What is the best way to get around Tasmania? We would love to see a lot of Tasmania. We would prefer not to rent a car if that’s possible.
Are there suggested areas to see some of the special Australian animals while visiting?
Thank you
What is the best way to get around Tasmania? We would love to see a lot of Tasmania. We would prefer not to rent a car if that’s possible.
Are there suggested areas to see some of the special Australian animals while visiting?
Thank you
Best to start with official websites like this one but there are many.
https://www.discovertasmania.com.au
It has been many years since I worked there, but I think a car will be the way to go - there are too many interesting side trips to count on public transportation in a time-efficient fashion. For a small place it is quite" large" and things are spread around.
Any of the Tasmanian National Parks would be good choices for wildlife spotting, not to mention providing some of the best day hike opportunities in all of Australia.
Some favorites are: Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair about 2 hours west of Launceston. One of the Devil sanctuaries that Tintaldra mentions is on the way and is worth a stop. The circuit around Dove Lake is boardwalk all the way - about 1.5 miles as I recall - and you'll usually see a variety of critters along the way, especially in the early morning or late evening. The park itself is worth a few days.
Mount Field NP about an hour and a half from Hobart ... likewise some very pretty hikes thru the Tassie bush with the likelihood of seeing a variety of creatures. It's the first place we saw a platypus on our own travels.
Freycinet NP is about 2.5 hrs. from Hobart along the coast. The hike down to and along Wineglass bay is especially pretty.
I agree that having a car really is the way to go. While not needed in the cities one would maximize your freedom of movement and make the most of your available time once out into the countryside. The driving is not especially daunting - the rural roads are well maintained, two lane affairs, and about the only impediment I can think of is the presence of wildlife at dawn and dusk.
Thank you so much! This is really helpful information. Would you suggest staying in one place for five days? Or two different areas of the island?
I'd suggest flying into Launceston and out from Hobart (or the reverse) in order to keep from backtracking.
Spending a few nights in or near Cradle Mtn. would allow you to get out early to see the animals foraging. They tend to be relatively inactive during the middle of the day - bedded down while it's warm.
The rest of your time could be spent somewhere close to Hobart, making for a very pleasant day trip while crossing the island.
This information is super helpful in our planning. Thank you all