Take a Road Trip: Hobart and Southern Tasmania

Day 1: Devonport to Hobart

Disembark Spirit of Tasmania and head south-east on the Bass Highway for the wickedly good House of Anvers. Sweet tooths can indulge in a Belgian-inspired brekkie, take a free tour and observe the chocolatiers at work, as they create too-pretty-to-eat chocolates, truffles, pralines and fudges. Once you’ve stocked up on treats for the road, head through the midlands on the National Highway to Oatlands, one of Tasmania’s oldest settlements. Discover gorgeous sandstone buildings and be sure to visit the restored Georgian Callington Mill. Shop for French provincial-style antiques and freshly made scones before cruising the 83km to Hobart, where your accommodation choices for tonight’s stay abound.

Day 2: Exploring Hobart

Saturdays here are about one thing – Salamanca Market. Fuel up on bacon and eggs from Gypsy Rolls (stall 47) before hitting the 300-plus market stalls. Look out for home-grown Tasmanian produce like dukkah from Bodhi Farm, as well as assorted arts and crafts. Other great markets worth exploring include Farm Gate Market, where the philosophy is ‘eat, drink and grow local’, (open every Sunday), or The Market, featuring local design that runs at various times throughout the year. Stroll the narrow streets of Battery Point and admire the colonial cottages of Arthur’s Circus. Then, grab a drink and a bite to eat at the bar-cum-restaurant Franklin, or Watermans Beer Market whose menu features more than 140 craft beers.

Day 3: Museum of Old and New Art (Mona)

After breakfast, drive along the River Derwent towards the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona). Described by its owner as a “subversive adult Disneyland”, it is sure to leave a lasting impression. With more than 400 pieces of modern art and antiquities housed across three expansive underground levels, you’ll need at least two hours to explore. Pick up an eccentric gift or two and spend the rest of the afternoon at Moorilla winery, listening to live tunes on the lawn and dining at one of the many bistros. Why not make a night of it by staying at the avant-garde Pavilions and wake up to breathtaking views of the river.

Day 4: Hobart to Bruny Island

Drive up Huon Road to the peak of Mount Wellington and set off on foot or two wheels to fully experience the area’s beauty. Bid adieu to the capital and head towards Kettering, stopping along the way at farm gates to pick cherries, apples and nuts. A 10-minute drive south of Kettering is Pepperberries Garden Café. Walk around the farm and old forest and don’t miss the impressive sculpture park (dogs on lead welcome). Next stop… Bruny Island, via the ferry at Kettering, for a two-night stay. And best of all, you can take your vehicle with you.

Day 5: Discover Bruny Island

Don’t fill up too much at brekkie, as the best way to explore Bruny is with your tastebuds. Must-dos include berry tasting at Bruny Island Berry Farm, sampling the full range of Tasmanian whiskies at Tasmanian House of Whisky, and washing down fresh oysters at Get Shucked with local sparkling wine. Cheese lovers (and bulk-buying fans) can rejoice at Bruny Island Cheese. There are endless trails for cyclists to explore, plus quiet bays where you can snorkel and surf, or if your belly is simply too full, lounge the afternoon away on the pristine shoreline.

Day 6: Bruny Island to Cygnet

Return to Kettering on the ferry and drop by Peppermint Bay for a sumptuous lunch and grand views of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Jump back in the car and head through the orchards and rolling hills of Nicholls Rivulet Road for 30 minutes, making a pit stop at the organic farm. Then continue on to the folksy village of Cygnet and book in for a couple of nights at pet-friendly Puggle Farm or the romantic self-catering Frenchman’s River cottages.

Day 7: Cygnet and surrounds

Take the B68 to Franklin and visit the Wooden Boat Centre. Thrill-seekers should suit up (in a life jacket) and jump aboard the Huon Jet Boat for an adrenaline-inducing high-speed ride along the Huon River. If speed boating isn’t your thing, opt for a calm river cruise with Yukon Tours aboard a traditional ketch. Your final stop for the day before returning to Cygnet, is Geeveston, where you’ll feel light as air as you walk among the treetops of the old-growth forest on the breathtaking Tahune AirWalk.

Day 8: Cygnet to Port Arthur

From Cygnet head to Port Arthur via the Arthur Highway (A9), with a stopover at Cambridge, the gateway to the Coal River Valley wine region. Call in at Sullivans Cove Whisky (said to produce one of the world’s finest single malt varieties), and stop by Wursthaus Factory Outlet for charcuterie and small goods. Don’t forget about the vino – Frogmore Creek is located nearby and is one of the state’s most-awarded wineries, so pick up a bottle or two. The drive to Port Arthur takes about an hour from Cambridge but allow time to stop at the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo (the first of its kind in the world). Then experience what it was like as a convict at the Port Arthur Historic Site before staying the night at a nearby cottage, B&B or caravan park.

Days 9–10: Port Arthur to Devonport

Head north on the Arthur Highway and then west on the A3 to cap off your holiday with two days in the New Norfolk area. Unload the bikes for a cycle along the trails at Mt Field National Park (or explore on foot). There are plenty of water activities, too – try canoeing or kayaking, or get out your fishing rods and catch a trout at Salmon Ponds. Drop in for a tasting at Two Metre Tall Farmhouse Ale & Cider and fill any remaining boot space with a case. Serious foodies should book a cooking class at The Agrarian Kitchen.

To finish, take the Midland Highway (A1) to Devonport for approximately 90 minutes and buy seasonal fruit and admire stone colonial outbuildings at Somercotes Cherry Orchard and Café. Stop at the colonial settler town of Ross where cobbled paths and grand old elm trees line the main street, and take a selfie in front of the Ross Bridge, Australia’s third oldest bridge still in use. Finally pop in to the Tasmanian Wool Centre or shop for last-minute bargain antiques before completing the drive back to Spirit of Tasmania’s terminal in Devonport for the return journey to Melbourne.

After a quick guide of things to do in Hobart and Southern Tasmania? Take a look at our Top 10!