Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula

Port Arthur Penal Settlement

The Nut, Stanley

Sloop Reef, Bay of Fires near St Helens

River Derwent at New Norfolk

Liffey Falls

The best way to see the essentials of what Tasmania has to offer is to drive around the island's coast, or as close to it as is possible. This route allows easy access to just about anywhere in Tasmania that has a road leading to it without having to go too far off the beaten track, making it ideal for first-time visitors to Tasmania who want to get the overall feel of the place.

The journey can start and finish anywhere. Begin at Devonport if you are coming to Tasmania by car ferry from Melbourne, or begin at Launceston or Hobart if arriving in Tasmania by air. Though the drive can be done in a few days (I've actually done it in a single day just to prove it can be done, but that is not recommnded as there is no time to stop and see anything), the minimum amount of time required to take in the scenery and attractions along the way is a week.

Location: includes all major centres in Tasmania.

Length: 989 km

Suggested return journey: can be driven clockwise or counter clockwise.

Features/attractions: all of Tasmania's major attractions

Minimum duration (one way): 2 days (5-7 days recommended)

The route: before we start, don't forget that there are plenty of great places off the main highways that are well worth visiting, so if you have the time and the inclination and you see a signpost to a name you recognise, go for it. It won't be too far down the road and if there's nothing there that takes your fancy, it's not far to get back to the highway - this is Tasmania after all.
Assuming you have arrived in Devonport with your own car on the Spirit of Tasmania, head towards Launceston on the Bass Highway. If you've come on the overnight ferry, you can do a lot worse that stopping for breakfast at the raspberry farm on the way to Deloraine. From Launceston, take the Tasman Highway north, taking a right turn towards Lilydale on the outskirts of Launceston. Before reaching Bridport you pass through a boutique wine region.
From Bridport, head towards Scottsdale, where you join Tasman Highway, which you follow to St Helens. Continue south, following the Tasman Highway through St Marys, Bicheno and Swansea. At Sorrell, you can either turn left for a trek around Tasman Peninsula, or turn right towards Hobart.
Leave Hobart by travelling north to New Norfolk. Follow Lyell Highway north to Queenstown. There you have a choice of continuing north, or heading towards the coast and the town of Strahan. If you go to Strahan, there is a back road north towards Zeehan which bypasses Queenstown. From Zeehan, continue through town the main highway, and turn left towards Rosebery. Murchison Highway continues north from Rosebery right to the Bass Strait coast and the city of Burnie. At Burnie you have the choice to going east to Devonport or heading west to Wynyard, Stanley and Smithton. To get back to Devonport from any of the latter places, simple head back where you came from, continuing on to Devonport when you reach Burnie.

What You Will See: Travelling clockwise from Devonport, this route passes through Deloraine (Gt Western Tiers), Launceston (Tamar Valley; Cataract Gorge); Scottsdale (lavender farm); St Helens (Bay of Fires; St Columbia Falls; historic tin mining towns); Bicheno (coastal scenery); Coles Bay (Freycinet Peninsula); Triabunna (Maria Island); Eaglehawk Neck (Forestier Peninsula; Tasman Peninsula - spectacular coastal scenery, Port Arthur convict ruins); Hobart; Huon Valley (wineries; orchards; forests); Derwent River valley (historic Georgian era towns of New Norfolk and Hamilton; Derwent Bridge); Queenstown; Strahan (Macquarie Harbour; Sarah Island penal settlement ruins); Sheffield (Cradle Mountain; Lake St Clair); Stanley (The Nut); Wynyard; Burnie; Devonport.