Tasmania | 10-Day 9-Night Self-Drive Itinerary

✨First of all, it should be noted that if you don't rent a car for self-driving, you can explore the entire island by flying into Hobart and out of Launceston, or vice versa. For us, renting a car and returning it at a different location would be much more expensive than returning it at the same airport, so we decided to go for a full island loop. ✨First four nights' accommodation: Hobart city center. ✨DAY1: Arrive in Hobart in the morning, pick up the car at the airport. Visit Mount Wellington + waterfront restaurants. On a clear day, the view from the summit of Mount Wellington is truly spectacular, but be sure to bring an extra layer—it's noticeably colder at the top than at the base. ✨DAY2: Bruny Island. The fried oysters are absolutely delicious, and the preparation seems to vary across different places in Tasmania. The fried oysters on Bruny Island are definitely worth ordering a full portion—they're amazing! If you're driving, you can go all the way to the farthest lighthouse—the scenery along the way is beautiful, though there’s a stretch of unpaved road. Throughout Tasmania, you’ll often encounter rough roads, so if you’re renting a car, it’s safer to opt for a small SUV. ✨DAY3: Maria Island. A must-visit for animal lovers! The wombats on Maria Island are incredibly cute. In the afternoon, many of them appear on the grassy fields. If you crouch still, the baby wombats might even walk up to you and use you to scratch themselves! However, interacting with the animals is prohibited—they can approach you, but it’s best to avoid them. (That said, they’re not afraid of humans, so getting close-up photos is super easy.) ✨DAY4: Port Arthur + the Four Remarkable Sights. If it’s not too cold, you can take a scenic boat ride to see the famous photo spots—it’s breathtaking, truly the awe of the world’s edge. ✨DAY5: Hobart → Wineglass Bay → Bicheno. Stay overnight in Bicheno. If the weather is bad, Wineglass Bay isn’t worth the visit. On the day we went, it was overcast, and climbing the trail to see the bay was exhausting with no good photo opportunities. All the beautiful scenic shots you see are taken on sunny days, so skip it if it’s cloudy or rainy and just rest instead. ✨DAY6: Bicheno → Bay of Fires → Ross Town. The Bay of Fires is arguably one of the most stunning coastal views—white sandy beaches + crystal-clear water. If the weather’s nice, you can take a dip—it’s a super photogenic beach. ✨DAY7: Launceston. Visit the Tasmania Zoo, relax and see the animals, then explore the city. At the zoo, you can pay to interact with most of the animals. The meerkats are especially entertaining—once you sit down, they’ll eagerly climb all over you, which is adorable. ✨DAY8: Launceston → Stanley. Stay in Stanley. Make sure to take tons of photos during sunset in Stanley—the lighting is perfect for stunning shots. And don’t miss the lobster restaurant with a lobster on its roof—the food is delicious, fresh, and affordable! ✨DAY9: Stanley → Cradle Mountain. Stay at Cradle Mountain. Whether the weather’s good or not, Cradle Mountain is always photogenic. It’s best to arrive by noon, buy a shuttle ticket, and explore each stop slowly. We arrived in the afternoon and felt a bit rushed, but it was still absolutely worth it. ✨DAY10: Drive back from Cradle Mountain to Hobart. The route is smooth, highway-like asphalt with beautiful scenery along the way. Tasmania is definitely worth revisiting many times!