Week 1: Hobart’s Charm – Where History, Hangouts, and Hipsters Collide

Alright, welcome to Hobart. Tasmania’s slightly chilly but wildly charming capital. If this place doesn’t seduce you by the end of the week, either your soul’s broken or you accidentally spent the whole time in a Coles carpark.

This week, you’re diving into cobblestone streets, convict history, arty weirdness, and food that’ll make you weep into your van pillow. Let’s get amongst it.

Day 1-2: Salamanca Market & Battery Point – Where Old Bricks and Bread Smell Better

First things first, park the van, stretch your legs, and wander into Salamanca like you’re starring in a low-budget travel documentary. Old sandstone warehouses? Check. Boutique shops you can’t afford but will definitely browse? Double check. The air smells like bratwurst, sourdough, and dreams.

If it’s Saturday, brace for chaos, it’s Salamanca Market day, aka snack heaven. Over 300 stalls slinging scallop pies, pickles, crafts, and the occasional busker doing suspicious things with a ukulele. Grab a pie. It’ll ruin all future pies for you, and you’ll thank it.

Then roll into Battery Point, where the streets curve like a rom-com set and the cottages are cute enough to make you consider mortgage fraud. Duck into a café, order a hot choc (coffee is a scam), and pretend you’re the main character in a bookshop romance.

Day 3: Mount Wellington & MONA – The Highs and the WTFs

Drive (or crawl, if your van hates inclines) up Mount Wellington. The view up top is biblical. Like, scream-into-the-wind kind of stunning. Just don’t wear a hat unless you want it gone forever. The breeze up there will slap you clean into next week.

On your descent into normal oxygen levels, swing by MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. This place is like stepping into someone else’s fever dream. One minute you’re staring at ancient relics, the next you’re face-to-face with a machine that literally poops. Is it art? Who knows. Will you think about it for days? Absolutely.

Day 4-5: Botanical Gardens & Tassie History – Chill Vibes and Dead Tigers

After all that existential art, it’s time to breathe. Wander the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, a paradise of plants that look like they belong in Jurassic Park and flowers that make your houseplants look emotionally neglected.

Then hit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. There’s a stuffed Tasmanian tiger (RIP, you weird stripy legend), grim convict stuff, and more info about island life than you knew you needed. No time machine required, just comfy shoes and a tolerance for dusty display cases.

Day 6: Richmond – Quaint, Cute, and Convict-Built

Take a little road trip to Richmond, a town frozen in time and weirdly obsessed with bridges. Cross Australia’s oldest bridge (built by convicts with, apparently, zero safety standards but excellent stonework skills), poke around the Richmond Gaol, then emotionally recover with a vanilla slice that may or may not change your entire personality.

Day 7: Eat Hobart One Last Time – The Goodbye Gorge Fest

It’s your final day in Hobart, so obviously, you eat. Start with an almond croissant from Daci & Daci (you’ll cry), hit Bar Wa Izakaya for Japanese bites that slap, and end with a cocktail at The Glass House because you’re classy now. Seafood lovers, eat the salmon. Seafood haters? There’s bread.

Sleep: Hobart Showground – Low-Key, High-Function

Park at the Hobart Showground, where it’s affordable, practical, and has showers that might make you believe in God again. Swap stories with other road-weary legends, pretend you know how solar panels work, and settle in.

Wrap-Up:

You’ve been art-shocked, pastry-hugged, wind-slapped, and mildly overwhelmed by how damn charming this city is. You’ve eaten things. Learned things. Probably overspent on jam.

Good. That’s how Week 1 should feel.

Next stop? Bruny Island. Hope your ferry game’s strong.

Week 2: Bruny Island – Cheese, Views, and Waddling Wallabies

Welcome to Bruny Island, aka Tasmania’s “treat yourself” paradise. It’s like someone took a gourmet deli, smashed it into a national park, and dropped it in the ocean. Here, your biggest decisions are: “Do I hike or eat cheese?” (The answer is both.)

You’re trading Hobart’s hustle for windswept cliffs, squeaky beaches, suspiciously friendly oysters, and food that’ll make you sob into your campervan pillow.

Day 8-9: Ferry Fomo & North Bruny Nibbling

Roll into Kettering, hop on the 20-minute ferry, and try not to scream every time a dolphin jumps. Seriously, it’s like nature’s version of a welcome parade.

First mission? Bruny Island Cheese Company. Order the cheese platter. Stare lovingly at it. Regret nothing. Then wander over to Get Shucked, where the oysters are so fresh they practically wink at you. Whether raw, grilled, or deep-fried into your next personality trait, just say yes. Pair with a crisp Tassie white and thank past-you for planning this.

Day 10: The Neck & Lighthouse Feels

Next stop: The Neck Lookout. It’s a massive staircase up a skinny strip of land, and yeah, your legs will hate you. But when you hit the top and see the ocean slicing the island like a pie? Worth every wheezy step.

Keep heading south to Cape Bruny Lighthouse. She’s old, she’s dramatic, and she’s been keeping ships alive since the 1800s. You? You’re just here for the photo and the wind that’ll try to steal your hat. Iconic.

Day 11-12: South Bruny National Park – Where Your Legs Cry and Your Eyes Cheer

Time to hike. Or “nature wander with snack breaks,” as I prefer. Fluted Cape Walk is a vertical leg day wrapped in jaw-dropping sea cliffs. You might question your life halfway through, but keep going, it ends with views that deserve their own slow clap.

Adventure Bay is perfect for pretending you’re a sea creature (aka swimming if you can brave water that feels like betrayal). Or just walk Cloudy Bay at sunset and feel cinematic as hell. Surfers, this one’s for you,if you brought a wetsuit and some emotional resilience.

Day 13: Feed Me and Furry FriendsFeast Mode & Wildlife Encounters

You’ve earned a food tour. Nay, you’ve earned a feast. Bruny’s packing everything from chocolate and berries to smoked meats and boutique wine. Snack like royalty. Regret nothing.

Still got space in your stomach and your soul? Book a wildlife cruise. Seals, dolphins, seabirds, maybe even a penguin doing its weird little strut. Bruny also has white wallabies, which are like regular wallabies but fancy and elusive. Birdwatchers, bring binoculars. Everyone else, bring snacks.

Day 14: Ferry Back & Carb Coma Recovery

Time to leave paradise. Mourn your cheese. Sob into the ferry railing. Then decide: chill a night near Kettering, or power on to Port Arthur and start the next chapter. Either way, your van’s heavier from all the cheese and emotions.

Campsite: The Neck Game Reserve Campground

Beachfront. Budget. Bare bones. But oh, those sunrises. Wake up to waves and wallabies judging your morning hair. Facilities are simple: toilets, picnic tables, and vibes for days.

Pro Tip: Bruny gets busy. Book ahead unless you love the thrill of last-minute campsite roulette.

Bruny Island is the perfect blend of wilderness and indulgence. You’ll hike through rainforests, flirt with cliff edges, eat until your jeans beg for mercy, and fall in love with a wallaby. It’s weird. It’s wild. And you won’t want to leave.

Next stop: Port Arthur. Time for ghosts, history, and probably another hike you’ll regret halfway through.

Week 3: Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula – Ghosts, Cliffs, and Chocolate Regret

Welcome to Tasmania’s dark side, not emotionally, just historically. This week is a heady mix of convict ghosts, dramatic coastlines, and hikes that make your calves scream “WHY?” while your brain whispers, “Worth it.”

If you like your scenery with a side of “might-be-haunted” and your chocolate with no portion control, you’re in for a treat.

Day 15-16: Port Arthur – History, Haunted Vibes, and That One Tour You’ll Regret After Dark

From Kettering, cruise the winding roads to Port Arthur. It’s a short drive on paper, but you’ll stop 17 times to gawk at the coastline, so just surrender to the chaos.

First stop? The Port Arthur Historic Site. It’s gorgeous. It’s grim. It’s got sandstone ruins and stories that’ll give you goosebumps. Roam the grounds, listen to tales of convict misery, and marvel at how well those poor bastards built things with, like, zero rights.

Then, if you’re brave or just enjoy sleeping with the lights on, book the ghost tour. Spoiler: you will question your life choices around 8:47pm.

Day 17: Tasman National Park – Coastlines That Punch You in the Soul

Strap on the boots and stretch those hammies, because Tasman National Park isn’t here to be subtle. It’s cliffs, arches, and waves smacking rocks like they owe them money.

Hit Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, and The Blowhole (yes, we’re still doing phrasing). These natural wonders are wild, loud, and slightly terrifying.

Ready for a challenge? The Cape Hauy Track is brutal but beautiful. Think stairmaster meets fantasy movie set. Your legs will hate you. Your camera will love you.

Day 18: Remarkable Cave & Maingon Bay – Nature’s Greatest Mic Drop

Drive to Remarkable Cave, and no, it’s not just influencer bait. It’s a natural tunnel shaped like, wait for it, Tasmania itself. Coincidence? Chaos? Either way, it’s cool as hell.

Before you bounce, stop at Maingon Bay Lookout for panoramic cliff-ocean drama that makes your existence feel tiny in the best way. Breathe it in. Snap a pic. Try not to trip over your jaw.

Day 19: Seals, Sea Spray, and Screaming Kayak Arms

Get off land and into a Tasman Island Cruise, where dolphins surf beside you, cliffs rise like middle fingers from the sea, and seals laze around like they’ve paid rent.

Or go full-send and rent a kayak. Paddle through rock formations that look fake. Swear. Regret. Repeat. It’s chaos with a splash of cardio.

Dry option? Tasmanian Devil Unzoo. Yes, unzoo. It’s like a wildlife park that lets animals roam while you, the human, stay awkwardly fenced in. You’ll meet Tasmanian devils, wallabies, and maybe yourself.

Day 20-21: Chill, Chocolate, and “Did We Really Do All That?”

Time to slow down. Revisit a lookout. Read a book by the bay. Stare at the horizon like someone who’s finally found peace (or is still digesting oysters).

Hit the Federation Chocolate Factory for handcrafted chocolate and deeply personal regrets. Buy enough to last a week. Finish it in the car.

Campsite: Lime Bay State Reserve – Low Key, High Reward

Park your rolling home at Lime Bay State Reserve. It’s tucked away, peaceful, and comes with oceanfront views so pretty it feels like cheating. No power, minimal fuss—just you, the stars, and maybe a wallaby side-eyeing your marshmallows.

Leave no trace. Unless it’s emotional.

From Chains to Clifftops

You survived a week of convict tales, windburn, hike-induced leg spasms, and maybe even a supernatural encounter or two. You’ve eaten, explored, and made peace with your ghost-tour trauma.

Now fire up the van, Freycinet and the Bay of Fires are up next, and they don’t do subtle.

Week 4: Freycinet & Bay of Fires – Beaches, Boulders & Blissed-Out Brain Cells

Welcome to the east coast, where the beaches are obnoxiously beautiful, the rocks look like they’ve been airbrushed by Mother Nature herself, and the seafood’s fresher than your last Tinder match. This week is pure eye-candy with a side of hiking-induced soreness and a picnic or twelve.

You’re about to see landscapes that look fake, eat like you’ve just won the lottery, and possibly sunburn your left kneecap in the name of beachside glory.

Day 22-23: Freycinet Arrival – Cue Dramatic Coastline Montage

Say goodbye to haunted ruins and ghost tours, it’s beach time, baby. The drive from the Tasman Peninsula to Freycinet National Park is gorgeous. Take it slow. Stop for photos. Argue with your GPS. Classic vanlife.

Once you roll into Coles Bay, crack a window, breathe that salty breeze, and mentally prepare to have your brain melted by coastal perfection.

Day 24: Wineglass Bay & Other Ways to Hurt Your Legs

Let’s talk Wineglass Bay, the view is iconic, the hike is steep, and yes, your calves will curse you. But at the top? That turquoise curve of paradise? It’s so worth it you might cry a little.

Got energy left? Hike down to the beach itself and reward your sad legs with a nap in the sand. Then check out Honeymoon Bay, Sleepy Bay, and Cape Tourville Lighthouse, where the views come without the cardio. You’re welcome.

Day 25: Seafood, Sand & Zero Regrets

Today’s vibe? Beach mode and belly joy. Head into town, grab the freshest oysters or whatever seafood you pretend to know how to pronounce, and go full picnic mode. Plonk yourself on the sand like royalty and let the waves soundtrack your digestive euphoria.

This is the kind of day you remember when you’re crying in traffic back home.

Day 26: Bay of Fires – Tassie’s Hot Rock Supermodel

Time to say “cheers” to Freycinet and head two hours north to the Bay of Fires, where the beaches are white, the water’s rude-level clear, and the boulders are so orange you’ll think your sunglasses broke.

Park the van, take a dip, and question how this place isn’t swarmed with influencers yelling about “aesthetic.”

Day 27-28: Rock-Hopping, Bird-Watching & Sunset Sippin’

Bay of Fires is the coastal buffet of your dreams. Walk the beach. Watch the birds. Fish if that’s your thing. Or just wander between rock pools and marvel at how you’ve ended up in the middle of a live-action screensaver.

End your days with sunset views and a cold drink in hand. Bonus points if you manage to not spill it while taking a selfie next to an orange boulder.

Campsites: Where to Park Your Home on Wheels

• Freycinet Campgrounds – Pay a few bucks, score a spot, and fall asleep to the sound of waves and possibly a possum rummaging through your snack bag. Book early. These spots go faster than free chips at a BBQ.
• Swimcart Beach (Bay of Fires) – Free, right on the sand, and stupidly stunning. But again, get in early unless you love sleeping on a slant next to a toilet block.

Sand in Your Shoes, Salt in Your Soul

The East Coast doesn’t just look good, it feels good. You’ve hiked, feasted, floated, and napped. You’ve stared into the sea wondering if you’re emotionally ready to become a full-time hermit crab. All valid.

Next stop? Launceston & Tamar Valley, where wine flows, waterfalls fall, and you might finally learn how to pronounce “gewürztraminer.”

Week 5: Launceston & Tamar Valley – Pinot, Platypuses & the Occasional Gold Rush Ghost

Welcome to Tassie’s fancy north. This week is like a wine tour crashed into an art gallery, then took a detour through a historic town full of lavender, gold mines, and very confused monkeys. You’ll eat well, drink better, and possibly buy cheese with words you can’t pronounce.

Let’s swirl, sniff, and dive in.

Day 29-30: Launceston – Gorge Walks and Monkey Side-Eyes

Roll into Launceston from the Bay of Fires (approx. 2.5 hours of scenery so good you’ll forget your back hurts). First stop? Cataract Gorge. It’s got suspension bridges, chairlifts, and peacocks randomly showing off like it’s Love Island for birds. Hike it. Swim it. Sit dramatically on a rock. Live your main character moment.

Day two? Hit City Park, home to a monkey enclosure for reasons no one fully understands but absolutely supports. These monkeys live better than most backpackers. If it’s Saturday, swing by the Harvest Market, grab pastries, overpriced artisan chutneys, and pretend you’re the kind of person who makes sourdough from scratch.

Day 31: Tamar Valley Wine Route – Sip Happens

Today’s mission: drink and not fall over. The Tamar Valley is wine country royalty. Think Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and a landscape so stunning you’ll forgive the wine snobs for existing.

There’s over 30 cellar doors here. You won’t hit them all (unless you’re unwell), but a few tastings in and you’ll be swishing and sniffing like a pro. Just pace yourself. Wine drunk in the middle of a vineyard is romantic. Wine nap in a ditch? Less so.

Day 32: Seahorses, Platypuses & Gold Rush Shenanigans

Drive out to Beauty Point and get weird with sea creatures at Seahorse World. Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s awesome. Right next door is Platypus House, where you’ll meet nature’s weirdest overachievers up close.

On the way back, stop at Beaconsfield, the town that made headlines in 2006 with a mining rescue saga that gripped the nation. The Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre is genuinely fascinating, equal parts history and “who let these guys build tunnels?”

Day 33: Evandale, Lavender, and Lazy Wandering

Head to Evandale, which feels like a Jane Austen cosplay village that forgot what century it’s in. Georgian architecture, antique shops, and the kind of quiet that makes you whisper.

If you’re here in summer, detour to the Lavender Farm. The smell alone will reset your nervous system. The photos? Peak wanderlust bait.

Day 34-35: Free-Range Rambling

By now you’ve earned some slow days. Revisit your favourite vineyard. Read by the river. Google if it’s too late to move here permanently. Eat more cheese. Nap under a tree like someone in a romantic indie film. No wrong answers.

Campsite: Myrtle Park

Myrtle Park is that sweet spot between civilization and bush retreat. River nearby, decent facilities, plenty of space to pretend you’re Bear Grylls without actually suffering. Fire up the BBQ, swap travel yarns with a neighbour, and soak it in.

Wine-Lit, Monkey-Watched and Slightly Sunburnt

Launceston and the Tamar Valley sneak up on you. It’s not loud or flashy, it’s slow, elegant chaos. One minute you’re sipping Pinot in a vineyard, the next you’re staring at a platypus wondering what you’ve done with your life.

Next stop: Cradle Mountain & Strahan. Rug up. Things are about to get alpine.

Week 6: Cradle Mountain – Alpine Landscapes and Rugged Wilderness Awaits

Head to the highlands and delve into the wilderness of the iconic Cradle Mountain. Embark on alpine hikes, encounter unique Tasmanian wildlife, and bask in the tranquil beauty of Dove Lake.

Day 36-37: Drive to Cradle Mountain

Start your journey from Launceston to Cradle Mountain. This trip should take about 2.5 hours. Once you reach, take your time to settle down and orientate yourself. Spend the next day exploring the area, familiarize yourself with various tracks, and plan the hikes you want to take.

Day 38: Cradle Mountain Summit Hike

Prepare for a strenuous yet rewarding hike to the Cradle Mountain summit. This walk should take about 6-8 hours, so make sure you’re well-prepared with food, water, and suitable clothing. This climb is challenging, but reaching the top will reward you with fantastic views over the national park.

Day 39: Dove Lake Circuit

Recover from the previous day’s exertions with a much easier but equally scenic walk around Dove Lake. This 6km track offers spectacular views and passes through different types of vegetation.

Day 40: Explore More of the Park

Explore more of the park’s hiking trails. Try the Enchanted Walk, a beautiful 20-minute stroll along the river. Or perhaps the King Billy track, a 2km walk that will introduce you to some of Tasmania’s ancient vegetation, including 1,500-year-old King Billy pines.

Day 41: Waldheim Chalet and Weindorfers Forest Walk

Visit the Waldheim Chalet, the original home of Gustav and Kate Weindorfer. The Chalet tells the story of these pioneers whose vision established the national park. Follow this visit with the Weindorfers Forest Walk, a 20-minute circuit walk through a cool temperate rainforest.

Day 42: Rest and Leisure Day

Spend your last day in the park at leisure. You could go wildlife spotting (this area is known for its wombats), revisit your favorite spots, or relax and enjoy the natural beauty around you.

Campsite: Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain

This campsite is the perfect base to explore the area. It offers campervan sites and has good facilities. It’s also just a few minutes’ drive from the national park’s visitor center.

You’ll be sore, windburned, possibly slightly damp at all times, and still… kinda reborn. Like a phoenix, but in thermals.

Next? Strahan & the West Coast. Rivers, railways, and more remote magic.

Week 7: Strahan & West Coast – Wild, Windy, and Weirdly Soothing

Wrap your Tassie trip with a West Coast exhale. Strahan is quiet, weirdly pretty, and feels like someone pressed pause on the chaos. Drift down the Gordon River, where the trees have been silently judging humanity for centuries. Ride the Wilderness Railway, because nothing says “slow travel” like a steam train chugging through ancient forest.

And yeah, this is where it all hits you. The hikes, the pies, the ghost tours, the dodgy weather, the wombats. All of it. You did the thing. You crossed the island. You made it weird and wonderful. You’ve got bug bites, blurry photos, and probably sand in places that shouldn’t have sand.

That’s Tasmania. And you’ll miss it before you even leave.

Day 43-44: Drive to Strahan

Drive two hours west through twisty roads and 27 kinds of weather. Arrive in Strahan, a sleepy fishing village that looks like it accidentally wandered into a postcard. Walk the waterfront. Find a pie. Poke around in shops run by people who’ve lived here since dial-up internet. Breathe.

Day 45: Gordon River Cruise

Hop on a boat and drift down the Gordon River like a dramatic nature documentary narrator. Expect silent forests, tannin-stained waters, and commentary that quietly roasts colonisation. Stop at Sarah Island, a penal colony with stories that’ll make you question every historic site you’ve ever visited.

Day 46: West Coast Wilderness Railway

Steam train. Old tracks. Full rainforest vibes. The West Coast Wilderness Railway is part history lesson, part nostalgia trip, and part “I didn’t know I liked trains this much” moment. Trees blur past. The guide tells stories. Everyone’s weirdly emotional by the end.

Day 47: Henty Dunes and Ocean Beach

Drive out to Henty Dunes. Climb sand hills taller than your ambitions and attempt sandboarding, which is basically snowboarding but drier and with more sand in your underwear. Then chill at Ocean Beach—a wild stretch of coast where the wind slaps your face and the views slap your soul.

Day 48: Strahan Activities

Optional chaos. Sea kayaking, plateau tours, coffee crawl, or just lying in the grass questioning how time works. If you haven’t yet had a hot chocolate in a place with no phone reception, fix that now.

Day 49: Drive to Hobart

Four and a half hours. Forests, lakes, possibly a rainstorm. Leave early. Snack often. Stop where the view demands it. By the time you hit Hobart, your socks will smell like memory and your brain will be buzzing with the kind of quiet joy that only comes from a road trip that didn’t ruin you.y.

Campsite: Strahan Holiday Park

Close to town. Hot showers. Plenty of spots to debrief your week with strangers who now know way too much about your van toilet routine.

Respect and Enjoy Tasmania’s Wild Beauty

Please remember to respect the local environment and adhere to any local rules or restrictions. Enjoy your final week in Tasmania, exploring the stunning West Coast!

That’s it. You’ve done the full loop. Mountains, coastlines, cheese, cliffs, ghosts, dunes, wine, wombats. And somehow you still have energy left.