(That Deserve a Spot on Your Itinerary)

Tasmania was easily one of my favourite places in all of Australia (WA road trip pending). It felt like stepping into a blend of Canada, New Zealand, and Australia—all in one wild, beautiful island. And the best way to experience it? Hands down: road tripping.

If you haven’t already heard of Tasmania, think remote beaches, rugged mountain ranges, and national parks that feel like they’re straight out of a movie. This will be your guide to some of the best road trip stops in Tasmania—from iconic must-sees to a few lesser-known hidden gems that deserve a spot on your itinerary.

Camping In Tasmania

One of the best parts of visiting Tasmania is the camping. Waking up to sunrise in the Bay of Fires, the sounds of kookaburras in Cradle Mountain, falling asleep to the gentle waves in Freycinet—the list goes on. You’ll find plenty of free campsites or parks with a small fee. The majority of these will be unpowered sites, so be prepared with battery packs to charge your electronics and make sure you know which parts of your van run on electricity.

If you’re feeling a little boujee (if you know me, you know I have my moments), you can book a night at one of the holiday parks, where you’ll find full hookups, hot showers, and camp kitchens.

Getting to Tassie

Depending on the trip you have planned in Australia, there are a few different ways to get started in Tasmania.

Fly directly to Hobart, Tasmania’s capital in the south. From the airport, you’ll have access to all the main van companies. I took a quick Uber from the airport over to Cruisin’ Motorhomes, where I picked up my 2-Berth Rover.
Fly to Launceston. If you’re looking to head in the other direction, Launceston rests at the top of Tasmania, closest to Australia’s mainland. From here, you’ll be able to pick up a home on wheels from one of the many companies in the area.
Hop on the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong (just outside of Melbourne) to Devonport. If you’re already travelling around Australia and have your own vehicle, the ferry across the Bass Strait is your best bet for exploring with your own home comforts in tow.

Bay Of Fires

Hands down, the best campsite on my Tasmania road trip was at Bay of Fires. I stayed at Swimcart Beach campground, but there are seven total free campgrounds along The Gardens Road, and six more with fees in the national park.

Each of the campgrounds in and out of the park are first come, first served, so the earlier you get there, the better. And if you’re feeling like you missed out on the spot you wanted, you can always swap sites in the morning when other groups head out.

I was still at the start of my trip when I set up camp here and only stayed one night, but if I could go back in time, I’d definitely spend at least two lounging around and exploring more of the area. It’s also called the Bay of Fires for a reason—on the perfect morning, sunrise paints the red rocks in a fire-like glow, something I missed with a slightly overcast morning.

Cape Raoul

My first stop, after spending 45 minutes at the grocery store (don’t shop hungry), was Cape Raoul at the base of the Tasman Peninsula.

The hike to the first viewpoint is a quick 20–30 minutes up through a eucalyptus forest before you hit a fork that will take you left to Cape Raoul or right to Shipstern Bluff. I didn’t know much about Shipstern until later, but it turns out it’s a big-wave surf spot where the waves have baby waves inside them, due to the rock formations beneath the water.

Getting down to the point of Cape Raoul took me about 2 hours, with a few breaks at different viewpoints. The track itself heads down through the forest before flattening out across to The Cape. The wind through The Gap was gale-force at times, but the sun keeps you warm while you have lunch at what feels like the edge of the world.

What goes down must come back up—so be prepared for the return hike taking more energy than the way there. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly difficult, but you’ll find yourself heading up some rock staircases and thinking it’s over before it is.

If you’re hoping for a different vantage point, there are cruises that run out of Hobart down to the Tasman Peninsula, where you’ll be able to get up close to the rock walls and wildlife around the different capes, without breaking a sweat.

Cradle Mountain National Park

The list of things to do here seems endless. From hikes and walks to wildlife spotting, I could have spent the entire 10 days here and been happy about it. I lucked out with an incredible sunset on my first night, wandering around Dove Lake. The full circuit is 5.8 km and is mostly flat, so a good choice if you have little ones with you or you’re just hoping for a more relaxing day.

The boardwalk that runs alongside Ronny Creek will take you up to Marion’s Lookout, which is a super popular 6.9 km track with only 348 m of elevation gain. If you’re there early enough, you’re likely to find wombats in the grassy fields.

Getting into the national park gets a bit tricky if you’re in a van. There are set hours when the shuttle runs during the day, and they don’t allow any vehicles to enter during this time. Before sunrise and after sunset, you can take cars in (check the shuttle hours), but vans are never allowed, which makes timing a little more difficult if you want to get in before the buses start.

Your options are limited to walking the 14 km access road and then getting the bus back out, or making a friend with a car and heading in with them.

Mount Murchison

Highly underrated. Tucked between Lake Mackintosh and Montezuma Falls. Scrambly as heck.

Honestly, I wish I had someone with me for this hike—some of the exposed sections are a quick fall to broken bones and no cell service. Luckily there were a few other groups around, but I’d recommend a buddy for this one.

The only indications for getting to the trailhead are a slightly larger shoulder for parking and a small sign in the bushes. This hike is definitely not well known, but multiple people have said it’s one of Tasmania’s best.

It starts with a relatively chill incline through the trees before hitting a small plateau. You’ll be in the sun for the majority of it, and Tasmanian sun is no joke, so make sure you’ve packed lots of sunscreen.

The false summit gives you views across the valley and parts of the Hooker Valley track—but once you’ve hit the actual peak, you’ll know.

Lake Burbury

Lake Burbury is a quick drive up the hill from Queenstown, heading toward Hobart. It’s a small campground with minimal overnight fees—it was $10 when I was there—and one spot sits right in a clearing overlooking the lake. (I did not get this one, seeing as I showed up around 6 p.m.)

The rest of the campground is a cozy open field with lots of vans and groups. Super chill vibes.

Freycinet National Park

Wineglass Bay. That’s all I need to say.

No but really—this spot is one of Tassie’s most famous for a reason. The water is cobalt blue, the sand is crystal white, and the view is straight out of a daydream.

The Mount Amos hike itself is a bit of a slog, and if it’s raining, I definitely wouldn’t recommend heading up since you’re walking up rock faces with hardly any grip. But it’s 100% worth the effort once you hit the top.

If you’re hoping for something a little more chill, the lookout is a cruisy walk on a gravel path between Mount Amos and Mount Mayson and still gives you a beautiful view of the bay.

Hobart

A city that definitely feels more like a small town, Hobart is worth spending at least a day (or two) exploring. The Salamanca area is made up of old sandstone warehouses that have been converted into restaurants, bars, and shopping. Every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you’ll find the Salamanca Market in full swing, with over 300 stalls filled by local artists, designers, and food producers.

Happy hour at The Den with cocktails and bao buns on their cozy patio hit different after a day of wandering. And the best (okay, maybe only) floating ice cream shop sits in the harbour just around the corner at Van Diemen’s.

I spent most of my day at The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, I make it a point of visiting them in all the cities I visit (mostly because I like nature more than concrete) and the Hobart gardens did not disappoint. It’s heading into Tasmania’s early autumn in March, so the leaves were starting to change and the cooler weather was perfect for setting up a blanket in the sun and reading my book.

Overlooking the city is kunanyi / Mount Wellington, which is definitely the the best zero-effort view in Tasmania. I was lucky to be visiting a friend with a car, because the roads up are steep, narrow, and not ideal for vans. If you're traveling without a car, there's also a few Mount Wellington shuttle buses that run daily and take you straight to the summit for those panoramic views.

West Coast

Western Tasmania is a region of World-Heritage-listed wilderness, and it’s not surprising when you see the ocean of trees and waterways from the top of a mountain (Mount Murchison to be exact). I missed doing the Western Wilds Tasmania Route, which could be it’s own week long Tasmanian Road Trip with hikes, waterfalls, and 0 cell reception (let your mom know you’re alive when you get back to service).

I spent the night in the NorthWest, camping in Rocky Cape National Park and it felt like the perfect escape. Quiet rocky beaches, short sunset walks to scenic viewpoints, and small-town charm line the coast. One of the best things about this area is that it’s way less touristy, so you can enjoy it all in the peace and quiet of your own company.

By the time I made it back to Hobart, I was definitely craving some human interaction (that’s the extrovert in me), but the rugged coastline and remote beauty of the West absolutely stole my heart. I’d go back in a second to explore it more deeply.

Oh—and quick tip: if you’ve been to New Zealand, remind yourself often that you're driving to a different Queenstown. I definitely forgot a few times.

Queenstown, Tasmania could not be more different—surrounded by red and orange hills that feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet. The town’s old buildings give off rustic mining-town vibes in the best way, and it has a charm that’s hard to describe until you’re standing in it.

8 of the Best Tasmania Road Trip Stops