Tia Petch · Travel guide
My exact two week van-life loop of the island, stop by stop, copy it start to finish.
tiapetch.com · @tiapetch
Welcome, wanderer
Tassie completely stole my heart. We did a full two week lap of the island in a mix of hotels, farm stays and free camps, and it might just be the best road trip we have ever done. Fresh oysters straight off the farm, chairlifts with views that do not feel real, cosy little towns and hikes that earn you the wine after. Here is our exact route, stop by stop, so you can copy it start to finish.
Happy travels, Tia x
Hobart · 2 nights
Ease into island time with two nights in Hobart. Wander pretty Battery Point, then take the time to visit the moving Cascades Female Factory.
Tia's tip · Base yourself in Battery Point and explore on foot. It is the prettiest little pocket of the city.
Tasman Peninsula
Point the car towards Port Arthur, grab a free camp for the night, and do the Historic Site tour. Beautiful, haunting and fascinating all at once.
Tia's tip · Book the tour ahead and allow a few hours. There is so much more to it than you expect.
Freycinet · Coles Bay
Stay right at the national park, then hit Freycinet Marine Farm for the best oysters of your life. Then book the Coles Bay kayaking tour.
Tia's tip · Do the oysters and the kayak in one day. Paddling that coastline then eating oysters off the farm is perfection.
St Helens
Up to St Helens for the Bay of Fires. Orange lichen-covered boulders, the whitest sand and the bluest water you have ever seen.
Tia's tip · Go early for the light and the empty beaches. The colours here are unreal in the morning sun.
Launceston · 1 night
A night in Launceston with the Cataract Gorge chairlift, then Old Macs farm stay, then a dreamy Domescape at Swinging Gate Winery.
Tia's tip · The winery domes are the treat-yourself stop and they book out fast. Grab one.
Stanley
Tiny Stanley might be my favourite town on the island. Chairlift the Nut, have dinner at the Lazy Lobster, and stay up past 10pm.
Tia's tip · Stick around after 10pm for the little penguins waddling back in. The sweetest surprise of the whole trip.
Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain is Tassie at its most jaw-dropping. You have to do a hike here, even just the gentle Dove Lake loop.
Tia's tip · Pack layers and a rain jacket no matter the forecast. The mountain makes its own weather.
Strahan · West Coast
The wild west coast: ride the West Coast Wilderness Railway through the rainforest, have dinner at Risbys, and chill at Lake St Clair.
Tia's tip · Book the railway ahead and just let the scenery roll past. Old-school travel at its best.
Richmond
Finish the loop in historic Richmond, all heritage charm and lovely shops, then cruise back into Hobart completely in love with Tassie.
Tia's tip · Leave a little time to wander and shop in Richmond. The perfect gentle finish.
Save this, screenshot it, and tag me @tiapetch when you go, I genuinely love seeing your trips. There is plenty more where this came from.
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