Car rentals are usually in hot demand and expensive in Tasmania. As a result, the option to explore Tasmania without a car can be very attractive for many visitors to Tasmania.
A range of shared transport services is available in Tasmania to take you from one attraction to the next. Hence, you do not need a car rental to explore this wonderful island state and visit Tasmania’s main attractions.
To help you navigate, I have put together a detailed 7-10 days itinerary for visiting Tasmania without a car. Hope you can find this article useful in your trip planning process.
Day 1: Hobart
For detailed information on attractions in Hobart, you may wish to also check out this article on: ‘One Day in Hobart
Itinerary
- Hobart Airport to Hobart CBD via Skybus
: At the time of writing this article, Skybus between Hobart and Hobart Airport costs AUD 19.5 per adult (one-way) & kids travel for free. - Hobart CBD: Take a relaxing stroll in Hobart CBD after checking into your hotel.
- Battery Point: A 15 minutes walk from Hobart CBD will take you to the beautiful Battery Point to appreciate its quaint streets and well-preserved sandstone cottages.
- Salamanca Place: Salamanca Place is well-known for its Salamanca Market, which trades on Saturdays only. This cobblestone street is also lined with beautiful colonial buildings, which makes Salamanca Place a must visit attraction even on non-market days.
- Hobart Waterfront: Hobart’s stunning waterfront is only a short walk from Salamanca Place. It is a great place for a leisure stroll & to grab some fresh seafood.
Food
- Lunch: Enjoy a burger and/or some buffalo wings at the Preachers on Knopwood St – really nice vibes at this place, be sure to check out.
- Dinner: Indulge in some fresh seafood from Hobart Waterfront.
Where to Stay
- Hobart offers a variety of accommodations to meet every budget and need.
- For your convenience, it can be a good idea to stay around Hobart CBD or Battery Point.
- Check out accommodations near Hobart CBD here on Booking.com.
Day 2: Hobart – Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens & MONA
Itinerary
- Start your morning with a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute e-Scooter ride (via Beam) to visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
- Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens: The second oldest garden in Australia. Be sure to check out its succulent garden and Japanese garden when visiting.
- From Brooke St Pier (Hobart Waterfront), you can find a dedicated MONA ferry to take you directly from Hobart to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).
- Museum of Old and New Art: A unique art museum, sitting on the banks of River Derwent. There is a vast selection of unconventional arts on display within MONA & a must visit in Hobart.
- Take the ferry back to Hobart from MONA.
Food
- Breakfast: Pigeon Hole in West Hobart.
- Lunch: Check out the Succulent Restaurant from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
- Dinner: Visit Bar Wa Izakaya for some mouthwatering Japanese food.
Where to Stay
- For convenience & to reduce the amount of packing and unpacking during your trip, you may want to stay in the same place in Hobart from day 1 to day 4.
Day 3: Hobart – Mount Wellington Summit
For more detailed information on Mount Wellington and its hiking options, feel free to check out my post: ‘Mount Wellington’.
Itinerary
- To start your hike towards Mount Wellington Summit: Take a Mount Wellington Explorer Bus to The Springs, or catch Bus 448 from Hobart to Fern Tree (an extra 40-minute walk from Fern Tree to the Springs).
- Mount Wellington Summit: It is a 1.5-2 hours hike (one-way) between The Springs and Mount Wellington Summit. At the summit, you will be greeted with a spectacular panoramic view of Hobart, River Derwent, and the Tasman Peninsula.
- If you have a Mount Wellington Explorer Pass, you can take the explorer bus back to Hobart from either Mount Wellington Summit or The Springs. If you don’t have an explorer pass, you will need to walk back to Fern Tree, before catching Bus 448 back to Hobart.
Food
- Breakfast: Brunch from Lost Freight Cafe in The Springs.
- Lunch: Pack yourself a picnic to enjoy with the beautiful views along the hike.
- Dinner: Reward yourself with a delicious pub meal with live music from The Duke in Hobart.
Where to Stay
- For convenience & to reduce the amount of packing and unpacking during your trip, you may want to stay in the same place in Hobart from day 1 to day 4.
Day 4: Hobart – Richmond & Port Arthur Day Trip
For detailed information on visiting the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur, you can also check out this article on ‘Port Arthur Day Trip’.
Itinerary
- Join a day tour from Hobart to visit the stunning Richmond Bridge and Port Arthur Historic Site – not feasible to complete this day trip by public transport.
- Viator has some decently priced Port Arthur Day Tours, which you may want to check out.
Food
- Breakfast: Hobart has many amazing cafes – visit one near you before hopping on your tour bus.
- Lunch: There is a cafe on-site in the Port Arthur Historic Site & it offers a decent selection of drinks and hot food.
- Dinner: Urban Greek
Where to Stay
- For convenience & to reduce the amount of packing and unpacking during your trip, you may want to stay in the same place in Hobart, from day 1 to day 4.
Day 5: Hobart to Launceston
Itinerary
- 10 am: Take the Redline Coach – Bus 702 from Hobart Transit Centre.
- 12.55 pm: Arrive at Cornwall Square Transit Centre in Launceston.
- Launceston CBD: After checking into your hotel, take a stroll around the beautiful Launceston city.
- Cataract Gorge Reserve: Finishing the day at the impressive Cataract Gorge Reserve – 30 minutes walk from Launceston CBD.
Food
- Breakfast: Hobart has many amazing cafes – check out one near you before catching the bus to Launceston.
- Lunch: A light lunch at the Local Hideout Cafe (Launceston).
- Dinner: Enjoy a delicious meal at the Gorge Restaurant in Cataract Gorge Reserve.
Where to Stay
- I suggest staying in Launceston CBD for its convenience. In this way, you can also walk around this beautiful city after dinner and/or breakfast.
- Check out accommodations in Launceston on Booking.com.
Day 6: Launceston – Tamar Valley Day Trip
For detailed information on Launceston and the Tamar Valley, you may wish to also check out this: ‘Launceston 3-Day Itinerary’.
Itinerary
- You are able to visit the main attractions in Tamar Valley by bus, but it will take you an extended amount of time in transit. Therefore, I suggest taking a guide tour or cruise to explore this beautiful valley.
- Tamar Valley is famous for its wine and fresh produce. There are many interesting and well-priced Tamar Valley Food and Wine Tours available on Viator, which you may be interested in.
- If you are more interested in cruise, a 4 hours Luncheon Cruise along Tamar River is also available on Viator. It will take you along the stunning Tamar River to visit Batman Bridge and the Cataract Gorge Reserve.
Food
- Breakfast: Sweetbrew in Launceston.
- Lunch: This will likely be covered during your day tour/cruise.
- Dinner: Enjoy a meaty burger from Burger Junkie (Launceston). I also really enjoyed the cool vibe this place offered & be sure to check out when in Launceston.
Where to Stay
- For convenience & to reduce the amount of packing and unpacking during your trip, I suggest staying in the same place as the previous night.
Day 7: Launceston to Cradle Mountain
For people who are only planning a 7-Day Trip to Tasmania, please skip to Day 10 of this itinerary. Cradle Mountain is an incredible place to visit in Tasmania, but it may be too compact to fit into your 7-day itinerary without a car.
I have written a detailed article on the Walking Tracks, Wildlife, Weather, Entrance Fee, Shuttle Bus, Where to Eat, Where to Shop, Where to Stay, and How Long to Spend in Cradle Mountain. Feel free to check it out for more detailed information – ‘All Things to Know When Visiting Cradle Mountain’.
There are mainly two transport services operating between Launceston and Cradle Mountain. Their timetables and pricing do vary slightly: AUD 80 per person (one-way) for McDermott’s & AUD 87.50 per person (one-way) for Cradle Mountain Transport.
Itinerary
- Departure from Launceston: Depending on the transport service you choose, your departure time can be very different: McDermott’s departs at 7.30 am on Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri & Cradle Mountain Transport departs at 11.30 am on Monday – Saturday. * Make sure you also check out their websites for up to date ticket pricing and departure times. *
- Short Walks near the Ranger Station: Enjoy some of the shorter walks near the Ranger Station and/or Dove Lake for a taste of Cradle Mountain.
- Wildlife Spotting: Go on a wildlife-spotting near your hotel at night.
Food
- Breakfast: Check out the delicious meals and interesting decors at Samuel Pepy’s Cafe in Launceston.
- Lunch: Depending on the transport service you choose, you can either check out Blacksmith Gallery Cafe in Sheffield, or Elements Cafe near the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre.
- Dinner: Tavern Bar & Bistro from Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (near the Ranger Station).
- There aren’t many food choices within Cradle Mountain. Many hotels in Cradle Mountain do offer meal services for hotel guests, which you may wish to look into. For non-hotel guests, you can visit Elements Cafe (for brunch or lunch) or Tavern Bar & Bistro (for lunch and dinner).
Where to Stay
- There is a range of accommodations to choose from in Cradle Mountain. They range from hotels to self-contained chalets and cabins.
- For travelling without a car, you may wish to stay near the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre or the Ranger Station for convenience (so you are closer to the Shuttle Bus).
- Check out the choice and pricing for accommodations in Cradle Mountain on Booking.com.
Day 8: Cradle Mountain
Itinerary
- Dove Lake to Cradle Mountain Summit: Shuttle Bus > Dove Lake carpark > Dove Lake Circuit (clockwise direction) > Hansons Peak > Face Track > Cradle Mountain Summit (depending on hiking experience & fitness level) > Marions Lookout > Dove Lake Circuit > Dove Lake Boat Shed > Dove Lake carpark > Shuttle Bus (make sure you get back before the last Shuttle Bus departures. Otherwise you will have a very long walk back)
- Wildlife Spotting: Near the hotel.
Food
- Breakfast: Element Cafe (near Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre & opens at 9 am)
- Lunch: Pack a picnic & enjoy it during your hike around Dove Lake.
- Dinner: Visit Tavern Bar & Bistro (near the Ranger Station) for a relaxing dinner after your long hike today.
Where to Stay
- Ideally, stay in the same accommodation as the previous night to reduce the amount of packing and unpacking during this trip.
Day 9: Cradle Mountain to Launceston
Itinerary
- Cradle Mountain: Enjoy a short walk near the Ranger Station before leaving this wonderful park for Launceston.
- Cradle Mountain to Launceston: Depending on the transport company you choose, your departure time varies: McDermott’s departs at 2.30 pm on Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri & Cradle Mountain Transport departs at 3 pm on Monday – Saturday. * Make sure you also check out their websites for up-to-date ticket pricing and departure times. *
- Launceston: Take another walk around Launceston city before leaving Launceston tomorrow.
Food
- Breakfast: Elements Cafe (near Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre).
- Lunch: Tavern Bar & Bistro (near the Ranger Station).
- Dinner: Check out Brisbane Street Bistro for a delicious meal in a stunning Victorian building – can be on the pricier side of the scale, but you are on holiday after all.
Where to Stay
- Launceston offers a range of accommodations for every budget and need.
- I suggest staying in Launceston CBD for its convenience.
- Check out accommodations in Launceston on Booking.com.
Day 10: Launceston to Hobart via Wineglass Bay
Itinerary
- Join a guide bus tour from Launceston to Hobart via the beautiful Freycinet National Park to visit the iconic Wineglass Bay.
- Check out this Launceston to Hobart tour here on Viator.
Food
- Breakfast: Grab a quick bit from Banjo’s Launceston.
- Lunch: Guided by the bus tour you are choosing.
- Dinner: Enjoy some delicious Italian from Cultura Espresso Bar and Restaurant.
Where to Stay
- If you are taking a flight out of Hobart tomorrow, I would suggest you to stay around Hobart or Hobart Airport tonight.
- For accommodations near Hobart Airport, you can find them here on Booking.com.
