Introduction

This opening Tappa is designed to feel like the island in miniature. You roll out of Devonport with the Bass Strait behind you and quickly turn inland to Sheffield — a small town that wears its history on the walls, quite literally. From there the road climbs into cooler, cleaner air as you aim for Cradle Mountain. The ride tightens and the scenery shifts: green pasture gives way to forest, then to open, high-country views where the weather can change its mind in minutes. A short detour to Dove Lake is the moment to slow down — the boatshed viewpoint is as iconic as it gets — before you drop back down through winding west-coast roads to Tullah, framed by water and dark hills. The final run into Strahan feels like arriving at the end of the map: a working harbour, low light on Macquarie Harbour, and the promise of wilderness cruises the next morning. Everything here is set up as waypoints so the POIs are part of the route, not an afterthought.

Introduction

Stage 2 is pure West Coast character. Leaving Strahan, the road quickly narrows and starts to rise, following rivers and dense forest towards Queenstown. The surface remains sealed throughout, but the rhythm changes constantly: short straights, tight corners and sudden elevation changes demand attention and reward smooth riding. Queenstown itself feels carved into the mountains — a natural pause before tackling the legendary 99 Bends section of the Lyell Highway. From here the landscape opens, the traffic thins, and the road flows toward the lakes and button-grass plains around Derwent Bridge. This is a stage to ride unhurried, stopping often: waterfalls, lookouts and the sheer scale of the terrain define the experience.

Introduction

Stage 3 trades raw remoteness for texture and contrast. Leaving Derwent Bridge, the road runs south through open highland scenery before tightening as it approaches Mount Field National Park. Russell Falls is not just a stop, but a waypoint — a pause that defines the day. From Mount Field, the descent towards Hobart feels almost ceremonial: valleys widen, the air warms, and the Derwent River guides you into the historic sandstone streets of Salamanca Place.

Introduction

Stage 4 is built around three “must-stop” Bruny waypoints stitched directly into the route. The Neck gives you the classic isthmus panorama, Adventure Bay adds a soft, open coastline, and Cape Bruny Lighthouse delivers that end-of-the-world feeling before you roll back north to Alonnah. Treat the ferry as part of the rhythm: arrive early, breathe, and let the island pace take over.

Introduction

This final stage is deliberately clean and satisfying. You leave Bruny behind via the Roberts Point ferry, then thread the d’Entrecasteaux Channel back to Hobart. Before the loop closes, add the kunanyi / Mt Wellington climb: a fast shift from island calm to alpine air, with a summit panorama that makes the whole route feel “complete”.

Introduction

Leaving Hobart, the road opens quickly into the wide pastoral centre of Tasmania. This stage is deliberately unhurried: rather than pushing north, it stitches together a sequence of heritage landmarks that sit naturally on your line. Richmond gives you the first pause — the famous sandstone bridge and riverside calm — before the highway settles into that long, steady Midlands rhythm.

Oatlands’ Callington Mill rises as a proper landmark you can navigate by, then Ross delivers the details: carved stonework, quiet lanes, and a tidy stop before the final roll into Campbell Town. It’s a logical overnight split for the return to Devonport, keeping tomorrow balanced and scenic.

Distance (by waypoint segments): Hobart→Richmond 24 km · Richmond→Oatlands 56 km · Oatlands→Ross 36 km · Ross→Campbell Town 12 km · Total ~128 km.