State of Tasmania Travel Forum

Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Tue April 28, 2009 07:41 AM UTC

I will be travlling to Melbourne & tasmania in Mid Jun. I will be spending 6 days in Tasmania arriving in Launceston and out Hobart on day 6. I have planned the trip as follows:

1) Arrive Launceston by 10am , continue to cradle mountain ( overnight at cradle Mountain)
2) Cradle Mountain- Launceston
3) Launceston - Taman - Valley - Bicheon
4) Bicheon - Freycinet - Hobart
5) Hobart- Hunon Valley & Richmond-Hobart
6) Out Hobart by noon - Melbourne

Any comments on the iternary? As it will be winter time, i am concern on the road condition, will i be able to reach each destination before night fall? ( I have a child - 7yr old so need to do things at a relax pace).

Also Launceston - Bicheon - should i go via Scootdale & St Helen or Campbell town?
Any recommendation or must visit on the way?

Thank you.

12 replies

[Reply]

Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Tue April 28, 2009 01:05 PM UTC

Hi, your trip is planned good, a shame you miss Strahan at the westcoast, that is a very nice place, near Bicheno is the East Coast Birdlife & animal park, nice for young children, and Freycinet is great if you are into hiking, you should walk to Wineglass Bay, it is great, Hobart has a nice botanical garden, but I was there in summer, so the weather was good, roads are good too, I do not expect problems for you, I haven't been to Scottsdale, St. Helen or Campbell Town, so do not know what is best, between Cradle Mountain and Launceston you will find Meander, very nice with the Meander Falls or easier to get to the Montana Falls, small but relaxing! Enjoy!!

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Lunaina

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Tue April 28, 2009 10:26 PM UTC

You have planned well. I only have a couple of suggestions. In June there may be icy patches on shady corners of the road in the early mornings, so take extra care.
Personally I would go to Bicheno through Scottsdale and St Helens. That way is far prettier and you will pass through a nice area of vineyards and lavender farms rather than the more direct route through Campbelltown.
On day 5 you have planned the Huon Valley and also Richmond. These are in different directions from Hobart and I think that it would be easier to go to Richmond on the morning before you leave as it is near to the airport.
Why not go to the summit of Mt Wellington and see the panorama of Hobart, then continue to the Huon? If you are not tired of driving, the airwalk through the tops of the eucalypt rainforest at Geeveston in the Huon valley is interesting.
I think that the tour tasmania website has information on distances and driving times.
I sincerely hope that your trip is a pleasant one,
Sharon

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[Reply]

Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 05:40 AM UTC

Thanks for the information. I will adjust my plan accordingly.

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 05:41 AM UTC

Have you booked to stay at Bicheno? I think that St Helens is better.

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[Reply]

Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 06:43 AM UTC

Have not book any accomodation yet as still trying to finalise the plan.

I was actually thinking of driving further and stay at Freycinet instead of Bicheon on day 3. I will have to start early to reach Freycinet before dark.

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[Reply]

Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 10:42 PM UTC

If you stay near Frecinet, you have a choice between Frecinet Lodge which is quite expensive but very good, or Coles Bay just down the road. Evweryone that I know who has stayed at the hotel at Coles Bay have not liked it. All the shops and the hotel are owned by one couple and they seem to encourage their staff to be as unfriendly and unhelpful as possible.
There may also be bed and breakfast or farm stay accommodation available.
By the way, the town Bicheno is pronounced Bee-sher-no.
If you want to do the walk to Wineglass Bay on Frecinet, be prepared for a hard uphill walk. It only takes an hour or so and it is an easy to follow path with steps but it goes up and up ...and up. It is worth it when you reach the top though.

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 11:08 PM UTC

Hi Nice plan, but could be better. On arrival at Launceston I would drive direct to Strahan for overnight stay and enjoy the next day, river cruise and train ride to Queenstown. Mid June will be cold and possible wet, not ideal for tramping around Cradle Mountain. Several years ago (end of April) we arrived at CM in rough weather, sleet & rain, woke the next morning to heavy rain and immediately drove car to east coast to Freycinet,only a few hours drive,and stayed overnight in the Eco Resort. Some fantastic walks, views of Wineglass Bay etc. Then a short drive to Hobart.

The Port Arthur convict settlement is well worth a visit.

Agree with suggestion when in Hobart go up the mountain, an easy drive a few minutes from Hobart, but temperature 10C cooler than hobart town.

Mike

The main roads are good.

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Mikebb

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 11:09 PM UTC

If I recall correctly the drive Hobart Strahan was approx 3 hours.

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Mikebb

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Wed April 29, 2009 11:53 PM UTC

Strachan and the Gordon River cruise are great, but this is the coldest, wettest part of the island and it is June.
Sorry I didn't know that you were coming Mike, or I would have arranged better weather at Cradle Mountain for you.
Hope that you enjoyed the reast of your trip though.

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[Reply]

Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Thu April 30, 2009 10:03 AM UTC

Thanks you all for the suggestions. My revised plan

1) Arrive Launceston by 10am , continue to cradle mountain ( overnight at cradle Mountain)
2) Cradle Mountain- Launceston
3) Launceston - Taman - Valley - Freycinet /Coles Bay( but overnight at Coles Bay as Freycinet lodge is too ex for me).
4) Coles Bay - Freycinet - Hobart (+ Mt Wellington)
5) Hobart- Tasman National Park & Richmond-Hobart
6) Hobart - Hunon Valley, out Hobart by noon - Melbourne

I plan to stay at the " BIG4 Home Iluka Holiday Centre" in coles Bay. Anyone know about this place? Is it good?

I am so excited about the trip.

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Thu April 30, 2009 01:16 PM UTC

Big 4 are the best parks in Australia. Assume this one is as good as the rest.

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Mikebb

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Re: Tasmania - Launceston to Hobart in 6 days
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:14 PM UTC

Hi, I would hire a 4 wheel drive, there most likely will be snow and ice on the road to cradle mountain, and don`t drive to fast we have a lot of out of state tourists kill themselves every year, but away from that dark moment, your plan looks great.

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