Great Eastern Drive in Tasmania
Are you an avid traveler itching to quell your wanderlust by exploring the full ambience of nature? Have you been searching for a tourist attraction at the heart of earth’s most majestic impression?
Then it’s time to sate your caravanning adventure craving by visiting Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive.
Great Eastern Drive: 176 kilometers of surreal coastline adventure
The Great Eastern Drive is, no doubt, the most memorable itinerancy ever. The tour lasts about 5 days, starting at Hobart and ending at Launceston. Throughout the road trip, you’ll experience the wealth of beaches, vineyards, and natural parks that emblazon the coastline.
So, if you’ve been looking for a self-drive guidepost of the most sought-after destinations on East Coast Tasmania, fasten your seatbelts because you’re in for the best slice of Tasmania tourism.
Day 1:Hobart
Camping at Hobart – the Tasmanian capital – plunges you into a myriad of unforgettable vacationing activities. This historical town is a melting pot of culture that sways you instantly. After visiting The Museum of New and Old Art (MONA), The Salamanca Markets – Australia’s oldest market, The Grand Georgian structures, you’ll feel the nostalgia of time travel, while a hike up Mount Wellington and a ferry ride to the astounding Bruny Island immerses you deep into the Tasmanian wilderness. Don’t forget to visit the Tasmanian wineries which makes up part of the Southern Wine Route.
Holiday parks in Hobart are on-hand to provide family-friendly, and pet-friendly caravan sites and hotly demanded camping amenities.
Head up the coast and before long, you’re feasting your eyes on the convict-built Spiky Bridge as you head to Freycinet National Park close to Swansea.
Day 2: Swansea
Touching down in Swansea, you’re ready to explore Freycinet National Park – one of the best tourist places in the world. At Freycinet, you can do a stopover at the Nine Mile Beach, or at any of the shimmering beaches along Coles Bay. Also, there are several vineyards between Freycinet and Swansea. One such vineyard is the Devil’s Corner, revered for views that are certain to leave any tourist awestruck.
For those who love the outdoors, Freycinet is the excursionist’s dream with its bevy of walks that will lead you through some of the most alluring traverses in Tassie. The popular Wingless Bay is one of the most impressionable beaches in Tasmania tourism; a place where you can sit back and soak in its expansive panorama. The Wingless Bay Walk is essentially an easy hike down from Freycinet. It also serves as a starting point for more daring hikes like the Hazard Beach Hike and the Mt Atmos Hike.
Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park is your landing pad when you are done with your sightseeing binge for the day. It’s grass-rich campsite is breathtaking due to its sheer expansiveness. Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park offers a variety of poolside villas and accommodations in a sheltered area that is close to modern camping conveniences. Local attractions, restaurants and camping ideas are available to make your stay immersive.
Day 3: St. Helens through Bicheno
Leaving Swansea, the next stop is St. Helens. This short journey allows you to visit Bicheno, a small beach town revered for its wildlife endowments and crystal-clear waters.
Head to the Natureworld Wildlife Sanctuary where you’ll encounter kangaroos and the eponymous Tasmanian Devil. Also, make sure you see the Bicheno Blowhole, which shoots up water during high-wave action. You can park your caravan and move close to the stunning blowhole (not too close though).
Steer down to the Bicheno Marina and treat yourself to culinary delights from restaurants overlooking the waters. Afterwards, you can enjoy a ride in a glass-bottom boat.
On your way to St Helens, turn your sights to Scamander, a wonderful town on the coast of Tasmania where you can drink coffee before moving onto St Helens.
After an immersive day at Bicheno, head to Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park, where you choose between powered and unpowered sites with facilities like microwave oven, fridge, heater, TV, linen, blankets, laundry, playground,and free Wifi.
Day 4: St Helens and Binalong Bay
St Helens is an old town centre and fishing port with a colourful pier. The best of this delightful town lies just 15 minutes beyond the town: Binalong Bay and Bay of Fires. This swath is famed for its orange rock formations and clear turquoise waters. The rock gets its unique colour from a microbe called lichen. Get ready to capture the most picturesque coastline view of your life because this raw flicker of nature’s splendour is absolutely gobsmacking.
The Skeleton Bay Reserve, Good Boi Chilling, and Lichen Restaurant & Cafe are some of the places that are worthy of note at Binalong Bay.
Bay of Fires Conservation Area is a drive back towards St Helens from Binalong, turning onto Gardens Road. There are posts indicating the several beaches and campsites that make up the area. Pick any site of your choosing and admire the jaw-dropping interplay of hue-some vegetation, water, and rocks.
Exhausted? Settle in at Dora Point Camping Area. It is the best place to park your motorhome while exploring Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires, and Wineglass Bay. It’s a beautiful base with water for kids to swim and fish in. It’s also well sheltered from inclement weather elements in case the winds decide to howl and the clouds decide to bring rain.
Day 5: St. Helens to Launceston
The last-mile, 167-km drive from St. Helens to Launceston invites you to relish the two compelling attractions that screams of utter grandeur. Little Blue Lake and Bridestowe Lavender Estate. There’s a bit of colour physics at play at the manmade Little Blue Lake. The bright turquoise effect of the lake is generated when the adjoining white clay, exposed from tin mining activities, reflects the clear blue skies.
The toxicity and corrosiveness of this former metal quarry means that the view of the lake is best enjoyed atop an escarpment.
From Little Lake, you can thread your way through to Nabowla, where you’ll find the
Bridestowe Lavender Estate. This landmark has arguably the greatest array of Lavandula angustifolia on earth. The flora is therapeutic and utterly refreshing.
From Bridestowe, you can proceed to Launceston for a good night’s rest and a memorable meal, after all, you must be exhausted after a long, hard drive. Big4 Launceton Holiday Park is a friendly holiday car park with a tremendous assortment of camping sites and cabins, as well as state-of-the-art facilities and friendly hosts, all combining to deliver an experience that truly redefines the art of luxury camping in Launceston.
There you have it: An impeccable Great Eastern Drive in Tasmania, yes! Tasmania is a state that charms you with its eminence. Once you’ve stepped foot on this magnificent island, you’ll never want to say goodbye. So, if you’re ever searching for tourist attractions and places to visit, ask yourself. Wouldn’t you rather come to Tasmania?
[Photo credit David Counsell]
