Map of Tasmania: Road Trip Essentials
Visiting Tasmania? You won’t need a map of Tasmania, but it’ll be helpful.
Tasmania is a beautiful island state located directly south of Australia, most commonly visited from Melbourne via plane or the Spirit of Tasmania. The island is a popular tourism destination, recently being ranked in the top 50 places to visit worldwide, and continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Tasmania offers some of the cleanest air in the world, world-class mountain biking and hiking trails, and home-grown gourmet produce.
No matter your interests, there is something here on the island of Tasmania for you.
Google Maps is great, but even so, there's something special about planning a road trip holiday with a paperback book/map. It becomes a trusty guide/companion on the trip, helping to inform decisions, and coming to life as you begin to adventure out on your holiday.
We couldn't recommend the Lonely Planet: Tasmania guide enough for your map of Tasmania.
This guide is full of 50+ maps of Tasmania, itineraries, local tips, and honest reviews of many Tasmanian highlights.
You'll be okay without it, but from experience, there are countless tips and locations within the book that are worth a few dollars. We have a few Lonely Planet books for other countries we've visited and never once regretted the purchase. It pays for itself 50x over.
If you choose to not purchase a map (Lonely Planet or an alternative), we'd like to note that although Tasmanian driving is smooth and easy, distances aren't great reflections of travel times. Although it looks close on a map, winding roads, low-speed limits, and wildlife increase travel times beyond what one would generally expect.
Below are some travel times to give you rough estimates and help in your road trip planning. We'd recommend trying to keep travel under 250 km per day to give yourself more time on foot, and less time on the road!
Make sure to enter these routes and download the directions if you're using Google Maps as a fair few areas in Tasmania have no reception!
Hobart to Launceston (through the Midlands) – 2 hours 20 minutes.
As you travel north towards Launceston, you'll pass by two towns, Oatlands and Ross. It may be tempting to avoid these, but we recommend giving yourself an extra hour or so (30 min for each) to detour and visit. Ross is known to have the best scallop pies in the state, big call. Another town you can't miss is Campbell Town - well worth the stop here no matter what you're craving.
Hobart to Port Arthur – 1 hour 20 minutes.
There's one location between Hobart and Port Arthur that we're in love with. Eaglehawk Neck. Although you might not spend long here, we recommend stopping off at Cubed Espresso (check in advance for opening hours) which is located at the lookout over Pirates Bay (you can even see Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula from here).
Hobart to Freycinet (through Orford and Swansea) – 2 hours 20 minutes.
Perhaps the most beautiful stretch of road in all of Tasmania. Hobart to Sorrell, Sorrell to Orford, Orford to Swansea, and Swansea to Freycinet. You couldn't have asked for better roads. Take this in and stop by at Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea if you have the time! Devil's Corner is also on the way and well worth the stop.
Hobart to Strahan (through Queenstown) – 6 hours 15 minutes.
Don't drive this without stopping. There is too much along the way to solely make this a drive. You'll follow the Derwent River until Derwent Bridge, home to The Wall, an attraction you won't want to miss. Closer to Queenstown (15 minutes prior) is Linda Cafe. You won't find a cafe experience quite like this anywhere else in the state.
Hobart to Cradle Mountain Via Midlands – 5 hours.
A deceptively long drive. Give yourself the full day to complete this. Stop by places like Ashgrove Cheese Farm, Anvers Chocolate Factory, Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm, and anywhere else that you'd like to see. Make a day of it, share the driving, and stay safe on the Tassie roads!
Don't forget to download the directions for offline mode if you're using Google Maps.
Launceston to Hobart (through Midlands) – 2 hours 20 minutes.
Much like our recommendations above, stop by Oatlands and Ross for a small detour that will give you a taste of history.
Launceston to Strahan (through Cradle Mountain) – 6 hours.
Not the shortest of drives. Take your time on this one, especially in the winter months when black ice can develop on roads.
Launceston to Cradle Mountain – 2 hours 10 minutes.
You'll be taking the highway up until Elizabeth Town, and then following this road through and past Sheffield. It's worth stopping to see the murals if you have the time.
Launceston to Freycinet Via St. Marys and Bicheno – 2 hours 20 minutes.
Just after Epping Forest, you'll be turning left to reach the East Coast. Be prepared for Elephant Pass after St Marys. A fun, and perhaps scary, stretch of road here.
Launceston to Stanley (through Devonport) – 3 hours.
Coastal scenes through Devonport, Ulverstone, Penguin, and Burnie. We recommend turning off the highway at Ulverstone and taking the coastal road through to Penguin and Sulphur Creek, reentering closer to Burnie. We love this section of the North West coast of Tasmania.
Launceston to Port Arthur – 3 hours 40 minutes.
Rather than following the midlands most of the way to Hobart, we recommend taking the Great Eastern Drive that begins at Campbell Town. This will take you through Swansea and Orford, treating you to places like Kate's Berry Farm, views of Maria Island, and some of the best stretches of road in Tasmania. You'll want to stop at Cubed Espresso at Eaglehawk Neck for a beverage if they're open!
The beautiful island of Tasmania is full of rugged cliffs, white sand beaches, and wildlife-filled forests. If natural beauty isn't what you wanted to see in Tasmania, perhaps some other places to visit such as Salamanca Market and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) are more your style. Either way, explore the blog or purchase a Lonely Planet: Tasmania guide to get all the information you need for your Tasmanian holiday.
Don't have a lot of time in Tasmania and want to make the most of your few days here? There are so many places to see that you might not know where to start.
Below are some Tasmanian Itineraries that you can start with to either follow entirely or use to begin your journey. We've outlined our thoughts here, and include the top attractions across the state.
The list of itineraries is ever-expanding and will continue to include a wide range of popular destinations around Tasmania, such as Lake St Clair, Bruny Island, and Cradle Mountain.
Your self-drive adventure wouldn't be complete without a local guide to Tasmania's highlights. Our comprehensive guide includes tips on accommodation, national parks to visit, places to stop, iconic world heritage sites, wine tasting and so much more. Get started on planning your Tasmanian self-drive road trip here.
Tasmania doesn't have attractions like theme parks, or large high-end resorts. Instead, the island offers untouched wilderness, wine & dine experiences using local produce, as well as alternative natural experiences found only here in Tasmania.
If you'd like to visit some attractions or book a tour, you can do so through the trusted source Viator below:
When is the best time to travel in Tasmania?
For most travelers, it’s best to travel in Tasmania during the late spring to mid-autumn. For those who don’t mind the cold, Tasmania can be visited all year around for some unique experiences such as swimming at the Disappearing Tarn!
How long does it take to travel around Tasmania?
The entire route around Tasmania is approximately 1250km long. This doesn’t include highway driving for the full route and may take 15+ hours depending on weather and road conditions.