Tassie's Wilderness Icons — Self-Launched
6 days · Tasmania
AAT Kings charges £1,550
No-markup version: ~£475 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of AAT Kings' 6-day Hobart-to-Launceston loop through Tasmania's wilderness icons: Mount Field and Russell Falls, Lake St Clair, the Gordon River and Sarah Island, Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, the Devils@Cradle sanctuary, the northwest coast and Launceston's Cataract Gorge. You'll do it by public bus, self-drive hire car or small-group day tours, sleeping in hostels, cabins and budget pubs instead of four-star hotels — with the freedom to linger at the waterfalls and skip the coach schedule. All costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Hobart — waterfront, Salamanca and Mount Nelson
Hobart
Land at Hobart Airport and take the SkyBus (around £10 one-way, 30 mins) into the city. Check into a hostel or budget motel near the CBD. Spend the afternoon on foot: Salamanca Place's sandstone warehouses, Constitution Dock and the Royal Botanic Gardens (free entry). For sunset views, take bus 446/447 to Mount Nelson or join the short-organised summit shuttle from the waterfront (around £10); alternatively hike the Truganina/Chimney Pot Hill tracks for free. Stock up on groceries at Coles or Woolworths for the next few days. Note that a hire car is the most practical way to connect Mount Field, Strahan and Cradle Mountain — pick it up this evening or tomorrow morning (from around £30-40/day).
🚌SkyBus airport transfer (~£10) plus local buses (~£5) or hire car pickup
🛏Hobart hostel dorm (e.g. central CBD hostel) or budget pub room, £22-30
- →Salamanca Place walk
- →Constitution Dock & waterfront
- →Royal Botanic Gardens Hobart (free)
- →Mount Nelson lookout
- →Self-catering shop at local supermarket
Hobart to Strahan via Mount Field and Lake St Clair
Strahan
Drive (or take a New Norfolk-bound bus then taxi/join a small day tour) to Mount Field National Park — entry is covered by the Tasmania Parks Pass (around £30 per vehicle for all parks, buy online ahead of time). Walk the 30-minute loop to Russell Falls and the taller Horseshoe Falls, then the Tall Trees walk past some of the world's tallest eucalypts. Continue northwest and stop at Lake St Clair in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park for the short Waters of the Wilderness walk. Arrive in Strahan in the early evening — remote west-coast village with a handful of pubs and eateries. Self-cater or grab fish and chips by the harbour.
🚌Self-drive hire car (fuel ~£15/person) or small-group day-transfer tour from Hobart (~£90)
🛏Strahan backpackers or basic pub/motel cabin, £28-40
- →Russell Falls & Horseshoe Falls walk
- →Tall Trees walk, Mount Field NP
- →Lake St Clair viewpoint & Waters of the Wilderness walk
- →Harbour stroll in Strahan
Gordon River cruise and on to Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain
Book the Gordon River cruise direct with the local operator (approx £60-80, includes Sarah Island guided walk and Hell's Gates at the river mouth). Half-day morning departures work best — you'll pass through the UNESCO-listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers rainforest and hear the convict history of Sarah Island. In the afternoon drive over the Cradle Mountain road (about 2 hours) to the Cradle Mountain visitor area. Use the free shuttle from the visitor centre to Dove Lake if you arrive before last service, or save it for tomorrow. Cook dinner at the cabin/hostel — options are limited and pricey up here.
🚌Gordon River cruise (~£70) plus self-drive (~£15 fuel), or organised Gordon River cruise + coach transfer package
🛏Cradle Mountain hostel dorm or self-contained cabin near the park entrance, £30-45
- →Gordon River cruise
- →Sarah Island convict settlement walk
- →Hell's Gates
- →Gondwana rainforest scenery
- →Blue Tier / west-coast drive
Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake and Devils@Cradle
Burnie
Hit the park early to beat the crowds. Take the shuttle to Dove Lake and walk the 6km Dove Lake Circuit (2 hours, easy, superb views of Cradle Mountain) or push on to Marion's Lookout for a steeper 2-3 hour climb. In the early afternoon visit Devils@Cradle sanctuary for the Day Keeper Talk (around £16-20 online via Klook or direct booking) — Tasmanian devils and quolls up close, feeding sessions included. Drive north to the coast and overnight in Burnie or nearby Penguin. A scenic 90-minute drive; watch for wildlife on the road at dusk.
🚌Park shuttle included in parks pass; self-drive (~£15 fuel)
🛏Burnie hostel or budget motel, £25-35
- →Dove Lake Circuit walk
- →Marion's Lookout (optional, harder)
- →Devils@Cradle sanctuary day keeper talk
- →Coastal drive to Burnie
Table Cape, Sheffield and Ashgrove Cheese to Launceston
Launceston
Drive east along the coast. Stop at Table Cape Lookout near Wynyard for the cliff-top views over Bass Strait (spectacular in spring when the tulips bloom), then wander Sheffield, the small town covered in street murals. Break at Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door for a tasting and famous cheese toasties (around £10-15), and optionally detour to the Emu Valley and a local berry farm. Carry on to Launceston (about 1.5 hours), drop the car if your rental ends here, and spend the evening at Royal Park or the Seaport precinct — Launceston's food and wine scene is worth a dinner splurge.
🚌Self-drive hire car (~£15 fuel); car drop-off in Launceston
🛏Launceston hostel or budget hotel, £25-40
- →Table Cape Lookout
- →Sheffield mural town
- →Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door tasting
- →Penguin town stop
- →Launceston Seaport evening
Cataract Gorge and departure from Launceston
Launceston
Spend the morning at Cataract Gorge Reserve — walk in from the CBD (20 mins) and follow the Zig Zag Track and First Basin paths; the scenic chairlift across the gorge basin is around £9-12 one-way. Swim in the free outdoor pool, spot peacocks and wallabies, and grab a coffee at the Basin Café. If you have a late flight, add a Tamar Valley wine tasting (self-drive or a wine-tour shuttle from around £45) or explore the historic streets and City Park. Take the airport bus (around £10, 20 mins) or rideshare to Launceston Airport for departure.
🚌Local bus/walk plus airport transfer (~£12)
🛏Departure day — no overnight (or extend independently)
- →Cataract Gorge Reserve walk
- →Basin chairlift (optional)
- →First Basin swim
- →Launceston historic streets
- →Optional Tamar Valley wine tasting
Self-launched vs. AAT Kings
| This itinerary (self-launched) | AAT Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£475 | £1,550 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,075 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more AAT Kings-style trips? Check them out here.~£475
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tassie's Wilderness Icons — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £475 per person for 6 days in Tasmania. 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 AAT Kings?+
Yes — AAT Kings charges around £1,550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £475 — a saving of roughly £1,075 (69%) per person.
How long is the Tasmania trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Tasmania.
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, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.