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How many days in Tasmania? 6 days on a loop from Hobart to Cradle Mountain
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Tasmania is an island state a little smaller than Ireland, and its best sights sit on a loop that takes about six days by car: Hobart and its art museum in the south, the convict ruins of Port Arthur, the pink granite and white sand of Freycinet and the Bay of Fires on the east coast, and the alpine lakes of Cradle Mountain in the north-west. Roads are winding, so plan for 2-3 hours of driving most days, and fly into Hobart and out of Launceston.
Short answer
Five days covers Hobart, Port Arthur, Freycinet, Launceston and Cradle Mountain, at a faster pace. Six days lets you add the Bay of Fires and evenings that are not spent driving.
The 6-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Hobart: Salamanca, MONA and kunanyi
Morning. Walk around Salamanca Place, a row of sandstone warehouses from the 19th century on the waterfront, now galleries, cafes and shops. On Saturdays, the Salamanca Market fills the street from about 8:30 to 15:00 with local produce and crafts. Climb Kelly's Steps into Battery Point, the old maritime quarter of cottages and pubs, a few minutes away.
Afternoon. Take the fast ferry from Brooke Street Pier up the Derwent River to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, in about 25 minutes (ferry and entry roughly A$70-90 together for interstate and international visitors; check current prices). Allow 3 hours for the galleries carved into the sandstone cliff.
Evening. Drive about 30 minutes up kunanyi/Mount Wellington, 1,271 metres above the city, for sunset over Hobart and the Derwent estuary (free). It can be very cold and windy at the summit, even in summer. Dinner on the waterfront: fish and chips from a floating stall at Constitution Dock, around A$20-30.
Buy a Parks Pass before you leave Hobart: a Holiday Pass for a vehicle covers all national parks for up to 8 weeks and pays for itself at Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. Buy it online from Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania.
Day 2: Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula
Morning. Drive about 1.5 hours south-east to the Port Arthur Historic Site, the best-preserved convict settlement in Australia and part of the UNESCO-listed Australian Convict Sites. The entry ticket (around A$50 for adults) includes a guided walk and a short harbour cruise past the Isle of the Dead. Allow 4 hours.
Afternoon. On the way back, stop at the coastal formations of the Tasman Peninsula: Tasman Arch, the Devils Kitchen and the Tessellated Pavement near Eaglehawk Neck, a flat rock shelf cracked into tiles.
Evening. Return to Hobart for dinner in North Hobart along Elizabeth Street; A$40-70 per person.
Port Arthur's evening ghost tour is popular; book ahead if you want to stay late. A memorial garden on the site remembers the victims of the 1996 shooting.
Day 3: Freycinet and Wineglass Bay
Morning. Drive about 2.5-3 hours north up the east coast to Freycinet National Park near Coles Bay. Walk to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, about 1-1.5 hours return with a steady climb, for the classic view of the curved white beach.
Afternoon. Continue down to Wineglass Bay beach (about 3 hours return in total), or walk the easier Cape Tourville lighthouse boardwalk, 20 minutes, for views along the coast.
Evening. Eat oysters and mussels from the local farms around Coles Bay and the Freycinet Marine Farm, and watch wallabies graze at dusk around the campgrounds and lodges. Stay the night in Coles Bay or Swansea.
Car parks at the Wineglass Bay walk fill up in summer by mid-morning. Arrive before 9:00, or take a cruise from Coles Bay to see the bay from the water (around A$150-200).
Day 4: The Bay of Fires and on to Launceston
Morning. Drive about 1.5-2 hours north to St Helens and the Bay of Fires, a coast of white sand and granite boulders covered with orange lichen. Walk the beaches around Binalong Bay and The Gardens, which are often almost empty.
Afternoon. Head inland to Launceston, about 2.5 hours through the forested hills of the north-east. On the way, stop at the Pyengana Dairy for cheese, or at St Columba Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Tasmania, a short walk through rainforest.
Evening. Arrive in Launceston, Tasmania's second city, and have dinner in a restaurant serving produce from the Tamar Valley, the island's main wine region.
The lichen on the Bay of Fires rocks is brightest in the low light of morning and late afternoon. Buy fuel and food in St Helens.
Day 5: Cataract Gorge and the drive to Cradle Mountain
Morning. Walk 15 minutes from central Launceston to Cataract Gorge, where paths follow the South Esk River between cliffs to the First Basin, a swimming pool and lawns with peacocks. Cross on the chairlift, described as having one of the longest single spans in the world (around A$20-25), or on the free Alexandra Suspension Bridge.
Afternoon. Drive about 2-2.5 hours west to Cradle Mountain. At the Cradle Mountain visitor centre, park and take the shuttle bus into the national park, as private cars are not allowed on the last section of road in most seasons.
Evening. Join a dusk wildlife walk or drive slowly near your lodge: wombats, wallabies and pademelons graze in the open at dusk.
Drive slowly at dusk and after dark everywhere in Tasmania: wildlife crosses the roads, and roadkill is sadly common.
Day 6: Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain
Morning. Take the first shuttle to Dove Lake and walk the Dove Lake Circuit, about 6 km and 2 hours, around the lake beneath the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain, with the old boatshed as the classic photo spot.
Afternoon. Fit hikers can climb towards Marions Lookout, a steep path with chains in places, for the view over Dove Lake and Crater Lake (about 2-3 hours from the lake). Return to Launceston (about 2.5 hours) or drive 1.5 hours to Devonport for the ferry.
Evening. In Launceston or Devonport, have a final dinner with Tasmanian salmon, local cheeses and a glass of Tasmanian whisky.
Weather at Cradle Mountain changes quickly and it can snow in any month. Carry a warm jacket, waterproofs and a map, even for the Dove Lake Circuit.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, skip the Bay of Fires and drive from Freycinet straight to Launceston (about 2.5 hours). With 4 days, choose either the east coast (Hobart, Port Arthur, Freycinet) or the north (Launceston and Cradle Mountain).
Got extra days?
With a 7th or 8th day, take the car ferry from Kettering to Bruny Island (about 20 minutes) for cheese, oysters and the view from The Neck, or visit Mount Field National Park and Russell Falls, about 1.5 hours from Hobart. Experienced hikers can book the 6-day Overland Track (about 65 km) from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair.
Where to stay in Tasmania
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels and motels in Hobart, Launceston and campgrounds | Simple rooms in the cities and powered or cabin sites near the parks. | A$40-150 |
| Mid-range | Hobart waterfront and Battery Point | Hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of Salamanca and the MONA ferry. | A$200-350 |
| Mid-range | Coles Bay, Launceston and Cradle Mountain lodges | Cabins and lodges close to the trailheads and the shuttle bus. | A$200-400 |
| Comfort | Luxury lodges at Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and Hobart | Lodges with spas and wildlife on the doorstep, and boutique hotels on the Hobart waterfront. | A$450-1,200 |
Getting around
Fly into Hobart or Launceston from Melbourne (about 1 hour) or Sydney (about 1h45), or take the Spirit of Tasmania car ferry from Geelong, near Melbourne, to Devonport (around 10-11 hours, overnight or by day). A rental car is essential for this route (roughly A$70-130 a day, more in summer; book ahead), and one-way hires between Hobart and Launceston are common. Public buses link the main towns but not the national parks well.
What to eat in Tasmania
Tasmania is known in Australia for its produce. Eat oysters from the east coast and Bruny Island, Atlantic salmon farmed in the southern channels, scallops, and the scallop pie, a Tasmanian favourite sold in bakeries. Look also for leatherwood honey and local cheeses. The cool climate is ideal for pinot noir and sparkling wine, and Tasmanian whisky has a strong reputation. Fish and chips cost about A$20-30, a restaurant dinner A$50-100 per person.
Best time to visit
December to March is summer, with highs of 20-25°C, long evenings and all walks open; it is also the busiest and most expensive season. March and April bring calm autumn days and, in late April and May, the golden fagus, the only native deciduous tree in Australia, in the highlands. Winter (June to August) is cold, around 10-13°C in Hobart, with snow on the mountains; Hobart hosts the Dark Mofo winter festival in some years.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | A$50 | A$140 | A$350 |
| Food & drink | A$50 | A$90 | A$170 |
| Sights & tickets | A$20 | A$45 | A$100 |
| Local transport | A$35 | A$60 | A$90 |
| Total per person, per day | about A$155 | about A$335 | about A$710 |
Approximate 2026 prices, with transport based on a shared rental car and fuel; the national Parks Pass is extra but covers all parks for up to 8 weeks.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a car in Tasmania?
For this route, yes. Public buses connect Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and some east-coast towns, but they run rarely and do not reach the national parks or most viewpoints. A rental car or campervan lets you stop at walks, beaches and farm gates; the alternative is a multi-day guided tour.
Do I need a pass for the national parks?
Yes. All visitors to Tasmania's national parks need a valid Parks Pass. The Holiday Pass, for a vehicle with up to eight people or for one person, covers all parks for up to eight weeks and is the best choice for a road trip. You can buy it online, at visitor centres or at park entrances. Daily passes are also available.
Will I see Tasmanian devils in the wild?
It is possible but rare, as devils are nocturnal and shy, and their numbers fell sharply because of a facial tumour disease. The best chance is at wildlife sanctuaries and conservation parks, such as those on the Tasman Peninsula, near Hobart and at Cradle Mountain, which often have feeding times and night tours.
How cold is Tasmania in summer?
Milder than mainland Australia. Hobart's summer highs are usually 20-25°C, with some hotter days, but evenings can be cool, and the weather on mountains like kunanyi and Cradle Mountain can change from sun to snow in a few hours. Pack layers, a warm jacket and waterproofs, even in January.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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