Arrive at Hobart Airport around 11:30 and collect your hire car — take the 20-30 minute scenic drive into the city along the Derwent River to drop bags at your accommodation. Head straight to Salamanca Place for a relaxed lunch or coffee among the sandstone warehouses and galleries; if it’s Saturday you’ll catch the famous Salamanca Market (local crafts, fresh produce and street food).
Spend a leisurely afternoon wandering Battery Point’s heritage streets — visit Arthur Circus, the cottage-lined Hampden Road and the Battery Point Sculpture Trail for charming coastal views and history. Take a short drive up to Mount Wellington (kunanyi) if weather permits for sweeping panoramas over Hobart and the estuary, or visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery back downtown for an introduction to Tasmanian natural and convict history.
Return to Salamanca or waterfront restaurants for dinner, sampling Tasmanian seafood at places like Mures Lower Deck or one of the smaller Salamanca eateries. After dinner stroll along the waterfront to watch the lights reflect on the river and prepare for an early start to your Bruny Island day trip tomorrow.
Leave Hobart early and drive to Kettering (about 40 minutes) to catch the 9:00-10:00 ferry to Bruny Island; on arrival head first to The Neck lookout for the classic sandspit view and the short boardwalk to the viewing platform for panoramic photos. After taking in the vista, visit the Bruny Island Cheese Co. for a tasting of artisan cheeses and a coffee — pick up picnic supplies for later and keep an eye out for native birds along the roadside.
Spend the afternoon on a scenic circuit of South Bruny: stop at Adventure Bay for its long beach and gentle strolls, then continue to Cape Bruny Lighthouse (book ahead if you want a tour) to learn about maritime history and enjoy sweeping ocean views where you may spot seals and offshore seabirds. Balance quieter moments of wildlife watching with sampling local produce — oysters at Get Shucked Bruny (if open) or seasonal berries from roadside stalls — and take short walks among white-sand coves and coastal heath.
Return toward North Bruny and pause at a waterside cafe in Alonnah or Lunawanna for an early dinner featuring local seafood as the sun starts to lower; if time allows, visit the Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration for a quick cultural stop before boarding the ferry back to Kettering. Drive back to Hobart in the evening, arriving in time for a relaxed nightcap at Salamanca or your accommodation, reflecting on a day of dramatic scenery and fresh Tasmanian flavours.
Depart Hobart after breakfast and drive (about 1-1.5 hours) to the Tasman Peninsula, arriving at the Port Arthur Historic Site for the morning guided tour; wander the convict-era buildings, hear the evocative stories on the harbour cruise and visit the Isle of the Dead. From Port Arthur, take the short scenic drive to the towering sea cliffs at Tasman Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen for dramatic ocean views and photo stops among the basalt formations.
Continue the coastline loop to the Remarkable Cave and the Blowhole lookout, then enjoy a relaxed seaside lunch at the popular Tin Tuna cafe in Nubeena or a picnic at Fortescue Bay with its sheltered beach and woodland walk options. After lunch, walk a section of the Cape Raoul or Waterfall Bay tracks for elevated clifftop vistas — keep an eye out for dolphins in the bay and native birds in the coastal heath.
Return toward Port Arthur or nearby Nubeena for an early dinner of fresh local seafood at a waterfront eatery, then join an optional Port Arthur Evening Ghost Tour or simply stroll the harbour at sunset to absorb the peninsula’s atmosphere. Drive back to your Hobart-area accommodation in the evening (or stay locally if preferred), readying yourself for the longer drive northwest tomorrow.
Set out after breakfast for the long but spectacular drive from the Tasman Peninsula/Hobart area toward Strahan, following the Lyell Highway (A10) through rolling farmland, tall eucalyptus forests and the mining town of Queenstown — pause at scenic lookouts like Lake St Clair vista or the Derwent Bridge for photos and leg-stretching. Stop in Queenstown for a coffee and a quick walk among its dramatic, weathered streets and copper-coloured hills, then continue west with early afternoon arrival in Strahan if traffic and stops permit.
On arrival in Strahan, check into your accommodation and explore the compact harbour precinct; walk the Esplanade, visit the Strahan Wharf and the Wilderness Gallery to get a sense of the region’s history. If time allows, join an afternoon Gordon River cruise option (many departures run late afternoon) for serene river scenes, rainforest reflections and heritage commentary — or take the shorter Hogarth Falls / Ocean Beach walks to experience the raw coastline and chance encounters with shorebirds and native plants.
Dine at one of Strahan’s waterfront restaurants such as The Island or Hogarths Gorge Restaurant to sample fresh Tasmanian seafood and local produce while watching the light fade over Macquarie Harbour. After dinner, enjoy a relaxed stroll along the wharf to listen to the harbour sounds and plan tomorrow’s deeper West Coast adventures (Gordon River full-day cruise or Franklin-Gordon wilderness options), resting up for an early start.
Leave Strahan after an early breakfast and drive east along the Murchison Highway to Cradle Mountain, arriving mid-morning for your first walk around Dove Lake. Follow the well-formed Dove Lake Circuit (allow 1.5-2 hours) to admire the mirror-like reflections of Cradle Mountain, snap photos at the boat shed, and keep an eye out for wallabies and pademelons among the alpine heath.
After a lakeside picnic or lunch at the visitor centre café, tackle one of the park’s classic short walks such as the Marion’s Lookout ascent (steeper, 1-1.5 hours return) for elevated panoramas, or choose the Enchanted Walk for an easy, forested stroll alongside creeks and button grass moorlands. Visit the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary near the entrance if you’re interested in wildlife rescue work, then spend a little time in the visitor information hub to check trail conditions and any ranger-led talk times.
As daylight softens, enjoy an early dinner at your lodge or the Cradle Mountain hotel—many menus showcase local produce and trout—and if the weather is clear take a short twilight walk close to your accommodation to listen for currawongs and spot nocturnal wildlife. Finish the day with a warm drink beside a fireplace, reflecting on the alpine scenery and preparing for a relaxed drive through the north-west tomorrow toward Stanley and the Tamar region.
Depart Cradle Mountain after breakfast and head northwest toward Stanley, stopping en route at the seaside hamlet of Wynyard to stretch your legs at Table Cape’s tulip fields and the Cape Sorell lookout for rugged coastal views. Arrive in Stanley mid-morning and climb (or take the chairlift where available) to The Nut for panoramic views over Bass Strait, then explore the historic fishing village, quirky shops and Stanley’s maritime museum.
Drive along the coast toward Devonport, pausing at the scenic coastal town of Penguin to walk the foreshore and visit the Penguin Sculpture and Visitor Centre, with a chance to spot little penguins at dusk if your schedule allows a later stop. In Devonport, enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at a waterfront cafe, visit the Bass Strait Maritime Centre to learn about the region’s seafaring history, and if time permits take a short detour to the nearby Don River Railway or the Tasmanian Arboretum for easy walking and birdwatching.
As evening falls, savour a relaxed dinner in Devonport featuring local produce and seafood, perhaps at a harbour-side restaurant, then take a sunset stroll along Coles Beach or the Bluff to end the day watching sea birds and the last light on the water. Return to your chosen accommodation in the North West (Stanley or Devonport) and prepare for a Tamar Valley-focused day tomorrow en route to Launceston.
Leave your North West base after breakfast and drive the scenic Tamar Valley corridor toward Launceston, stopping first at a cellar door such as Josef Chromy or Tamar Ridge for a morning tasting and vineyard stroll among river views. Continue with a brief detour to the historic village of Evandale (if time allows) to browse colonial streets and weekend markets before arriving in Launceston to orient yourself at the city’s leafy parks.
Spend the afternoon at Cataract Gorge — take the chairlift for elevated views, walk the riverside trails and cross the suspension bridge to see the gorge’s dramatic rock formations up close, then relax with coffee at the Gorge kiosk. Afterward explore Launceston’s cultural quarter: visit the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery or wander along the revitalised riverside precinct, sampling local produce at a laneway cafe and noting the city’s Georgian heritage buildings.
For dinner, choose a restaurant in Launceston’s busy precinct (options include Stillwater or Black Cow Bistro for Tasmanian produce and steak) and enjoy a long meal paired with Tamar Valley wine. Finish the evening with a gentle stroll along the South Esk River or a nightcap at a rooftop bar, reflecting on your week of Tassie highlights as you prepare for a relaxed final morning before your flight tomorrow.
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at one of Launceston’s favourite spots such as Coffee Cantata or Cataract on Paterson, then take a gentle walk through City Park to see the conservatory, ducks and the quaint Japanese macaque enclosure. If you prefer a short cultural stop, pop into the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk for a quick look at local history and natural exhibits before returning to your hotel to collect luggage.
Spend your final hours with a scenic drive up the Tamar River to a nearby Tamar Valley cellar door like Josef Chromy for a leisurely late lunch and one last wine tasting with river views, or choose a riverside cafe in Launceston for a light meal and people-watching. Allow ample time to drive to Launceston Airport (approx. 20-30 minutes depending on your location), fill the hire car with fuel, and complete check-in and security well before your 18:00 departure.
If you have a little time after security, relax in the airport lounge with a final Tasmanian snack and reflect on the week’s highlights from Bruny Island’s coast to Cradle Mountain’s peaks. Board your flight at leisure, carrying home photos, local flavours and memories of Tasmania’s diverse landscapes.