Tasmania’s best scenic drives

Finally - we can venture out and enjoy the great outdoors again! And where better to take in some of the best scenery Australia has to offer than Tasmania.

While you may be tempted to hop on a flight to get there, we really can’t recommend taking the Spirit of Tassie enough (when that kind of thing is allowed again that is!). It’s a right of passage for every Aussie, and maybe best of all you can take your own wheels on your journey across the Bass Strait so you’re ready to crack on pretty much as soon as you dock at Devonport.

So where to from there? Here are some exceptional road trips around Tasmania that’ll leave you wanting more - much more.

Our top 5 drives in Tasmania

Drive 1. Cradle Country

Starting in Devonport, head south for about half an hour - passing through LaTrobe which is a great stop to make for a wander around - until you reach the town of Sheffield. There you’ll find a fair few rather incredible murals to check out before you head off southwest toward Cradle Mountain, just over an hour away. If breathtaking views, wildlife spotting and walking tracks are your thing Cradle Mountain will be a blast so take your time while you’re there. Then it’s a straight shot north 100 k’s to Burnie where there’s cold beer waiting for you at one of the restaurants overlooking Emu Bay.

Drive 2. The Convict Trail

A total of roughly 200 kilometres, this drive begins in Hobart and finishes in the infamous Port Arthur. On the way to your first stop - Richmond - we suggest making a few stops in the Coal River Valley to try out some of the region’s best wines (make sure there’s a designated driver on hand). Once you reach Richmond, there’s plenty of history to take in - Australia’s oldest bridge, still-standing Catholic Church and gaol can all be found there. The route from Richmond to your next stop, Port Arthur, will take you through the town of Copping - stop and check out the Colonial and Convict Exhibition which boasts over 10,000 authentic historical convict artifacts for you to see. Once in Port Arthur you can explore Australia’s best-preserved convict site including a massive penitentiary and inmate-run Convict Church ruins.

Drive 3. Great Eastern Drive

In some circles, the Great Eastern Drive is rated higher than Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road - so you know it’s gotta be good! Taking you from Orford to St Helens (through Swansea and Coles Bay), we suggest spending at least 3 or 4 days so you can take your time and really soak everything in on this incredible trip that’ll take you past coastal views you won’t soon forget. There’s also the Freycinet National Park, the Bicheno Blowhole and countless more stops for you to take along the way.

Drive 4. Tamar Valley

Departing from Launceston, you can get this drive done in a day. But the important question is - do you really want to do it in just one day? You’ll be following River Tamar along all the way up to Bass Strait through the beauty of Narantawpu National Park - with some very important stops along the way. There are, in fact, 21 (yes - 21) wineries dotting the Tamar Valley driving route as well as strawberry farms, lavender plantations and orchards to explore.

Drive 5. Derwent Valley 

Beginning in Hobart and ending in the Derwent Valley, this is another drive that can take just one day if you so choose. And while the drive itself is only around 100 k’s, you’d be hard-pressed to not stop at the many gorgeous little towns along the way including New Norfolk, Westerway and more. Once you do reach Derwent Valley you’re spoiled for choice in terms of what to see and do; the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, kayaking tours, stand-up paddleboarding, hikes and treks aplenty, Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, abseiling… the list goes on and on. Consider staying the night there (or even two) so you don’t miss out on anything!

Take a new car on your Tassie road trip

If you’re ready to upgrade your current vehicle (maybe to something a bit more ‘fun’) before you head off on your Tassie trip, we can make it happen. Find out what your monthly repayments could be using our online finance calculator and apply for car finance online in as little as 5 minutes - it’s that easy!

Plus, our partners at carconnect will locate the exact vehicle you’re looking for, at a fantastic price, and have it delivered directly to you.

We’re industry leaders for a reason

When you’ve been in the finance industry for as long as we have at Stratton Finance, you have the opportunity to perfect your craft - and we’ve done just that. Not to blow too much smoke up our erm, yes, but over two decades of experience has allowed us to grow our lender network exponentially which means whatever your finance needs, we’ve got you covered.

Give us a call today on 1300 787 288 to talk financing for your new car and we’ll make sure you’re behind the wheel quicker than you can say ‘you guys are bloody fantastic’! Alternatively, you can send us a message online and we’ll be in touch soon.