RoadAtlas
Tasmania West Coast — Australia — Scenic
Australia & Pacific

Tasmania West Coast

Australia

Point-to-point
Hobart Launceston

In short: Tasmania West Coast is a 560 km scenic road trip in Australia, typically driven over 6 days, best in Nov–Apr. Highlights: Hobart, Queenstown, Strahan.

Distance
560 km
Duration
6 days
Best Season
Nov–Apr
IconicEasyScenic

The wild side of Australia's island state, from Hobart west through Queenstown's moonscape to Strahan, the fishing town once described as "the best little town in the world", then north past the Henty Dunes, Cradle Mountain, and Mt Roland to Launceston. Tasmania's west coast keeps giving long after you think it's done.

~1 refuel
~1 charge
Practical notes
Book MONA, the West Coast Wilderness Railway, Gordon River cruise and Cradle accommodation in advance. Check Tasmanian road and Parks alerts daily. At Cradle, validate the parks pass and ticket at the visitor centre and confirm the shuttle/private-vehicle arrangements (https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/cradle-mountain-shuttle-bus-information) before the named walk. The Gordon cruise is the sole major activity on its day; Henty Dunes and the Cradle-Launceston transfer are separate.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Hobart via MONA to Queenstown

MONA · The Empire Hotel Bistro

Day 2Queenstown to Strahan

West Coast Wilderness Railway · Tracks Cafe

Day 3Strahan and the Gordon River

Gordon River cruise · Risby Cove restaurant

Day 4Henty Dunes and Strahan to Cradle Valley

Henty Dunes short visit · Cradle Mountain Lodge Tavern

Day 5Cradle Mountain

Dove Lake Circuit · Cradle Mountain Lodge Tavern

Day 6Cradle Valley to Launceston via Deloraine

Deloraine town walk · Stillwater

Stops along the route

Hobart — Departure — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Departure
Hobart
Australia's second-oldest city at the foot of Mount Wellington. Salamanca Place's sandstone warehouses, MONA, and the waterfront market define a city of real sophistication.
Hotels
Queenstown — City — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
City
Queenstown
A century of copper mining stripped the surrounding hills bare, leaving vivid orange, red, and purple mineral terrain unlike anywhere else in Australia. Startlingly beautiful.
Hotels
Strahan — City — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
City
Strahan
A tiny fishing port on Macquarie Harbour where Gordon River cruises push deep into the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park wilderness. One of Australia's great small towns.
Hotels
Launceston — Arrival — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Arrival
Launceston
Tasmania's second city in the Tamar Valley. Cataract Gorge, a dramatic riverside gorge with a chairlift, sits 15 minutes from a city renowned for food and Tamar Valley wine.
Hotels

Things to Do

Henty Dunes — Nature — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Nature
Henty Dunes
Giant coastal sand dunes rising directly from the highway 24 km north of Strahan. Visitors can walk or sandboard down the faces straight to the Southern Ocean shore.
Cradle Mountain — Nature — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Nature
Cradle Mountain
Tasmania's most iconic peak, its jagged dolerite summit reflected in Dove Lake. The Enchanted Walk through ancient pencil pines is among Australia's finest short forest walks.
MONA — Museum — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Museum
MONA
Choose MONA rather than Bonorong and book an early timed entry before the westbound transfer.
West Coast Wilderness Railway — Booked heritage railway — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Booked heritage railway
West Coast Wilderness Railway
Book a current departure and use it as the day's main activity before transferring to Strahan.
Gordon River cruise — Booked full-day cruise — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Booked full-day cruise
Gordon River cruise
Make the cruise the sole major activity and arrive for check-in.
Henty Dunes short visit — Dune walk — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Dune walk
Henty Dunes short visit
Use a short signed walk in safe weather, then keep the rest of the day for the Cradle transfer.
Show 2 more
Dove Lake Circuit — Alpine lake walk — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Alpine lake walk
Dove Lake Circuit
Use the shuttle and allow 2-3 hours, conditional on track, weather and ranger advice.
Deloraine town walk — Heritage town walk — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Heritage town walk
Deloraine town walk
Use Deloraine as the single transfer break before Launceston.

Where to Eat

The Empire Hotel Bistro — Country hotel meals — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Country hotel meals
The Empire Hotel Bistro
Reserve or confirm the Queenstown arrival kitchen.
Tracks Cafe — Cafe — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Cafe
Tracks Cafe
A Queenstown meal around the railway schedule.
Risby Cove restaurant — Tasmanian seafood — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Tasmanian seafood
Risby Cove restaurant
Reserve a Strahan dinner after the cruise.
Cradle Mountain Lodge Tavern — Lodge dining — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Lodge dining
Cradle Mountain Lodge Tavern
Use the booked lodge meal or carry provisions.
Stillwater — Modern Tasmanian — Tasmania West Coast — Australia
Modern Tasmanian
Stillwater
Reserve a Launceston finish dinner; this is dining, not a waypoint.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Tasmania West Coast drive?

The Tasmania West Coast covers 560 km from start to finish.

How long does the Tasmania West Coast take to drive?

Most travellers spend 6 days on the Tasmania West Coast, depending on stops and pace.

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

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

Where does the Tasmania West Coast start and end?

The Tasmania West Coast runs from Hobart to Launceston.

What are the main stops on the Tasmania West Coast?

The Tasmania West Coast passes through Hobart, Queenstown, Strahan.

How difficult is the Tasmania West Coast to drive?

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

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

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

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

Plan around 1 refuels (or about 1 EV charges) along the Tasmania West Coast, based on its 560 km length.

Is the Tasmania West Coast safe to drive?

Book MONA, the West Coast Wilderness Railway, Gordon River cruise and Cradle accommodation in advance. Check Tasmanian road and Parks alerts daily. At Cradle, validate the parks pass and ticket at the visitor centre and confirm the shuttle/private-vehicle arrangements (https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/cradle-mountain-shuttle-bus-information) before the named walk. The Gordon cruise is the sole major activity on its day; Henty Dunes and the Cradle-Launceston transfer are separate.

What scenic tier is the Tasmania West Coast?

The Tasmania West Coast 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.