Travel Tasmania without a car

You don't need a car to see Tasmania – you just need a plan. Here's everything you need to know for car-free travel in Tasmania.

No car? No worries. Getting around Tasmania without a car is easy with a little forward thinking – and often more sociable and sustainable than driving yourself.

Read on for accessible travel options, public transport, taxis and rideshare services, plus tour operators to do the driving for you.

Getting to Hobart and Launceston – airport transfers

Exploring Tasmania without a car starts at the airport. Most visitors touch down in Hobart or Launceston – from here, your first island adventure might be travelling into the city.

Hobart Airport to Hobart City

Hobart Airport is a 20min drive (17km) from the city centre. These transport options will take you into the CBD:

• Bus:  SkyBus operates frequent “turn-up-and-go” services between Hobart Airport and the CBD, seven days a week.
• Taxi:  The taxi rank is right outside the terminal for a quick trip into town.
• Rideshare:  You can Uber from the airport – follow the signs to find the designated rideshare pick-up area outside the terminal.

Launceston Airport to Launceston City

Launceston Airport is just a 15min drive (15km) to the city. Here’s how you can get there:

• Bus:  Take a minibus transfer service to and from the airport with Launceston Airport Shuttles, Wild Island Airport Transfers and Overland Track Transport.
• Taxi:  The taxi rank sits outside the arrivals hall for an easy transfer into Launceston.
• Rideshare:  Meet your Uber at the rideshare pick-up zone, just left of the Arrivals Hall near baggage claim.

Once you’re here, explore more options for getting around with these tips and tricks.

Launceston to Hobart (and vice versa)

Planning on travelling from Hobart to Launceston? How about Launceston to Hobart? Either way, travelling between these two cities involves following the Midland Hwy through rural Tasmania, weaving through charming country towns and farmland. If you’re not driving, the best way to make the 2.5hr trip is on a coach service, where you can sit back and enjoy a few hours of sightseeing.

Coaches and buses

• Kinetic operates daily intercity coach services between Hobart and Launceston, with pick-ups also available at Campbell Town and Ross.
• These services are currently free for all passengers until the end of June.
• Bookings are highly recommended year-round and are essential to guarantee your seat during peak travel periods.
• Passengers using a wheelchair should book 48hrs in advance – that way, a wheelchair lift bus can be allocated to the service.
• Buses depart Hobart from the Hobart Transit Centre on Liverpool Street, with the earliest departure at 6am and the latest at 5.30pm on weekdays.
• Buses leave from various Launceston spots, but the most frequent services are from the Launceston Regional Transit Centre. The earliest departure is at 6am and the latest is at 6.10pm on weekdays.
• Timetables are subject to change – plan your trip via Kinetic’s website.

Private transfers

If you want to travel in style (and are willing to pay a little extra for it) but don’t want to drive yourself, let someone else take the wheel. Door-to-door transfers will take you from Hobart to Launceston with ease.

Perfect for small groups, a driver will collect you from your accommodation and ferry you to your destination in Launceston, so you don’t have to worry about hauling luggage or booking bus tickets. Book with eGuide or Chauffeur Cars Luxury Tours and Transfers.

Getting around Hobart without a car

• Hobart’s CBD is compact and walkable, with a few hilly areas sprinkled around the city to keep things interesting. Salamanca Place, Battery Point, Hobart Waterfront and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery are all close together, so you can lace up your walking shoes and spend a day strolling around the sights, or hop on a bike for a leisurely ride. Red Decker Company will give you a sightseeing bus tour of the city.
  
  
• If you’re travelling beyond the CBD, Metro Tasmania operates daily bus services around greater Hobart. Catch the bus for free if you’re travelling before the end of June 2026. Beyond this, buy a Metro Greencard, preload it with credit and then simply tap on when you board your bus to pay your fare. Plan your trip on the Metro website.
  
  
• Heading up to Kunanyi / Mount Wellington? The Explorer Bus is a dedicated shuttle departing daily from Hobart’s waterfront to the mountain summit. Adult return tickets start from $50, and you can hop-on and hop-off at stops along the way including Fern Tree Park and the Springs.
  
  
• To get to Mona, book a return ticket on a high-speed catamaran departing from Brooke St Pier. This dedicated ferry service takes about 30min each way and tickets start from $30.

• Getting around on the water is one of the better ways to see Hobart. The Derwent Ferry connects the city with Bellerive, Howrah and beyond. For Bruny Island, the SeaLink Ferry runs from Kettering, around 35mins south of Hobart. Walk-on passengers travel free, and the crossing takes about 20mins. Or you can book a guided tour from Hobart. Bruny Island Cruises, Bruny Island Traveller and Bruny Island Safaris will get you there.
  
  
• If you’re making a short journey, e-scooters and e-bikes are available to hire around the city for those aged 16 and older. Download the Beam app to find your nearest set of purple wheels and start riding.
  
  
• Taxi companies operate in greater Hobart. You can pre-book a taxi ahead of time or use the Uber app.

Want to explore further afield? If you’re travelling Tasmania without a car, the best way to get on the road is with a tour company or transfer service. You can make the journey to Bruny Island with City Escape Travel or Aus Walk, and Experience Tasmania operates tours to Port Arthur.

Getting around Launceston without a car

• Walking and cycling trails connect central Launceston with the city’s scenic nature haven: Cataract Gorge. Starting from City Park, follow waterside paths to the river reserve – on foot, this journey takes about 20min.
  
  
• E-scooters and e-bikes are available in some parts of Launceston – download the Beam app, grab a ride and enjoy your two-wheel city tour.
  
  
• Metro provides public buses in greater Launceston, with regular services along the Mowbray, Invermay and Kings Meadow routes. A Greencard is the easiest way to pay for travel, and you can track live bus services via the Metro app – remember, if you’re travelling before the end of June 2026, bus travel is free.
  
  
• Want to stroll through fields of lavender? In summer, dedicated shuttle bus services run from Launceston to Bridestowe Estate, so you can make the 50min trip in style.
  
  
• With Tasmania’s largest wine region just 30mins outside Launceston, join a Tamar Valley hop-on, hop-off tour and be shuttled from cellar door to winery in a minibus.

One of the best ways to get out and about in Launceston is with a group tour or charter service. See the city through the eyes of a local on a walking tour or spend a half-day exploring northern Tasmania’s national parks and National Trust sites.

Bikes

Tasmania is genuinely good cycling country – quiet roads, trail networks putting the island on the global mountain biking map and scenery that distracts from the burn.

If you'd rather someone else handle the route and accommodation planning, try a guided road bike experience with Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours, Tasmanian Expeditions or Green Island Tours. For mountain biking, operators like Into The Wild, Blue Derby Pods Ride and Tasmanian Mountain Bike Adventures run guided rides to popular destinations like Derby and Maydena.

Planes

Par Avion has been running flights into Southwest National Park for more than 30 years, combining aerial access with boat tours through Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. For the east coast, Freycinet Air operates scenic flights over the Freycinet Peninsula. Above and Beyond run seaplane flights from Hobart's waterfront, covering everything from Bruny Island to Port Arthur.

Getting around the rest of Tasmania

If you want to explore beyond Tasmania’s two main cities, there are lots of ways to get around. Your best bet is to book a tour or transfer service like eGuide – these will take you where you need to go, and lots of operators offer bespoke services depending on what you want to see and do. For public transport options, plan your regional journey with Kinetic or Tassielink.

If you’re not driving, major tourist destinations such as Cradle Mountain, Freycinet National Park and the Huon Valley are accessible by transfer or shuttle service. McDermott’s Coaches runs scheduled services between Launceston and Cradle Mountain, and some accommodation providers can arrange private drivers.

Of course, self-driving is still a great option: EV charging and petrol are available and well stocked right across the state. But you don’t need your own car to see the very best of Tasmania. Travelling on foot, aboard public transport, or with tour companies is a great way to lower your carbon footprint, immerse yourself in local life and support local business – you might even make a new travel buddy. Exploring Tasmania without a car helps you save on fuel and spend on the experiences you’re passionate about – so take the window seat and enjoy the slower pace.

Dreaming about your car-free trip to the island? Plan ahead with these top tips on getting here and getting around.