Tassie Trip - Hobart to Queenstown - Is it worth it

Our experience of Tassie (a 4 month trip) was that there is something new & interesting around just about every corner, & there are a lot of corners.

In 16 nights you could have a great holiday, but I would suggest limiting where you go. Although compared to the mainland distances are far less, driving times are relatively high.

Depends on what you like. There is something for everybody in Tassie. If I had two weeks I'd be tempted by the Huon Valley - Geeveston to Cockle Bay.

https://cuppa500.com/Blog/map-tasmania-2017-18/

https://cuppa500.com/Blog/the-far-south/ (This is the post covering that area - several other posts covering our Tassie trip on the blog if interested)

But really we loved all we saw. Wherever you choose I suggest that limiting the area you cover will provide you with a far more satisfying experience & conversely trying to cover too much ground is likely to just be tiring & unsatisfying. Tassie has a *lot* of hills & roads are generally narrow.

FWIW the east coast (with the exception of St Helens northwards ) was our least favourite area of Tassie. Again it depends what you like though.

Me, I would take a night off L, S and T, and do the Queenstown/Strahan/Devonport and any left over time do the N/W to Stanley.

Your proposed itinerary is in itself a bit left of centre. As a former Tasmanian, Longford wouldn't be on my list but you may have reasons. As you possibly know it was the site of Australia's first Grand Prix. There is much to do and see around St Helens if you use it as a base. Triabunna leaves me cold though.

The west coast is an experience. Not much fun driving it with a van - your shoulders will get a workout. If I was going there though I would stay in Strahan rather than Queenstown. The area is not far behind North Qld for rainfall although you don't get the big deluges which means it falls over longer periods so expect wet weather if you go there.

Everything is so dependent on your personal interests ie history, topography, coast, bush, cities, isolation etc etc. I quite enjoy the central plateau for the trout fishing but also the hydro development. Tassie is the wettest island on earth in that it has more lakes and rivers etc per sq kilometre than anywhere else. The engineering behind some of the man made dams is incredible and much of the construction was done after the wars by returned diggers. There are still timber pipelines in use if you know where to look.

Two weeks is short and you need to make the most of your time. I lived there for 20 years and I still discover stuff when I return. Enjoy your trip and safe travelling.

Kenell

I would suggest that a trip via the West Coast should include a trip on the West Coast Wilderness Railway and one of the Macquarie Harbour cruises. Both companies look good - Gordon River Cruises and World Heritage Cruises. If you can arrange a trip on both venues I would strongly suggest you go around that way. If you can't then go up the middle.

Hobart to Queenstown AN ABSOLUTE MUST... spectacular scenery and the run back to Devonport can take in Cradle Mountain. But what ever you do do NOT go past the WALL IN THE WILDERNESS at Derwent Bridge without calling in. This is a sculpture's life work, Greg Duncan, where a 3 metre tall by 100 metres long wall in Huon Pine has been relief carved with the history of Tasmania. It is absolutely amazing and a place where you will want to spend hours. The run down into Q ueenstown is a motorist true joy where you travel down 99 bends is 10 kilometres with spectacular views all the way down.

It is very definitely worth doing the West Coast ... highlights include the Wall in the Wilderness near Derwent Bridge, which is a fantastic Huon pine carving on 3 metre high panels descsribing the history of Tasmania's energy and industrial dedvelopment. And then there are the fabulous walks at Lake St Clair, which is at the southern end of the Cardle Mtn National Park.
And then of course you get to Queenstown and Strahan, for the Gordon River cruise and the wilderness railway, before heading up north via Hellyer Gorge or (if you're more brave) via Corinna and the Western explorer road.
East Coast of Tas is delightful, but more like other sights you will see on the mainland south-east coast, whereas west coast is much more rugged.
Either way you will enjoy the trip.

Hi Nathan

We have family and friends in Tasmania and as such have been there six times over the years. We are planning a 4 to 6 mth stay towards the end of next year as well to explore more.
I would have to agree with most of what has been said above. Not much I wished I hadn't seen. Probably our best trip was a couple weeks in mid winter. Truely fantastic, very few foreign tourists so nothing was crowded. Like the wall mentioned above had about eight other people there all up and they were mostly sitting drinking coffee around a fire place so one could take in the full view from end to end of the carvings and really absorb the story being told. Of course the snow piled up outside added a little romance as well.
I love it all, the highlands are magic summer or winter, the midlands are interesting to me and the coastal areas are clear and generally beautiful.
Because I enjoy poking around on the back roads I find the highway up the middle rather boring. Good quick road now though.
Personally, I would rather see less and see it better with a definite plan to return to see other areas later. You have got to take time to stop and talk to the locals to start to appreciate the loveliness of it all. We have met so many people there that we are still in contact with, it's great.
Just my opinion for what it is worth.
Whatever you do you will enjoy it.

Roy G.
Toowoomba Qld

Thanks all, we have decided to go with our original plan and head west.
Will park up for a few days in Queenstown and explore from there.
Thanks all