Lonely Planet Tasmania Road Trips , livre ebook

CONTENTS

Plan Your Trip

Welcome to Tasmania
Tasmania Map
Tasmania Highlights
Hobart City Guide
Need to Know

ROAD TRIPS

1 East Coast Tasmania 3–5 days
2 Tasman Peninsula
3 Tamar Valley Gourmet Trail
4 West Coast Wilderness Way
DESTINATIONS

East Coast Tasmania
Triabunna
Maria Island
Swansea
Coles Bay & Freycinet National Park
Bicheno
St Marys
Scamander & Beaumaris
St Helens
Hobart & the Tasman Peninsula
Hobart
Richmond
Tasman Peninsula
Eaglehawk Neck & Sorell
Port Arthur
Launceston & the Tamar Valley
Launceston
Tamar Valley
Exeter
George Town
Low Head
North & Western Tasmania
Deloraine
Sheffield & Around
Stanley
Marrawah
Corinna
Strahan
Cradle Mountain– Lake St Clair National Park

Driving in Australia
Driving Licence & Documents
Insurance
Hiring a Car
Maps
Roads & Conditions
Road Rules
Fuel
Safety
Driving in Outback Australia

Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
WELCOME TO TASMANIA

Tasmania has turned remoteness into an asset, with unique wilderness and hip arts and food scenes. If you look at a map of Tasmania, you could be forgiven for thinking that there are barely any roads at all. Think again. Thinly populated and yet home to some of Australia’s earliest settlements, Tasmania combines the human and natural worlds exceptionally well, and our road trips take you there. Hobart is the starting point for some fine journeys, not least to the sea cliffs and Port Arthur penal colony on the Tasman Peninsula, and the Heritage Trail that connects some fine old towns in the island’s heart. Elsewhere, our drives connect the dramatic east coast and the thickly forested west coast, with Cradle Mountain and the Tamar Valley Gourmet Region in between. Little wonder that Tassie ends up being many visitors’ favourite corner of the country.

Produce stall, Salamanca Market ( Click here ) JODIE GRIGGS/GETTY IMAGES ©

TASMANIA HIGHLIGHTS
Cradle Mountain
Crescent-shaped Cradle Mountain is the essence of wild Tasmania. Wildlife here is abundant, and there are many walks to all manner of beautiful corners.

MICHAEL RUNKEL/GETTY IMAGES ©
Bay of Fires
This string of stunning beaches, punctuated by lagoons and rocky headlands, is among the world’s most beautiful coastlines.

TIM PHILLIPS/GETTY IMAGES ©
 
Freycinet National Park
Gorgeous Wineglass Bay isn’t this park’s only drawcard. It’s full of wildflowers, native animals and other lovely bays.

AUSCAPE/GETTY IMAGES ©
CITY GUIDE

Hobart waterfront ( Click here ) ALBERT PEGO/GETTY IMAGES ©
HOBART
Australia’s second-oldest city and southernmost capital, Hobart dapples the foothills of Mt Wellington, angling down to the slate-grey Derwent River. The town’s rich cache of colonial architecture and natural charms are complemented by hip festivals, happening markets and top-notch food and drink.
Getting Around
Hobart is an easy city to drive around, but you’ll also find it compact enough to ditch the car and stretch your legs. All the big-name car-rental firms have desks at the airport and a city office. You may find that local firms offer cheaper rates.
Parking
Timed, metered parking predominates in the CBD and tourist areas such as Salamanca Pl and the waterfront. For longer-term parking, large CBD garages (clearly signposted) offer inexpensive rates.
Where to Eat
For brunch and lunch, try classy city-centre options. In the evening, Hobart’s waterfront is the place for quality seafood. Salamanca Pl has plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. Further afield, Battery Point’s Hampden Rd restaurants and North Hobart’s Elizabeth St eateries are worth a try.
Where to Stay
Accommodation on the waterfront and Salamanca Pl will put you in the heart of the action, though you’ll pay a higher price for this advantage. The less atmospheric CBD offers convenient hostels and midrange hotels.
Useful Websites
Dwarf ( www.thedwarf.com.au ) Online gig guide.
Hobart City Council ( www.hobartcity.com.au ) City-council website: parks, transport and recreation.
Welcome to Hobart ( www.welcometohobart.com.au ) Official visitors guide.
Trips Through Hobart: Click here
Destination coverage: Click here
NEED TO KNOW

MOBILE PHONES
European phones work on Australia’s network, but American and Japanese phones don’t. Use global roaming or a local SIM card. Telstra has the best coverage.
INTERNET ACCESS
Wi-fi is widespread in urban areas, less so in remote Australia. For public wi-fi locations, visit www.freewifi.com.au . There are relatively few internet cafes; try public libraries.
FUEL
Unleaded and diesel fuel widely available. Prices vary from $1.20 in cities to $2.20 in remote areas. Distances between fill-ups can be long in remote areas.
RENTAL CARS
Avis ( www.avis.com.au )
Budget ( www.budget.com.au )
Europcar ( www.europcar.com.au )
Hertz ( www.hertz.com.au )
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Emergencies 000
International Access Code 0011

When to Go
Climate

High Season (Dec & Jan)
A Accommodation prices scale lofty heights: book ahead.
A Festival season hits its straps, and beaches are at their best.
A Expect crowds at big-ticket destinations (and the cricket).
Shoulder (Feb–Apr, Oct & Nov)
A Easter is busy with Aussie families on the loose.
A Book ahead for Easter camping grounds, motels and ferries.
A April is harvest time, with brilliant produce statewide.
Low Season (May–Sep)
A Accommodation prices plunge to manageable levels.
A Outside Hobart and Launceston, some eating and sleeping options close their doors.
A Snow closes some bushwalking tracks… but you can ski (just!).
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than $100
A Hostel dorm beds: $25–35
A Double room in a hostel: $80
A Budget pizza or pasta meal: $10–15
A Local bus ride: from $3
Midrange: $100–$280
A Double room in a motel or B&B: $100–200
A Breakfast or lunch in a cafe: $20–40
A Car hire per day: from $35
A Short taxi ride: $25
Top End: More than $280
A Double room in a top-end hotel: from $200
A Three-course meal in a classy restaurant: $80
A Guided wilderness day tour: from $120
A Quality bottle of Tasmanian wine: from $30
Eating
Fine dining Local chefs are renowned for making the most of excellent local produce.
Cafes A traveller’s best option for breakfast and brunch. Cafes in Launceston and Hobart take their coffee seriously.
Pubs Quality swings between gourmet and grossly outmoded.
Vegetarians Dietary requirements can usually be catered for at restaurants.
Eating price indicators represent the average cost of a main dish:
     $
less than $15
  $$
$15 to $32
$$$
more than $32
Sleeping
Apartments & Cottages Largely self-contained affairs, rented on either a nightly or weekly basis.
B&Bs Occupy everything from convict-built cottages to upmarket country manors and beachside bungalows.
Camping In most national parks you will need to purchase a pass. Facilities are often basic.
Caravan parks Hot showers, kitchens and laundry facilities. Often have dorm-style accommodation and cabins.
Hostels Can be found in most major towns.
Hotels & Motels Typically comfortable and anonymous, often with a heritage bent.
Price indicators represent the average cost of a double room with private bathroom:
     $
less than $100
  $$
$100 to $200
$$$
more than $200
Arriving in Australia
Sydney Airport
Bus Pre-booked shuttle buses service city hotels.
Train AirportLink trains run to the city centre every 10 minutes from around 5am to 1am (20 minutes).
Taxi A taxi into the city costs $40 to $50 (30 minutes).
Melbourne Airport
Bus SkyBus services (24-hour) run to the city (20 minutes), leaving every 10 to 30 minutes.
Taxi A taxi into the city costs around $40 (25 minutes).
Brisbane Airport
Bus Pre-booked shuttle buses service city hotels.
Train Airtrain trains run into the city centre (20 minutes) every 15 to 30 minutes from 5am (6am weekends) to 10pm.
Taxi A taxi into the city costs $35 to $45 (25 minutes).
Money
ATMs widely available in cities and larger towns. Credit cards accepted for hotels, restaurants and transport.
Tipping
It’s common (but not obligatory)to tip in restaurants if the service warrants it; 5% to 10% is the norm. Round up taxi fares.
Opening Hours
Opening hours for attractions tend to wind back in winter and outside of Hobart and Launceston. The following is a general guide.
Banks 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, to 5pm Friday
Cafes 7am to 5pm
Pubs & bars 11am to midnight
Restaurants Breakfast 8am to 10.30am, lunch noon to 3pm, dinner 6pm to 9pm
Shops 9am to 5pm Mon to Fri, 9am to noon or 5pm Saturday, late-night city shopping to 9pm Thursday or Friday
Supermarkets 7am–8pm

For more, see Driving in Australia
Road Trips

East Coast Tasmania, 3–5 days
Think of Tasmania and there’s a fair chance you’re thinking of the storied east coast.
Tasman Peninsula, 3–4 days
The incredible sea cliffs of the southeast and poignant Port Arthur – the rest is just window dressing.
Tamar Valley Gourmet Trail, 4–5 days
Wines, berry farms and even penguins make this a fine escape from Launceston.
West Coast Wilderness Way, 14 days
The rainforests of the far west make for a fine dirt-road adventure, with Cradle Mountain thrown in.

Tamar Valley vineyard PHILIP GAME/ALAMY ©
East Coast Tasmania

St Helens
Scamander
St Marys
Coles Bay
Swansea
Triabunna
Maria Island
East Coast Tasmania

Tasmania’s east coast is the undisputed jewel in the island’s crown, a beguiling combination of pretty seaside settlements, magnificent coastline and some of the best wildlife watching.
 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

3–5 DAYS
223KM / 139 MILES
GREAT FOR…

BEST TIME TO GO
October to April; in March and April the sea is at its warmest.
ESSENTIAL PHOTO
Wineglass Bay is best shot from above.
BEST FOR OUTDOORS
Maria Island is one of the best places to watch wildlife in Australia.

Bay