Ashleigh & Luke

Route guide · Tasmania

Tasmania campervan itinerary: our 3-week road trip in a 2WD

We spent three weeks driving around Tasmania in Ron, our 2WD Renault Master campervan, in January and February 2026. We went anticlockwise from Devonport: the north-west and the Tarkine, the wild west coast, Hobart and the south, up the east coast, then Launceston and Cradle Mountain. This is our route in the order we did it, with what we'd do again, what we'd do differently and what a 2WD can handle. Where we quote official advice, it's in its own box with the date we checked it, so you can tell it apart from our own experience.

Key points

  • Our number 1 lesson: don't just follow Google Maps. It sent us down the Western Explorer, a gravel road locals call "the road to nowhere". Always check ahead on Street View or do your research first. In a 2WD, take the bitumen.
  • Give it longer than you think. We booked two weeks, stretched it to three, and it still wasn't enough. We'd recommend 4 to 6 weeks. Every drive takes longer than the map says: the roads wind, and you'll keep pulling over for the views.
  • A 2WD van can do this loop on the bitumen. Most of our route was sealed. The gravel we drove was the Western Explorer to Corinna (by accident, and we wouldn't recommend it in a 2WD), the road out from the Corinna barge, and the road to Fortescue Bay.
  • Buy a parks pass before you need it. You need one in all 19 national parks. The Holiday Vehicle Pass covers one vehicle for up to 2 months, and we used ours all over the island.
  • Fill up before the Tarkine. We had to turn back for fuel when a sign warned there was none for about 170 km.
  • Vans can't drive to Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain. Park at the visitor centre and take the shuttle bus, which isn't covered by the holiday pass.
  • Watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk. Tasmania's animals are out on the roads then, so we planned our days to be parked up before dark.

Can you do Tasmania in a 2WD van?

Yes. Ron is a 2WD, and as we say on our essentials page, we stick to sealed roads and firm tracks. The main loop around Tasmania is sealed. What makes it slow is the hills, the bends and the narrow bits, not the surface. Here's how the trickier roads and places on our route, plus a few on the popular stops in the tips below, stack up (official pages checked 2 November 2026):

Road or placeIn a 2WD?What the official page says, and what we found
The Western Explorer (Arthur River to Corinna)We'd say no: take the bitumenParks and Wildlife Service Tasmania calls it a 2WD gravel road, 112 km, best in early summer after grading and possibly corrugated and potholed by late summer. We ended up on it by following Google Maps and drove it in the rain at about 30 km/h. Ron wasn't damaged because we took our time, but it's much more suited to a 4WD.
Corinna barge (Fatman Barge) over the Pieman RiverCheck your sizeThe operator lists a weight capacity and maximum vehicle measurements, so check yours before you go. We crossed in Ron.
Corinna to ZeehanYesDiscover the Tarkine says the last 12 km to the barge from the Zeehan side is gravel. Going the other way, ours felt like about 6 km of unsealed road before the tarmac.
kunanyi/Mount Wellington (Pinnacle Road)YesSealed, but it closes for snow and ice. Winding, narrow and steep for us, but fine in a van, with plenty of parking at the top.
Bruny Island ferryYesVehicle ferry from Kettering on a queueing system. We turned up and queued.
The road to the Tahune AirwalkYes: follow the signsTahune Adventures says it's sealed all the way, but GPS may send you down unsigned gravel roads, so follow the signs from Geeveston.
Fortescue Bay road (for Cape Hauy)Yes, slowlyParks says it's 12 km unsealed but suitable for 2WD vehicles. It was bumpy and slow for us, but fine.
Wielangta Road (Copping to Orford)Take the highwayGlamorgan Spring Bay Council describes it as a 50 km unsealed road. Lap of Tasmania warns Google Maps may route you along it from Port Arthur to Orford, says it's unsuitable for 2WD vehicles, and suggests the A9 to Sorell, then the A3.
Maria IslandNo vehiclesPassenger ferry only. Leave the van at Triabunna.
Marakoopa Cave, Mole CreekLower car park for vansParks says motorhomes and caravans must use the lower car park and walk 800 m to the cave.
Dove Lake Road, Cradle MountainNo vansCampervans and motorhomes aren't allowed at any time. Park at the visitor centre and take the shuttle bus.
Our number 1 lesson: don't just follow Google Maps. The Western Explorer taught us this. Google Maps took us onto it without warning, and it was the most stressful drive of the trip. Now we always check ahead on Street View or do our research before we commit to a route.

Our habit for anything unsealed: check what the road looks like on Google Street View first. If it doesn't have Street View, there's usually a reason for it.

How long, when, and our route

We originally booked two weeks, then stretched it to three after doing our research, and it still wasn't enough. We'd recommend 4 to 6 weeks for a trip like ours, so you can slow down, have a few days off and see the north-east coast, which is what we missed. If you've only got three weeks, this route works, but it's busy.

We went in January and February, in the height of summer. It was hot on the Tasman Peninsula and cold and wet at Cradle Mountain on the same trip, so pack for both. We also left Cradle Mountain until after the summer school holidays on purpose, to miss the busiest weeks.

We crossed on the overnight Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong, arriving in Devonport at 6am. Our ferry guide covers booking, what you can't take across (no fruit or veg) and what's changed with the new ships.

Our route, anticlockwise:

  1. Devonport to Stanley: a drink by the sea in Penguin, then The Nut, the little penguins and, with a lot of luck, the southern lights.
  2. The Tarkine: Trowutta Arch, then the Western Explorer to Corinna and the barge over the Pieman River.
  3. Zeehan, Strahan and Queenstown: Montezuma Falls, the West Coast Wilderness Railway and Horsetail Falls.
  4. Through the middle: Nelson Falls, the Franklin River and The Wall in the Wilderness.
  5. Mount Field, then kunanyi/Mount Wellington above Hobart.
  6. Bruny Island.
  7. Hobart for a Saturday, for Salamanca Market.
  8. The Tasman Peninsula and Cape Hauy.
  9. Maria Island, as a day trip from Triabunna.
  10. Freycinet and Mount Amos.
  11. The Bay of Fires, via a rest day.
  12. Launceston.
  13. Cradle Mountain, then the platypus near Devonport and the ferry home.

How the time fell, roughly: one night near Zeehan after Corinna was full; a night in Strahan before the railway the next morning; a night at The Neck on Bruny Island; two nights at Hobart Showgrounds, timed so we were in Hobart for the Saturday market; a rest day near St Helens after a couple of days of hiking; and at least a night at a farm camp near Launceston, where we were there for the Saturday Harvest Market. If there's a market you want to see, check which day you'll be where.

Three weeks in Tasmania: every stop. Our whole trip in one video, from the ferry to the platypus, with every stop on this page in order. Watch on YouTube

The parks pass

We bought the two-month Holiday Vehicle Pass when we got to our first national park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, and it paid off: we used it at Nelson Falls, Mount Field, the Tasman Peninsula, Maria Island, Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. At Tasman National Park, our pass was checked on the way in, and at Mount Field the sign said the pass must be displayed in your vehicle. The staff there will help if you need it printed (see it in our Mount Field video). Our tip: buy it before you lose signal, which on the west coast can happen quickly.

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). You need a parks pass for all 19 of Tasmania's national parks. For a road trip, the Holiday Vehicle Pass covers the pass holder, one vehicle and up to 7 passengers for up to 2 months. Holiday passes don't include Cradle Mountain shuttle bus tickets, which you buy separately. You can buy a pass online, at national park visitor centres, at any Service Tasmania centre or on board the Spirit of Tasmania. From Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: park passes and entry fees and Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: park pass FAQs. There's more on the pass in our Spirit of Tasmania guide.

Devonport to Stanley

Stanley was our first proper stop after the ferry, and a lovely first taste of Tasmania. On the way there, on our very first day, we stopped in Penguin.

  • Penguin. A quirky, charming little town on the north coast, and yes, there are penguin statues everywhere, as you might guess from the name. We had a drink at the brewery in Penguin looking out at the ocean, and it's still one of Luke's favourite memories of the whole trip. We didn't film it, so it isn't in our videos, but it was a really cute stop on the way to Stanley.
  • The Nut. We took the chairlift up one way, walked the circuit around the top (it took us less than an hour, with stops for the views) and then walked down the track to the car park. The track is short but very steep, about 15 minutes. Walking down backwards is easier on the knees, honestly.
  • Little penguins at Godfreys Beach. The sign suggested a viewing time of about 8:30 to 9pm, but in January they didn't come ashore until it was completely dark, at around 10pm. Red lights let you see them without disturbing them. The viewing platform gets busy, so get there early for a good spot. While we waited, we saw an echidna and pademelons.
  • The southern lights. That same night we got really lucky: while we were out for the penguins, the aurora australis appeared. We'd never seen the southern lights before, and on our first proper day in Tasmania it made the trip even more special. It was pure luck, not something you can plan on, as sightings depend on solar activity and a dark, clear sky. You can see our reaction in our Stanley video.

Watch our Stanley video, which includes the chairlift and the penguins.

The Tarkine, the Western Explorer and Corinna

From Stanley, we headed into the Tarkine for our first taste of Tasmania's wild side. Our first stop was Trowutta Arch.

Our mistake: we didn't fill up first. We set off on the drive, then saw a sign saying there was no fuel for about 170 km, and we were already getting low. We had to turn around and go back for fuel, which added about half an hour. PetrolSpy showed no fuel stations across a huge area. Fill up before you head in.

The Western Explorer. After Sumac Lookout, we followed Google Maps and ended up heading south on the Western Explorer, the unsealed road through to Corinna that locals call "the road to nowhere". We drove it in the rain at about 30 km/h, and we stopped at one point just to give the engine a rest. We were worried about what it was doing to the van and the build in the back. Hours later, we got to Corinna safely. Ron wasn't damaged, because we took our time (watch the drive).

Would we recommend the Western Explorer in a 2WD? Absolutely not. It's much more suited to a 4WD. Our advice after doing it: take the bitumen. This road taught us our number 1 lesson: don't just follow Google Maps. Always check ahead using Street View, or do your research first.
Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says the Western Explorer is a 2WD gravel road, 112 km from Arthur River to Corinna. It's at its best in early summer after a fresh grading and can become corrugated and potholed toward the end of summer. In good conditions, allow about 2 hours (without stops) from Arthur River to Corinna. The guide also says mobile phone coverage in the area is very limited (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Recreational Driving Guide (PDF)). Discover the Tarkine says fuel supplies are limited, so note where the fuel stations are on your route, and that the animals come out at dawn and dusk (Discover the Tarkine: getting here and around).

Corinna and the barge. The campground at Corinna was full when we got there, so the staff suggested we head on to Zeehan, about 1 hour 10 minutes away. That meant taking the barge across the Pieman River. We paid, got our ticket and crossed. After that, we had about 6 km of unsealed road before the tarmac, and it felt much easier knowing what to expect (the barge).

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). The Corinna barge runs 7 days, in daylight hours (9am to 7pm in daylight saving time and 9am to 5pm otherwise), with no need to book, and the crossing takes about three to five minutes. It lists a carrying capacity and maximum wheelbase and body width for single vehicles and combinations, so check your vehicle against them before you go (Corinna: barge access). From Zeehan, Discover the Tarkine says the last 12 km of the road to the barge is gravel (Discover the Tarkine: getting here and around).
Our Tarkine mistake and the Western Explorer. Trowutta Arch, turning back for fuel, the unsealed drive to Corinna, the barge, and Montezuma Falls. Watch on YouTube

Zeehan, Strahan and Queenstown

Montezuma Falls near Zeehan is one of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. The track follows the route of an old 1890s mining tramway through the rainforest (Montezuma Falls).

Strahan is about an hour from there. We walked to Hogarth Falls (another of the 60 Great Short Walks), and the next morning took the West Coast Wilderness Railway on a half-day return journey into the rainforest, about an hour and a half. There's commentary along the way about the railway's history, and a honey tasting. We'd hoped to do the Queenstown section too, but it was booked out for days, so book ahead if you want a particular journey.

Popular with other travellers: a Gordon River cruise from Strahan. We didn't do this one because it didn't fit our budget, but it's very popular with other travellers, so it's worth knowing about. According to Discover Tasmania, the cruises leave from Strahan, cross Macquarie Harbour (six times the size of Sydney Harbour), take in Hells Gates, the narrow entrance to the harbour, and cruise the Gordon River, which is known for mirror-like reflections on its dark, tannin-stained water. Both of the cruises Discover Tasmania lists include a guided stop at Sarah Island. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania describes the island as Tasmania's oldest convict settlement, in use from 1822 to 1833, and says you can only reach it by cruise boat or private charter. Cruises run daily, and the main ones take most of the day, from the morning until mid-afternoon. Some evening cruises run on selected summer dates. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania also warns that strong winds and rain are extremely common on the west coast, so bring a waterproof. Discover Tasmania lists the cruises and their times: see Discover Tasmania: cruise the Gordon River. There's more on the island at Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Sarah Island (both checked 2 November 2026).

The drive into Queenstown is something else, and we had to pull over just to look at the views. Just outside town, we walked to Horsetail Falls, and across the road we stopped at the Iron Blow lookout, over an old open-cut mine that's now a water-filled hole (watch our west coast video).

Strahan, the railway and Queenstown. Hogarth Falls, the West Coast Wilderness Railway, the drive into Queenstown, Horsetail Falls and Iron Blow. Watch on YouTube

Nelson Falls, the Franklin River and the centre

Heading east from Queenstown, you enter Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, and this is where we bought our parks pass. Nelson Falls is a short, easy walk through ancient myrtle rainforest to an impressive waterfall.

About halfway to Derwent Bridge, we stopped at the start of the Frenchmans Cap track. The full hike takes 3 to 5 days, and the sign says to register online before you go. We just did the 15-minute walk to the Franklin River swing bridge. The sign says one person at a time on the bridge.

The geographic centre of Tasmania is easy to miss: we nearly drove straight past it. At Derwent Bridge, The Wall in the Wilderness is a huge hand-carved wooden wall. You can't take cameras in, so you'll have to see it for yourself. Afterwards, we stopped at a lake for lunch and braved a cold plunge (watch the day).

Popular with other travellers: Lake St Clair. Just up the road from The Wall in the Wilderness, Lake St Clair is a popular stop with other travellers. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says it was carved out by glaciers and is Australia's deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 167 metres. It sits at the southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, and it's where the Overland Track finishes. At Derwent Bridge, turn onto Lake St Clair Road (C193) and follow it for 5.5 km to the visitor centre at Cynthia Bay. If you only have an hour or so, three short walks start there: the Watersmeet Walk to where the Cuvier and Hugel rivers meet, a loop to Platypus Bay, where platypus are sometimes seen, and the larmairremener tabelti walk, about the Aboriginal people who lived around the lake. Together they make a 4.7 km figure-of-eight, which takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. You need a parks pass. When we checked, the walks page also showed an area closure alert, so read the current alerts before you go. See Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Lake St Clair and Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Lake St Clair walks (both checked 2 November 2026).

Mount Field and kunanyi/Mount Wellington

Mount Field National Park, about an hour from Hobart, was much busier and more "touristy" than the other waterfalls we'd been to. It has a big visitor centre, rather than a small national park car park by the road. Russell Falls is a short walk from the visitor centre, and we carried on to Horseshoe Falls, the Tall Trees walk and Lady Barron Falls. On the way, we stopped to pick raspberries at a farm in Westerway.

kunanyi/Mount Wellington. You can take a bus up, but we drove Ron. The road to the summit is winding, narrow and steep, and we felt a bit anxious at times, but it was completely fine in a van, and there was plenty of parking at the top. The views over Hobart are incredible (the drive up).

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Wellington Park says Pinnacle Road was closed for 95 nights because of snow and ice in 2025–26, and that you should expect congestion when there's snow. Check the live City of Hobart: Pinnacle Road status page before you drive up. Pinnacle Road is closed for annual maintenance from 16 to 19 November 2026. There's no overnight parking for campervans or motorhomes in Wellington Park, and the park is closed to all users on days of Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger. From Wellington Park Management Trust and Wellington Park: road and track updates.
Mount Field and kunanyi/Mount Wellington. The Mount Field waterfalls loop, then driving Ron up to the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Watch on YouTube

Bruny Island

The vehicle ferry leaves from Kettering, south of Hobart. We didn't pre-book: you can turn up, pay at the terminal and join the queue, and even pre-booked tickets still have to queue. Fares depend on your vehicle's length, so know how long your van is (Ron is about 6 m).

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). The Bruny Island ferry runs on a queueing system. Pre-purchased tickets are for the next available ferry, not a specific departure, and you can buy tickets on arrival at the Kettering terminal. All tickets are return. The ferry runs about every 20 minutes from Kettering. The operator also advises avoiding driving at dawn and dusk, when the wildlife is most active. From Bruny Island ferry: Island Connections.
  • Where we stayed: the national park campground at The Neck, which was the cheapest option. We got a spot, and we topped up our water tank on the way.
  • The Neck lookout, where penguins and shearwaters can come ashore around dusk.
  • South Bruny: Cloudy Bay, South Bruny National Park and Cape Bruny Lighthouse.
  • Fluted Cape walk from Adventure Bay (the sign said 1.5 to 2.5 hours return). We came across a Tasmanian tiger snake (the black form) on the track, which is a reminder to carry a snake bite kit. Keep to the track and give snakes space.
  • White wallabies: after looking for them on our walks, we found them in people's gardens in Adventure Bay.

We didn't see much of North Bruny, partly because there are fewer campsites up there.

Bruny Island. The ferry queue, The Neck, Cloudy Bay, a tiger snake on the Fluted Cape walk and white wallabies. Watch on YouTube

Hobart and MONA

We planned our route so we'd be in Hobart on a Saturday for Salamanca Market, which you lot sent us straight to. Try a scallop pie. Then wander up to Battery Point and Arthur Circus. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are free to visit, with donations welcome. We also went to MONA, just outside the city. You can drive or take the MONA ferry from the CBD.

Where we stayed: Hobart Showgrounds, for two nights. We got the bus into the city, and it turned out to be free.

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Metro Tasmania says bus travel across Tasmania is free until 30 June 2027 (Metro Tasmania: free bus travel).
Popular with other travellers: the Huon Valley and the Tahune Airwalk. South of Hobart, the Huon Valley and the Tahune Airwalk are popular with other travellers. Discover Tasmania describes the Airwalk as a 600 m walkway, 30 m above the forest floor, with a cantilever that sticks out 50 m above the Huon River where it meets the Picton River. There are also Huon pine walks and swinging bridges. It's about 90 minutes south of Hobart and 30 minutes west of Geeveston, and it's open daily. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says the route is the Huon Highway (A6) to Geeveston, then the C632 and C631. This is another place for our number 1 lesson: Tahune Adventures, which runs the Airwalk, says the road is sealed all the way, but warns that GPS may send you down unsigned gravel roads, so follow the signs from Geeveston instead. See Discover Tasmania: Tahune Airwalk, Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Tahune Airwalk and Tahune Adventures: FAQs (all checked 2 November 2026).

Watch our Hobart video.

The Tasman Peninsula and Cape Hauy

On the way down the peninsula, we stopped at the Tessellated Pavement (the tide was in when we went, so go at low tide if you can), Tasman Arch and the Devils Kitchen. Then we headed for Cape Hauy. We'd read that part of the road to Fortescue Bay is gravel and checked Street View first. It was bumpy and slow, but fine, and we think a Tasmanian devil crossed the road in front of us.

The hike surprised us. It's up and down, three times over, with more steps than any hike we've done. It was hot on the way back, and it took us about 4 hours. We'd hoped to camp there, but the campground was full. You can also see the capes on a boat tour, but we chose the hike (watch the hike).

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says Fortescue Bay is reached by a 12 km unsealed road that's suitable for 2WD vehicles. Watch for towing vehicles, delivery trucks and tour buses, and keep left, particularly on blind corners. Cape Hauy is 9.4 km and 4 hours return, Grade 3, with short steep sections and many steps. Apart from designated areas in the Fortescue Bay campground, Tasman National Park is a Fuel Stove Only area, and campfires aren't allowed. From Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Tasman National Park and Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Cape Hauy.
Popular with other travellers: Port Arthur Historic Site. The Tasman Peninsula's most famous stop is very popular with other travellers. Discover Tasmania calls the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site "Australia's most intact and evocative convict site", with more than 30 historic buildings and ruins. It's about 90 minutes' drive from Hobart, and Discover Tasmania suggests allowing at least three to four hours. It also says a ticket is valid for two consecutive days, so you don't have to rush it. The site itself describes it as Australia's largest and most intact convict settlement. See Discover Tasmania: Port Arthur Historic Site and Port Arthur Historic Site: what to do (both checked 2 November 2026).
2WD warning for the drive north: Wielangta Road. Lap of Tasmania, an independent Tasmania travel guide, warns that Google Maps will probably route you from Port Arthur to Orford along Wielangta Road. It says the road is unsealed, often in poor condition and unsuitable for 2WD vehicles, and suggests taking the A9 to Sorell and then the A3 to Orford instead (Lap of Tasmania: 21-day Tasmania itinerary (Wielangta Road warning)). Glamorgan Spring Bay Council describes Wielangta Road as a 50 km unsealed road between Copping and Orford (Glamorgan Spring Bay Council: advocacy initiatives 2025 (PDF), including Wielangta Road; both checked 2 November 2026). It's exactly what our number 1 lesson is about: don't just follow Google Maps. Check the route before you set off, and in a 2WD, stick to the bitumen.
The Tasman Peninsula and Cape Hauy. Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Devils Kitchen, the gravel road to Fortescue Bay and the Cape Hauy hike. Watch on YouTube

Maria Island

Maria Island was a day trip without Ron. The passenger ferry from Triabunna took about half an hour, and a pod of dolphins swam alongside. There are no cars on the island for visitors: you walk or cycle. We saw a wombat with a baby within minutes, walked to the Fossil Cliffs, and timed the Painted Cliffs for later in the afternoon to get the tide right before our ferry back.

  • Get there early if you want a bike. The hire bikes had to be back by mid-afternoon on the day we went, so the man at the bike hire told us to walk instead. We wish we'd known, because we'd have caught an earlier ferry. You can also bring your own bike.
  • There are no shops or cafés on the island. Take your food and water.
  • Stay overnight if you can. We only went for the day, and we'd recommend camping on the island to see more of the wildlife.
Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Ferry bookings are essential, and there's no vehicle access on the island. Access to the Painted Cliffs rock platform is safest within two hours of low tide. A valid parks pass is needed (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Maria Island National Park). The ferry operator asks all passengers to check in at the Maria Island Gateway in Triabunna at least 45 minutes before departure, when parks passes are checked. It says to bring food for your whole stay and water, because water on the island isn't guaranteed to be drinkable (Encounter Maria: checking in, Encounter Maria: what to bring).
Maria Island. Dolphins on the ferry, a wombat and her baby, the Fossil Cliffs and the Painted Cliffs. Watch on YouTube

Freycinet and Mount Amos

Mount Amos, above Wineglass Bay, was possibly our favourite adventure in Tasmania, and the hardest. It's a scramble, not just a hike. You use your hands and feet on steep rock slabs, following the yellow arrows. The less-worn rock has more grip, and the view from the top is worth every step. From the Wineglass Bay car park, it took us between three and a half and four hours in total, with cake at the top. We went on a dry day, and we wouldn't do it in the wet. Afterwards, Coles Bay was very busy with people looking for parking (watch the climb).

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania lists Mount Amos as 3.6 km and 3 hours return, Grade 4, with bushwalking experience recommended. It warns that the track has steep and slippery rock slabs that are extremely dangerous when wet, and that you shouldn't do the walk when it's wet or likely to become wet (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Mount Amos).
Popular with other travellers: the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk. If a Grade 4 scramble isn't for you, or the rock is wet, the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk is the shorter option, and it's popular with other travellers. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania lists it as 2.6 km and 1 to 1.5 hours return, Grade 3, and calls the view "one of Tasmania's most celebrated views". By comparison, it lists Mount Amos as 3.6 km and 3 hours return, Grade 4. It also recommends sturdy footwear, because the walks cross steep granite. See Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Freycinet National Park (checked 2 November 2026).
Climbing Mount Amos. The hands-and-feet scramble up Mount Amos and the view over Wineglass Bay. Watch on YouTube

A rest day and the Bay of Fires

Popular with other travellers: Bicheno's blowhole and little penguins. Bicheno, on the coast between Freycinet and the Bay of Fires, is popular with other travellers. Discover Tasmania says the foreshore walk runs from Redbill Beach past Waubs Beach and the Gulch to the Blowhole, which "can shoot water several metres into the air". Expect to get sprayed. It's best at high tide or when there's a decent swell. Little penguins come ashore at dusk on Redbill and Waubs Beaches, and Discover Tasmania says the best time is September to January (Discover Tasmania: Bicheno).

Watching penguins responsibly. The Parks and Wildlife Service penguin viewing leaflet highly recommends joining a guided tour (Parks and Wildlife Service: penguin viewing guidelines (PDF)). If you go without one, Discover Tasmania says: no flash photography, no torches except red-light torches, keep your distance, and stay calm and quiet. NRE Tasmania's guidelines add: wear dark clothing, approach from the land rather than along the beach, settle in before last light, and stay at least 3 m from burrows. Only use a dim red torch, and never point it towards the water or the penguins. Don't use flash cameras or bring dogs (NRE Tasmania: penguin watching guidelines). All checked 2 November 2026.

After a few days of big hikes, we were tired, so we booked an hour at a private sauna and cold plunge near St Helens. Build rest days into your plan. Then we went to Binalong Bay for the white sand and turquoise water, and drove about 15 minutes north to The Gardens for the orange-lichen boulders and clear rock pools the Bay of Fires is known for (watch our Bay of Fires video).

Popular with other travellers: Bridestowe lavender, in season. If you're heading towards Launceston in December or January, Bridestowe Lavender Estate at Nabowla, about 45 minutes from Launceston, is popular with other travellers. Bridestowe says the lavender blooms in December and January, recommends visiting from mid-December to mid-January, and says it's harvested by February. The estate is open all year, but the purple fields are a summer thing. See Bridestowe Lavender Estate: Bridestowe in bloom and Bridestowe Lavender Estate: visit (both checked 2 November 2026).

Launceston

Launceston reminded us of Devon and Cornwall back home. At Cataract Gorge, we took the chairlift one way, walked up to the Eagle Eyrie lookout (steep, short and worth it), crossed the Alexandra Suspension Bridge and had a dip in the unheated pool. On the Saturday, we went to the Harvest Market. We got there around 11am, and some stalls had already sold out, so go earlier than we did.

Our tip: check where you park before a market morning. A stallholder warned us that any vehicle still in the Harvest Market car park at 6am on Saturday, when the market sets up, gets towed. She pointed us to a different, motorhome-friendly car park instead. Street parking in the centre was paid, so keep an eye on your time (watch our Launceston video).

We also loved City Park, with its Japanese macaques and the John Hart Conservatory.

Popular with other travellers: the Mole Creek caves. Between Launceston and Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek Karst National Park is popular with other travellers. It's about 40 minutes west of Deloraine on the B12. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says there are two show caves: Marakoopa Cave, with the largest glow worm display in a public-access cave in Australia and the Great Cathedral, and King Solomons Cave, which is compact and full of decorations. You can only go in on a tour, and you don't need a parks pass for the cave tours. The caves are 9°C, so bring a layer. One for van drivers: at Marakoopa, motorhomes and caravans must use the lower car park and walk 800 m (10 to 15 minutes) to the cave. See Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Mole Creek Karst National Park (checked 2 November 2026).

Cradle Mountain and our first platypus

Cradle Mountain was our last stop, on 8 February. It was the height of summer, and it was about 12°C and raining. Cradle Mountain really does have its own climate, so bring layers and a rain jacket. We parked Ron at the visitor centre and took the shuttle bus. The roads are narrow, and the drivers radio ahead to each other.

  • Dove Lake circuit. We took the bus to the end of the line and walked around the lake. It took us about 3 hours at a slow pace, with breaks. We had rain, then sunshine.
  • Ronny Creek. We saw wombats grazing by the boardwalk around 3pm, and an echidna.
  • Enchanted Walk. We did it last, with 40 minutes to spare before the last shuttle, so check the time of the last bus.
  • We didn't climb Cradle Mountain itself.
Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). Campervans, motorhomes, caravans, trailers and similar vehicles aren't allowed on Dove Lake Road at any time. Park at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and take the shuttle bus (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Dove Lake). You need a parks pass and a shuttle bus ticket, and holiday passes don't include the shuttle (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: Cradle Mountain shuttle bus, Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: park passes and entry fees). Parks also warns that the weather may change quickly.

Our first platypus. A couple we met at Cradle Mountain told us to try the Tasmanian Arboretum, near Devonport, so we went, and there it was. We planned the hour's drive so we weren't driving in the dark (watch our Cradle Mountain video).

Cradle Mountain and the platypus. The shuttle, the Dove Lake circuit in rain and sun, wombats at Ronny Creek, and our first platypus. Watch on YouTube

Where we slept

Ron is self-contained, and for most of the three weeks we stayed at free and donation campsites. At one point we were off power for a whole week. We found them all on WikiCamps, and we're not going to name our favourite free camps, so go and find your own. Our free camping guide explains how we choose them. The mix included:

  • Free and donation spots, including a pub that lets its customers camp, and a golf course that takes donations.
  • Low-cost sites, like the one we used in Strahan, with flushing toilets.
  • National park campgrounds, such as The Neck on Bruny Island. Popular ones fill up: Corinna and Fortescue Bay were both full when we turned up.
  • Paid sites in the cities, like Hobart Showgrounds, and a no-booking farm camp near Launceston.

Read the latest WikiCamps reviews before you go. We skipped a waterhole when the reviews said it had dried up.

Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). On Total Fire Ban days declared by the Tasmania Fire Service, all outdoor fires are prohibited, including wood, charcoal and portable stoves, and any fires using solid or liquid fuels. The only exceptions listed are electric stoves and barbecues, and LPG cookers or stoves, under conditions on the page. Some parks are Fuel Stove Only areas, and the campfire rules vary by campground. From Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania: campfires and fire bans. There's more in our free camping guide.

Driving, fuel, wildlife and signal

  • Every drive takes longer than you expect. The roads wind and climb, and the scenery makes you want to stop every few minutes. Build that into your plans.
  • Fuel up before remote stretches. That means the Tarkine and the west coast in particular. Check PetrolSpy before you set off, not when you're already low, like us.
  • Wildlife is out at dawn and dusk. One rule of van life for us is not to drive at night, so we tried to be parked up before dark.
  • Signal drops out. Download your maps and buy your parks pass while you've still got signal. We were surprisingly well covered across Tasmania on Optus, and we rarely truly needed our Starlink, apart from really rural areas like the Western Explorer. That was our experience, and coverage varies, so don't rely on it in remote areas.
  • Don't just follow Google Maps. Check Street View before an unsealed road, or do your research first, and if you're unsure, don't go down it. In a 2WD, stick to the bitumen.
Official advice (checked 2 November 2026). NRE Tasmania says wildlife crosses Tasmania's country roads at night. It asks drivers to drive slower at night, not to throw rubbish or food scraps from the car (they attract wildlife to the roadside), and to stop, if it's safe, after hitting an animal, because pouch young can often be saved (NRE Tasmania: sharing the road with wildlife).

FAQs

How long do you need for a Tasmania road trip in a campervan?

We had three weeks, and it wasn't enough. We'd recommend 4 to 6 weeks, so you can slow down, take rest days and see the north-east coast properly. Every drive takes longer than the map says.

Can you drive around Tasmania in a 2WD campervan?

Yes. The main loop is sealed. Stick to the bitumen and don't just follow Google Maps: check unsealed roads on Street View first. We ended up on the Western Explorer by following Google Maps and wouldn't recommend it in a 2WD. We also drove short gravel stretches after the Corinna barge and to Fortescue Bay, which Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says is suitable for 2WD vehicles. Vans aren't allowed on Dove Lake Road at Cradle Mountain, so you take the shuttle bus.

Which parks pass do you need for a Tasmania road trip?

You need a parks pass for all 19 of Tasmania's national parks. For a road trip, the Holiday Vehicle Pass covers one vehicle for up to 2 months. Holiday passes don't include Cradle Mountain shuttle bus tickets. You can buy a pass online, at national park visitor centres, at Service Tasmania centres or on board the Spirit of Tasmania.

Can you drive a campervan to Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain?

No. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania says campervans, motorhomes, caravans and trailers aren't allowed on Dove Lake Road at any time. We parked at the visitor centre and took the shuttle bus, which needs a separate ticket.

Is the Western Explorer suitable for a 2WD van?

From our experience, no. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania calls it a 2WD gravel road, best in early summer after grading and possibly corrugated by late summer. We ended up on it by following Google Maps and drove it in the rain at about 30 km/h. Ron wasn't damaged because we took our time, but it's much more suited to a 4WD. Our advice is to take the bitumen, and always check a route on Street View or do your research before you follow Google Maps.

What's the biggest lesson from driving Tasmania in a campervan?

Don't just follow Google Maps. It sent us down the Western Explorer, a gravel road locals call the road to nowhere. Always check ahead using Street View or do your research first, and in a 2WD, take the bitumen.

Do you need to book the Bruny Island ferry?

No. The ferry from Kettering runs on a queueing system, and even pre-purchased tickets are for the next available ferry. We turned up, paid at the terminal and queued.

Can you take a campervan to Maria Island?

No. There's no vehicle access for visitors. You take the passenger ferry from Triabunna, with ferry bookings essential, and walk or cycle on the island. There are no shops or cafés, so bring food and water.

Where do you camp in Tasmania in a campervan?

We mostly used free and donation campsites, plus some low-cost reserves, national park campgrounds and paid sites in Hobart and Launceston, all found on WikiCamps. Popular campgrounds like Corinna and Fortescue Bay can be full, so have a backup.

Sources

Our own experience comes from our trip in January and February 2026 and the videos linked above. Official information was checked on 2 November 2026. Things change, so check the official pages before you go.

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