9-day family friendly adventure to the western wilds of Tasmania
Traversing tranquil rainforests, dramatic mountains and pristine coastlines, the wilds of western Tasmania deliver a road-tripping adventure you won’t forget.
Tasmania is a land of astonishing landscapes and deep wilderness. Unlike anywhere else in the world, Australia’s southernmost state deserves to top your travel wish list, repeatedly.
This itinerary focuses on a looping road trip (starting and ending in the city of Devonport on the north coast) to explore the beautiful and barely tamed western wilds of the island state. Despite this area’s rough-hewn, densely wooded environments, it’s surprisingly accessible, dotted with historic towns, and entirely achievable as a family expedition. So, throw your woollen socks in the car and set sail (yes, sail) for Tasmania.
9-day family friendly adventure to the western wilds of Tasmania
Day 1: Devonport to Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania © Cultivate Productions
Travel tip
Where time permits (or if you are planning a return visit), teach you kids to respect nature on the six-day, 65-kilometre (40-mile) Overland Track – a sure-fire bonding experience.
- Drive time: about 1 hour
There are plenty of flights to Tassie from the mainland, arriving into Hobart or Launceston Airports, but if you’re planning a road trip, why not kick it all off with a journey across the Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania? Ferrying passengers from Melbourne to Devonport in less than 11 hours, this leisurely mode of transport lets you sail your own car to the southern isle.
Once docked, set the GPS for Cradle Mountain. If you’re travelling with young children or good-humoured teens, add a stop to Promised Land for a visit to Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot. This wonderfully bonkers attraction features eight mazes and miniature, toddler-sized painted houses.
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Days 2 and 3: Cradle Mountain to Tullah, Zeehan and Rosebery
Montezuma Falls, Rosebery, Tasmania © Jess Bonde
Know before you go
These smaller towns of Tassie’s west coast are serviced by shaky-at-best internet and patchy phone coverage. So bring cash and expect an enforced digital detox.
- Drive time: around 1.5 to 2 hours total
Before you head for the mining town of Zeehan, pay a visit to the Tassie Devil Sanctuary where you can adore these threatened marsupials and contribute to their conservation.
Overloaded on cuteness, make your way to Zeehan via a stop at historic Tullah for a 20-minute ride on a 1924 steam locomotive, Wee Georgie Wood. Kids will love this quaint trundle into history as Wee Georgie puffs away through mountainous surrounds.
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Days 4 and 5: Zeehan to Strahan
West Coast Wilderness Railway, Queenstown, Tasmania © Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
- Drive time: 30 minutes
Strahan is one of the bigger west coast towns, so it’s prudent to set aside at least two days to explore. Leave time to stroll the historic town, but first, elevate everyone’s heart rate (everyone above the age of six, that is) with a dune buggy scenic tour with Strahan ATV Adventures.
Change up the pace with a half-day journey on the heritage West Coast Wilderness Railway. Depart Strahan’s Regatta Point Station on the River and Rainforest Tour for a captivating excursion deep into the wilds of the west.
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Day 6: Strahan to Queenstown
Queenstown, Tasmania © We are Explorers
Travel tip
Driving around Queenstown is both thrilling and stunning, but take care on the winding roads and be warned that backseat passengers may need some motion-sickness remedies.
- Drive time: about 1 hour
Despite logging and mining altering the landscape irreparably, the west coast’s largest town and her mountainous surrounds are bewilderingly beautiful. Queenstown was once the world’s richest mining town and wears the scars of industry with grace from her rough, exposed and strangely colourful scenery to her well-preserved main street and frontier charm. Don’t miss a drink at the Empire Hotel.
You can pick up the West Coast Wilderness Rail here, if you missed it in Strahan, otherwise join King River Rafting for a half-or full-day kayaking tour complete with rapids that older, stronger kids will absolutely love.
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Days 7 and 8: Queenstown to Launceston via Lake St Clair
Pumphouse Point, Lake St Clair, Tasmania © Emilie Ristevski
- Drive time: 3 hours
Split the drive to Launceston with a diversion to bewitching Lake St Clair and Pumphouse Point. Peaceful and unearthly, the beauty of the lake is enchanting and not to be missed. Its Indigenous name, Leeawuleena, means ‘sleeping water’ and a walk around its gentle shore will reveal why its original name is so apt.
Take a walk, a ferry cruise, or, if you have extra time, a mountain bike ride, before continuing on to Launceston.
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Day 9: Launceston to Devonport
Cataract Gorge, Launceston, Tasmania © Jarrad Seng
The wild west
Head to Queenstown on Tassie’s rugged west coast to experience The Unconformity, a biennial three-day contemporary arts festival in a truly breathtaking setting.
- Drive time: about 1 hour
Before you make your way back to your port of departure, spend some time exploring Launceston’s brilliant farmers’ markets and surrounding townships. If it’s summer, take the kids to riverside Cataract Gorge Reserve for a paddle. And if you have the time for an extra night, spend it with some adorable, wild and waddling fairy penguins at Low Head, before heading up to Devonport along the Tamar Valley wine trail.
Arrive enlivened by adventure, if not a little saddened by its end, at Devonport and prepare to set sail for home.
For more information about road trips in Tasmania, go to discovertasmania.com.
