State of Tasmania Travel Forum

I will have a rental car while in Hobart and wish to do a few day trips from Hobart, but I need help with the logistics of drive time.

1. Specifically, how far of a drive is it from Hobart to Mount Wellington, and are there places of interest to see along the way that we should stop and visit? What to see and do while there?

2. How about from Hobart to Port Arthur? Same question, what is drive time and the must see stops along the say? What to see and do while there?

3. What about Freycinet National Park? Drive time from Hobart, and must see stops? What to see and do while there?

4. Same for Huon Valley. Drive time and what to see and do while there, and on the way there?

5. And last, Mount Field National Park. What is drive time there, and what do you recommend we see and do along the way? What to see and do while there?

Additionally, of these five destinations from Hobart, how would you rank in an order of 1 to 5, with 1 being highest ranking must do destination, followed by 2 through 5.

Thank you, I hope your replies will help me with my planning in Tasmania, and prioritize and logistically manage my way around to these sights and destinations. Thank you for your help.

Without going into detail, why do you not just make a roundtrip as you have a rental car? When I was in Tasmania I made a day trip to Port Arthur and visited all the other places on a roundtrip, so did not waste time to always drive back to Hobart. There was great accommodation everywhere.

You did not give a date for your travels and this will make a lot of difference. Mt Wellington is on the outskirts of Hobart. 5 minutes drive. Great views from the top. The road might be partly closed owing to ice and snow. Day closures have been known as early as September. Port Arthur is a couple of hours drive. Various attraction are on the way down to Port Arthur and they are well sign posted. You can spend all day at Port Arthur and the surrounding areas. I have not been to Freycinet National Park.I believe it very scenic but a long way from Hobart. The Huon Valley is a wilderness area a couple of hours drive from Hobart but again, I have not been to Mount Field National Park. Tasmania is a beautiful Island State and as suggested, why not replan your trip and travel from Hobart to Launceston thru the centre (not in the late autumn to early spring) and return via the coast. You will then be able to visit Freycinet Nation Park and Wine Glass Bay on the way.

Thanks for the great information. We'll be traveling around the 16th of November.

The weather in November should be no problem. If you arrive early enough in Hobart, visit Mt Wellington on your arrival day. Next day go to Port Arthur.
There is a Tasmanian Devil animal park on the way down, well sign posted.Near Port Arthur there is the Devils Kitchen and other scenic watery interesting things to see. The tesselating pavement is a flat surface jutting out into the ocean and if the tide is right, very spectacular.(Sign posted)Not being overtly interested in National parks, I can't give you much info on this. I'd travel thru the centre, Ross etc to Launceston and spend a day there visiting the gorge. Return via the coast and visit Freycinet and Wine Glass Bay. Make sure you are back in Hobart for the Saturday markets at Salamanca Place. Hope this helps a little.

Wanted to tell you a little story about Freycinet NP/Wineglass Bay.

When I arrived there I saw a wallaby or two around, and when I left the car a dozen wallabies surrounded me, waiting for food. They have learnt quickly how to use tourists for their advantage ;-)

I had nothing and felt sorry for them but then a man arrived with a bag full of carrots. He handed a carrot to each wallaby, and then they sat there in a row, each with its carrot in the hands and munching on them. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

So if you go there, make sure to have some healthy snacks for the wallabies. Many of them prefer bread but this is not good for them.