Your quick taste Southern Journey: 3 days, 2 nights, self drive tour itinerary in Tasmania

The Plan
This is going to be rushed, so be sure to get everything organised in advance. Avoid the crowds from Christmas to end January. You don't want to be queuing at activities, eateries and even national park car parks. A one hour delay will be 2% of your holiday wasted. During Autumn, Winter and Spring, there is good accommodation availability and discounted rates. Flights, ferry, accommodation and guided tours should be pre booked. The earlier you book, the more chance you will get your preferred location on your preferred dates. 

Arrival
How to get to Tasmania and Hobart? What is prohibited to bring into Tasmania?
​Getting your bearings, maps etc.
​Where to stay the first night?
​How to travel around Southern Tasmania?

The Journey: City and Nature Taster

Depending on the days of the week, you might like to reverse this journey. Accommodation is often more plentiful and cheaper in the city on weekends, while Mon - Thurs is the time to visit the regions.

Day One

  • Early morning flight arrival at Hobart Airport. Collect your hire car and begin your Tasmanian Journey.
  • Drive 20 minutes to historic village of Richmond for morning tea.
  • Drive 20 minutes to Bonnorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Drive 30 minutes to Mona Art Museum. Lunch at Mona, then spend the afternoon in the galleries.
  • Drive 20 minutes to Hobart CBD and Old Woolstore Hotel

Historic Village of Richmond

This is a classic village for and icecream break or morning tea of scones with fresh made Tasmanian jam and cream. (On longer journeys you can spend a couple of hours exploring the village)

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Rehabilitating and injured wildlife. Your chance to see many native Tasmanian species, all in one place.

Mona Art Museum: Hobart

Modern and ancient art, mostly a bit weird, often confronting, always memorable.

Old Woolstore Hotel: Hobart

Modern conversion of an historic building. Hotel rooms or self contained apartments. Onsite parking, restaurant. Just a couple minutes walk to city centre and waterfront.

Day Two

  • Depart Hobart City
  • Drive 20 minutes to Mount Wellington Summit. Spend half hour enjoying the views.
  • Continue south to Huon Valley
  • Lunch at Home Hill Winery
  • Buy self catering groceries in Huonville
  • Arrive early at Huon Bush Retreat. Relaxing late afternoon.

Mount Wellington Summit

Snow in winter, spectacular views over Hobart during summer. Drive to the summit and enjoy a walk of 5 - 50 minutes.

Home Hill Winery: Huonville

Pinot and Chardonnay tastings. Relax for an hour and enjoy a fine dining lunch on the edge of the vineyard.

Huon Bush Retreats: Huonville

An Eco-Retreat with self contained cabins, deluxe tipees and campsites.
Near Huonville, Mount Misery, Hartz Mountains, Highland Getaway Farm Tour, Willie Smiths Apple Shed and Home Hill Winery.

Day Three

  • Starting at Huon Bush Retreats, a 3 hour return walk through rainforest to a mountaintop.
  • Packed lunch at the summit.
  • Return via a small waterfall.
  • Back to the car and 10 minute drive to Willie Smiths Apple Shed.
  • Cider and whiskey tastings, afternoon tea.
  • Then a 90 minute drive back to Hobart Airport.
  • Late afternoon flight.

Mount Misery Walk

Three hours total return walk to a mountaintop via rainforest, sub-alpine heathland and a small waterfall.

Willie Smiths Apple Shed

Apple museum, cider works, cafe, distillery. Food, drink and culture of Tasmania's Huon Valley.

Extra Journey Options

Being the southernmost accommodation in Australia, Buttongrass Retreat is close to Hastings Caves, Ida Bay Railway and Cockle Creek, the southernmost place in Australia. This 2 bedroom eco-cabin at Lune River is a great base for a couple of nights.

Aurora Upgrade Option

​Many Aurora chasers spend freezing nights sitting in their cars, waiting for a glimpse of this natural spectacle. Sometimes, they get lucky and are rewarded with some great photos. Other times their suffering goes unrewarded.

Smart Aurora chasers will book a cosy cabin, set high above the landscape with a good view to the south. A roaring wood fire, a bottle of wine and camera ready on the tripod, but such locations are few and far between.
​
In southern Tasmania, Clifftop Cabin at Huon Bush Retreats provides just such a setting. If the Aurora performs, this is the box seat view in comfort. Even if the lights are quiet during your visit, you can still enjoy forest walks, wildlife without cages by day and night while relaxing in tranquillity at this private eco-retreat, just south from Hobart, Tasmania.

Day trip to the Southwest World Heritage Wilderness Area

Before or after your self drive journey, maybe add a spectacular flight from Hobart, landing at Melaleuca in the South West World Heritage Area.
Learn about Aboriginal heritage on the Needwonnee walk, an award winning Aboriginal experience before having refreshments.
A boat ride down Melaleuca Inlet and into Bathurst Harbour, to witness the wilderness from a perspective that you are unable to appreciate by air or by foot.

Tours of 4 or 7 hours, depart most days.

The Huon Trail Archive: Where To Stay

Over 50 places to stay during your southern journey. Motels, self contained cabins, eco retreats, backpackers and camping. From D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Bruny Island, Huon Valley and Far South Tasmania.

You might also like these accommodations and activities

Stay at the Old Woolstore Hotel in central Hobart, visit Mona Art Museum or take a flight to Tasmania South West Wilderness and Port Davey. ​Choose a self contained cabin or try "Glamping" in a deluxe tipee, surrounded by forest and wildlife. Take the 3 hour walk to Mount Misery.