With its spectacular scenery and good roads, Tasmania is an island made for touring, especially by motorhome or campervan. From the red lichen encrusted coastlines of the East to the wilderness of the West, Tasmania has something to offer everyone: a fascinating history, breathtaking scenery, beautiful National Parks and (in the right season!) a pleasant climate.

A self-drive holiday in a motorhome is the ideal way to explore this incredible island; there is a large choice of vehicles for hire, from a 4WD camper or a budget-priced campervan to a luxury motorhome.

Pack for a range of seasons as the weather in Tasmania can change from pleasantly warm to chilly and back again within the course of a few hours. When travelling in a motorhome it is recommended to use soft luggage as it is much easier to stow away.

Most campervans and motorhomes are available from Hobart with the depots being conveniently located at or near the airport.

From Hobart you can explore well-known attractions such as Port Arthur, the Cascade Brewery, the Huon Valley and the Salamanca Markets. Salamanca Place comes alive every Saturday morning and becomes a showcase for Tasmania’s talented artists and craftsman.

Leaving Hobart you can travel along the East Coast to the Freycinet Peninsula. The caravan park at Coles Bay offers affordable powered sites and a range of facilities including a well-equipped camp kitchen and BBQs, laundry and internet access.

The Freycinet National Park, Tasmania’s oldest National Park and home to the famous Wineglass Bay is accessible in a motorhome or campervan.  A climb over Mount Amos (11/2 to 2 hours return) will reward you with breathtaking views of Wineglass and Coles Bays.

Further north there are more beautiful coastlines as you drive through Bicheno and north to St Helens; gateway to the Bay of Fires. The access roads to the chain of beaches that make up the Bay of Fires are mainly accessible by 2WD vehicles and there are even some un-powered camping sites just metres from the beach.

After the Bay of Fires you can return to St Helens and then go across to Launceston or Devonport with plenty of local attractions to see. 

Just past Devonport is Ulverstone where you will find holiday park accommodation conveniently located within walking distance of the beach and shops. Ulverstone can be used as a base to explore Burnie and the coastal route out to Stanley where the town’s unique attraction ‘The Nut’ protrudes from the ocean. Burnie is not just another coast town; you could spend a whole day there exploring some of the town’s hidden attractions such as Fern Glade, the beautiful nature reserve where you can sit patiently watching for wild platypus.  Visit the cheese factory to sample local delights and then lunch at the Whiskey Distillery’s new restaurant.

From the North Coast you can travel through the hinterland towards Cradle Country. The hinterland is a patchwork of orchids and crops growing tulips, apples, citrus, raspberries, strawberries, and much more.

At Cradle Mountain National Park there is a caravan park in close proximity to one of the National Parks Visitor Information Centre.  You can leave your motorhome at the caravan park and, for a small fee, use the shuttle bus to travel between the information centres and the Dove Lake car park. It can be better to use the buses and take in the scenery without having to worry about pulling over to let other vehicles pass.

From there you can return to Hobart to complete the circuit.  Seven days is suggested for this itinerary but it would take a lot longer to see everything Tasmania has to offer.

The roads are good and you will find that most of the well-known National Parks and attractions are easily accessible in a 2WD vehicle. The travelling distances are short and you can fit a lot into one day.  There are plenty of well-equipped and affordable holiday parks with excellent facilities. A National Parks pass is required to visit most of the National Parks and obtaining one of these is easy; either in a Parks office or one of the Visitor Centres dotted throughout Tasmania.