RoadAtlas
East Coast Tasmania — Australia — Scenic
Australia & Pacific

East Coast Tasmania

Australia

Point-to-point
Hobart Launceston

In short: East Coast Tasmania is a 440 km scenic road trip in Australia, typically driven over 3 days, best in Nov–Apr. Highlights: Hobart, Richmond, Freycinet National Park.

Distance
440 km
Duration
3 days
Best Season
Nov–Apr
IconicEasyScenicEV-friendly

The long way from Hobart to Launceston, up Tasmania's sun-drenched east coast past convict sandstone, Wineglass Bay's perfect crescent, penguin colonies, and the fire-orange boulders of the Bay of Fires.

~0 refuels
~1 charge
Practical notes
This is a three-day east-coast progression. Buy the Tasmania parks pass, check Freycinet/Bay of Fires/fire and road alerts daily, and avoid wildlife hours. At Freycinet the selected default is the roughly 1.5-hour return Wineglass Bay Lookout walk; attempt a longer circuit only from a separate Freycinet base day with the correct duration, grade, water and turnaround plan.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Hobart to Swansea / Coles Bay via Richmond

Richmond Bridge precinct · The Richmond Arms Hotel

Day 2Freycinet to St Helens via Bicheno

Wineglass Bay Lookout walk · Bicheno Blowhole · Lobster Shack Tasmania

Day 3St Helens to Launceston via Bay of Fires and Pyengana

Bay of Fires public coastal walk · St Columba Falls · Pyengana Dairy Farmgate Cafe

Stops along the route

Hobart — Departure — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Departure
Hobart
Salamanca Market on Saturdays, the extraordinary MONA museum, and Battery Point's Georgian sandstone terraces to explore before departing.
Hotels
Richmond — City — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
City
Richmond
Australia's best-preserved Georgian village. The 1825 convict-built bridge is the oldest in the country still in daily use.
Hotels
Launceston — Arrival — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Arrival
Launceston
Tasmania's second city and Australia's third-oldest. Craft breweries, the Harvest Market, and the Tamar Valley wine region await.
Hotels

Things to Do

Freycinet National Park — Nature — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Nature
Freycinet National Park
Pink granite peaks of the Hazards drop to the Tasman Sea. The saddle walk rewards with Wineglass Bay's perfect white crescent below.
Bicheno — Nature — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Nature
Bicheno
Little penguins waddle ashore every night at dusk. By day, swells explode through the granite blowhole on the foreshore walk.
St Columba Falls — Nature — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Nature
St Columba Falls
At 90m, one of Tasmania's tallest waterfalls plunges through ancient rainforest. The walk in is lined with towering tree ferns.
Bay of Fires — Nature — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Nature
Bay of Fires
Kilometres of deserted white beach edged by boulders blazing with vivid orange lichen. Frequently listed among the world's most beautiful coasts.
Cataract Gorge — Nature — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Nature
Cataract Gorge
A wild gorge just five minutes from Launceston's city centre. Peacocks roam the gardens and a chairlift crosses the First Basin.
Richmond Bridge precinct — Historic walk — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Historic walk
Richmond Bridge precinct
Use one short heritage stop en route.
Show 4 more
Wineglass Bay Lookout walk — Grade 3 lookout walk — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Grade 3 lookout walk
Wineglass Bay Lookout walk
Allow about 1.5 hours return and obey pass, fire, track and weather advice.
Bicheno Blowhole — Coastal viewpoint — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Coastal viewpoint
Bicheno Blowhole
Use the formed public access and stay back in swell.
Bay of Fires public coastal walk — Coastal walk — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Coastal walk
Bay of Fires public coastal walk
Choose one open public access rather than attempting the full coast.
St Columba Falls — Conditional waterfall walk — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Conditional waterfall walk
St Columba Falls
Add only if the road and track are open and daylight remains.

Where to Eat

The Richmond Arms Hotel — Country pub meals — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Country pub meals
The Richmond Arms Hotel
A route-correct early lunch; verify kitchen hours.
Freycinet Marine Farm — Seafood — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Seafood
Freycinet Marine Farm
Use only within confirmed daytime hours near Coles Bay.
Lobster Shack Tasmania — Seafood — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Seafood
Lobster Shack Tasmania
A Bicheno lunch; verify seasonal hours.
Pyengana Dairy Farmgate Cafe — Dairy cafe — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Dairy cafe
Pyengana Dairy Farmgate Cafe
Confirm opening before relying on lunch.
Stillwater — Modern Tasmanian — East Coast Tasmania — Australia
Modern Tasmanian
Stillwater
Reserve a Launceston finish dinner.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the East Coast Tasmania drive?

The East Coast Tasmania covers 440 km from start to finish.

How long does the East Coast Tasmania take to drive?

Most travellers spend 3 days on the East Coast Tasmania, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the East Coast Tasmania?

The recommended season for the East Coast Tasmania is Nov–Apr.

Where does the East Coast Tasmania start and end?

The East Coast Tasmania runs from Hobart to Launceston.

What are the main stops on the East Coast Tasmania?

The East Coast Tasmania passes through Hobart, Richmond, Freycinet National Park.

How difficult is the East Coast Tasmania to drive?

The East Coast Tasmania is rated easy and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the East Coast Tasmania in a regular car?

Yes — the East Coast Tasmania is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

How many fuel stops are needed on the East Coast Tasmania?

Plan around 0 refuels (or about 1 EV charges) along the East Coast Tasmania, based on its 440 km length.

Is the East Coast Tasmania EV friendly?

Yes — the East Coast Tasmania has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.

Is the East Coast Tasmania safe to drive?

This is a three-day east-coast progression. Buy the Tasmania parks pass, check Freycinet/Bay of Fires/fire and road alerts daily, and avoid wildlife hours. At Freycinet the selected default is the roughly 1.5-hour return Wineglass Bay Lookout walk; attempt a longer circuit only from a separate Freycinet base day with the correct duration, grade, water and turnaround plan.

What scenic tier is the East Coast Tasmania?

The East Coast Tasmania is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.