For a loop of Tasmania, Discover Tasmania publishes a 14-day, 1,863 km itinerary. By area there are suggestions of 3 to 6 days. Hobart and Launceston are 176 km apart, about 2 h 30 min. That website does not point to a single best time: each season has its own appeal, and for multi-day walks the most reliable are summer and autumn, from December to May.
How many days does it usually take?
| Route | Days | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full loop from Launceston | 14 | 1,863 km | Discover Tasmania |
| Western Wilds | 6 | — | Tourism Australia |
| Great Eastern Drive | 5 | — | Tourism Australia |
| Freycinet Peninsula, from Hobart | 4 | 314 km | Discover Tasmania |
| Cradle Mountain | 3 | 71 km | Discover Tasmania |
The official website does not give a minimum number of days for the island. Discover Tasmania reminds you that it is a similar size to Ireland, and that journeys are short compared with the rest of Australia.
Distances on the 14-day loop
These are some days of the official itinerary. Each figure is the total for the day, with its sightseeing.
| Section | Km for the day |
|---|---|
| Launceston to Boat Harbour Beach | 198 |
| Stanley to Cradle Mountain | 201 |
| Cradle Mountain to Strahan | 151 |
| Strahan to Tarraleah | 190 |
| Tarraleah to Hobart | 127 |
| Hobart to Eaglehawk Neck, via Port Arthur | 123 |
| Eaglehawk Neck to Coles Bay | 240 |
| St Helens to Launceston | 181 |
Other published times:
- Freycinet: 2.5 to 3 hours from Launceston or Hobart.
- Kettering, ferry to Bruny Island: 33 km and 30 minutes from Hobart.
- Triabunna, ferry to Maria Island: 86 km and 75 minutes from Hobart.
- Cockle Creek: two hours from Hobart.
How do you get there?
- By air: Hobart and Launceston have direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, according to Tourism Australia. Those from Melbourne take close to 1 hour.
- By ferry: Spirit of Tasmania links Geelong and Devonport in 9 to 11 hours, with a car, motorbike or caravan. Its website showed adult places from A$49 on 5 November 2026. That price carries a note whose conditions we could not read, and we have not seen the fare with a vehicle.
The sailing times come from different sources. Discover Tasmania speaks of daytime sailings between September and April. Spirit of Tasmania says it sails most nights and that, with the new ships, there will only be overnight sailings. Check its calendar before you plan.
If you rent a car, Discover Tasmania asks you to check that the company allows it on the ferry. There are also products that cannot enter the island, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, honey or soil. Spirit of Tasmania says to declare them before boarding and eat or throw them away on board.
When to go
Tasmania has four seasons. Discover Tasmania sums them up like this:
| Season | Months | What it brings |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December to February | Long days, light until after 9:00 pm. Festivals and lavender in December and January |
| Autumn | March to May | Calm weather and fagus, the deciduous beech, changing colour |
| Winter | June to August | Snow in the highlands and icy roads |
| Spring | September to November | Waterfalls, flowers and whales |
For multi-day walks, the most reliable periods are summer and autumn. The Overland Track is booked from October to May.
Maximum temperatures according to the monthly tables:
| City | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 22 to 23 °C | 13 to 15 °C |
| Launceston | 23 to 26 °C | 13 to 15 °C |
| Strahan | 20 to 23 °C | 13 to 14 °C |
That same page gives other figures for winter in its text, from 3 to 11 °C, so check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast. Hobart gets 569 mm of rain a year and the west coast 2,400 mm. In summer the risk of fires rises.
Do you need a pass for the parks?
Yes. Parks Tasmania asks for a valid pass in all its national parks. Prices seen on 5 November 2026:
| Pass | Per vehicle, up to 8 people | Per person, by coach, bike or on foot |
|---|---|---|
| One day, up to 24 hours, excluding Cradle Mountain | A$49.15 | A$24.55 |
| Holiday, up to 2 months | A$98.35 | A$49.20 |
Cradle Mountain and Freycinet: the most common questions
- Car at Cradle Mountain: you cannot enter with a private car while the shuttle bus is running. Motorhomes and caravans can never use Dove Lake Road.
- Shuttle: leaves from the visitor centre and takes about 20 minutes to Dove Lake. It is paid separately from the holiday pass.
- Dove Lake: a 6 km circuit, 2 to 3 hours.
- Wineglass Bay: the lookout is 2.6 km return, 1 to 1.5 hours.
Without a car and behind the wheel
- Public transport: there are no regular passenger trains. Tassielink reaches more than 50 towns, Kinetic links the cities and McDermott's goes from Launceston to Cradle Mountain.
- Fuel: some stations close at 5:00 pm, especially in remote areas.
- Animals: they cross a lot between dusk and dawn.
- Roads: the west coast is especially winding and steep.
The general driving rules and its notice for residents are in the Great Ocean Road route.
Sources
All opened on 5 November 2026.
- 14 days in Tasmania, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Itineraries, Discover Tasmania (official)
- 3 days at Cradle Mountain, Discover Tasmania (official)
- 4 days on Freycinet Peninsula, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Heritage Highway, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Southern Edge, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Seasons, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Climate, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Getting around, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Getting here, Discover Tasmania (official)
- Tasmania, Tourism Australia (official)
- Entry fees, Parks Tasmania (official)
- Cradle Mountain, Parks Tasmania (official)
- Freycinet, Parks Tasmania (official)
- Home page, Spirit of Tasmania (company)
- Frequently asked questions, Spirit of Tasmania (company)