Hobart's geography is unusual for a capital city. It has no motorways and no ring roads, which means the traffic clears the moment you leave the suburbs,  and the moment you leave the suburbs, you're in farmland or forest. The depot at 7 Gordon Street, Sorell puts you on the doorstep of both the Tasman Peninsula (30 km east) and the Tasman Highway (A3) north to the east coast. Within 3 hours of pick-up you can be parked at Freycinet, Port Arthur, or Mount Field. Travellers staying in hotels in Hobart central spend up to an hour each way commuting to trailheads in hired cars; in a campervan, you park next to the trail and wake up already there.

The route that only works by campervan in Tasmania is the full island loop, It's one of the top road trips in Australia by campervan and it covers all of Tasmania's major landscapes without backtracking, but only makes logistical sense if your accommodation moves with you. Specific campgrounds en route that are worth booking ahead: Fortescue Bay (Tasman NP), Richardson's Beach (Freycinet), Discovery Holiday Parks Launceston, Cradle Mountain Campground, and Strahan Holiday Retreat on Henty Road.

Here's what sets Indie Campers apart from other Hobart hire companies:

Unlimited kilometres:  Tasmania is small but the roads are slow and winding. A full island loop easily covers 1,200–1,400 km. 

One-way hire across 70+ locations:  Pick up in Hobart, drop off in other major Australian Hub. 

24/7 road assistance:  Included on every booking. Remote Tasmanian roads, patchy cell service, and unpredictable weather make this worth having. If something goes wrong at 11 pm near Queenstown or Cockle Creek, you have someone to call.

Basic Protection Plan included :  Covered from day one. Optional upgrade plans available at booking for reduced excess liability.

Flexible cancellation:  Cancel up to 31 days before pick-up without penalty.

Book now, pay later:  Secure the vehicle today; full payment isn't due until closer to departure.

Rated 4.7 stars from 73,000+ travellers — Reviews from people who've actually driven these vehicles in Tasmania, not a curated sample. Readreal Australia road trip stories from Indie Campers customers to see what past Hobart hirers say.

Summer (December–February) Temperatures: 17–23°C (63–22.8 °C) The east coast beaches are swimmable, Wineglass Bay gets its turquoise-water postcard look, and daylight runs until 9:30 pm. School holidays (late December through late January) push campground demand to its peak ,  Freycinet and Fortescue Bay book out 6–8 weeks in advance. Popular seafood season in the Huon Valley; look for fresh Atlantic salmon and abalone at farm-gate stalls south of Huonville. Best for: Beach hikers, families, first-time Tasmania visitors who want guaranteed good weather. Skip if: You want quiet trails or walk-in campground availability. The first three weeks of January are genuinely crowded.

Autumn (March–May) Temperatures: 9–18°C (48–17.8 °C) The Fagus ,  Nothofagus gunnii, Australia's only native deciduous tree,  turns gold and orange across the Central Highlands from mid-April to early May. Cradle Mountain sees the colour at its best in late April. Trails are emptier, campgrounds are bookable with 1–2 weeks' notice, and the light is exceptional in the mornings. The Apple Isle lives up to its name: apple orchards in the Huon Valley are harvesting March–May. Best for: Photographers, hikers, anyone who tried to come in January and couldn't get a campsite. Skip if: You plan to swim. Water temperatures drop fast after March.

Winter (June–August) Temperatures: 3–12°C (37–12.2 °C) Snow closes the road to Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain some weeks and the Tarn Shelf road at Mount Field regularly. But Dark Mofo (June) brings 100,000+ visitors to Hobart for two weeks of mid-winter arts — the Winter Feast on Salamanca Lawns, the Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach on 22 June, and large-scale light installations across the CBD. Walk-in campground availability at most sites. Heating accessories for your campervan are worth booking — Indie Campers offers heating equipment add-ons. Best for: Festival-goers, people who want Cradle Mountain snow and empty tracks, Hobart's bar and restaurant scene at its winter best. Skip if: You're set on completing the Wineglass Bay to Hazard Beach walk, which requires good footwear and dry weather.

Spring (September–November) Temperatures: 8–17°C (46–17.2 °C) Wildflowers hit the Hartz Mountains and the alpine plains from September. Cradle Mountain roads reopen as snow clears. Waterfalls are at full flow — Russell Falls at Mount Field is at its most dramatic after winter rain. Campgrounds are quiet, prices are at their lowest, and the island green is intense after winter. Spring can deliver four seasons in a single day — pack accordingly. Best for: Hikers, waterfall chasers, budget travellers. Skip if: You want reliable beach weather; ocean temperatures don't recover until December.

The most popular months for Hobart campervan hire are December, January, and April.

Fuel Stations

• United Petroleum Sorell — Cnr Cole and Fitzroy Streets, Sorell. Fill up here before leaving — it's the last large-format petrol station before the Tasman Peninsula and one of the more competitive prices in the region. ⚑ Average diesel: ~$1.80–2.10/litre (prices fluctuate significantly in Tasmania; global average mid-2025 was $1.82/litre for Octane-95).
• Coles Express Bridgewater — 12 Main Road, Bridgewater. Convenient stop before heading northwest to Cradle Mountain via the Midlands Highway.
• Geeveston BP — 31 Church Street, Geeveston. Last fuel stop before Cockle Creek and the far south — fill up here.
• Derwent Bridge Hotel — Lyell Highway, Derwent Bridge. Remote stop on the Cradle Mountain–Hobart run. More expensive than Hobart (expect a 15–25c/litre premium), but no alternative for 100 km in either direction.
• Queenstown United — 14 Orr Street, Queenstown. Fill here before or after the 99 Bends. No fuel for 90 km east to Derwent Bridge.

Tasmania has no toll roads.

Dump Stations

• Sorell Council Dump Station — Arthur Highway (A9), Sorell. Free, 24/7.
• Discovery Holiday Parks Hobart — 1 Copping Road, Mornington. Open to non-guests for a fee; call ahead.
• Freycinet National Park — Coles Bay township, behind the general store.
• Cradle Mountain Visitor Precinct — Near the shuttle bus car park.
• Strahan Holiday Retreat — Available to campers.

Tasmania has no propane bottle-swap infrastructure comparable to mainland Australia. The Adventure Tent and Active van ranges use gas canisters available at most hardware stores and camping shops (Anaconda in Hobart CBD, BCF Hobart on Argyle Street).

Essential Apps

For a deeper breakdown of the best apps for Australian road trips, the essential camping apps for Australian road trips guide covers the full list with platform notes.

• WikiCamps Australia — Best for locating dump stations, free camps, and caravan parks in real time. Download the offline Tasmania database before leaving Hobart.
• AllTrails — Download the South Tasmania and North Tasmania map packs offline before entering Freycinet or Cradle Mountain.
• Tasmania Parks and Wildlife — Official closures, park pass purchase, and campground booking links.
• GasBuddy — Limited coverage in Tasmania but useful for Hobart metro fuel price comparisons.
• Drives — Five official Tasmanian scenic drive routes with GPS waypoints and stop descriptions.

Minimum age: 21 years. 

driver's licence: A valid Australian or international driver's licence is required. International visitors whose licence is not in English must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP). Licences from all countries are accepted.

Tasmania National Parks Pass: If you're visiting more than two parks (you will be), the Holiday Pass is the right choice,  $93.15 per vehicle, valid 8 weeks, covers all 19 Tasmanian national parks. Buy online at parks.tas.gov.au before you arrive. The 24-hour vehicle day pass is $46.60,  it becomes uneconomical after two days.

Cradle Mountain Shuttle: Not included in the parks pass. The shuttle bus from the Visitor Centre to Dove Lake runs during peak season and costs approximately $16 return per adult. Budget for it separately.

Parks Campground Reservations: Tasmania's national park campgrounds book through Parks Tasmania (parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/booking-a-campsite). Set up an account before leaving home. Fortescue Bay and Richardson's Beach at Freycinet are the two that require the most advance planning in summer. Most other parks campgrounds can be booked 1–3 weeks out, except during school holidays.

Wildlife on roads: Tasmania has no large predators — but it does have an enormous number of marsupials. Wombats in particular cause serious vehicle damage at speed. Your insurance may exclude wildlife collisions from standard cover; check your protection plan carefully and consider upgrading if you're driving at night.

Speed Limits

• Urban areas: 50 km/h (some inner-city streets, 40 km/h)
• Open rural highways: 100 km/h
• School zones: 40 km/h when children are present
• Unsealed roads: 80 km/h maximum, but conditions often dictate much slower

Speed cameras operate on the Midlands Highway (A1) and the Southern Outlet (A6) — point-to-point cameras are installed between Hobart and Launceston. Police enforce heavily on the east coast during summer school holidays.

campervan-Specific

• Height: Most Tasmanian road tunnels and bridges are well-clearanced,  not a significant concern. The major hazard is low-hanging branches on unsealed roads and caravan parks with canopy trees.
• Length: Fortescue Bay and Richardson's Beach campgrounds enforce a max vehicle length of 8 m. Cradle Mountain Campground has length restrictions on some sites.
• Wildlife crossings: Highest risk from 30 minutes before sunset to 2 hours after sunrise. Reduce speed to 60–70 km/h on rural roads during these windows. Wombats are especially dangerous,  slow-moving and solid. Wallabies and pademelons bound unpredictably.

BAC limit: 0.05% for Australian licence holders; 0.00% for learner or provisional drivers. First-offence DUI fine varies by level but starts at approximately $1,000 and can reach $3,000+ depending on reading, plus potential loss of licence.

Hobart → Melbourne — Via Spirit of Tasmania from Devonport to Geelong. The ferry departs Devonport most days; the Geelong terminal is 75 km southwest of Melbourne city. From Melbourne, Victoria's Great Ocean Road is one of the most popular follow-on routes — 243 km of cliff-hugging coastline starting at Torquay. The Sydney to Melbourne road trip is another natural continuation heading north through Victoria and into New South Wales.

Hobart → Perth — Melbourne then west across the Nullarbor. Allow 5–6 driving days from Geelong to Perth. A serious undertaking and one of the great Australian drives.

One-way fees vary by route and season. Confirm availability and pricing at the time of booking.