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Melbourne or Tasmania? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Melbourne for a big city of laneway cafés, multicultural food, sport and culture, with the Great Ocean Road as a day or two out. Pick Tasmania for a road trip through national parks, coastline, wildlife and small-producer food, with MONA in Hobart. Melbourne is slightly cheaper on the mid-range numbers: about €193 per person per day against €207 in Tasmania.
Melbourne: suits couples, solo travellers and digital nomads who want city life, coffee, food and galleries.
Tasmania: suits couples, friends and first-timers who want hiking, wildlife and a slow drive through nature.
Side by side
| Melbourne | Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €193 A$312 local | €207 A$335 local |
| Budget day* | €86 | €96 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €193 a day mid-range. | ●●●●●About €207 a day mid-range; car hire extra. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Busy CBD and big events; plenty of space overall. | ●●●●●Quiet roads; Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain busy in summer. |
| Food | ●●●●●Cafés, Vietnamese, Greek and Chinese food, and strong markets. | ●●●●●Oysters, seafood, cheese and wine direct from producers. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Rooftop bars, live music and laneway bars every night. | ●●●●●Hobart has some bars; elsewhere very quiet. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Zoo, museums, beaches and parks. | ●●●●●Wildlife parks and easy walks; long drives. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Free tram zone in the CBD and good public transport. | ●●●●●A hire car is essential outside Hobart. |
| Best months | Jan, Feb, Apr | Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec |
| Warmest / coolest | Jan 26°C / Jul 13°C | Jan 22°C / Jun 12°C |
| Known for | Hosier Lane street art, Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles, espresso laneway culture | Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, MONA, Salamanca Place, Port Arthur |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Melbourne and Tasmania day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Melbourne if…
- you want a city with cafés, galleries and sport.
- you don't want to drive much.
- you want nightlife and live music.
- you want the Great Ocean Road as a side trip.
Pick Tasmania if…
- you want national parks and hiking.
- you want to see wildlife such as wombats and Tasmanian devils.
- you enjoy a self-drive road trip.
- you want MONA and producer-driven food.
Weather month by month
| Month | Melbourne high / rainy days | Tasmania high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°C · 8 | 22°C · 10 |
| Feb | 25°C · 6 | 22°C · 9 |
| Mar | 23°C · 10 | 20°C · 9 |
| Apr | 20°C · 7 | 18°C · 9 |
| May | 16°C · 13 | 14°C · 9 |
| Jun | 14°C · 14 | 12°C · 11 |
| Jul | 13°C · 13 | 13°C · 8 |
| Aug | 15°C · 13 | 13°C · 10 |
| Sep | 17°C · 13 | 15°C · 12 |
| Oct | 18°C · 17 | 16°C · 13 |
| Nov | 20°C · 13 | 18°C · 12 |
| Dec | 23°C · 10 | 20°C · 9 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Melbourne
Flat white and brunch · Melbourne dim sim · Souvlaki · Pho and banh mi · Dumplings and Chinese food · Chicken parma at the pub
Where: Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market, Chinatown, Little Bourke Street, Victoria Street, Richmond
Tasmania
Curried scallop pie · Oysters · Fish and chips from the docks · Rock lobster and abalone · Tasmanian cheese · Leatherwood honey
Where: Salamanca Market, Hobart, Farm Gate Market, Hobart, Hobart waterfront (Constitution Dock and Franklin Wharf), Bruny Island
Doing both in one trip
10 days: 4 in Melbourne + 6 in Tasmania
Start in Melbourne, then fly to Hobart and drive north, flying back from Launceston, or take the ferry with your car.
Getting between them: Flight Melbourne–Hobart about 1 h 15, Melbourne–Launceston about 1 h. The Spirit of Tasmania car ferry sails from Geelong to Devonport, roughly 10 to 11 hours, often overnight. Check current timetables. Distance about 598 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: CBD laneways, Hosier Lane, Queen Victoria Market.
- Day 2: Fitzroy, Carlton and the NGV.
- Day 3–4: Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles.
- Day 5: Fly to Hobart; Salamanca Place and MONA.
- Day 6: Port Arthur or Bruny Island.
- Day 7–8: Drive the east coast to Freycinet and Wineglass Bay.
- Day 9: Cradle Mountain.
- Day 10: Launceston, fly back to Melbourne.
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Common questions
Is Melbourne or Tasmania cheaper?
Melbourne, slightly. Our mid-range estimate is about €193 per person per day there against €207 in Tasmania. The difference grows once you add car hire and fuel, which are almost essential in Tasmania. Melbourne also has more budget food options and good public transport, including free trams in the city centre.
How do I get from Melbourne to Tasmania?
Fly to Hobart in about 1 h 15 or to Launceston in about an hour, with several flights a day. Or take the Spirit of Tasmania car ferry from Geelong to Devonport, roughly 10 to 11 hours and often overnight, useful if you want to bring your own car. Check current timetables.
How many days do I need in Tasmania?
At least five or six days for a loop including Hobart, Port Arthur, Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. Distances look short on the map, but roads are winding and slow. With only two or three days, stay around Hobart and visit MONA, Bruny Island or Port Arthur.
When is the best time to visit?
Our data puts January, February and April as best for Melbourne, and December to April for Tasmania. Summer highs are about 26°C in Melbourne and 22°C in Tasmania. Winter is cool, about 12 to 13°C in July and June, and some walks in Tasmania's highlands can see snow.