Walk Tasmania's East Coast: Capes, Freycinet & Maria Island (Self-Launched)
6 days · Tasmania, Australia
Intrepid Travel charges £2,010
No-markup version: ~£1,060 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Intrepid's 6-day Tasmania walking trip, covering the same big-hitting hikes: the Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach circuit in Freycinet, a ferry day on Maria Island, and the dramatic cliff walks of Cape Huay and Cape Raoul on the Tasman Peninsula, finishing with the Port Arthur Historic Site and a wildlife cruise. Instead of a guided group departure you'll self-drive the east coast in a cheap rental car (or use the Tassie public bus network plus shuttle where it makes sense), sleep in hostels, cabins and pub rooms, and book the Maria Island ferry and Port Arthur tickets yourself. All prices are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and exclude flights to Australia; they assume you share a car and a twin/double room where possible.
Day-by-day
Arrive Launceston — Cataract Gorge & trip briefing
Launceston
Fly or bus into Launceston and check into a central hostel or pub room. Spend the afternoon walking the 15-minute trail from the city centre to Cataract Gorge (free) — the cliff-edge Zig Zag track and the swimming pool at the First Basin are the classic warm-up. Pick up your rental car this evening (or first thing Day 2) and stock up on trail food at Coles/Woolworths in town. Do a self-briefing over dinner: download the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service park passes, book the Maria Island ferry and Port Arthur tickets online, and check the Freycinet and Tasman trail status pages.
🚌Local bus or 15-min walk from airport shuttle drop-off; rental car pickup in the city
🛏Central Launceston hostel or pub room (e.g. Budget/backpacker twin, ~£32 pp shared)
- →Walk to Cataract Gorge & Zig Zag Track (free)
- →Swim or paddle at First Basin
- →Supermarket shop for trail lunches
- →Book ferry & park passes online
Freycinet National Park — Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach circuit
Freycinet National Park & Swansea
Drive south along the east coast (~2h15 from Launceston) to Freycinet National Park, buying a Tasmania Parks 24-hour pass (£13) at the visitor centre. Do the classic Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach circuit: ~11.5 km, 3-4 hours, climbing to the Wineglass Bay lookout before dropping to the beach, then traversing to Hazards Beach and returning along the Isthmus Track. Carry at least 2L water and lunch. Reward yourself with a swim at Wineglass Bay if the water isn't too bracing. In the late afternoon drive ~45 min south and overnight in Swansea — a pub room or the caravan park cabin is the cheapest option and gives you an early start tomorrow.
🚌Self-drive Launceston → Coles Bay → Swansea (~150 km); no public bus to the trailhead
🛏Swansea pub room or holiday-park cabin (~£38 pp shared)
- →Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach circuit hike (11.5 km)
- →Wineglass Bay lookout
- →Beach swim at Wineglass Bay
- →Coles Bay viewpoint stop
Maria Island day trip — Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs & Darlington
Maria Island & Orford
Drive ~1h from Swansea to Triabunna and catch the morning Maria Island ferry (book ahead with East Coast Cruises/Encounter Maria Island; ~£28 return, 40 min). The island is car-free — bring your own food and water as there are no shops. From Darlington walk to the Painted Cliffs (best near low tide; ~1h return) and then the Fossil Cliffs loop (~1h, with 300-million-year-old fossil beds and sweeping bays). Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the Darlington convict probation station ruins and looking for wombats and forester kangaroos — this is one of the most reliable places in Tasmania to see wildlife up close. Catch the afternoon ferry back and drive 30 min south to Orford for the night.
🚌Self-drive Swansea → Triabunna (~60 km); Maria Island ferry return ~£28
🛏Orford guesthouse or caravan-park cabin (~£40 pp shared)
- →Maria Island ferry crossing
- →Painted Cliffs walk
- →Fossil Cliffs loop
- →Darlington convict site & wildlife spotting
Tasman Peninsula — Cape Huay Track
Tasman National Park / Port Arthur
Drive ~1h45 south through Sorell and Dunalley to the Tasman Peninsula. Warm up with the short Waterfall Bay / Blowhole stops, then tackle the Cape Huay Track from Fortescue Bay: ~10 km return, 3-4 hours, ending above the soaring dolerite sea stacks of the Candlestick, Totem Pole and the Lanterns. It's rocky with exposed sections — sturdy shoes and layers are essential. Set up base for two nights in Port Arthur (hostel, cabin or the caravan park), which saves you repeated driving and gets you to Cape Raoul early tomorrow.
🚌Self-drive Orford → Port Arthur (~110 km)
🛏Port Arthur hostel/cabin or caravan-park cabin (~£42 pp shared)
- →Cape Huay Track (10 km return)
- →Candlestick, Totem Pole & the Lanterns viewpoints
- →Blowhole & Tasman Arch stops
- →Fortescue Bay beach
Tasman Peninsula — Cape Raoul Track
Tasman Peninsula / Port Arthur
Today's the big one: the Cape Raoul Track, roughly 14 km return and 4-5 hours from the trailhead near Nubeena, following a plateau track through heath and forest before erupting onto clifftop viewpoints above Cape Pillar and the columns below. There's also the shorter Shipsterns Bluff side option if legs are tired. Pack lunch, sun protection and plenty of water — there are no facilities on track. Back in Port Arthur in the late afternoon, treat yourself to fish and chips or a pub dinner in Nubeena or Port Arthur.
🚌Self-drive to Cape Raoul trailhead (~40 min each way)
🛏Port Arthur hostel/cabin or caravan-park cabin (~£42 pp shared)
- →Cape Raoul Track (14 km return)
- →Cape Pillar & Shipsterns Bluff viewpoints
- →Coastal cliff photography
Port Arthur Historic Site, wildlife cruise & on to Hobart
Port Arthur to Hobart
Spend the morning at the Port Arthur Historic Site — book the combined entry ticket online (~£28) which includes the 40-minute guided walking tour and a harbour cruise past the Isle of the Dead, with the chance to spot seals, dolphins and seabirds. Alternatively, pre-book a longer Pennicott-style wilderness cruise for cliff and cave scenery (from ~£70). Have lunch on site, then drive ~1h30 to Hobart, drop the car at the airport or city depot, and finish with a wander around Salamanca Place and the waterfront before your onward flight. If you have a spare day, MONA and Kunanyi/Mount Wellington are worth the extension.
🚌Self-drive Port Arthur → Hobart (~95 km); car drop-off
🛏Not included — onward flight or optional Hobart hostel (~£30 pp)
- →Port Arthur Historic Site entry + guided tour
- →Isle of the Dead harbour cruise
- →Wildlife spotting (seals, dolphins, seabirds)
- →Salamanca Place & Hobart waterfront
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,060 | £2,010 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £950 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,060
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Walk Tasmania's East Coast: Capes, Freycinet & Maria Island (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,060 per person for 6 days in Tasmania, Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £2,010 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,060 — a saving of roughly £950 (47%) per person.
How long is the Tasmania, Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Tasmania, Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, wildlife trip through Tasmania, Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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