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Tasmania East Coast & Highlands Loop (3 days · Full Loop)
Hobart → Great Eastern Drive → Bay of Fires & North-East forests → Midlands heritage towns → Hobart · all-tarmac · motorcycle-friendly hotels with on-site / nearby secure parking
Nearest Airport(s)
HBA — Hobart International · primary gateway · ≈20–25 min from Hobart CBD.
LST — Launceston · alternative entry/exit if you extend the loop north.
Introduction
This three-day LUNAR arc is tuned for the austral summer, balancing Tasmania’s East Coast light with cool highland air and historic town grids. It runs as a clean loop from Hobart, climbing out via Sorell to meet the Tasman Highway and the Orford ridgeline. Day 1 follows the Great Eastern Drive through Swansea, the granite silhouettes of Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park, closing at Bicheno with its blowhole and evening penguin activity.
Day 2 bends north along the coast to St Helens and the Bay of Fires turn-offs, then dives inland on forested curves via Scottsdale to finish in Launceston, where the Tamar River and Cataract Gorge give you a softer evening. Day 3 drops south on the Midlands heritage corridor via Campbell Town, Oatlands and Richmond, before re-entering Hobart over the Derwent — full loop, no motorway monotony required.
Stage lengths sit in the 180–250 km window; surfaces are sealed throughout, with the most technical pieces on the A3 coastal twists and the north-east forests between St Helens and Scottsdale. Expect fast-changing micro-climates: hot sun on the coast, cooler air around the Freycinet peaks and Midlands plains. Listed restaurants offer live online booking where available; where they don’t, we default to Google Maps deep links only (LUNAR rule). Hotels below are selected for motorcycle-friendly layouts and direct Booking.com property pages. The interactive map shows the loop geometry, POIs as true crossing points, and a simple preview polyline to let you refine your own exact line if needed.
Tech overview
Interactive map
Markers: red=POI · blue=Hotels · green=Restaurants
Day-by-day route
Day 1 — Hobart → Orford → Swansea → Coles Bay → Bicheno (≈232 km)
- Segments & km: Hobart → Orford ≈ 78 km · Orford → Swansea ≈ 57 km · Swansea → Coles Bay (via A3/C302) ≈ 59 km · Coles Bay → Bicheno ≈ 38 km.
- Profile: coastal highway, wide sweepers, short climbs around Freycinet; frequent sea views and lookouts.
- Notes: fuel and food at Orford, Swansea, Coles Bay, Bicheno. Watch for wildlife on the verge at dawn/dusk.
Day 2 — Bicheno → St Helens → Scottsdale → Launceston (≈228 km)
- Segments & km: Bicheno → St Helens ≈ 76 km · St Helens → Scottsdale (via Tasman Hwy) ≈ 89 km · Scottsdale → Launceston ≈ 63 km.
- Profile: mix of rolling coastal sections, tight forest bends in the north-east, then opening farmland toward Launceston.
- Notes: Bay of Fires detours are optional spurs; stay fueled from Bicheno/St Helens — services thin out inland.
Day 3 — Launceston → Campbell Town → Oatlands → Richmond → Hobart (≈197 km)
- Segments & km: Launceston → Campbell Town ≈ 67 km · Campbell Town → Oatlands ≈ 50 km · Oatlands → Richmond ≈ 56 km · Richmond → Hobart ≈ 24 km.
- Profile: heritage highway with long sightlines and low-stress overtakes; stone bridges, windmills and wine valleys en route.
- Notes: ideal “exhale” day: plenty of bakeries and cafés in Campbell Town, Ross (short spur), Oatlands and Richmond.
🍽️ Restaurants · book online where possible
Wood-fired grill and Tasmanian produce inside The Henry Jones Art Hotel on the waterfront.
Riverfront fine-dining in a converted mill at the mouth of Cataract Gorge; strong local wine list.
Use this Maps deep link to scout current spots (fish & chips, seafood shacks) and call ahead if needed.
LUNAR rule: only venues with live online booking show a “Book” button; otherwise we provide a Google Maps deep link only.
🏨 Hotels · secure/garage parking
Budget (3)
Central CBD base near Salamanca; underground or nearby paid parking, good for first/last night logistics.
Directly opposite Waub’s Bay; easy surface parking outside rooms, good for bikes and quick getaways.
Use the link below to filter simple motels with off-street parking if you prefer to break Day 3 differently.
Mid-range (3)
Converted grain silos on the Tamar; modern rooms, good access, on-site parking (check bike terms when booking).
Inside Freycinet National Park; cabins with parking outside; ideal if you split Night 1 between Coles Bay and Bicheno.
Waterfront tower opposite the docks; basement parking and easy access to the A3 and Tasman Bridge.
Premium (3)
Story-themed luxury on the working waterfront; valet-style care, covered parking culture and easy morning exit to the A3.
Art-hotel inside the old jam factory; same pier as Landscape Restaurant & Grill; staffed valet/parking options.
Boutique rooms above Stillwater Restaurant; intimate feel, riverfront setting, on-site parking for a small number of vehicles.
Deep-links point to specific Booking.com property pages (no generic landing pages). No prices shown; check parking / bike terms before confirming.
Points of Interest
Signature Freycinet viewpoint; short but steep walk to a classic crescent bay panorama.
Easy walk from the township; granite slabs, blowhole spray and often a big Tasman swell.
Orange-lichen boulders and white sand north of St Helens; short spur off the mainline.
Dramatic gorge on the edge of Launceston; chairlift, walking tracks and riverboat access.
Australia’s oldest stone span; Georgian streets, cafés and nearby Coal River Valley cellar doors.
🎟️ Activities · book instantly
Full-day experience from Hobart including hikes to the Wineglass Bay lookout and East Coast viewpoints.
Optional extra day: rugged coastline, local produce tastings and lighthouse viewpoints south of Hobart.
Short river cruise under the gorge cliffs; easy add-on at the end of Day 2 or start of Day 3.
Affiliate: partner_id=6833118 · cmp=EMJ-TASMANIA-3D. Links deep-point to specific product pages, not the general GYG landing.
Seasonality & tips
- When: best in austral summer (Dec–Mar). Expect cooler air inland and at night even in peak season.
- Tyres: sport-touring or touring rubber with good wet grip; surfaces can be damp under trees after rain.
- Kit: mid-layer for Midlands and evening coast, compact disc lock, visor anti-fog, breathable rain shell.
- Wildlife: strong risk at dawn/dusk — wallabies and possums. Ease off the pace in low light.
Points of Interest
Signature Freycinet viewpoint; short but steep walk to a classic crescent bay panorama.
Easy walk from the township; granite slabs, blowhole spray and often a big Tasman swell.
Orange-lichen boulders and white sand north of St Helens; short spur off the mainline.
Dramatic gorge on the edge of Launceston; chairlift, walking tracks and riverboat access.
Australia’s oldest stone span; Georgian streets, cafés and nearby Coal River Valley cellar doors.
