Tasmania East Coast Highlights — Self-Launched Edition (Launceston to Hobart, 5 Days)
5 days · Tasmania, Australia
AAT Kings charges £1,260
No-markup version: ~£470 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of AAT Kings' guided coach tour along Tasmania's east coast, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll self-drive or ride public/shuttle transport from Launceston through Bicheno and Freycinet National Park, then on to Hobart via Richmond and Port Arthur. Fixed on the itinerary are the real highlights: Cataract Gorge, Bridestowe Lavender Farm, the Legerwood carved trees, Freycinet's Wineglass Bay lookout, historic Richmond, the Port Arthur penal settlement, and the Tasman Peninsula's coastal blowholes and arches. All accommodation has been swapped to hostels, motels, and budget cabins, and every stop uses self-bookable or walk-up options. Costs are approximate 2024/2025 backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Launceston — Cataract Gorge & the Tamar
Launceston
Fly or take a regional bus into Launceston and check into a central hostel or budget motel — everything in the CBD is walkable. Spend the late afternoon exploring Cataract Gorge, a 15-minute walk from the centre: ride the scenic chairlift across the basin (£10-14 return), walk the Zig Zag Track to First Basin, and watch for peacocks. Pick up an evening meal on Charles Street, then log onto Tasmania's public transport apps and Metro Tasmania timetables to plan the next days. If you don't have a car, book a seat on a Freycinet/east-coast day shuttle or the Tassielink intercity bus for tomorrow.
🚌Local bus or taxi from Launceston Airport to CBD (~£15); everything central is walkable
🛏Hostel or budget motel in Launceston CBD (dorm £22-28, private £55-75)
- →Cataract Gorge walk and Basin lookouts
- →Scenic chairlift ride at Cataract Gorge (self-bookable, ~£12)
- →City Park and Charles Street food strip
Launceston to Bicheno — Lavender Fields & Carved Trees
Bicheno
Head east today. If driving, hire a car in Launceston (from £35-45/day including insurance) or book a Tassielink coach. First stop is Bridestowe Lavender Farm at Nabowla (entry ~£8-10 peak season, Dec-Jan flowering) — this is where the original tour's lavender visit happens, so it's fully doable independently. Continue via Scottsdale to the tiny town of Legerwood, where the memorial trees are carved with intricate WWI digger figures — a free roadside stop. Overnight in Bicheno, a small seaside town. In the evening join a self-booked penguin viewing experience at the Bicheno blowhole area (Bicheno Penguin Tours, ~£18-25) to see little penguins come ashore at dusk.
🚌Hire car from Launceston (split between travellers) or Tassielink coach Launceston-Bicheno
🛏Bicheno motel, cabin, or hostel (dorm/hostel £25-35, cabin £60-85)
- →Bridestowe Lavender Farm visit
- →Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees
- →Little penguins twilight viewing at Bicheno (self-bookable, ~£20)
- →Bicheno Blowhole
Freycinet National Park — Wineglass Bay — Richmond — Hobart
Coles Bay / Freycinet National Park to Hobart via Richmond
Start early for Freycinet National Park. Park entry is ~£20 per vehicle (or buy a Tasmanian Parks Pass). Walk the Wineglass Bay Lookout track (1-1.5 hrs return, moderate), and if you have time add the Hazards Beach circuit or continue down to the beach itself. If you're without a car, day tours from Bicheno/Coles Bay or the Coles Bay shuttle can drop you at the car park (~£25-40). Afterwards drive south to historic Richmond — free to wander, with Australia's oldest stone bridge (1823) and a colonial gaol (£6-8 entry). Continue into Hobart for the evening. A welcome-to-country / bush tucker experience with palawa guides can be booked independently via local Aboriginal tourism operators in Hobart or on Bruny Island (from ~£60) if you want to recreate the original tour's cultural component.
🚌Self-drive between Bicheno, Freycinet, Richmond and Hobart; or Tassielink coach Bicheno-Hobart with a Coles Bay detour
🛏Hobart hostel or budget hotel (dorm £25-32, private £60-90)
- →Wineglass Bay Lookout hike, Freycinet NP
- →Hazards Beach and Coles Bay (optional)
- →Richmond historic village and convict bridge
- →Optional palawa-operator bush tucker experience (self-booked, ~£60)
Port Arthur & the Tasman Peninsula
Port Arthur / Tasman Peninsula (overnight in Hobart)
Day trip to the Tasman Peninsula. Either self-drive (~1.5 hrs from Hobart) or join a self-booked Port Arthur day tour with hotel pickup (GetYourGuide/Viator range £60-95, includes entry). Port Arthur Historic Site entry (£25-30, includes site and harbour cruise) covers the convict-era ruins, the Separate Prison and the Isle of the Dead option. On the drive out and back, stop at the natural highlights the original tour includes: Tasman's Arch and Devil's Kitchen blowhole at Eaglehawk Neck — both free roadside lookouts. Note the honest reviews of the original tour: several travellers said Port Arthur felt rushed. Give yourself a full day so you're not sprinting to the ruins. Return to Hobart in the evening.
🚌Self-drive Tasman Highway (~1.5 hrs each way) or self-booked day tour with Hobart hotel pickup
🛏Hobart hostel or budget hotel (dorm £25-32, private £60-90)
- →Port Arthur Historic Site self-guided entry and harbour cruise
- →Tasman's Arch lookout
- →Devil's Kitchen blowhole
- →Eaglehawk Neck (Tessellated Pavement)
Hobart — Salamanca, MONA & Farewell
Hobart
Spend the final day in Hobart at your own pace. Start with Salamanca Market if it's a Saturday, then explore Battery Point and Constitution Dock for food. The original tour's farewell dinner can be replaced with a great independent meal at one of Hobart's waterfront restaurants or the Salamanca food strip. If time allows, catch the MONA ferry and visit the Museum of Old and New Art (£30 entry + ~£23 ferry). Finish by coordinating onward flights or the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Devonport if you're continuing onward. Transfers to Hobart Airport: SkyBus ~£18-20.
🚌Local buses/taxis; SkyBus to Hobart Airport (~£19)
🛏Hobart hostel or budget hotel (dorm £25-32, private £60-90)
- →Salamanca Market (Saturdays)
- →Battery Point and Constitution Dock
- →Optional MONA museum via ferry (~£53 combo)
- →Farewell dinner, self-choiced
Self-launched vs. AAT Kings
| This itinerary (self-launched) | AAT Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£470 | £1,260 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £790 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more AAT Kings-style trips? Check them out here.~£470
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Tasmania East Coast Highlights — Self-Launched Edition (Launceston to Hobart, 5 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £470 per person for 5 days in Tasmania, Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with AAT Kings?+
Yes — AAT Kings charges around £1,260 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £470 — a saving of roughly £790 (63%) per person.
How long is the Tasmania, Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Tasmania, Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Tasmania, Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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