Our planned Tasmania itinerary in late October, arriving from 8 nights between Melbourne and GOR, is 3 nights Hobart with day 1 at Salamanca market and about Hobart, and on day 2 a trip to Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur. Then we leave on self drive of part of the Island, Huon Valley for 1 night, Freycinet 2 nights (where we plan to take Wineglass Bay boat trip), Tamar Valley for 2 nights and Cradle Mountain for 2 nights before flying on from Launceston to Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

I would appreciate help on how to make best use of time in Huon Valley. Our o/n stop is Huonville. We would like to go to the Tahune AirWalk but my first question is whether is is suitable for someone who, following a knee replacement, cannot do a lot of walking? Also what "usually" is weather like in late October,

We also would like to take in the scenic B 68 route along the coast via Kettering, Woodbridge, Cygnet , perhaps stopping at Hartzview, Grandvewe ending up later in the day at Tahune. Is this too much for 1 day?

The other option is to go direct to Tahune and perhaps spend time at Geeveston, and down to Dover before going back to Huonville fo the night perhaps with enough time to do some local exploring about Huonville/Ranelagh, and then the following morning, after a night in Huonville spend drive back to Hobart by the B68 and on to Coles Bay. Admittedly htis would mean less opportunity for stopping off at places on the way to Coles Bay as likely to be 2 pm or so by the time we got back to Hobart I guess.

Any comments or recommnendations on an ideal route would be appreciated
Many thanks

Sounds like a nice trip jogger.

Our first trip to TAS was in late Oct early Nov and the weather was fantastic. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to visit that time of year.

I loved the Tahune Airwalk - it's 600 meters long, so the person in question will need to be able to walk at least that far.

As far as driving options, we took the following route as a day trip from Hobart, visiting Grandvewe, Eggs and Bacon Bay, Hartzview (tasting and lunch) and Mt Wellington, where we had time to take a walk before returning to Hobart.

Route: Loop from Hobart via A6/B68 to Kingston, then on to Margate, Kettering, Flowerpot, Middleton, Cygnet, Huonville and Grove, then B64 to Fern Tree, up to Mt Wellington, and back to Hobart.

The only potential problem I see with your one day driving tour is the Airwalk, as its 29 km from Geeveston. If you included the airwalk, you'd need to backtrack to Huonville to start the B68 loop, or make it your last stop as you're considering. It might be a long day, particularly as there are so many places to stop along the route.

I suggest making the B68 loop and then if you have time and energy, continue driving to the Airwalk and then back to Huonville.

The drive down to Dover is lovely and come back the coastal road which goes from Dover, past the Caravan park and along the coast - it used to be dirt but now is bitumen. The drive out to the airwalk too is nice and you can get a lift to the end of the cantilever of the airwalk so that it is not 600 mtrs.
Your idea of going down to Woodbridge and then to Hartzview is a good one and that is the best route across. From there go into Cygnet and then take the road over to Wattle Grove then up to Huonville and then down the other side of the river through to Geeveston and the Airwalk. Then you can work out if you have time to go to Dover etc. Leave going up Mt Wellington for another day seeing as you are staying in Huonville as that means you are virtually going all the way back to Hobart. When you do go though make sure that there are no clouds about and its clear up on the mountain.
Weather should be wonderful at that time of year and as its rained more than usual it should still be lovely and green with all the spring flowering going on.

I wasn't suggesting that jogger go up to Mt Wellington; I mentioned the loop we took to demonstrate what could easily be done in a day.

How does one get a lift on the Airwalk?

One asks FOR a lift from the canteen to the airwalk cantilever

I lived in Tasie (GeorgeTown, in Tamar Valley) for six years a long time ago, before Airwalks and Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay tours etc were invented, so I can't help there.We did walk from Freycinet to a lookout over Wineglass with two toddlers, longish but easy enough. I had to hang nappies on the line every day, so I remember cold windy weather in October, November, December, January etc etc etc. If you got a good day, you dropped everything and just enjoyed it! But when you did, it was wonderful. I wish you sunshiney days, jogger!