Tasmania - 6 Nights Itinerary Help from Devonport (4x Adults 2x 4x4s)

Saul Goodman on 11/01/2023 - 09:53
Last edited 11/01/2023 - 11:37

I'm hoping for itinerary help for 6 nights in Tasmania in April (just after Easter). There are 4 adults and we are coming from the Spirit of Tasmania in 2x 4x4s. We are okay with lots of driving per day. Unfortunately we can not extend our stay and I know 6 nights is short.

This is something I was thinking;

Tue - Arrive Devonport AM -> Cradle Mountain
Wed - Cradle Mountain (Day of hikes)
Thu - Cradle Mountain -> Hobart
Fri - Hobart (Port Arthur)
Sat - Hobart (Markets, Mona, lookouts)
Sun - Hobart -> Coles Bay
Mon - Coles Bay -> Bay of Fires -> Devonport PM

Last day is 6 hours driving which is not ideal. Spirit is in the late afternoon so there is time. A couple of us like the idea of the scenic drive to Bay of Fires. If we were to remove that it would be 2 hours less driving. Not sure what to do about this yet.

We could also do only 1 night in Cradle Mountain and do shorter hikes that first day. The Spirit of Tas arrives at like 8am or something so we will have the whole day. Is Cradle Mountain really worth it though? I can see there are also good hikes and views out of Hobart and along the East coast. If we skip Cradle that will add 2 nights and we could do more at Coles Bay and check out Ben Lomond National Park. We have 2 4x4s so would like to do some off road stuff but nothing too dangerous.

Travel Tasmania

Comments

  • TasJacks on 11/01/2023 - 10:04
    +1

    On Friday, include Remarkable Cave Lookout and Doo Town - a unique town where all houses start with 'Doo'. On Sun, stop at Richmond on the way to Coles Bay. Don't miss Honeymoon Bay in Freycinet National Park.

    Don't go to Bay of Fires as you don't have any time left. If you're keen though, go to Redbill beach, which might be 30 mins away from Coles Bay and walk to Diamond Island on low tide :)

  • cashless on 11/01/2023 - 10:11

    Don't forget to eat the fresh oysters - not the ones that were partially frozen and thawed;)

  • MS Paint on 11/01/2023 - 10:13
    -1

    The locals (referred to as Taswegians) like hats as gifts.

    LPT: it's 2 per person.

  • jaimex2 on 11/01/2023 - 10:18

    That is a lot of money for 6 nights given how expensive the ferry is for 4wds.

    • GG57 on 11/01/2023 - 10:30

      Exactly my thoughts, given it is also 2 vehicles for only 4 people.

    • Saul Goodman on 11/01/2023 - 10:36
      +1

      It's $149 each way per vehicle. Car hire would be way more expensive.

      • GG57 on 11/01/2023 - 10:43

        You could save ~$300 by only taking one vehicle

      • jaimex2 on 11/01/2023 - 10:47
        +1

        These must be low 4wds, they absolutely gouge you with anything over 2.1m.

        We were quoted over $2k. Was contemplating removing racks and putting on smaller tyres just to go under.

  • GG57 on 11/01/2023 - 10:39
    +1

    Devonport to Cradle Mountain is only a couple of hours driving at most. You can fit in a lot of hiking on your first day Tuesday, freeing up a day to leave and drive to Hobart on Wednesday. You haven't said which route you are taking for that drive; you could go either over the mountains, or via the Bass and Midland Highways for an easier drive.
    Bringing forward the rest of your itinerary by a day, I'd add that extra day to the East Coast with an additional night maybe at St Helens?

    If you have already booked accommodation, my recommendations are out the window unless you can manage the whole re-booking thing.
    If you haven't booked yet, availability could re-define your itinerary further.

  • SnowDragon on 11/01/2023 - 10:44
    +2

    Devonport to Cradle is only around 2 hours. You could fit in your day of hikes when you arrive and stay the night there Tuesday.
    Wednesday could then be a trip to Launceston and then down to Hobart via Richmond

    The itinerary really depends if you're set on seeing the Salamanca markets. If you decide they aren't a big deal you could take your time up the coast

    Tue - Arrive and hikes at Cradle Mt
    Wed - Drive to Launceston, Richmond and Hobart
    Thurs - Mona, Mt Wellington, Cascade Brewery
    Fri - Drive to Port Arthur and see peninsula. Stay down there and do ghost tour
    Sat - Drive up to Coles Bay/Freycinet. Stay at Bicheno
    Sun - Up to St Helens/Bay of Fires - some 4wd along beaches
    Mon - Back over to Devonport

    • GG57 on 11/01/2023 - 11:15

      Up to St Helens/Bay of Fires - some 4wd along beaches

      Can you drive on the beaches?

  • lgacb08 on 11/01/2023 - 20:50

    You're trying to squeeze too much into 6 days. Between Coles Bay and Bay of Fires you have to pick one otherwise you'll not get the best of both, the last day is a big stretch. If you're short on time consider skipping Port Arthur altogether and spend an extra day in Hobart (Mt Wellington probably takes you half a day already), Port Arthur is overated IMHO and only get to fame due to the sad event there. The immigration museums around the country or odd bits old gaols here and there provides more interesting story notes. There's some nice places nearby but you're short of time anyway so don't bother.

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