5 days on Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive

There’s no better way to start a day in Hobart than with a coffee and stroll along the serene waterfront. Luckily, Hobart has several stellar cafés to choose from for that morning dose of caffeine.

Catch the river ferry to Mona (the Museum of Old and New Art), a subterranean gallery home to Australia’s largest private collection of art. There are a number of on-site eateries where you can refuel after perusing the eye-opening curation.

Start your road trip and stop in the town of Triabunna, surrounded by beautiful beaches and coastal reserves of silvery eucalypt forest. Try fresh-from-the-ocean blue mussels and scallops, saving room for the specialty – fish and chips. 

There are plenty of hikes to choose from on Maria Island, including the multi-day guided Maria Island Walk. Fresh air, coastal scenery and scampering wombats make for an unforgettable experience.

One of the easiest (not to mention most fun) ways to see the island is on an expedition with Maria Island Cruises. Day-long tours include a scenic cruise around the stunning coastline, visiting the Painted Cliffs and Fossil Cliffs. 

The holiday village of Orford sits at the mouth of the Prosser River, with easy access to the Raspins Beach Conservation Area for swimming and hikes. There’s also a fascinating walk to the ruins of the Paradise Probation Station.

Fishing, swimming, surfing and diving are all hot tickets at Mayfield Bay Coastal Reserve, which offers jaw-dropping views of the Freycinet Peninsula. You’ll also find Spiky Bridge, built by convicts in the 1800s with rocky ‘spikes’. 

Things grow well in this part of Tasmania. Want proof? Visit Kate’s Berry Farm, where you can pick up a basket of fresh berries and sample chocolates or homemade preserves. Before you go, indulge in a cone of ice cream.

The scenery at Milton Vineyard only adds to the experience of tasting impressive cool climate wines. You’ll feel right at home at this family-run vineyard, so stop by the cellar door for a tasting overlooking Tasmania’s fertile farmland.

Tasmania's pristine east coast waters make for excellent seafood. Sample the wares at Melshell Oyster Shack, where molluscs are shucked while you wait. You can even cook your own seafood at your table.

Completely at ease – that’s how you’ll feel after a wellness treatment on the banks of the Swan River. Swan River Sanctuary is both accommodation and wood-fired sauna, making it the perfect wellness getaway.

Freycinet National Park is a place of wild, almost unbelievable beauty. Towering pink-hued mountains (called the Hazards) surround stunning white-sand beaches and the calm blue waters of Wineglass Bay.

 Wineglass Bay Lookout boasts one of the best views in all of Tasmania. From the lookout, walk the  Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit, which loops around a portion of the Hazards mountain range and down to beaches before returning to the top. 

For a different perspective of the peninsula, jump aboard a boat and cruise around the coastline. Drop in on blissful beaches, only accessible by water, explore an island filled with little penguins and spot sea caves and waterfalls along the way.

There’s no denying that Freycinet is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and much of it is inaccessible by road. See Freycinet’s rock formations and beaches in their full glory from the seat of a scenic flight.

Oysters thrive in these waters, as you’ll discover at Freycinet Marine Farm. Drop in to tour the property, then sample mussels, scallops and crayfish. You can also wade into the water to shuck your own oysters – they don’t get any fresher than this. 

Retire to one of the peninsula’s many upscale stays. Freycinet Eco Retreat offers eco studios, while Freycinet Lodge boasts cabins (some with outdoor tubs). Saffire Freycinet is an award-winning lodge with luxe villas, impeccable dining and a spa.

Douglas-Apsley National Park sits between Tasmania's coast and mountains; it's a forest full of deep river gorges and thundering waterfalls. Take in the healing benefits of nature on a hike, then cool off with a swim in a waterhole.

East Coast Natureworld is set over 60 hectares (150 acres) of natural parkland and lagoons. It’s a lush landscape for Tasmanian devils, quolls, koalas, snakes and parrots, which the reserve is dedicated to preserving through conservation efforts.

There’s nothing to do but sit back and marvel at the scenery when lunch is arranged for you. Grab a picnic box of local goodies (or book a full picnic complete with chairs and a sun umbrella) with Pop-Up Picnic Tasmania.

Dusk is the best time to spot Bicheno’s little penguins. Bicheno Penguin Tours offers a chance to visit a private rookery and get close to these charismatic birds without disturbing their nightly journey home from the ocean.

The charming fishing village of St Helens is a great base for exploring St Helens Point Conservation Area. Here, you’ll find the dramatic Peron Dunes, ideal for sandboarding. There are also opportunities for fishing, beach walks and bird-watching.

Visit the St Helens History Room for a taste of the region’s colourful past, from the Georges Bay Aboriginal people to whalers, sailors and Chinese tin miners. Or drop in on Mainly Maritime for seafaring history.

The resort town of Binalong Bay is the gateway to the Bay of Fires, a 50km (31mi) stretch of coastline. This is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Australia – a dramatic union of clear blue seas, brilliant white beaches and striking orange lichen-coated boulders.

Bay of Fires Eco Tours operates cruise expeditions around the coast, taking in far-flung islands and famous Sloop Rock, and giving you a front-row seat to whales, fur seals, sea lions and dolphins at certain times of the year.

If you have time on your side, consider extending your stay here to trek the wukalina Walk. This four-day guided experience invites you to experience the deep connections of the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal people) to larapuna (an area that includes the Bay of Fires).

There’s something special about listening to the breeze in the trees as you drift off to sleep. Book in at the Bay of Fires Bush Retreat, where ten bell tents are set amid native forest behind Binalong Bay beach.