The East Coast in Three Days
Three days is the sweet spot — a day-by-day plan north from Orford to the Bay of Fires, taking in car-free Maria Island, oysters, Bicheno’s penguins and quiet beaches.
The East Coast in Three Days
Three days is the sweet spot for Tasmania’s East Coast — long enough to catch the icons, short enough to keep the pace easy. This plan runs north from Orford to the Bay of Fires, with a car-free island, a town of oysters and penguins, and a finish among the coast’s most famous boulders. Drive it the other way from Launceston if that suits — the stops are the same.
An island, oysters, penguins at dusk and orange granite — the whole coast in three easy days.
Day by Day
Orford & Maria Island
Drive to Triabunna and ferry across to car-free Maria Island — convict ruins, painted cliffs and wombats. Overnight near Swansea.
Swansea to Bicheno
Oysters on Great Oyster Bay and the Spiky Bridge, then Bicheno’s blowhole and little penguins at dusk.
St Helens & Bay of Fires
North to Georges Bay and the flame-orange boulders of the Bay of Fires from Binalong Bay.
Make It Flow
- Book the Maria Island ferry from Triabunna — check current times
- Base midway (Swansea or Bicheno) night one, St Helens night two
- Time Bicheno for dusk to catch the little penguins
- Save the Bay of Fires for late-afternoon light
- Have longer? Add Freycinet midway — see East Coast vs Freycinet
- Prefer guided? See our Great Eastern Drive tour
Three Days — FAQ
Can you see the East Coast in three days?
Comfortably — three days covers the highlights of the Great Eastern Drive without rushing: Maria Island, Swansea, Bicheno’s penguins and the Bay of Fires. For a stop-by-stop version see our itinerary.
Where should you stay for three days on the East Coast?
A common rhythm is a night near Swansea or Bicheno midway, then a night at St Helens for the Bay of Fires. See where to stay for options along the coast.
Should you add Freycinet to a three-day trip?
You can — Freycinet sits midway on the route — but three days is tight to do it justice. Weigh it up in East Coast vs Freycinet, or see the Freycinet guide.
Which way should you drive it?
From Hobart, start at Orford and head north to St Helens; from Launceston, start at St Helens and drive south. See getting around for logistics.
Can you do a three-day trip as a tour?
Yes — we can plan and drive the whole trip. See our Great Eastern Drive tour or private East Coast tours, or just enquire.
East Coast, Planned Around You
The Great Eastern Drive, the Bay of Fires and Maria Island, penguins at Bicheno and oysters by the water — with the driving and bookings handled by the family that’s toured Australia since 1974.
Call 0409 661 342 Plan My Trip — Free Enquiry