Tasmania Circuit

Getting there

The Spirit of Tasmania ferry crosses Bass Strait between Geelong (Victoria) and Devonport, taking your rig across with you — book well ahead in summer, sailings sell out weeks in advance in peak season.

The loop

A circuit from Devonport taking in the east coast (Freycinet, Bicheno), Hobart and the south, the wilderness west coast around Strahan, and Cradle Mountain in the north — a genuine cross-section of the island in three to four unhurried weeks.

Weather expectations

Tasmania runs noticeably cooler than the mainland and genuinely can deliver four seasons in one day regardless of the month — pack a proper rain layer and warm gear even for a summer visit. November–March gives the mildest, driest window.

Worth building time around

Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, the Salamanca Market in Hobart (Saturdays), and Cradle Mountain's Dove Lake circuit are the three most commonly mentioned highlights among lappers who've done this loop.

Wineglass Bay

Cradle Mountain

Booking the ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania takes bookings well over a year ahead, and summer sailings (particularly around Christmas and the January school holidays) sell out early — if your dates are fixed, book the crossing before you finalise anything else about this leg. Off-peak crossings (autumn and winter) are considerably easier to secure and cheaper, another reason this loop works well as a shoulder-season trip rather than only a summer one, despite November–March being the most comfortable weather window.

Why it's usually its own trip

Tasmania doesn't connect by road to the rest of the lap the way every other route on this site does — the ferry crossing is a genuine trip in itself, both in cost and logistics, which is why most lappers treat it as a dedicated three-to-four week loop rather than folding it into a longer mainland leg. Some do it before starting the Big Lap proper, others save it for partway through as a change of pace from the outback heat.

Our Booking Concierge service can handle the Spirit of Tasmania booking directly if you'd rather not chase sailing dates yourself. See Services & Pricing for the full list.

What to bring that the mainland doesn't require

Pack for genuinely cold, wet weather regardless of season — a proper waterproof outer layer and warm layers underneath are non-negotiable, not optional extras. Firewood restrictions apply in many camping areas to prevent the spread of plant disease between regions, so check current rules before collecting or bringing your own. Fuel is more expensive on the island than the mainland average, worth factoring into the budget for this leg specifically.