Tasmania Campervan Itinerary: 7-Day Road Trip with Scenic Stops & Free Campsites

One week. One island. Endless wonder. From haunted ruins and squeaky white beaches to misty alpine peaks and rainforest rivers — this 7-day Tasmania road trip is the full experience. Free campsites, iconic drives, and pure VanMania freedom.

DAY ONE

 Hobart to Tasman Peninsula

Start your journey in Hobart with a strong coffee and a full tank. In just 1.5 hours you’ll find yourself on the dramatic Tasman Peninsula, home to convict stories and sea-carved cliffs.

While there’s plenty to explore on the peninsula, the must-do experience is the Cape Raoul hike. This trail showcases Tasmania’s dramatic dolerite cliffs at their most jaw-dropping, especially from The Gap — an expansive viewpoint that feels like standing at the edge of the world. The full hike is a moderate 15 km return, taking around 3–4 hours for the fit and fast, or 7–8 hours at a more relaxed pace. Short on time or energy? No worries — you can walk to the Cape Raoul Lookout and back in about 2 hours, with sweeping coastal views that are nothing short of spectacular.

The best way to spend any remaining time:

• Tasmanian Devil Unzoo — If you haven't seen a Tasmanian Devil or hand fed a kangaroo, this is a must. $44 to enter last time we checked but money well spent for something you'll probably never get to see or do again.

• Port Arthur Historic Site — one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in Australia. Ghost tours optional. Goosebumps guaranteed.

• Tasmans Arch & Devil’s Kitchen — where geology flexes hard. You can basically drive right up to these for a quick stop and photo.

• Tessellated Pavement — A photographers dream is this place with a perfect sunrise or sunset or one better, the Aurora Australis booming overhead. Timing is everything for this one.

Free Campsite Tip: Fortescue Bay Campground (20 mins from Port Arthur). It’s rugged, remote, and ridiculously pretty. It's also free between 01 May - 30 Sep, or $13 per night last time we checked from 01 Oct - 30 Apr. Click this link to bring up the campground on Google Maps.

Dont forget to purchase your parks pass here. Get one that covers all parks for your entire journey.

Day One complete - total driving time of 2hrs and 10 minutes.

DAY TWO

 Port Arthur to Bay of Fires

After breakfast by the sea, it’s time to head north towards Freycinet National Park. On route, be sure to take a scenic detour to Orford (approximately 1.5 hours from Fortescue Bay). This charming seaside town has pristine beaches and great seafood, then it's into Freycinet National Park, home to the iconic Wineglass Bay. 

This crescent-shaped bay is a must-see. Try and time it to arrive at the summit of the 1.5hr moderate hike for Sunset. When the bay finally reveals itself — white sand in a perfect crescent — you’ll understand why it’s plastered across every travel magazine that dares cover Tasmania. If you find yourself with plenty of time left in the day you may choose to hike all the way over and into wineglass bay. It is likely you'll be greeted on the beach by Kangaroos.

Free Campsite Tip: Park your campervan at the Friendly Beaches Campground . It's only 45 minutes from Wineglass Bay, but a world away from crowds. No power, no bookings — just waves, sand dunes, and the kind of starlit silence that rewires your brain. Click this link to bring up the campground on Google Maps.

Day Two complete - total driving time of 3.5hrs

DAY THREE

 Freycinet to Bay of Fires

The next morning, with the salt still in your hair and sand on your feet, you’ll continue north. Day two is a slower kind of travel — strung together with small-town pauses and a coast that never stops teasing you with its brilliance.

First up is Bicheno, a laid-back seaside town with bright colours, big character, and enough quirk to make you stay longer than planned. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot penguins darting under the rocks. If not, you’ll at least find a pastry or two at the local bakery and, if you’re hungry, The Lobster Shack serves up seafood with a side of sea spray.

From here, it’s onto St Helens — the last proper town before things get wild again. It’s your chance to refuel, restock, and maybe visit nearby Peron Dunes for panoramic views over sea and sand. There’s a bakery here that smells exactly how you hoped it would.

Then the road winds you to Bay of Fires, and suddenly you’re somewhere else entirely. Bright orange lichen wraps around giant boulders, the water glows turquoise, and the sand squeaks under your feet. It’s less of a beach and more of a painter’s palette turned inside out. You’ll climb rocks, breathe deeper, and forget whatever mainland problem was rattling around your head just yesterday.

Free Campsite Tip: Park your van at Sloop Reef Free Campground — it’s right on the water, and completely free. No power, no crowds, no bookings. Just you, the rocks, and the waves. Click this link to bring up the campground on Google Maps.

Day Three complete – Total driving time was approximately 3.5–4 hrs.

DAY FOUR

  Bay of Fires to Cradle Mountain

Google maps will try to take you the fast route. Don't listen. Plug in Derby as your first destination towards Cradle Mountain. The slight detour will take you on a captivating drive through winding forrest. Derby itself is home to the Floating Sauna Lake Derby and, if you dare, stop by for a hot/cold plunge.

Then it's on to Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city and home of the Cataract Gorge Reserve. You also don’t want to miss the chance to visit Waverley Mills — the last remaining weaving mill in Australia. Operating on the same site since 1874 and using 100% Australian materials from fleece to finish, this tour offers more than just history — it’s an immersion into heritage craftsmanship. You’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for the workmanship, care, and quality woven into every thread. Browse their range of wool blankets, throws, scarves, and even pet blankets — and as a VanMania traveller, enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on both tours and products.

As the road bends west, you’ll reach Sheffield — a town where the buildings are covered in murals and the history is literally painted on the walls. It’s a good place to grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and wonder why more towns don’t take themselves this seriously as storytellers.

Come late afternoon, it's time to get as close to Cradle Mountain as you can for free - legally. That place is Lake Gardiner Free Campground and it's about 45 minutes from Cradle Mountain. There are no facilities here — so bring your own water, food, and a sense of self-sufficiency — but the lake views make it worth every bit of preparation, and it will be your best vantage point for the following mornings epic day at Cradle Mountain. Click this link to bring up the campground on Google Maps.

Day Four complete - Total driving time of about 4.5hrs

DAY FIVE

Cradle Mountain

Back into the wild. Cradle Mountain is a must — misty peaks, ancient pines, and wombats with zero personal space boundaries.

If you haven't purchased a park pass yet you can do so here. You can't drive your campervan all the way to Dove Lake and will have to stop at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and purchase a shuttle bus ticket to get to Dove Lake, the epicentre of all hikes. The shuttle bus timetable can be found here. 

From here the day is yours to conquer, there are many hikes, ranging from a casual 2hr flat stroll around Dove Lake Circuit to a full day Summit Hike. There is no wrong choice, however if you're the adventurous type, have a reasonable level of fitness, aren't afraid of heights and don't mind a rock scramble, follow VanMania's all-time favourite route as follows:

1. Start early

2. Hike Dove Lake Circuit counter-clockwise

3. Take a right when you get to Lake Wilks Track

4. Take a right at Cradle Mountain Face Track

5. Take a left onto Cradle Mountain Summit Track

6. Get to the summit and have lunch

7. Return via the Overland Track to Marion's Lookout

8. Take a left at Wombat Pool Track

9. Take a right at Cradle Valley Board Walk

Allow 7hrs for this and be prepared to fall in love with nature and Tasmania. Be sure to check the last shuttle time and don't miss it; it's a long walk back to the visitor centre if you do :/

If you are finished with Cradle Mountain still with energy you may wish to push on towards Queenstown, but most likely you will be ready to relax. We recommend heading back to Lake Gardiner Free Campsite to recoup your energy for the days to come.

Day Five complete - Total driving time approx 1.5hrs

DAY SIX

Lake Gardiner to Derwent Bridge

Wake up to mist clinging to the lake’s surface and wombat prints in the dirt — it’s your last morning in alpine Tasmania, so take it slow. Today you’ll wind your way through Queenstown’s lunar landscapes and finish lakeside near the heart of Tasmania.

First stop: Queenstown. This place looks like another planet — scarred hills, copper-stained soil, and a mining legacy that still echoes through the streets. Pull over at Iron Blow Lookout and try to comprehend how nature and industry have reshaped this wild terrain. If you’ve got time, the historic railway station and murals are worth a wander.

As the road continues east, the rainforest starts to reclaim the landscape — you’ll notice it in the air: heavier, greener, ancient. Eventually, you’ll reach The Wall in the Wilderness — and if you only visit one art gallery your entire life, let it be this. Inside a purpose-built timber hall is a 100-metre hand-carved narrative of Tasmania’s pioneer history, chiselled into Huon pine with soul-shaking precision. Photos aren’t allowed. You won’t need them — this one burns into memory.

Free Campsite Tip: End the day at Lake King William Free Campground, just 10 minutes from The Wall. It’s peaceful, waterside, and framed by eucalyptus — a solid final bush camp before returning to civilisation. No power, no bookings, and usually very few neighbours. Click this link to bring up the campground on Google Maps.

Day Six complete – Total driving time approximately 3.5 hours, depending on stops.

DAY SEVEN

Derwent Bridge to Hobart

It’s the final stretch — and what a send-off it is. Today, you’ll cruise south through Tasmania’s central highlands into the capital once more, but not before one last trio of unmissable stops.

The first unmissable stop; MONA – Museum of Old and New Art. It’s provocative, unforgettable, and often just plain weird — in the best way possible. Perched on the edge of the River Derwent, MONA is part subterranean lair, part cultural supernova. You might love it, hate it, or both at once — but you won’t forget it. (Book ahead if possible, especially on weekends.)

As you near the capital, take a detour skyward to kunanyi / Mount Wellington. In just 30 minutes, you’ll ascend from city streets to subalpine wilderness. The summit is often windy, sometimes snowy, and always dramatic — with views stretching across the Derwent River, Bruny Island, and the ridgelines you’ve just spent a week weaving through. If there’s ever been a place to reflect on the trip, it’s here.

Back at sea level, make time for Salamanca — a vibrant cultural precinct nestled between Hobart’s historic waterfront and its creative soul. Wander past art galleries, boutique stores, and cafés tucked inside old sandstone warehouses. It’s a fitting bookend to a trip full of contrasts.

If it’s a Saturday, you’re in luck: Salamanca Market springs to life with over 300 stalls selling Tasmanian produce, artisan goods, and enough food to make you forget lunch was a thing you already had.

You’ve conquered convict ruins, coastal trails, alpine hikes, rainforest cruises, and mural-covered towns — and you did it all in just seven days. Tasmania’s wild beauty is stitched together by winding roads and welcoming locals, and it’s best explored with a VanMania campervan as your companion.

Book your VanMania campervan at this link today and get started with this epic itinerary.