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So you’re thinking about travelling to Tasmania? Or maybe you’ve just touched down at Hobart International Airport. Either way, the best way to explore this wild, world-class island is by campervan. You’ll have your accommodation, your kitchen and your freedom, all rolled into one compact Spaceship ready to blast off into the Tasmanian wilderness.
Though it is the smallest state in Australia, Tasmania without a question is one of the most interesting places in the country to do a road trip. Rugged mountain ranges, breathtaking beaches, ancient rainforests, world-famous food and wine, and roads that feel like they were built for road tripping. Pick up your Spaceships campervan in Hobart and the whole island is your oyster!
Visit Cradle Mountain for year round wilderness fun and wombat sightings | Photo by Re Walsh
Picking Up Your Campervan at Hobart Airport
If you’re fresh off the plane and ready to launch, a Spaceships campervan is just what you need. Hobart International Airport (HBA) sits about 17km east of the city centre, roughly a 20-minute drive, and is serviced by direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth with Jetstar, Qantas, Rex and Virgin all flying domestic routes regularly. International flights are available with connections through Auckland International Airport in New Zealand seasonally, or any of the Australian airports mentioned year-round.
Our Hobart depot location makes it easy to pick up your rental campervan right after landing and be on the road before the jetlag even kicks in.
Why Hire a Campervan in Hobart?
Renting a campervan in Hobart makes logistical sense in a way it doesn't everywhere else. The island is perfectly sized for a road trip loop, big enough to keep you busy, small enough that you’re never spending the whole day just driving.
When road tripping around Tassie, some of the best moments are those that are unplanned. The beauty of travelling in a compact Spaceships camper is that you can actually stop for those moments. No need to worry about fitting a giant motorhome onto the shoulder, just find a safe spot and pull over just like a car would.
Camping in Tasmania is also a highlight in itself. With 19 national parks, countless free campsites and some of the most incredible landscapes in the Southern Hemisphere, waking up in a campervan here feels special every single morning. Our 2-berth campervans come set up with everything you need to live comfortably while on the road - a proper bed, bedding, a kitchen with a gas stove, cooking equipment, cutlery, a fridge and plenty of storage. If it’s your first time campervanning, don’t stress. Everything you need is already in there. Just add groceries, clothes and go!
Hire a campervan with everything you need to make a great road trip
When to Visit Hobart (and Tasmania)
Tasmania is a year-round destination, but each month and season has its own vibe. Here’s the mission briefing:
Summer (December - February) is the peak season with long sunlight hours, warm temperatures (average summer highs of 22℃), and some of the major festivals. Taste of Summer is traditionally run over the New Year period bringing fireworks and a week long celebration of Tasmania's people and produce, while the Sydney to Hobart yacht race runs annually on the 26th of December making Hobart buzz with excitement.
Autumn (March - May) is the perfect time to visit. The crowds thin out, the leaf-shedding trees in places like the Huon Valley turn every shade of orange and red, and shoulder season pricing starts to kick in for most tourism activities. As the nights cool down, you’ll appreciate your campervans cosy setup even more.
Winter (June - August) is for the brave and brilliant. Tasmania in winter is moody and dramatic while still being jaw-droppingly beautiful. Snow on the mountains, fog in the valleys and warm log fires burning at almost every pub you stop at. The Aurora Australis is sometimes visible on clear nights which is a true cosmic bonus!
Spring (September - November) brings wildflowers, baby wildlife and slightly unpredictable weather. It’s a great time to have some of the popular spots almost to yourself before the summer rush hits.
Explore the beautiful Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park | Photo by Josh Fotheringham
Fun Things to Do in and Around Hobart
Don’t let Hobart's size fool you. As Australia’s second oldest city, it’s got history, culture, incredible art and a stunning natural backdrop. Give it a couple of days to explore:
MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) - Catch the scenic ferry from Hobart or take the 20-minute drive north to arrive at MONA, this place will be unlike any museum you’ve ever been to. It’s provocative, weird and wonderful all at the same time and the kind of place you’ll experience eclectic, often controversial, contemporary art alongside ancient antiquities. If you’re visiting in June, you’re in luck. Dark Mofo, MONA’s midwinter festival, transforms Hobart into something between a fever dream and a cultural journey.
Kunanyi / Mount Wellington - Drive 20 minutes up the winding Pinnacle Road to the top and prepare for one of the best views in Australia. On a clear day you can see the whole island spread out below you like a map. On a cloudy day you're basically flying amongst the clouds, which a Spaceships traveller should feel right at home with.
Salamanca Market (Saturday mornings) - A Hobart classic filled with local produce, craft beer, Tasmanian cheese, handmade goods, everything! It’s a weekend must do - one of Tasmania's most visited attractions.
Battery Point - Wander the historic streets of one of Australia’s best preserved colonial villages located just a quick 20-minute walk away from the CBD.
Bruny Island - A short drive south of Hobart and a vehicle ferry ride away is one of Tasmania’s greatest day trips. Visit to immerse yourself in the wilderness, see penguins and rare white wallabies or try some cheese from the famous Bruny Island Cheese Company.
The Huon Valley - Head south and wind through apple orchards and rivers to places like Geeveston and Cockle Creek (the southernmost drivable point in Australia).
Visit the iconic Bay of Fires, Tasmania | Photo by Autumn Afar
Road Tripping Beyond Hobart - Explore All of Tasmania
If Hobart is your launchpad, then Tasmania is the full mission! This island is full of surprises, there’s so much to see that we’ve written a full Tasmanian road trip loop guide, but here’s a quick taste of what’s waiting beyond the city limits:
- Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay (2.5 hours drive from Hobart) - One of the world’s great beaches.
- Bay of Fires (4 hours drive from Hobart) - Stunning bays where rust-red lichen grows on white granite boulders.
- Cradle Mountain (4 hours drive from Hobart) - UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park known for its towering 1,545m peak, glacial lakes like Dove Lake and unique wildlife like wombats.
- Port Arthur Historic Site (1.5 hours drive from Hobart) - A haunting, yet brilliantly preserved convict settlement with a side of coastal beauty.
- Strahan & Queenstown (5 hours drive from Hobart) - The wild west coast. Queenstown’s lunar looking landscape and Strahan’s Gordon River cruises are worth the visit.
- Launceston & the Tamar Valley (2.5 hours drive from Hobart) - Tasmania’s second city has a great food & wine scene and the Cataract Gorge is right in the middle of town.
Spaceships tip: Do the Tassie loop, it's great! But the road trip doesn’t have to end there. Tasmania can actually either be the beginning or the end of a much bigger adventure. Head to Devonport, jump on the Spirit of Tasmania, and be on your merry way to mainland Australia. Arrive in Geelong (1 hour from Melbourne) and the rest is up to you! Spaceships Rentals has depots all over Australia so you can keep the journey going wherever the road takes you. And because our campervans are 2-berth vehicles, they cost the same as a regular car to take on the ferry. More money for the road ahead, yay!
Alternatively, treat Hobart as your endpoint and take the ferry from the mainland saving the loop of Tassie as the grand finale of your epic Australian road trip. However you choose to do it, Tasmania fits beautifully into a much bigger #SpaceshipsRoadTrip.
Don’t Make This Mistake While Travelling Tasmania
Tasmania looks small on a map of Australia, and technically it is, you could actually fit the whole island into Queensland about 25 times. But don’t let that fool you. Tasmania is bigger than most people expect when they actually get here, and the last thing you want is to be one of those travellers that didn’t give it enough time. A rushed 3 or 4 day dash around the highlights will leave you feeling like you only scratched the surface, and that’s because you did. You could easily spend a few weeks in Tassie indulging in all it has to offer and even then, there’ll be something you missed that’ll have you planning a return trip before you’ve even left.
So when you’re booking your campervan hire in Hobart, do yourself a favour and book a few days more than you think you need, you’ll be grateful!
West Coast sunsets in Strahan, Tasmania | Photo by Paul Carmona
How to Camp in Tasmania
Firstly, get yourself a Tasmania Parks Pass. If you’re planning to visit any of the 19 national parks in Tasmania (and you absolutely should), grab a Tasmania Parks Pass online. It covers entry to all of Tasmania’s national parks for a set period and saves you paying individually each time. Given how many parks you’ll want to explore, it’s really a no-brainer. The best part is that many of Tasmania’s national parks also have free or low-cost camping within them, meaning your parks pass does double duty.
The recommended Spaceships camping app, CamperMate, is essentially a cheat code for road tripping and camping in Australia. It maps out all the free and low-cost campsites, dump points, public showers and more. It makes it easy to get the most out of your trip without blowing the budget.
Driving in Tasmania - Tips Before You Go
Tassie is a joy to drive with winding roads, some steep, some narrow and little traffic outside of peak summer. The road trip scenery makes every drive feel like the last scene of a very good movie. Here are a couple things to know before hitting the road:
- Speed limits and road rules are the same as mainland Australia. Typically 50km/h in residential and urban areas and up to 100km/h on rural roads. Keep an eye on signage, respect school zones and don’t push your luck on the one-way bridges.
- Distances can be deceptive. Roads in Tasmania aren’t always highways. An 80km drive could take 2 hours on a winding road and you’ll likely want to stop often, so don’t forget to build in extra time.
- Wildlife likes to wander about, especially at dawn and dusk. Tasmania has the highest rate of roadkill per capita in Australia, and that’s not a statistic anyone is proud of. Wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, pademelons, they’re all out and about as the sun comes up and goes down. Take it easy when the lights low and keep your eyes on the road.
It's time to hit the road in Australia!
Ready for Liftoff?
You’ve got the map and the mission briefing, all you need now is the Spaceship. Tasmania is waiting for you in all its wild, weird and completely wonderful ways and a Spaceships campervan is your ticket to explore every corner of it.
Houston, there is no problem here. Just a road trip ready for lift off.
