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

Tasmania packs an impressive amount of wild scenery into a small island, and this five-day circuit from Hobart gives you a quick but serious look at its best-known places. You cross from the wet forests of the west to the pale beaches of the east, with waterfalls, mountains, Aboriginal culture, and national parks along the way. I like the mix of easy walks and optional harder hikes. I also like the flexibility of choosing hostel or motel accommodation, which helps keep the $683 price sensible.

The catch is the pace. You cover a lot of ground, and several hours each day go by in the bus. This is best for you if you would rather see many corners of Tasmania in one trip than spend several slow days in one region.

Key points at a glance

• Russell Falls, Lake St Clair, and Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park give the first day a strong introduction to Tasmania’s forests and waterways.
• Henty Dunes and the West Coast rainforest offer a striking change from the island’s better-known beaches.
• Cradle Mountain includes walk choices, from the easy Dove Lake area to the more demanding Marion’s Lookout route.
• Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay bring white sand, orange lichen-covered rocks, and some of Tasmania’s most scenic coastal views.
• Guides such as Jason, Brandon, Will, Joe, and Joey are a key part of the experience, adding local information, humor, music, quizzes, and practical help.
• The $683 cost includes transport, four nights of lodging, park fees, and a guide, but not meals or the optional Gordon River Cruise.

Why this five-day Tasmania route works

Tasmania is not a place where the best sights sit close together. The west coast, Cradle Mountain, the Bay of Fires, and Freycinet National Park are spread across the island. Seeing them independently in five days means arranging several lodging stops, checking park access, and driving long distances yourself.

This tour takes care of the broad route while leaving you some choice at the stops. You can take a gentle walk, attempt a longer hike, or spend time looking around at your own pace. The group size can reach 24, large enough to make the trip social but small enough for a more personal feel than a standard coach tour.

The guides also shape the days. Jason, Brandon, Will, Joe, and Joey are among the guides who lead departures, and the strongest feedback centers on their organization, humor, energy, and ability to manage different fitness levels. Joe, in particular, used music and quizzes during the longer drives. Those small touches matter when you are spending several hours on the road.

The tour is conducted in English. Pickup is available from selected centrally located Hobart hotels and hostels, not from private homes or Airbnbs. Your exact pickup time comes after the location is confirmed.

Day 1: Russell Falls to Strahan through Tasmania’s wet west

The first morning starts early, around 7:30, with a drive through the Derwent Valley. You cross Tasmania from east to west, moving into the cooler, wetter country that gives the West Coast its dramatic feel.

Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park is an excellent first stop. The return walk is about 1.4 kilometers and takes roughly 25 minutes on a flat track with no steps. That makes it a good warm-up, even if you are not a regular hiker. The falls are surrounded by tall forest, and the short walk lets you see a classic Tasmanian setting without using up your legs on the first morning.

You also walk among the tall trees of Mount Field National Park. This section helps explain the scale of Tasmania’s forests better than a quick roadside viewpoint can. Bring a jacket and rain gear, even if Hobart is sunny. Conditions can change quickly as you cross the island.

Next comes Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest freshwater lake. The stop gives you a different kind of scenery, with open water and mountain country replacing the dense forest. After that, the route enters Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, one of the strongest parts of the westward journey.

The first day ends in Strahan, a small settlement on the edge of Macquarie Harbour. You stay here for two nights, which is useful. It avoids packing and unpacking every evening while you explore the West Coast.

The main drawback is the amount of driving. You see a lot, but this is not a day for lingering over every stop. Comfortable clothes, a refillable bottle, and a small bag with your jacket and camera will make the bus time easier.

Day 2: Henty Dunes, rainforest, and the Gordon River choice

Day two shows why Tasmania’s western side feels so different from the east. Henty Dunes rise inland from the coast, with shifting sand replacing the trees and rocky shores you see elsewhere. It is an unusual stop, and it gives the day a bit of adventure without requiring a full-day hike.

You then join a guided walk through ancient temperate rainforest. The walk is a chance to slow down and notice the plant life, damp air, and quiet of the region. The West Coast receives a great deal of rain, and the forest owes much of its character to that wet climate.

You have the option to join the Gordon River Cruise at your own expense. This is an important budgeting point. The cruise is not part of the $683 package, so decide before departure whether the extra cost fits your plans. If you choose it, the rest of the day’s timing will be organized around that optional activity.

If you skip the cruise, the guided rainforest walk and Henty Dunes still give you a full day. I would treat the choice as a matter of interest rather than value. The cruise suits you if you want time on the water and a slower look at the Gordon River area. The included activities suit you if you prefer walking and want to keep extra costs under control.

You spend the second night in Strahan. Food is self-catered throughout the trip, so use the daily stops to buy meals, snacks, or groceries. The guides can recommend places serving Tasmanian produce, but you pay for all food and drinks yourself.

Day 3: Cradle Mountain and the right walk for your legs

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is the tour’s main alpine stop. The park sits around 950 meters above sea level, so expect cooler conditions than in Hobart or along the coast. Pack warm layers, waterproof clothing, sunscreen, and sturdy hiking shoes.

The walk choice is one of the best features of the trip. You can take a gentler stroll around Dove Lake or choose a more demanding route toward Marion’s Lookout. The Dove Lake Circuit covers about 6 kilometers, takes two to three hours, and includes hills, rough sections, and steps. It is rated moderate, not a casual pavement walk.

The exact time available and your own energy will guide your decision. You do not need to choose the hardest option to enjoy the park. For many people, the lake walk offers the best balance of mountain views, fresh air, and manageable effort. If you have good mobility and moderate fitness, you should have useful choices, but the tour is not designed for a low-activity holiday.

Cradle Mountain also shows why weather planning matters. A bright morning can turn cold or wet, and cloud can alter the views quickly. Bring the jacket even if you leave Hobart under clear skies. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water bottle are just as useful here as on the beaches.

After the park, the group continues through Sheffield, known as the town of murals, before reaching Launceston. This is another long travel day, but the change from mountain country to northern Tasmania gives the route variety. You stay overnight in Launceston.

Day 4: Orange rocks and white sand at the Bay of Fires

The fourth day heads east to the Bay of Fires, one of Tasmania’s most memorable coastal areas. The name makes sense when you see the orange lichen covering the boulders beside the white sand. The contrast is sharp: pale beaches, clear coastal water, and warm-colored rocks.

The stop is not only about taking photographs. You also learn about palawa culture, the culture of Tasmania’s Aboriginal people. That gives the day a stronger human and historical setting than a simple beach visit.

The tour then follows the coast from St Helens toward Bicheno. This is described as Tasmania’s most scenic coastal drive, and it gives you a chance to watch the scenery change without having to concentrate on the road. St Helens and Bicheno are seaside towns, and Bicheno is known for its little penguins.

This day has a gentler rhythm than the Cradle Mountain day, though you still need to be ready for time on the bus. It is a good point in the trip to use your own pace. You can walk along the beach, photograph the rocks, or simply sit for a while.

You spend the night in Bicheno. Since food is not included, plan to buy something during the day or use the available cafés, takeaways, restaurants, or supermarkets. If you choose hostel lodging, kitchen access may help with costs, but the accommodation type and facilities can vary.

Day 5: Wineglass Bay before the crowds, then back to Hobart

The final morning starts early so the group can reach the Wineglass Bay lookout ahead of the busiest part of the day. That early start is worth taking seriously. You sacrifice a little sleep, but you improve your chances of enjoying the viewpoint with more space and quiet.

Freycinet National Park gives you several ways to spend the stop. You can walk to the lookout, relax at a secluded beach, or choose a harder route such as Mount Amos or the Hazards Beach walk. The more challenging options require suitable footwear, weather-ready clothing, and a reasonable level of fitness.

Wineglass Bay is famous for its curved white beach and blue water, but the lookout is the practical choice if your time or energy is limited. You can still get the main view without turning the final day into an exhausting test. If you want beach time, bring swimwear, though swimming conditions and weather are not guaranteed.

The return route follows the East Coast through Swansea and Orford before reaching Hobart. This is another substantial driving day, but it completes the island circuit in a logical way. You finish where you began rather than arranging a separate transfer from the coast.

What the $683 price really covers

At $683 per person, the tour offers solid value if you want to see both coasts and do not want to arrange your own transport. The price includes transportation, a guide, national park entry fees, and four nights of accommodation. It also includes pickup and drop-off at selected central Hobart locations.

The main extra cost is food. This is not an all-inclusive package, but the self-catering setup has a benefit: you control your spending. You can buy supermarket food, use a hostel kitchen where available, or choose a café or restaurant. That works well for different diets and budgets.

The Gordon River Cruise is another optional expense. Travel insurance is not included, and airport pickup is also separate. Add these costs before deciding that the headline price is your full trip budget.

Accommodation comes in two forms. Motel lodging provides private ensuite rooms. Hostel lodging can mean same-gender dorms or private single, twin, or double rooms with shared same-gender bathrooms. A twin or double booking requires two people.

The accommodation is practical rather than luxurious. Conditions vary from stop to stop, but the available choices make the tour workable for solo visitors, couples, and people watching their budget. A recent solo booking in a shared hostel dorm found the lodging suitable, while another passenger noted that the accommodations differed but were generally good.

The bus, group size, and daily effort

You may travel with up to 24 people, and groups of about 20 are possible. That size gives you company and can make solo travel easier, but it also means waiting for people at stops and accepting a shared schedule.

The vehicle is described as sufficient rather than roomy. You should expect several hours of driving on some days. This is the price of reaching the West Coast, Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, and Freycinet in one loop.

The tour includes short daily walks, most easy to moderate, and the harder options are generally optional. Good mobility and moderate fitness will make the trip much more enjoyable. The experience is not suitable for children under eight, people with back problems, mobility impairments, wheelchair users, low fitness levels, or serious motion sickness.

Bring motion sickness medication if you normally need it, although the provided information specifically lists motion sickness as a concern. Keep your most useful items close by rather than buried in the trailer, where luggage is stored during travel days. The luggage limit is 20 kilograms.

Who should book this Tasmania tour

I would choose this trip if you have only five days and want Tasmania’s big natural sights in one organized loop. It suits solo visitors especially well because the shared vehicle, group meals, and optional hostel rooms make it easy to meet people. The social side can be a real plus, particularly when the guide keeps the drives lively with music, quizzes, and local stories.

It also suits active couples and friends who want choices rather than a fixed hike for everyone. You can walk around Russell Falls, take the Dove Lake Circuit, attempt Marion’s Lookout, or choose the harder Freycinet routes according to your ability.

I would hesitate if you dislike early mornings, long drives, shared accommodation, or changing hotels. You should also think twice if your main goal is a slow beach holiday. This trip gives you variety, not long periods of rest.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing a wide slice of Tasmania without renting a car or organizing four different overnight stops. The combination of Cradle Mountain, the West Coast rainforest, Bay of Fires, and Wineglass Bay is hard to match in five days, and the guide can smooth out the practical details.

Skip it if you want luxury, a private vehicle, or a relaxed schedule. For everyone else, $683 is a fair price for the transport, park access, guide, and accommodation included. Choose the motel if privacy matters, the hostel if you want to save money or meet people, and reserve some extra budget for meals and the Gordon River Cruise if that experience appeals to you.

FAQ

How long is the Tasmania West and East Coast tour?

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

What attractions are included?

The route includes Russell Falls, Mount Field National Park, Lake St Clair, Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park, Henty Dunes, West Coast rainforest, Cradle Mountain, Sheffield, Bay of Fires, St Helens, Bicheno, Freycinet National Park, and Wineglass Bay.

Is the Gordon River Cruise included?

No. The Gordon River Cruise is optional and must be paid for separately.

What accommodation is available?

You can choose motel or hostel accommodation. Motels offer private ensuite rooms. Hostels offer same-gender dorms or private twin, double, or single rooms with shared same-gender bathrooms.

Are meals included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can buy meals, snacks, or groceries at restaurants, cafés, takeaways, or supermarkets during the tour.

What should I bring for the walks?

Bring hiking shoes, a jacket, rain gear, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a camera, and a reusable water bottle.