From Hobart: 5-Day Tasmania West & East Coast Tour

Tasmania packs a surprising amount into a small island, and this five-day loop from Hobart gives you a fast, outdoorsy look at its best-known places. You move from waterfalls and cool rainforest to mountain tracks, white beaches, orange rocks, and the little penguin town of Bicheno.

I like the range of scenery and the choice of walks, which lets you set your own pace at Cradle Mountain and Freycinet. I also like the practical setup: national park fees, transport, a guide, and four nights of lodging are included. The tradeoff is simple: you cover a lot of ground, so expect several hours on the bus most days and limited time in each region.

Key points to know before booking

• Russell Falls to Wineglass Bay in five days: You see Tasmania’s major natural sights without arranging a car, lodging, park passes, and route planning yourself.
• Short walks are built into every day: Easy options are available, but Cradle Mountain and Freycinet can also provide harder hikes.
• The West Coast feels genuinely wild: Henty Dunes, temperate rainforest, Lake St Clair, and the Franklin-Gordon area bring a cooler, rougher side of Tasmania.
• Choose a hostel or motel bed: Hostels offer dorms or private rooms with shared same-gender bathrooms, while motels provide private ensuite rooms.
• Food is your responsibility: You buy meals, snacks, and groceries along the way, which keeps costs flexible but requires some planning.
• The Gordon River Cruise costs extra: Day two gives you time for a rainforest walk or the optional cruise from Strahan.

Why this five-day Tasmania route works

Tasmania rewards road trips because its best sights are spread across the island. This tour links Hobart with Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, the Bay of Fires, Bicheno, Freycinet, and back to Hobart. You get a broad taste of the island in five days, but this is not a slow holiday.

The group is capped at 24 people, with many departures apparently running around 20. That is small enough for a guide to manage walks and answer questions, but large enough that the vehicle will not feel private. You share the day with an active group, and the mood can make a big difference. Guides such as Jason, Joe, Brandon, Will, and Joey have been praised for clear communication, humor, patience, music, quizzes, and useful recommendations.

The guide matters here because a lot of the experience happens between the stops. A good guide turns long drives into useful time with stories about Tasmania, Aboriginal culture, wildlife, geology, and local places to eat. The tour is conducted in English.

At $683 per person, the value is strongest if you do not want to rent a car or organize four nights of accommodation and national park access. You are paying for transport across Tasmania, a guide, park entry, and lodging. Food, drinks, and the Gordon River Cruise are extra, so your final cost depends on how often you eat at cafés and restaurants, and whether you choose the cruise.

Day one: Russell Falls, Lake St Clair, and Strahan

Pickup begins in central Hobart at about 7:30 AM. You head through the Derwent Valley, crossing Tasmania from east to west. It is an early start, but that timing gives you a full day outside.

The first major stop is Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park. The walk is short and friendly: about 25 minutes return over 1.4 kilometers on a flat track with no steps. It is a good first stop for anyone who wants a scenic payoff without a hard hike.

Mount Field also brings you among tall trees, giving the morning a cool, wooded feel. From there, the route continues toward Lake St Clair, described as Australia’s deepest freshwater lake. The point of this day is not one long hike. Instead, you collect several distinct views as the island changes from settled countryside to mountain country and forest.

The Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park adds a more remote feeling. You can expect thick forest, river country, and short stops rather than a long, technical walk. This is a useful part of the route because it shows why Tasmania’s west has such a strong reputation for wild scenery.

You finish in Strahan, a small West Coast settlement and your base for two nights. The first day is long, and you should not expect much free time after arrival. Still, the route gives you a strong introduction to the island without spending your first day only on highways.

Day two: Henty Dunes and the rainforests near Strahan

Day two focuses on the West Coast, where the scenery becomes rougher and more exposed. At Henty Dunes, shifting sand gives you a landscape that feels very different from the forests and mountains of day one.

The dunes are a good example of why this tour works as a sampler. You are not seeing one type of Tasmania again and again. You move from rainforest to open sand, with the West Coast’s weather and isolation adding to the sense of place.

You also join a guided walk through ancient temperate rainforest. The word ancient is useful here because the forest feels like a place to observe slowly rather than rush through. Your guide can add context as you walk, and the route gives you a chance to stretch your legs after the previous day’s drive.

You have another choice today: the Gordon River Cruise, sold separately. This is an important budget decision. The cruise is a famous Strahan activity, but it is not included in the tour price. If you choose it, you may have less time for the guided rainforest walk, so ask your guide how the day will be arranged before committing.

Strahan is also where you should think about food. Meals are self-catered throughout the trip. You can buy groceries, use hostel kitchens where available, or eat at cafés, restaurants, and takeaway spots. The guide can suggest places and local Tasmanian produce, but you pay for everything yourself.

Day three: Cradle Mountain and the choice of walking routes

Cradle Mountain is the trip’s main mountain day. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is World Heritage listed, and the area sits around 950 meters above sea level. The air and weather can feel very different from the coast, so pack layers and rain gear even if Hobart started warm.

You choose a walk to match your energy and ability. The gentler option is a stroll around Dove Lake. The Dove Lake Circuit covers about 6 kilometers and takes roughly two to three hours, with hills, rough ground, and steps. It is classed as moderate, so comfortable hiking shoes matter.

For a harder outing, you can choose Marion’s Lookout. The tour information also points to more demanding options at Cradle Mountain, so this is the day when your fitness matters most. You do not need to treat every walk as a challenge. The value is in having choices, not in proving anything.

The park can be rewarding even if you take the easier option. You get mountain views, lake scenery, and a chance to walk in one of Tasmania’s best-known protected areas. The drawback is time. You will not explore every trail in this one visit, and the group needs to travel onward.

After Cradle Mountain, the route continues through Sheffield, known as the town of murals, before reaching Launceston. This makes for another long day, but it adds a cultural stop to the natural scenery. You stay overnight in Launceston, giving you a more settled base before the East Coast portion begins.

Day four: the Bay of Fires and the road to Bicheno

Day four takes you east to the Bay of Fires, one of the tour’s most photogenic stops. Expect white sand, clear coastal views, and large boulders marked with orange lichen. The contrast between the pale beaches and orange rock is what gives this coast its character.

This is a good place to slow down. After the long inland drives, the Bay of Fires gives you open space and the chance to enjoy the coast without a demanding hike. Bring swimwear if you want the option of getting near the water, but also bring a jacket because Tasmanian weather can change quickly.

The day includes an introduction to the culture of the palawa, Tasmania’s Aboriginal people. That matters because the coast is more than a pretty stop for photographs. A guide who explains local culture can help you see the place in a wider context, rather than treating it as scenery alone.

Later, you travel along the coastal road from St Helens toward Bicheno. This is described as Tasmania’s most scenic coastal drive, and the route provides another change of pace. Bicheno is known for its little penguin population, though the supplied tour details do not promise a dedicated penguin viewing activity. Do not book this tour solely for a wildlife encounter that may not be part of the schedule.

You stay in Bicheno, which sets up an early start on day five. As on other nights, lodging may be a hostel or motel depending on your booking choice. If you value privacy, select the motel option with a private ensuite room. Hostel choices include same-gender dormitories or private single, twin, or double rooms with shared same-gender bathrooms.

Day five: Wineglass Bay, Mount Amos, and the return to Hobart

An early start gets you to the Wineglass Bay lookout before the day is well underway. That is smart planning. Freycinet is one of Tasmania’s most popular places, and arriving early gives you a better chance to enjoy the lookout before it becomes crowded.

The lookout provides the classic view of Wineglass Bay, with the curved beach below and the Hazards forming the backdrop. You can stop there, continue down toward the beach, or choose a more demanding route such as Mount Amos or the Hazards Beach walk.

The beach option is a good middle ground if you want more than a viewpoint but do not want the hardest climb. Mount Amos is the stronger choice for fit hikers who want a challenge, but you should listen carefully to the guide’s timing and conditions. This is not the day to begin an ambitious walk without checking how much time you have.

The return route follows the East Coast through Swansea and Orford before reaching Hobart. It is another full travel day, but the itinerary ends with one of Tasmania’s major coastal areas rather than saving a minor stop for the final hours.

The bus, accommodation, and daily rhythm

This is an active road tour, not a luxury coach holiday. You can expect several hours of driving on many days, and the vehicle is described as sufficient rather than roomy. Your luggage allowance is up to 20 kilograms, stored in a trailer on travel days.

The daily rhythm usually combines a long drive with one or more short walks. That arrangement suits you if you want to see a lot of Tasmania but do not want to drive on the left, plan routes, or manage park entries. It is less suitable if you want long, quiet stays in each national park.

The accommodation choice makes the tour more flexible. A hostel bed keeps the trip closer to a backpacker budget and makes it easier to meet other people. A motel room gives you more privacy after a day outdoors. Twin and double bookings require two people, so solo visitors should check the available room type carefully.

There is no meal package. I would budget for breakfast, packed lunches, snacks, and dinners separately. Grocery shopping can help control costs, especially if you have access to hostel kitchens. Cafés and restaurants give you less work but may push the total price higher.

Who will enjoy this Tasmania tour most

This trip suits solo visitors, active couples, and friends who want a social way to see Tasmania. It is also a good fit if you have only five days and want the major sights linked together.

You will get the most from it with moderate fitness and good mobility. The walks are mostly easy to moderate and optional, but you still need to get in and out of the vehicle, handle a full sightseeing schedule, and walk on uneven ground. Russell Falls is easy. Dove Lake includes hills, rough sections, and steps.

The tour is not suitable for children under eight, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, people with back problems, people with low fitness, or people prone to motion sickness. Discuss accessibility needs before booking. If winding roads make you uncomfortable, sit near the front of the vehicle and tell the guide early.

Pack sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, hiking shoes, swimwear, a warm jacket, rain gear, and comfortable clothes. Tasmania can give you sun, wind, rain, and cool mountain weather in the same trip.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a high-value first look at Tasmania without renting a car. The route covers an impressive amount: Mount Field, Lake St Clair, the West Coast, Henty Dunes, Cradle Mountain, Sheffield, the Bay of Fires, Bicheno, Freycinet, and Wineglass Bay.

Skip it if your ideal holiday means lingering in one region, taking long hikes each day, or choosing every meal and hotel yourself. The schedule is busy, the bus rides are real, and the optional Gordon River Cruise raises the total cost.

For most active visitors with limited time, this is a sensible way to meet Tasmania. Choose the motel if you need private bathrooms, plan a food budget before departure, and save enough energy for the walks at Cradle Mountain and Freycinet. The guides can make the long drives enjoyable, and names such as Jason, Joe, Brandon, Will, and Joey have been associated with the patient, organized approach this route needs.

FAQ

How long is the Tasmania West and East Coast tour?

The tour lasts five days and begins and ends in Hobart.

Where does the tour start and finish?

Pickup and drop-off are available at selected centrally located hotels and hostels in Hobart. Pickup is not available from Airbnbs or private residences.

What accommodation is included?

Four nights of accommodation are included in either a motel or hostel. Motels offer private ensuite rooms. Hostels offer same-gender dormitories or private single, twin, or double rooms with shared same-gender bathrooms.

Are meals included?

No. The tour is self-catering, so you buy food and drinks from restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops, or supermarkets along the route.

Is the Gordon River Cruise included?

No. The Gordon River Cruise is optional and costs extra.

How much luggage can I bring?

You can bring up to 20 kilograms of luggage, which is stored in a trailer during travel days.

Are the walks difficult?

The tour includes short daily walks that are mostly easy to moderate and optional. Russell Falls is a 25-minute return walk on a flat track. The Dove Lake Circuit takes about two to three hours and includes hills, rough sections, and steps.

Is the tour suitable for children or wheelchair users?

The tour is not suitable for children under eight or wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments, back problems, low fitness, or motion sickness. Discuss accessibility needs before booking.