Campervan Hire Hobart — Port Arthur, Bruny Island, Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and Tips for Tasmania in 2027

Hobart, Tasmania's capital, lies on the estuary of the Derwent River beneath kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Most of the island's highlights are within a few hours' drive, which makes Hobart a natural starting point for a campervan trip: the convict history of Port Arthur, the wild coast of Bruny Island, the white beaches of Freycinet and the Bay of Fires, the waterfalls of Mount Field and, further north, the alpine landscape of Cradle Mountain. This guide explains where to go, where you can stay overnight and what to know about driving in Tasmania.

Hobart itself

Salamanca Place and its Saturday market, the old cottages of Battery Point and the waterfront fish punts are all easy to explore on foot. A ferry takes you up the river to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. The road up kunanyi/Mount Wellington (1,271 m) climbs to a lookout over the whole city; it is narrow and winding and can close in snow or ice, even outside winter.

South and the peninsulas

• Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula (about 95 km): the World Heritage-listed convict site, plus the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch and the towering sea cliffs along the coast.
• Bruny Island: a car ferry from Kettering (about 35 km) takes you to the island, with The Neck lookout, little penguins at dusk and the cliffs of South Bruny National Park.
• The Huon Valley: apple orchards, cideries and small villages such as Cygnet, plus the Tahune Airwalk above the forest and the Hastings Caves.
• Mount Field National Park (about 75 km): Russell Falls, giant swamp gums and alpine lakes higher up.

The east coast

• Freycinet National Park (about 190 km): the pink granite peaks of the Hazards and the lookout over Wineglass Bay, a short but steep walk from the car park.
• Maria Island: a ferry from Triabunna carries foot passengers to an island without cars, with wombats, a historic convict settlement and the Painted Cliffs.
• The Bay of Fires: white sand and granite boulders covered with orange lichen, north of St Helens, with simple campsites by the sea.

North and west

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the starting point of the Overland Track, is about four and a half hours from Hobart. On the west coast, Strahan and the Gordon River offer a wild, rainy landscape of rainforest and old mining towns. If you come from the mainland, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry carries vehicles from Geelong to Devonport.

For more of Australia, read our guides to campervan hire in Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as our guide to campervan travel in Australia.

Where to stay

• Holiday parks: caravan and holiday parks in towns and along the coast, with power, showers and dump points.
• National park campgrounds: for example at Freycinet, Mount Field and Cradle Mountain; some must be booked in advance in summer, and a parks pass is required.
• Low-cost and free campgrounds: run by councils or the parks service, often by the sea or a river; some are only for self-contained vehicles.
• Freedom camping: allowed only where it is signposted; elsewhere, overnight stays in vehicles are generally not allowed.

Driving tips

• Driving on the left. Like the rest of Australia, Tasmania drives on the left; take extra care at junctions and roundabouts.
• Wildlife. Wallabies, wombats and Tasmanian devils are very active at dusk and at night; avoid driving after dark wherever possible.
• Winding roads. Roads are narrow and winding, especially in the west and the highlands, so trips take longer than the distances suggest.
• Unsealed roads. Many rental contracts do not allow gravel roads; check before taking a side road.
• Fuel. Petrol stations are far apart on the west coast and in the highlands; fill up when you can.

When to go

• December to March: summer, with long days and temperatures of around 17–23 °C. Late December brings the Sydney–Hobart yacht race and the Taste of Tasmania food festival.
• March to May: autumn, with quieter roads and, in late April, the golden leaves of the native fagus beech at Cradle Mountain and Mount Field.
• June to August: cold, with snow in the highlands, the Dark Mofo winter festival in Hobart and, on clear nights, a chance of seeing the aurora australis.
• September to November: spring with changeable weather, wildflowers and waterfalls at their fullest.

A campervan in Hobart with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in Hobart. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Hobart page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Hobart? List it with us.