Getting Around the East Coast
A self-drive coast where the Great Eastern Drive links the towns on one easy road — with Hobart and Launceston as gateways, and a ferry across to car-free Maria Island.
Getting Around the East Coast
Tasmania’s East Coast is a self-drive coast: the Great Eastern Drive links the towns along one easy, scenic road, and a car gives you the freedom to stop for beaches, oysters and lookouts whenever the mood takes you. The southern end around Orford is about an hour from Hobart, with St Helens further north, while Launceston is the easier gateway to the top of the coast. The one place you leave the car behind is car-free Maria Island, reached by ferry from Triabunna.
Ways to Get Around
Self-Drive
Hire a car in Hobart or Launceston and follow the Great Eastern Drive along the coast.
Hobart & Launceston
Orford anchors the south, about an hour from Hobart; Launceston reaches the north.
Maria Island Ferry
Leave the car at Triabunna and cross to the national-park island by passenger ferry.
Guided Tours
Prefer not to drive? A guided tour handles the road and the bookings.
Getting-Around Tips
- Hire a car at Hobart or Launceston airport — check current rates
- Fill up in larger towns — fuel stops thin out along the coast
- For Maria Island, park at Triabunna and check current ferry times
- Not keen to drive? See our day tour from Hobart
- Following the whole coast? See the Great Eastern Drive
Getting Around — FAQ
How do you get around Tasmania’s East Coast?
The easiest way is to self-drive: hire a car in Hobart or Launceston and follow the Great Eastern Drive, which links the coastal towns on one road. Prefer not to drive? We run guided East Coast tours.
Do you need a car on the East Coast?
Effectively yes — public transport is limited and the beaches, lookouts and towns are spread along the coast, so a car gives the most freedom. The alternative is a guided day tour from Hobart or a private tour.
How do you get to Maria Island?
Maria Island is a car-free national park reached by passenger ferry from Triabunna, so you leave the car on the mainland. Ferry times change with the season, so check current details before you go. See Maria Island.
How far is the East Coast from Hobart?
The southern gateway of Orford is about an hour from Hobart, with Swansea, Bicheno and St Helens progressively further north up the coast. From Launceston, the top of the coast is the easier approach.
Can you visit the East Coast without driving?
Yes — a guided tour lets someone else handle the road and the bookings. See our day tour from Hobart or private East Coast tours.
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