Love road-tripping? This one is for you! Enjoy a Tasmanian Heartlands 3 to 4 day circular road trip itinerary that loops from Hobart through the Central Highlands to Launceston (or Devonport) and back again. It’s designed to capture Tasmania’s historic charm, alpine wilderness, and vineyard regions – with pretty villages such as Bothwell and the Central Highlands as your scenic heart stop.
TLDR;
- Explore Tasmania’s Scenic Heartlands in 3-4 Days: This circular road trip from Hobart through Tasmania’s beautiful landscapes offers historic villages, alpine wilderness, and vineyard regions, perfect for families seeking adventure and relaxation.
- Day 1 Highlights: From Hobart to New Norfolk and Salmon Ponds: Travel along the Derwent River to New Norfolk, enjoy antique shopping and a historical pub lunch, then visit Salmon Ponds to see Tasmania’s oldest trout hatchery and maybe spot a platypus.
- Discover Central Highlands’ Natural Beauty on Day 2: Drive into alpine wilderness, explore the Steppes Sculptures, have lunch by Great Lake, and stay overnight at Ratho Farm, enjoying star-gazing in Tasmania’s clearest night skies.
- Art, Caves, and Local Flavors in Launceston & Midlands: Visit Deloraine’s artisan studios, explore Mole Creek caves, and sample Tasmania’s finest honey before enjoying boutique stays and culinary delights like local lamb or trout.
- Day 4: Historic Towns and Return to Hobart via the Midlands: Travel through charming towns like Evandale, Ross, and Oatlands, admire heritage architecture, and finish the trip back in Hobart, completing the scenic loop with plenty of sightseeing opportunities.
The Tasmanian Heartlands Loop: Travelling from Hobart to Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Launceston, Midlands & return to Hobart
Best for: Couples, small groups, or road trippers who love heritage villages, food & wine, and wild beauty.
From Hobart to the Derwent Valley and onto Bothwell
Day 1
Distance: ~120 km
Drive Time: 1.5–2 hrs plus allow time for perusals, ponderings and fossicking. This cruisy drive to New Norfolk is about 32 km from Hobart, that will take you along the Derwent River, via the winding Lyell Highway.
Highlights & Stops: Get ready for a countryside escape that just might take your breath away…
Here, the seasons here are distinct, featuring grand trees on the riverbanks and throughout the town. In colder months, the mornings are foggy and still, so no matter what time of year you visit you’ll find charm in this little regional town
New Norfolk: Riverside coffee stop and dive into the explosion of antiques and household useful bits and pieces at the The Drill Hall Emporium. Self proclaimed as the most treasured antique store in Tasmania, this emporium is a source of passion and a constant quest for its owners. Both sisters who started the business in the 1990’s, is a testament to their endurance in a world that’s become fast and flimsy with well worn, loved and treasured items that have withstood the test of time. And often with numerous owners! We’d be surprised if you leave empty handed with yet another treasure to adorn in your home. If you’ve left it late, or have been rummaging and its almost lunch time, stop right here.
There’s a cracking recommendation for lunch, at the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia, The Bush Inn. Established in 1815, it offers its guests a unique and authentic experience. Warm fires, great food and service with extensive Tasmanian cool-climate wines, gin and spirits lists.
On to Salmon Ponds where the world’s oldest trout hatchery built in 1861 set in original 19th century English style public gardens. Linger to discover the first Brown and Rainbow Trout in the southern hemisphere were raised here in 1864 which became the base stock of streams and lakes in Australia and New Zealand.
It’ll be hard to drag anglers away from here. Also if you’ve never seen a platypus which is arguably the world’s most unusual creature, cross your fingers and hope you might catch a glimpse of this duck/beaver/otter critter all rolled into one. A semi-aquatic mammal that lays eggs and is only found in eastern Australia, beware of the males with their venomous spur on the back of their hind feet. The pain is excruciating if spiked.
Hamilton: Step back in time with Georgian cottages and local crafts. Hamilton is a small, historic village nestled in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, about 73 km northwest of Hobart, with a population of just over 240! But still worth a stop to admire the architecture of that period. It is celebrated for its beautifully preserved Georgian and early Victorian stone architecture. Convict-built buildings like St Peter’s Church (notable for having only one door) dominate the town. Glen Clyde House, a restored convict-era coaching inn,
Onto Bothwell now the gateway to Central Highlands and home to golf, whisky, and country charm. It’s here we highly recommend you say at Ratho Farm with its heritage cottages, farm-to-table dining, and trout fishing by the Clyde River.
Here’s a dinner tip too: Try local lamb or trout paired with a glass of Tasmanian pinot at Ratho Farm’s homestead. We trust it’s still on the menu! Ending the 1st day of the Tasmanian Heartlands Loop.
Day 2 of Tasmanian Heartlands Loop
Bothwell to Central Highlands (Miena / Great Lake)
Distance: 40 km
Drive Time: 35 – 40 min
Climb the Highland Lakes Road (A5) into Tasmania’s alpine wilderness. Feel the air cool as you pass through rolling pasture into open highland plains. Your first stop could be Steppes historic site, located on the Lake Highway (A5) about 35 kilometres north-west of Bothwell.
Highlights:
Steppes Stones & Sculptures: Is a moving outdoor artwork honouring early settlers, the Steppes Sculptures are a cluster of 14 bronze sculptures on a circle of large stones in the middle of a forest. These sculptures were created and gifted by Stephen Walker, each piece representing something from the area, either natural or of historical significance.
Great Lake Hotel (Miena) is a perfect pitstop for lunch with a lake view. Great Lake is renowned for being the highest lake in Australia. Hence it gets quite cold here with snow many months of the year.
Liawenee Canal: Spot wild trout or walk short trails along the water.
Stay:
Ratho Farm (return base, if you prefer heritage comfort).
Evening: Watch the stars – the Central Highlands offer some of Tasmania’s clearest night skies. Ending the 2nd day of the Tasmanian Heartlands Loop.
Day 3 Central Highlands to Deloraine and Launceston
Distance: approx. 150 km
Drive Time: 2-2.5 hrs
Descend through alpine forest toward the northern Midlands and the artistic town of Deloraine.
Highlights
Deloraine: Artisan studios is a hub for providing an opportunity for artists and artisans to display their artistic endeavours. Then there’s Meander River walk, and the Yarns Artwork in Silk gallery.
Mole Creek Caves: Detour for an underground adventure in King Solomons or Marakoopa Caves.
Chudleigh Honey Farm: Sample Tasmanian honey varieties – they’re among the best in the world.
Stay: In Launceston – boutique stays like The Townhouse, Launceston or Henry’s on Balfour, Launceston – both places beautifully positioned within proximity to the CBD within historical precincts of Launceston
Dinner Tip: Dine at Stillwater or Black Cow Bistro for premium Tasmanian produce and wine. Ending the 3rd day of the Tasmanian Heartlands Loop.
Day 4
Launceston to the Midlands and onto Hobart
Distance: today’s the bigger drive but with pretty and historic (200 km) pit stops along the way, it’s all bearable and is likely to take you longer if you stop to browse etc.
Drive Time: 2.5 hrs
Return south through the Midlands Heritage Highway (A1) – Tasmania’s historic spine.
Stops & Highlights:
Evandale: Georgian village famous for its Sunday market and heritage charm.
Campbell Town: Heritage bridges and convict trail.
Ross: What a beautiful sandstone village! Here’s the place you want to grab a pastry from the Ross Bakery Inn and admire the Ross Bridge carvings. See our other Ross Roadtrip but do this one in reverse if you prefer it.
Oatlands: Climb Callington Mill, Australia’s only operating Georgian windmill, and browse local crafts.
Finish: Arrive back in Hobart, completing the full Tasmanian heartlands loop.
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