Tasmania 5 Day East Coast Tour

Tasmania’s east coast packs a remarkable amount into five days. You’ll move from Hobart’s convict-era streets to wild ocean cliffs, then north to Bicheno, the Bay of Fires, and Launceston. The best part is the mix: big coastal scenery sits alongside small food stops, wildlife, and stories about the island’s past.

I like the small group size, capped at 15, because it gives your guide room to answer questions and adjust the pace. I also like the food included along the way, especially the vineyard lunch, oyster tasting, cheese stop, and chocolate sample. The main trade-off is a busy schedule with long stretches on the road, so this suits you if you want to see a lot rather than linger in one town.

Key points to know

• Mount Wellington begins the sightseeing with wide views over Hobart from its 1,275-metre summit.
• Port Arthur gets three guided hours, enough time to understand the convict settlement rather than simply photograph it.
• Bicheno offers a wild penguin outing, with the small birds returning from the sea after dark.
• The Bay of Fires brings white sand, blue water, and orange-red rocks in one of Tasmania’s most memorable coastal areas.
• Food is part of the route, with wine, chocolate, oysters, cheese, breakfasts, and three lunches included.
• The tour ends in Launceston, with the final morning free for your own city walk.

A five-day route from Hobart to Launceston

This is a well-packed east coast circuit, not a slow retreat. You arrive in Hobart on the first day, spend the next two days around the Tasman Peninsula and Bicheno, head north through the Bay of Fires on day four, and finish in Launceston on day five.

The listed price is $1,574.35 per person. That is not a cheap weekend outing, but the figure covers accommodation, four breakfasts, three lunches, attraction entry, national park fees, and several tastings. The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for Port Arthur, wildlife visits, park entry, food stops, and transport between several towns.

The group limit of 15 matters here. Tasmania’s roads and scenic stops are easier to manage in a small vehicle than in a large coach, and a smaller group makes it simpler to hear the guide at outdoor sites. Pickup is offered, and the stated start time is 8:30 am.

Day one: an easy arrival in central Hobart

The first day is deliberately light. You arrive in Hobart at your own pace, with check-in at the centrally located Mövenpick Hotel available from 1 pm.

That central base is useful. You can walk around the city before the main sightseeing begins, and you do not need to spend the first evening dealing with a remote hotel or a long transfer. The hotel is described as stylish and luxurious, so this opening night gives the tour a polished start.

The schedule does not list a guided activity for this day. Treat it as a buffer for arrival, rest, or a first look at Hobart. If your transport reaches the city early, the location should make a short self-guided walk easy, though the supplied details do not specify a formal pre-tour program.

Day two: Hobart stories, mountain views, and the Tasman coast

Day two starts around Constitution Dock, where you spend about 25 minutes seeing the Mawson’s Hut replica museum, statues linked to Antarctic exploration, and a replica of a famous convict vessel. It is a brief stop, but it sets up two themes that continue through the trip: Tasmania’s connection with exploration and its convict past.

Next comes a scenic drive through Salamanca and Battery Point. Your host points out historic buildings and explains the stories of these old Hobart neighborhoods. Twenty minutes is not enough for a full walking tour, so think of this as an introduction rather than a detailed architectural visit.

The route then passes the outside perimeter of Tasmania’s largest female correctional facility. This is a short drive-by, yet it adds an important perspective. Tasmania’s convict story was not limited to male prisoners, famous ruins, or grand colonial buildings. Women transported to the island faced their own harsh conditions, and the guide uses the stop to explain some of those struggles.

At Cascade Brewery, you pause for photographs and a short account of Tasmania’s brewing trade. The stop lasts only about 10 minutes, so it is more of a visual and historical marker than a full brewery visit. Do not expect a lengthy tasting session here.

The morning’s major view comes at Mount Wellington. The vehicle climbs to the 1,275-metre summit, where you get broad views in every direction over Hobart and the surrounding country. The stop is scheduled for 30 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a quick look around, but mountain weather can affect visibility, and the tight timing leaves little room for a long walk.

From Hobart, you cross the Tasman Bridge and head toward the east coast. Lunch comes at Puddleduck Vineyard, where a platter of local produce is served with complimentary wine tastings. This is one of the tour’s strongest food stops because lunch and tasting are combined, rather than treated as an optional extra.

You then reach Richmond Bridge, built by convicts in 1823 and still in use. The 15-minute stop gives you time to see the stonework and hear why the bridge matters. It is a compact visit, but the bridge fits neatly into the wider story of early roads, forced labor, and colonial settlement.

At the Denison Canal, the guide explains how this early twentieth-century waterway shortened the route for merchant and trade vessels heading toward Hobart. You stay for about 10 minutes, mainly to hear the explanation and take photographs.

The afternoon moves to Pirates Bay and Eaglehawk Neck. There is a short tea and coffee break at the lookout, with views over the coast. This is a welcome pause after the road time and a good place to slow down for a few minutes.

At the Tessellated Pavement, you walk to the water’s edge to see the unusual grid-like rock formations created by natural cracks and erosion. The walk takes about 20 minutes. Wear shoes with a firm grip, since the site is coastal and the rocks are uneven.

The final stop is Tasman National Park, including Tasman’s Arch. The natural arch rises about 90 metres, and the route includes a walk across the arch to a lookout over the cliffs. The guide explains how these coastal formations developed, which gives the scenery more meaning than a quick photo stop.

This is a full day. You get city history, mountain views, vineyards, convict engineering, and dramatic geology, but you will not have much unscheduled time.

Day three: Port Arthur and a night with penguins

Port Arthur Historic Site receives the time it deserves: about three hours with a personal guided tour. That is crucial. Port Arthur is not just a collection of old stone buildings. The site explains how convict transportation worked, how the settlement operated, and how people lived under a severe penal system.

You will see buildings and scenic viewpoints while the guide connects the physical remains to Tasmania’s colonial past. Three hours can still feel brief if you want to read every display, so decide in advance whether you prefer to stay close to the guide or spend some time exploring independently.

After Port Arthur, the group stops at Federation Artisan Chocolate. The chocolates are made on site, and samples are available. This is a short 15-minute visit, best treated as a pleasant tasting break rather than a major attraction.

Port Arthur Lavender follows. You can see the lavender fields and browse products made at the farm, with food, coffee, and snacks also available. Entry is listed as free, but purchases are your own responsibility. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, so you have time to look around without turning it into a long shopping visit.

The route passes Maria Island, with coastal views from Raspins Beach in Orford. The guide explains the island’s convict settlement and its importance as a place with a healthy Tasmanian devil population. This is a viewpoint stop, not a Maria Island excursion, so you will not have time for the island’s walks or a full wildlife visit.

At Spiky Bridge, you see rows of pointed rocks built into a convict-era bridge from the 1840s. The reason for the design remains unexplained, which gives the site its odd charm. The stop is only about 10 minutes, followed by a visit to nearby Spiky Beach for an afternoon break.

The day ends in Bicheno with a guided penguin-spotting outing near the famous blowhole. The small penguins come ashore from the sea, and the schedule allows about 45 minutes. This is a wild-animal sighting, not a guaranteed show, so patience and low expectations are sensible. You are watching creatures return in their natural setting, which is far more rewarding than a staged display, but nature controls the timing.

Day four: wildlife, the Bay of Fires, and local produce

You begin with a daylight visit to Bicheno Blowhole. If the sea conditions cooperate, water can shoot more than 25 feet into the air. The morning stop lasts around 20 minutes and gives you a different look at the same coastal feature seen near the end of the previous day.

East Coast Natureworld is the main wildlife stop. A guided visit of about two hours introduces you to native Tasmanian animals, including animals rescued from the wild or bred at the sanctuary. This gives you a better chance to learn about local species than a quick roadside sighting, especially if you have not had luck spotting wildlife outdoors.

The tour then heads toward the Bay of Fires. The description promises white sand, clear blue water, and rocks colored orange and red by natural lichen. You get about 40 minutes to explore and take photographs. That is enough to appreciate the shoreline, though not enough for a long beach walk or a relaxed swim.

In St Helens, you stop for oysters from Lease 65 Oyster Farm. The tasting focuses on locally produced Pacific oysters and lasts about 15 minutes. If seafood is important to your trip, this is one of the most distinctive inclusions. If you do not eat oysters, it is still a useful pause, but the food value will naturally be lower for you.

Pyengana Dairy comes next, with cheese tasting and a look at the dairy’s automated robotic operation. The visit lasts 30 minutes. It is a good example of the tour’s approach: you are not only tasting a product, you are seeing how it is made and hearing about the working farm behind it.

The road continues through temperate rainforest, with giant myrtle trees and man ferns visible along the drive. This section is mainly scenic rather than a scheduled hike, so keep your camera ready from the vehicle.

At Legerwood Memorial Tree Carvings, you take a coffee break beside a striking war memorial. Chainsaw carvings tell the stories of local men who died in the First World War. The stop lasts 25 minutes and adds a human scale to a day otherwise filled with beaches, wildlife, and food.

Day five: a free morning in Launceston

The final morning is unguided. After checking out by 11 am, you have about three hours to rest or explore Launceston’s mall area and nearby parklands, described as only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel area.

This is a sensible finish. After four early and active days, you can choose a quiet morning instead of rushing through another formal attraction. The trade-off is that the package does not provide a guided Launceston city tour on the final morning, so you will need to make your own plan.

A chairlift ride across the gorge is possible for an additional $15 per person. The ride is not included, so budget for it separately if you want to add that option.

What the meals and tastings add to the price

Food stops are not filler here. The vineyard lunch includes a local produce platter and wine tasting. Chocolate, oysters, and cheese each show a different side of Tasmanian food production, from farm operations to small-batch sweets and coastal seafood.

The package includes three lunches and four breakfasts. It does not state that every dinner or every meal is covered, so you should allow extra money for those. The same applies to personal purchases at the lavender farm, chocolate stop, dairy, and vineyard.

At $1,574.35, the package makes the most sense if you value convenience and want a single arrangement covering hotels, transport, entrances, park fees, and food stops. It is less compelling if you prefer to rent a car, choose your own hotels, and spend several nights in one place.

The small-group style and guide quality

A maximum of 15 people is a major part of the appeal. The route includes many short stops, and a small group can get moving quickly after each one. You also have a better chance of asking questions without competing with a full coachload.

The guide quality appears to be central to the tour’s style. Guides named in the supplied material include Robert, Matt, Carl, and Ben. Robert is described as attentive and strong on local connections, while Ben is noted for being fun, efficient, and caring. Carl is described as polite, friendly, and well organized. Your actual guide may differ, but the consistent pattern is clear: expect the guide to provide much of the tour’s value through stories, timing, and practical help.

The small group also makes this a good fit for solo visitors. The operator says about one-third of its groups are solo guests, which suggests you will not be unusual if you arrive alone. You can meet people naturally during meals, tastings, and short walks without the forced social structure of a large group.

Who should book this east coast tour

I would choose this trip if you have five days, want to cover the eastern half of Tasmania, and do not want to drive yourself. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want a guided introduction to Hobart, Port Arthur, Bicheno, the Bay of Fires, and Launceston.

It also suits you if you enjoy variety. One day brings convict history and coastal geology, another combines Port Arthur with lavender and penguins, and the next mixes wildlife, beaches, rainforest, oysters, and cheese.

You should think twice if you need long walks, late mornings, or deep time in each town. Most stops last between 10 and 45 minutes, with the notable exceptions of Port Arthur, East Coast Natureworld, and the vineyard lunch. The schedule is active, and road time is part of the deal.

Booking requires care because the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after purchase. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Most people can participate, and the tour operates near public transportation, but the supplied details do not describe specific mobility arrangements, so ask before booking if you have access needs.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing Tasmania’s east coast efficiently with a small group, included entry fees, and a guide who brings the island’s stories to life. The combination of Port Arthur, Mount Wellington, the Bay of Fires, wildlife, and local tastings gives you a strong first look at Tasmania.

Skip it if you want a slow beach holiday or complete control over your route. For everyone else, the price is reasonable for the number of inclusions, and the five-day structure saves you the work of arranging hotels, driving, park passes, and individual stops.

FAQ

Where does the Tasmania East Coast Tour begin?

The tour begins in Hobart, Australia. Pickup is offered, and the stated start time is 8:30 am.

Where does the tour finish?

The final morning takes place in Launceston. The morning is unguided, with hotel checkout by 11 am and time to explore nearby city areas and parklands.

How large is the tour group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Accommodation is included, with the first night at the centrally located Mövenpick Hotel in Hobart. The supplied details do not name every hotel used during the five days.

What meals are included?

The package includes four breakfasts and three lunches. It also includes tasting samples of wine, chocolate, cheese, and oysters.

Are attraction and national park fees included?

Yes. Attraction entry fees and national park passes and fees are included.

Is the chairlift ride included?

No. A chairlift ride across the gorge is available for an additional $15 per person.