Planning Your Visit
More than anywhere else in Australia, Tasmania enjoys four seasons, each with its own unique pleasures and appeal so there is no "best time" to visit. It all depends on what you want to see and experience. More >>
When planning a trip to Tasmania from another state or country, it is important to remember that as Tasmania is Australia's smallest state, every place in Tasmania is no more than a day's drive away from wherever you are. Scenery in Tasmania can change dramatically from one region to another, so it is possible to sample a variety of Tasmania's vistas and landscapes on your journey from your entry point to your final destination by taking a detour or two along the way.
We have compiled six drives from all the entry points into Tasmania (Hobart and Launceston Airports and the car ferry terminal at Devonport) that will take you to our through Tasmania's East Coast.
Drives to and around Tasmania's East Coast
Incorporating Tasmania into a visit to Sydney or Melbourne is something many overseas travellers don't even contemplate - after all, it's overseas (well that's how many people see it, even though the flight from Sydney to Hobart is only 20 minutes longer than the flight to Melbourne). The perception is that it takes time out of one's travel schedule and money from the travel budget to fit more distant destinations like Tasmania in, but with a bit of careful planning and application of a bit of local knowledge, such is not the case. In fact there is a way to include a trip to Tasmania into a visit to Sydney that could well be cost you less money than if you stayed in Sydney! Not only that, you'll get a day or two sightseeing in Melbourne thrown in for free!
Just as you can reach Tasmania from Sydney without losing any daylight time travelling, and at a cost that can often be cheaper than staying in Sydney, visitors to Melbourne can do the same thing. The secret is to take the overnight ferry from Melbourne to Devonport. From there, you can hire car and drive to Hobart, or catch the coach direct from the ferry terminal.
