Tasmania Private Tours: 7-8 Days

Tasmania is the island south of mainland Australia: roughly the size of Ireland, with a population under 600,000, and a landscape of wilderness, convict history and cool-climate wine. Because the interesting stops sit between the towns rather than in them, a private car and driver turns long driving days into a comfortable, flexible way to see the island at your own pace.

Charter — car and driver

With a charter, you get the car and the driver, and you decide the shape of the day. This suits travellers who already know where they want to go, or who want to change plans as the weather shifts — a common consideration on an island where the highlands can be cold and snowy in winter while the coast is mild. Your driver handles the long distances, the winding roads and the parking, so you arrive at each stop fresh rather than tired from the wheel. It is a practical choice for families with young children, for elderly travellers who would rather not navigate unfamiliar roads, and for anyone who wants to linger at a vineyard or an oyster farm without worrying about the drive back.

Private tour — the route planned too

A private tour adds the planning: we build the route around your interests, whether that is convict history, wilderness walks, food and wine, or a mix of all three. Because Tasmania rewards slow travel, a planned route makes the most of the distances — grouping nearby highlights so you are not doubling back, and leaving room for the unplanned stops that often become the highlight of a trip. Tell us who is travelling and what matters to you, and we will shape an itinerary that fits your pace, with a driver-guide who knows the island.

What to see

• Hobart and the MONA museum — the island's capital and its most talked-about cultural attraction.
• Port Arthur, the convict site, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hobart.
• Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, about 4 hours from Hobart.
• Wineglass Bay in Freycinet, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Hobart.
• Launceston and the Tamar valley, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Hobart.

What to eat

Tasmania's cool climate shows on the plate as well as in the glass. Start with cool-climate pinot noir, the island's signature red, and pair it with oysters from Bruny Island, served simply and fresh. Look out for leatherwood honey, a distinctive local product, and try a scallop pie — a Tasmanian bakery staple that makes a fine lunch between stops. Food is one of the best reasons to travel with a driver: you can enjoy a tasting or a long lunch without thinking about the road ahead.

Getting there and around

Hobart airport to the city is about 20 minutes, which makes the capital an easy base on arrival. From Hobart, Port Arthur is about 1 hour 30 minutes, Cradle Mountain is about 4 hours, Launceston is about 2 hours 30 minutes, and Wineglass Bay is about 2 hours 30 minutes. These are real driving times, and they explain why Tasmania needs a car: the distances are long and the interesting stops are between the towns. A private car and driver means those hours are spent comfortably, with someone else at the wheel.

When to come

December to March brings warm days and is the most popular time to visit. October and November are lovely for wildflowers. Winter is cold, with snow on the highlands — atmospheric, but worth planning around if you have young children or elderly travellers in your group. Whatever the season, layered clothing is wise, and a flexible private itinerary lets you follow the better weather.

Frequently asked questions

Is a private car suitable for families with young children?

Yes. A private car and driver is often easier for families than self-driving, because the long distances between stops are handled for you and children can rest between attractions. Tell us the ages of your children when you enquire so we can plan realistic driving days.

Can elderly travellers manage the itinerary?

In most cases, yes. The main consideration is time in the car: Cradle Mountain is about 4 hours from Hobart, for example. We can build in more stops, shorter days and gentler sightseeing so the pace suits older travellers.

How many days do we need to see the highlights?

It depends how much you want to see. Port Arthur is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hobart, while Cradle Mountain is about 4 hours away, so the island rewards at least a few days. A private tour lets us group nearby highlights and avoid unnecessary backtracking.

Do we need a car in Tasmania?

Tasmania needs a car: the distances are long and the interesting stops are between the towns. A charter or private tour gives you a car and driver without the stress of navigating unfamiliar roads yourself.

Can we include food and wine in the itinerary?

Absolutely. Cool-climate pinot noir, oysters from Bruny Island, leatherwood honey and scallop pies are all worth building into your route. With a driver, you can enjoy tastings and long lunches without worrying about the drive afterwards.

What is the weather like, and when should we come?

December to March offers warm days; October and November are good for wildflowers; winter is cold with snow on the highlands. Because conditions vary across the island, a private itinerary lets you adapt the day to the weather.

How much does a private tour in Tasmania cost?

A private tour in Tasmania is quoted by days, party size and vehicle class. The fee is built from the vehicle and driver, the licensed guide, and the hotel nights inside the itinerary. Flights, visas and personal spending sit outside it. Because the vehicle and guide are shared across the group, the per-person figure falls as the party grows.

Tasmania private car charter cost

Charter — vehicle and driver only, your own stops — is quoted separately from a guided tour. It is the cheaper of the two when you already know where you want to go and do not need commentary. The price moves with the number of days, the vehicle size, and whether the driver waits overnight in a remote area.

Guide cost: private guide versus driver

A driver handles the road; a licensed private guide handles the explanation, the tickets and the timing. Most routes in Tasmania can be run either way, and the difference in fee is the guide day. If the itinerary is mostly scenery and free time, a driver alone is enough. If it involves temples, museums, history or a language barrier, the guide is what makes the day work.

Do you need a private guide in Tasmania?

Not always — but on a first trip the guide usually pays for itself in time saved and in the places you would otherwise miss. Ask us and we will tell you honestly which days on your route need one and which do not.

Tasmania incentive travel: private tours for company reward trips

Incentive travel is the trip a company gives its staff, dealers or partners as a reward. We run it as a private tour rather than a seat-in-coach package: the whole group travels on one itinerary, approved by the company before anyone books, and the same driver and guide stay with the group from the first pick-up to the last drop-off.

Four things work differently from an ordinary private tour. Procurement runs to the company's process — a written quotation first, then an invoice the finance team can book, with the trip name and cost centre on the paperwork. Departures can be split into batches: the same route can run over several weeks so not every team travels at once, with the same standard of vehicle and guide each time. Activities are built around a company moment — a welcome dinner, a prize presentation, a half-day meeting — and the driving plan is ordered around it rather than fitted in afterwards. And the budget is agreed per head before the route is fixed, so the itinerary is designed to the number instead of adjusted after it.

We do not publish incentive prices, because they depend on the number of travellers, the days, the vehicle class and the activities arranged. Tell us the headcount, the dates or the month, and what the company wants to happen on the trip, and we will quote the route section by section.

Tasmania corporate group tours

Companies book Tasmania with us for department trips, management offsites and client hosting. The structure is the same as a private tour but built around the business purpose: one vehicle per team so groups can split, a fixed daily schedule that leaves room for a meeting or a factory visit, and a single invoice covering transport, guide and hotels. We run the whole group on one itinerary so nobody is waiting for a coach to fill.

Tasmania incentive travel

Incentive trips reward a team that hit a target, so the itinerary has to feel earned: better hotels than the standard route, one signature dinner, and an activity the group will talk about afterwards. We plan these around the award night rather than around sightseeing, and we keep the budget lines separate so the company can see what each element costs.

Tasmania family private tours

Families with children or grandparents need a slower rhythm than a standard route: shorter drives, a hotel with rooms that connect, meal times that fit, and the freedom to drop a stop when someone is tired. Because the vehicle and guide are exclusive to your party, nothing is fixed to a group schedule — the day can be shortened or reordered on the spot.

Tasmania hotels: city hotels, five-star hotels and hot-spring hotels

City hotels

Central, walkable to dinner, close to the station we leave from in the morning — the right base when the itinerary moves every day.

Five-star hotels

Room size, service and a view worth paying for. On longer routes we use one or two nights rather than every night, so the budget stays with the experiences.

Hot-spring hotels

Where the water is the point: dinner served in the building, the bath as the centre of the stay, and a deliberately slower pace. We book the ones that accept a single night and can handle dietary requirements.

Compare Tasmania hotels on Trip.com · or send your dates and we quote hotels inside the tour price.