Situated just south of mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania is known for its beautiful coastal region, mountainous landscape, and rich wildlife. Tasmania’s compact size makes it a perfect place to plan road trips. Nowhere else you will see so much of natural beauty without covering hundreds of kilometers in one day. However, car rental in Tasmania is a must to explore the island at your own pace. As Tasmania is predominantly hilly, it offers tremendous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and trekking.
Arriving in Tasmania
You can reach Tasmania in three ways. One way is to board a passenger ferry from Melbourne and arrive in Devonport. The Spirit of Tasmania operates regular ferry services to cross the Bass Strait. However, this works well for people bringing their vehicles to Tasmania. Please check with your rental car supplier before transporting a rental car in a ferry from mainland Australia to Tasmania.
The second and the most popular way to arrive in Tasmania is to fly into Hobart Airport. Hire a car at Hobart International Airport at cheap rates and you can easily cover 18.5 km, the distance from Hobart Airport Car Park to Hobart City, in less than 20 minutes. Hobart Airport car rental pick-up: Car hire companies at Hobart Airport have their service desks located in the Arrivals area. The rental car parking lot is situated just across the road off the main passenger terminal.
The third way to reach Tasmania is to arrive at Launceston Airport by taking a flight from Melbourne Airport. Launceston Airport car rental pick-up: Car hire companies at Launceston Airport have their service desks located near the baggage claim area in the arrivals hall.
Rental car companies in Tasmania
Sixt Car Hire, Europcar, Alamo Rent a Car, Thrifty Car Rental, National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and East Coast Car Rentals are our rental car partners in Tasmania. Our partner suppliers offer rental vehicles at the following locations in Tasmania.
11 the esplanade, opposite ferry terminal, 7310 Devonport
Devonport Ferry
Ferry terminal building, 7310 Devonport
Alamo Rent a Car Tasmania
Hobart Airport
Car Rental Hall, Strachan Street Cambridge, Hobart TAS 7170
Launceston Airport
In Terminal 201 Evandale Road Launceston, TAS 7212
Thrifty Car Rental Tasmania
Hobart Airport
Terminal Building, Hobart TAS 7170
Hobart City
65 Argyle Street, Hobart TAS 7000
Launceston Airport
Terminal Building, Launceston TAS 7250
Launceston City
1A Hudson Fysh Drive, Launceston TAS 7212
National Car Rental Tasmania
Hobart Airport
Strachan Street Cambridge, Hobart 7170
Launceston Airport
In Terminal, 201 Evandale Rd, Launceston 7212
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tasmania
Downtown Launceston
151-153 St John Street, Launceston, 7250
Launceston Airport
In Terminal 201 Evandale Rd, WESTERN JUNCTION, Launceston, 7212
Hobart Airport
Car Rental Hall Strachan St, CAMBRIDGE, Hobart, 7170
Downtown Hobart
67a Argyle Street, Hobart, 7000
East Coast Car Rentals Tasmania
Hobart Airport
273 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge, TAS 7170
Launceston Airport
129 Evandale Drive, Western Junction, TAS 7212
A brief overview of the road trip
The best time to visit Tasmania is from December to March. Your road trip will start from Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, and while covering around 1,193 km (741 miles), it will end in Hobart. This ultimate Tasmania road trip is comfortably doable in about 2 weeks. Opt for a long-term Tasmania car hire to save on rental car costs. For the fact that Tasmania is largely made up of protected wildlife areas, hiring a 4WD car is recommended. Read our guide on 4WD car rental in Australia for more information.
Travel tip: Please note that national parks in Tasmania carry an entry fee. An easier option is to buy a pass for 8 weeks from the visitor center located at Cradle Mountain. National park permits’ prices range from $22 to $56 per vehicle.
Hobart
Hobart is one of the oldest cities in Australia. Owing to its location, Hobart happens to be the starting point for most of the leisure tourists arriving in Tasmania. The city is also known for its historic architecture, which dates back to the Victorian and Georgian eras. The most popular tourist attractions in Hobart include the following.
Attraction
Address
Hours open
Car parking
Mount Wellington
South East Tasmania, Australia
8 AM – 8 PM
Pinnacle Rd, Wellington Park TAS 7054, Australia
MONA
655 Main Rd, Berriedale TAS 7011, Australia
10 AM – 5 PM (Tuesday closed)
MONA car park
Salamanca Market
Salamanca Pl, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia
8:30 AM – 3 PM (Opens on Saturday)
Trafalgar Pl, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Lower Domain Rd, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
8 AM – 5 PM
Lower Domain Rd, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Cascade Brewery
131 Cascade Rd, South Hobart TAS 7004, Australia
10 AM – 5:30 PM
Village Cinema Car Park
Launceston
Situated in northern Tasmania, Launceston is settled on the confluence of North Esk and South Esk rivers. Another old city in Australia, Launceston is known for its well-preserved historic buildings. Located about 200 km away from Hobart, the city is an important tourism hub. Don’t forget to visit these places during your stay in Launceston.
Attraction
Address
Hours open
Car parking
Cataract Gorge Reserve
74-90 Basin Rd, West Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
24 hours
Basin Rd, West Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
University of Tasmania, Inveresk Campus
10 AM – 4 PM
2 Invermay Rd, Invermay TAS 7248, Australia
Launceston City Park
45-55 Tamar St, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
7:30 AM – 7 PM
48 Elizabeth St, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
Tasmania Zoo
1166 Ecclestone Road, Riverside TAS 7250, Australia
9 AM – 4:30 PM
Tasmania Zoo Car Park
James Boag Brewery Experience
39 William St, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
9:30 AM – 5 PM
28 Seaport Blvd, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Located in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is about 141 kilometers away from Launceston. The wilderness reserve is popular for its numerous walking trails. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the national park is home to Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mount Pelion East, Mount Pelion West, Mount Ossa, and Lake St Clair. Driving from Launceston, you’ll reach the park’s northern entrance located at Sheffield Town in about 1.5 hours.
Freycinet National Park
Located on Tasmania’s east coast, Freycinet National Park is about 125 kilometers northeast of Hobart and 149 km southeast of Launceston. Named after Louis de Freycinet, a French navigator, the wilderness reserve is one of the oldest national parks in Tasmania. The park area is widely renowned for its pink granite formations, white sandy beaches, Wineglass Bay, and amazing birdlife. Your drive from Launceston to Freycinet National Park via the A3 Tasman Highway will take around 2.5 hours.
Port Arthur
A former convict settlement and small town on the Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur is a heritage area. An open-air museum, the site features 11 penal sites built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Port Arthur is about 189 km south of Freycinet National Park. Port Arthur visitor center and ticket office open by 9 AM. Guided walking tours, Convict Water Supply Trail, Isle of the Dead cruise tour, and ghost tours at night are the most sought after ones among leisure tourists.
Bruny Island
Located off Tasmania’s southeast coast, Bruny Island is also called Lunawanna Allonah. Separated from mainland Tasmania by D’Entrecasteaux Channel, the island is famous for its panoramic views and wildlife. For taking your rental car to Bruny Island, you’ll have to first reach Kettering Town. Once you arrive here, the next step is to wait for your turn to get into the Bruny Island Ferry, which takes not more than 20 minutes to cross D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Please note that the ferry service begins at 6:30 AM until 7 PM on all days. Given below are the famous tourist attractions on Bruny Island.
Attraction
Address
Hours open
Car parking
Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tours
1750 Lighthouse Rd, South Bruny TAS 7150, Australia
10 AM – 3:30 PM
1750 Lighthouse Rd, South Bruny TAS 7150, Australia
South Bruny National Park
Bruny Island TAS 7150, Australia
9 AM – 5 PM
Near Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Bruny Island Cheese Company
1807 Bruny Island Main Rd, Great Bay TAS 7150, Australia
9 AM – 5 PM
1807 Bruny Island Main Rd, Great Bay TAS 7150, Australia
The Neck Lookout
North Bruny TAS 7150, Australia
24 hours
North Bruny TAS 7150, Australia
Mount Field National Park
Situated just 64 kilometers northwest of Hobart, Mount Field National Park came into existence in 1916. The oldest national park in Tasmania features world-famous attractions such as Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Lady Barron Falls, and Lake Dobson. Park area’s other prized possessions are one of the world’s tallest trees. Besides offering an abundance of flora and fauna, the protected area provides a great opportunity to enjoy stunning outdoor locations.
Whether you arrive in Tasmania via Hobart or Launceston, you can start with this road trip without any delay. Australia Rent Car, through its network of trusted suppliers, is always ready to offer low-cost car hire deals in Tasmania. Please go through our guide to a car rental in Australia If you need more information on car hire requirements, documentation, etc.
