How to do the Lap of Tasmania

“Tasmania, why would you go there, it’s just full of old buildings and trees”

That is what my friend’s husband said when he heard that Lyle and I were about to embark on “the lap of Tasmania”.

His comments caught me off guard for a moment, but then I thought, “hmmm actually I like old buildings and trees”.

Our Tassie lap begins with our flight from Brisbane to Hobart on Friday 12th February, 2021, and so far so good (F*#k off Covid), but I do have all my fingers, toes and the hairs on my chinny chin chin crossed, (see how I realised how hairy my chin was here) and I’m staying very positive that everything is still “Covid safe” for us to travel. 

We booked our flights, accommodation and hire car back in mid December and I used a really helpful website called, funnily enough, www.lapoftasmania.com.au. This site has some great info on it, setting out 7, 10, and 14 day suggested itineraries. It shares where to go, how far places are, where to eat and where to stay, with heaps of options from budget to more luxurious.

A rainbow of colours at the Bay of Fires. Photograph from https://lapoftasmania.com.au/must-see-tasmania-highlights/ by Sean Scott

As some of you know, I’m not really a road-tripping kind of girl (only because I’m a nervous passenger and worse driver), but it just seemed to be the best way to see everything and luckily we will only be travelling a max of three hours each leg of our journey.  This appeals to me, because, you can enjoy a morning walk, leisurely breakfast, and a slow scenic drive to the next stop, have lunch (maybe a glass of local wine or two) and then check in to your next accommodation.

We have mixed up our accommodation a bit, with a few Eco lodges, a couple of motels, and lots in between.

This is our itinerary and where we are staying.  I’ll be updating our Instagram and Facebook each day, so please follow us to check out all the fun and games. We would love to hear your thoughts and comments, so please feel free to ask us any questions or leave comments there as well.

Here’s our itinerary:

12th – 15th February - Opossum Bay - staying with friends.

15th – 16th  Hobart to St Claire Lodge https://www.lakestclairlodge.com.au/ -

                           2 hours 30 minute drive

16 -18 Feb – Strahan –  https://www.gatewaytothegordon.com.au/ - just over a 2 hour drive.

Stahan - World Heritage Cruises on the Gordon River (picture fromWorld Heritage Cruises)

18- 20 Feb – Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village https://www.cradlevillage.com.au/

                           Just under 2 hour drive

20 – 21 Feb – Stanley  https://stanleyseaviewinn.com.au/

                           About 2 hours 20 mins drive

21 – 22 Feb – Launceston  https://www.grandchancellorhotels.com/hotel-grand-chancellor-launceston

                           Bit longer drive today – 2 hours 45 mins

22 – 24 Feb – Tamar Valley https://www.tamarvalleyresort.com.au/

This is only a 30 minute drive from Launceston and we added these extra days in to suit us, as we wanted to spend a couple of days exploring the wineries in this region.

Taste delicious wines from Holm Oak Vineyards in the Tamar Valley (Photo by Rob Burnett , Tasmanian Tourism)

24 – 25 Feb – St Helens - https://queechymotel.com.au/

                           Binalong Bay (Bay of Fires)

                           This is about a 2 hour 30 minute drive

25 – 27th Feb (my birthday – so I chose somewhere REALLY NICE)

                           Coles Bay (Freycinet) - https://www.freycinetlodge.com.au/

                           Just over an hour and a half (so arrive early for birthday drinks – woohoo)

27th – 1st March – Port Arthur - https://www.portarthurvillas.com.au/

                           A long drive today – just one three hours

1 – 2 March – Back to Hobart - https://www.hadleyshotel.com.au/

                           This is our last night in Tasmania and is just over an hour and a half drive from back to Hobart.

As you can see, it is a pretty full on schedule, but only short drives each day or two.  There are so many places to see along the way and we will be sharing these with you, so follow along at our Facebook page or on Instagram.

We also plan to show my friend’s hubby and any other naysayers that there is a heck of a lot more to see in Tassie besides old buildings and trees.

This is where I will be spending my birthday - looks fabulous. Photo https://www.freycinetlodge.com.au/

We are so excited to be off exploring again and look forward to sharing our lap of Tassie experience with you. (no not the map of Tassie - the LAP of Tassie).

Cheers Lyle and Leanne

 PS. The map/lap of Tassie is a joke - google it if you don’t get it - don’t ask anyone under 35ish cos they wouldn’t know what it means- hahahaha.