friendly Beaches (near Coles Bay)
• Cape Tourville Lighthouse

Dinner – The Bay Restaurant (Freycinet Lodge – Coles Bay)

Accommodation

• Camping and Cabins – Big4 Iluka on Freycinet
• Family Value – Waterline Holiday Home
• Quirky Couples – Numie Glamping
• Indulgence – Freycinet Lodge
• Ultimate Luxury – Picnic Island

Day 8: Coles Bay (Freycinet) to Port Arthur

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Geographe Restaurant (Coles Bay)

Morning

• Walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout
• East Coast Wineries – Devil’s Corner, Spring Vale and Milton vineyards
• See the bizarre Spiky Bridge (Swansea)

Lunch – Bangor Vineyard (Dunalley) – OR – Port Arthur Lavender Farm (Port Arthur)

Afternoon

• Pirate’s Bay Lookout
• Tessellated Pavement – OR – Officer’s Quarters Museum (Eaglehawk Neck)
• Tasman Arch
• Devil’s Kitchen
• Remarkable Cave
• Port Arthur Ghost Tour

Dinner – Fox & Hounds Hotel (Port Arthur) – OR – On the Bay restaurant (Tue-Sat, Port Arthur)

Accommodation

• Camping – NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park (Port Arthur)
• Budget – Port Arthur Villas (Port Arthur)
• Relaxing – Stewarts Bay Lodge (Port Arthur)

Day 9: Port Arthur to Hobart (via Richmond)

Breakfast – Your accommodation – OR – Port Arthur General Store

Morning

• Port Arthur Historic Site (buy your tickets)

Lunch – Blue Seal Seafood Shack (Eaglehawk Neck) – OR – Doo-Lishus (Eaglehawk Neck)

Afternoon

• Richmond Village – See St John Church, Richmond Bridge, Main Street, Richmond Gaol, and the Richmond Wine Wall
• Wicked Cheese
• Pooley Wines – OR – Coal River Farm

Dinner – Landscape Restaurant and Grill (Hobart)

Accommodation

• Budget – Bay Hotel Apartments
• Mid-Range – RACV/RACT Hotel Apartments
• Indulgence – MACq 01 – OR – MONA Pavilions 
• Best B&B – Waterview Gardens B&B (Margate)
• Camping – Discovery Parks Hobart – Use the LAPOFTAS code for 20% OFF

Day 10: Hobart

Breakfast – Pigeon Hole Cafe (Hobart)

Morning

• Mt Wellington Summit
• Salamanca Market (Saturday) – OR – Farm Gate Market (Sunday)
• Hobart Waterfront – Salamanca, Brooke Street Pier
• Lark Distillery
• Visit Beauty and the Bees
• Kelly’s Steps
• Walk to Battery Point and explore
• Alternative Option – Hobart’s Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Lunch – Templo (Hobart) – OR – New Sydney Hotel (hobart)

Afternoon

• MONA Ferry – Splurge and get a ‘Posh Pit’ ticket!
• Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
• Sunset drinks at Evolve Spirits Bar

Dinner – Aloft (Hobart)

Accommodation

• Budget – Bay Hotel Apartments
• Mid-Range – RACV/RACT Hotel Apartments
• Indulgence – MACq 01 – OR – MONA Pavilions 
• B&B – Waterview Gardens B&B (Margate)
• Camping – Discovery Parks Hobart – Use the LAPOFTAS code for 20% OFF

Next steps…

I hope you have found my 10-day Tasmania road trip itinerary helpful in planning your holiday!

Here are some more guides and articles to put the finishing touches on your Tassie trip:

1. Choose the best vehicle for your road trip:
   • Car Hire in Tasmania
   • Campervan Comparison
   • Motorhome Guide
2. Book your accommodation
3. Decide on all the exciting tours you want to experience

If you have any questions at all about the planning process, please come and join us over in our Facebook Group here. It is a very friendly community and I have no tolerance for ‘keyboard warriors’ – we’d love to say g’day!

Happy travels,
Andrew.

ps. If this is your first time visiting Tasmania, or you are a bit nervous about planning your road trip, then you will love my eBook – “How to Plan Your Tasmania Road Trip“. It  takes you through the whole process in easy-to-follow steps and also includes a free Holiday Planner that you can use for Tasmania and any other holiday you take in the future!