Drive times and distance

Tasmania’s compact size and diverse landscapes make for superb road trips.

Though you can cross the island from Hobart to Launceston in two-and-a-half hours, one of the pleasures of driving in Tasmania is heading down country lanes and taking the time to explore.

With no major freeways and many tempting detours, allow plenty of time to drive between destinations. (Tasmania looks like a small island state, but don’t be fooled. It’s about the size of Ireland.)

Some roads are long and winding and it will be hard to resist pulling over to capture the sweeping views. 

There are five signposted drive journeys to follow – Great Eastern Drive, Western Wilds, Heartlands, Southern Edge and Northern Forage – and a raft of special interest trails covering wine, whisky, produce, convict history and more.

Because wildlife is so abundant, native animals often wander onto the road, particularly between dusk and dawn. Please slow down and take extra care, and avoid driving at these times. 

Find out more information about driving in Tasmania here.

Before heading out on a road trip, here’s a guide to distances and drive times around Tasmania.

Launceston to…

Hobart to…

Burnie to…