Tasmania - 3 days - site seeing/driving plan recommendation
 

Hello,

We (myself, wife and 18 months todler) are planning to visit Tasmania from Melbourne starting 08-DEC to 11-DEC for 3 days.

We would like to see places by an organized tour or self drive.

I request suggestions/recommendations for the following :

* Travel from Melbourne to Tasmania - via. ferry/air ?
* Arrive at Habort/Lauceston/Davenport ?
* How best we can use the 3 days ?
* Any predefined routes available for drive ?
* List of must see places ?
* Recommended stay/hotel information ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards
Vebs

Hi Vebs,

Regarding your points.....

with only 3 days I would advise travelling from Melbourne by air (although I love the ferry, and it IS an overnight, you'll still spend more time than a flight).

You can fly into either city, and out of the other one (but you would really really, really be pushing on time). I would advise flying in/out of Hobart.

There are tons of day trips you can do from using Hobart as a base, and the city itself it charming and fun to stroll around. On my list of "must see" places is Port Arthur; everything else I could recommend would really depend on your interests -- for example, I enjoyed the Cadbury factory and I'm not even into chocolate! But, if I only had a few days I might want to drop that in favor of doing something else.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Tasmania Specialist

Hi Vebs - I agree with wlzmatilda & would recommend you fly in/out of Hobart; assuming you have 3 full days in Tas, I would hire a car and consider the following:

Day 1 - drive to Port Arthur; once you've paid the entry fee you can basically go on as many guided tours as you like. I would also recommend the boat cruise (about 45-60 mins). Accommodation in Port Arthur.

Day 2 - drive to Freycinet Peninsula, and spend around the National Park & Coles Bay. Accomodation in Swansea (we stayed at Piermont Retreat & loved it - http://www.piermont.com.au). You may even want to consider a drive up to Deloraine - great scenary. It would mean a long day, and with a young one I suspect it could be a challenge.

Day 3 - drive back to Hobart. If you need somewhere to stay, we've stayed at The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel (http://www.wotif.com.au/Hotel.jsp?hotel=3211) and found it very comfortable.

Hope this helps; let me know if need any other info.

Cheers.

Vebs, I to agree with the others, definitely fly to Hobart, then with 3 full days your itinerary could go as follows:
Day 1: Hobart City & surrounds, eg. Shot Tower, Mt.Wellington, boat trip on Derwent, Cadburys Factory or Cascade Factory (I prefer the latter), Battery Point, Salamanca Markets (if its a Saturday), then just outside of Hobart is the historical village of Richmond, and nearby the great wineries. P.S. I always rent a house on the other side of the Derwent, at Bellerive (great views of Mt.Wellington & Hobart City, and a nice ferry ride into the city).
Day 2: Drive around to Port Arthur to see the old gaol, also the interesting natural features. Enroute back to Hobart call into Barilla Bay Oyster Farm. (They should go nice with a bottle of Meadowbank Chardonnay)
Day 3: Drive south to Tahune (airwalk & forests), Geeveston, then cut across to Kettering on the little mountain road. OR ALTERNATIVELY - Drive to Mt.Field National Park (Russell Falls and Lake Dobson further up the hill from the falls, and do the Pandani Walk, very pristine region), also the Trout Farm is nearby.

Thankyou very much for all your responses.

If I add one more day (total: 4 days), would you folks recommend additional must see places or any other 4 day plan in Tasmania ?

Thanks
Vebs