Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Allow around 30–45 minutes door-to-door from Hobart Airport to Hobart CBD, including baggage collection, any car-pickup formalities and the airport transfer. A taxi or rideshare is simplest; the airport bus is cheaper but less convenient with luggage. Once you reach the waterfront, start at Mawson’s Hut Replica Museum for roughly 45 minutes. It is compact, so it works well after a flight, with a useful introduction to Tasmania’s Antarctic connections. Allow about A$15–20 for entry and check the day’s hours before setting out, as opening times can vary seasonally.
Walk north along the waterfront and through the central streets to Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, allowing 1½–2 hours. The collection is an excellent first look at Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, wildlife and colonial history; admission is generally free, though donations and special exhibitions may cost extra. If Salamanca Market is operating that day, continue towards Salamanca Place and spend about 1½ hours browsing local produce, crafts and food stalls. It is traditionally a Saturday market, but because your dates are flexible, verify the operating day and hours before relying on it; bring a reusable bag and expect the nearby streets to be busy, with limited parking.
Finish at The Glass House at Brooke Street Pier, an easy walk from Salamanca Place along the waterfront. Book ahead if you want a table, particularly for a weekend dinner, and budget approximately A$45–80 per person for food and drinks. This is a good first-night choice: settle in for around 1½ hours, watch the harbour lights come on and avoid adding another cross-town transfer after arrival. If you have a car, leave it parked rather than driving between these waterfront stops; Hobart’s central area is compact, and paid parking can be inconvenient.
Start at Battery Point, one of Hobart’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, and allow about an hour to wander its steep lanes and restored colonial cottages. Follow Kelly Street and Arthur Circus, then continue towards Princes Street for a feel of the old maritime quarter. It’s an easy walk from central Hobart, though the hills and uneven footpaths make comfortable shoes worthwhile. If you’re driving, street parking is limited and often time-restricted, so arriving earlier is helpful.
Head down to the waterfront for lunch at Mures Upper Deck, where the seafood-focused menu makes good use of Tasmania’s local produce. Allow around 1½ hours and budget approximately A$35–65 per person. After lunch, drive roughly 15 minutes south to Mount Nelson Signal Station via Sandy Bay Road and Nelson Road. The lookout takes about 45 minutes and gives you one of the best broad views across Hobart, the Derwent River and surrounding hills. Check weather conditions before setting out: low cloud can obscure the view, while clear afternoons are especially rewarding.
Continue to Richmond, around 25–30 minutes by car via the Tasman Highway and Richmond Road. Visit Richmond Gaol, Australia’s oldest intact gaol, for about an hour; its compact cells and stark history are best explored before the attraction closes, so check the day’s opening hours rather than assuming late admission. Then walk to nearby Richmond Bridge, allowing about 30 minutes to see the sandstone structure and the Coal River surroundings. The town is compact, and both stops are easily reached on foot once parked.
Finish at Frogmore Creek Cellar Door in Cambridge, roughly 20–25 minutes from Richmond. Allow 1½ hours for a Tasmanian wine tasting and light meal, with approximately A$25–60 per person depending on your choices. Confirm cellar-door and kitchen hours in advance, particularly if this day falls outside the busier tourism season; tastings may also depend on staff availability. From there, Hobart CBD is about 15–20 minutes by car, but designate a driver or arrange a taxi if tasting more than a small amount.
Pick up the rental car in Hobart and leave around 8:00 AM via the Tasman Highway (A3), allowing roughly 3.5–4.5 hours including stops. Keep the tank comfortably full and download maps before leaving; mobile coverage can be patchy in parts of the east coast. Orford makes a good first pause after about an hour and a half: grab coffee locally, stretch your legs by the waterfront and allow 30–45 minutes. Check your Coles Bay accommodation’s check-in and parking arrangements before setting off, particularly if you expect to arrive outside reception hours.
Continue south of Swansea to Spiky Bridge, an unusual convict-built stone bridge just off the highway. It is a quick roadside stop—around 20 minutes—with limited facilities, so use the opportunity for photographs rather than a long break. A short drive onward brings you to Kate’s Berry Farm, where allow about an hour for berries, preserves and a casual lunch or dessert. Budget approximately A$15–35 per person; opening days and seasonal berry availability vary, so check before relying on it for lunch.
Continue to Coles Bay, check in and leave the car at your accommodation before walking to the Coles Bay Esplanade. Allow around 45 minutes for an easy first look across Great Oyster Bay towards the Hazards, especially lovely in the late afternoon light. This is deliberately a gentle arrival rather than a hike—save your energy for the following day’s Freycinet Peninsula activities.
For dinner, settle into Iluka Tavern, a relaxed waterfront option in Coles Bay. Allow about 1½ hours and budget approximately A$25–45 per person. Check its current opening hours and kitchen service before walking over, as regional venues can change schedules seasonally. After dinner, take a short stroll along the foreshore if the weather is clear; the lack of bright city lighting makes this a pleasant introduction to the night sky around Freycinet.
Start early at Freycinet National Park, ideally around 7:30–8:00 AM, before the main car parks fill and the lookout becomes busy. You’ll need a valid Tasmania Parks Pass—buy a day pass online or at the visitor centre—and sturdy shoes for the uphill track to Wineglass Bay Lookout. Allow about two hours return for the walk, including time to enjoy the famous view across the curved beach and The Hazards. Continue down to Wineglass Bay Beach only if conditions, energy and daylight suit you; allow another 1.5–2 hours return, and remember that the climb back is the more demanding part. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen and a light layer, as the weather can change quickly on the peninsula.
After returning to the vehicle, drive to Richardsons Beach for a slower picnic break—roughly an hour is enough to stretch your legs and enjoy the quieter shoreline. This is a good place to use anything bought earlier in the day, as food choices inside the park are limited. Keep food secured and take all rubbish with you; wallabies and other wildlife are common, but shouldn’t be fed. Allow roughly 10–20 minutes for the drive and parking between the walking area and the beach, depending on the exact track access and conditions.
Head back towards Coles Bay for Freycinet Marine Farm, where a seafood tasting of oysters, mussels and other local produce costs approximately A$25–50 per person and takes about an hour. Check seasonal opening times before setting out, as service can be limited outside peak periods. If you have a confirmed booking, finish with Freycinet Charters, a roughly three-hour scenic cruise around The Hazards and the peninsula. Cruises are weather-dependent and should be reserved in advance; arrive early for check-in and take a warm, windproof layer even on a sunny day. If no sailing is available, keep the afternoon relaxed around Coles Bay rather than trying to add another major walk—this is already a full day on foot.
Leave Coles Bay around 8:00 AM for the drive via the A3 and Midland Highway, allowing roughly 2.5–3 hours including a fuel stop, parking and hotel or car-handover formalities. Once in Launceston, stretch your legs at City Park, where the Japanese macaque enclosure and mature gardens make an easy first stop; allow about 45 minutes. The park is free, though the macaques can occasionally be unavailable for viewing, and nearby CBD parking is generally straightforward earlier in the day.
Continue north across the North Esk River to the Queen Victoria Museum at Invermay, allowing 1.5–2 hours for its Tasmanian history, science and art collections. Check the museum’s current opening hours before setting out, as hours can vary by gallery or public holiday; general entry is usually free, with occasional paid exhibitions. It’s a short drive from the city centre, and there is usually convenient on-site parking.
For lunch, head to Stillwater in North Launceston, a relaxed riverside restaurant known for Tasmanian produce. Allow around 1.5 hours and budget approximately A$35–70 per person; booking is sensible, especially for a weekend or if you want a table near the water. From here, drive or take a taxi about 10 minutes west to Cataract Gorge Reserve. Spend roughly two hours on the First Basin trails and the historic suspension bridge—comfortable shoes are worthwhile, and allow extra time if you follow the longer riverside paths. Entry is free, but check seasonal access and sunset timing before committing to a late walk.
Return to the CBD for an unhurried evening at Saint John Craft Beer Bar, a good place to sample Tasmanian beers alongside a casual dinner. Allow about 1.5 hours and budget A$25–50 per person. The bar is walkable from much of central Launceston; if you have left the rental car at your accommodation, keep the evening car-free and use a short taxi trip if needed.
Leave Launceston around 7:00 AM with breakfast and fuel sorted before heading west on the Bass Highway. Allow 2.5–3 hours overall to reach Cradle Mountain, but break the drive at Tasmazia near Sheffield. Set aside 1.5–2 hours for the hedge mazes, quirky displays and café; it is an outdoor attraction, so a warm waterproof layer and comfortable shoes are worthwhile. Check the current opening hours before leaving, as seasonal hours can vary, and budget roughly A$25–35 per adult.
Continue into Sheffield, about a 10-minute drive away, for its outdoor mural trail. Allow around 45 minutes to stroll through the town centre and spot the large painted scenes on shopfronts and public buildings. This is an easy, low-key stop—good for coffee or a takeaway snack before the final leg west. From Sheffield, follow the B12 towards Cradle Mountain; the road becomes more winding and remote, so keep fuel, water and phone maps handy.
On arrival, park at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and allow 45–60 minutes for orientation, toilets and the shuttle process. Private vehicles generally cannot continue to Dove Lake during shuttle operating periods, so have a valid Tasmania Parks Pass ready and check the latest shuttle timetable before setting out. The shuttle ride takes you into the park, where the Dove Lake Circuit takes roughly 2.5–3 hours at an unhurried pace. Weather changes quickly here—even in good conditions—so carry a waterproof jacket, warm layers, water and sturdy footwear; allow extra time if wind, rain or track conditions slow you down.
After returning by shuttle, check in or settle into Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge for a relaxed regional dinner. Expect approximately A$45–90 per person, depending on your meal and drinks, and reserve ahead because dining options around Cradle Mountain are limited and busy in peak periods. Keep the evening quiet after the walk: the lodge is a good place to enjoy the wilderness setting, and wildlife is often active around the grounds after dark.
Leave Cradle Mountain as early as your flight requires—ideally at least three hours before departure from Launceston Airport. Allow roughly two hours of driving to the airport area, plus refuelling, the rental-car return and check-in. The roads are quiet but winding, and wildlife is a real risk around dawn, so drive carefully rather than trying to make up time. Follow the route via Sheffield and the Bass Highway; if you have a comfortable buffer, make a brief stop in Deloraine for about 45 minutes. Its small heritage centre and riverfront are pleasant for a stretch and coffee, but treat this as optional: skip it if the flight schedule is tight.
If your departure falls on a day when Harvest Market is operating, allow about an hour to browse its local produce, baked goods and ready-to-eat food before continuing towards the airport. Confirm the event calendar in advance, as it is not a daily market and should not be assumed to be open. If it is closed—or if you need a more reliable breakfast stop—buy provisions in Deloraine or near Launceston rather than detouring and risking the flight timetable.
Continue to Launceston Airport at Western Junction, returning the vehicle with the fuel level required by your rental agreement. Allow 60–90 minutes before departure for the car handover, terminal check-in, baggage drop and security; add more time if travelling during a busy holiday period. The airport is compact, but rental-car returns can take longer than expected if staff are assisting several arrivals, so avoid planning any final sightseeing after reaching the airport.
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