Tasmanian East Coast tours let someone else handle the driving along the Tasman Highway while you look out the window. The region runs from the southern approaches near Cockle Creek and Bruny Island up to the Bay of Fires, so there is a lot of ground to cover.
This page explains the kinds of tours on offer, where they go and how to match them to your trip. Check current prices, durations and departure times with the operator before you book.
What Tasmanian East Coast tours cover
The east coast is a loosely defined region rather than an administrative area. It follows the Tasman Sea from the Huon River and D'Entrecasteaux Channel estuary through to Eddystone Point and Mount William National Park. Tours here tend to fall into a few groups: water-based trips, national park visits, heritage sites, food and wine, and wildlife.
Half-day, full-day, overnight and extended options can be booked at any time of the year. Many operators will collect guests from the front of their accommodation. Themes include four-wheel-drive tours, night wildlife tours, ranger-guided tours for kids, eco tours, winery tours, sea kayaking, horseback riding, scenic flights and penguin tours. For a wider list, see our page on Tasmanian East Coast tours.
Island and water tours
Maria Island
Maria Island is a former penal settlement and is now a national park. The ferry runs from Triabunna across the Mercury Passage. The park offers wildlife, scenic walks and World Heritage-listed convict ruins, which makes it a good fit for a full day out.
Bruny Island
Bruny Island sits in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and is reached by ferry from Kettering. It is known for wildlife, produce, food trails, bushwalks and coastal cruises. Seasonal tours also run from Hobart to Bruny Island, Maria Island and the Tasman Peninsula.
Fishing, diving and cruises
Boat-based options include cruises around islands, diving, deep sea and game fishing charters and wildlife cruises. If your idea of a good holiday is mostly spent on the water, this is the group to start with.
National park and coastal tours
Freycinet National Park is home to Wineglass Bay and walking tracks such as the Hazard Circuit and Mt Amos. Coles Bay is the base for visiting. The park's pink granite peaks are among the region's best-known features.
Further north, the Bay of Fires is known for white sand beaches and orange lichen-covered granite rocks. Douglas-Apsley National Park offers inland gorges and dry sclerophyll forest, while Mount William National Park in the northeast is where tours can offer close views of kangaroos.
Walking and hiking days suit people who want to stretch their legs, and a guided trip takes care of the logistics. We reckon a guided visit to a national park is worth it if you are short on time or unsure of the tracks.
Heritage, wildlife and food tours
Port Arthur Historic Site is a former penal settlement and a major heritage destination on the Tasman Peninsula. Tasman Island, off the peninsula, has a historic lighthouse. Cultural tours on the east coast also cover Aboriginal Dreamtime, history and settler stories.
Bicheno is a fishing and tourist town known for its penguin colonies and blowhole, and penguin tours are a drawcard there. Swansea has heritage buildings and wine tourism, which suits winery tours.
Choosing a tour and a base
Geography shapes the choice. Orford and Triabunna are gateway towns to Maria Island, Coles Bay serves Freycinet, and St Helens is the largest town on the coast and a centre for fishing, aquaculture and tourism. The Tasman Highway (A3) links Hobart to St Helens via Sorell, Orford, Swansea, Bicheno and Scamander.
Staying near the tour you want saves time. Our pages on Tasmanian East Coast accommodation and Freycinet Lodge are a starting point, and east coast attractions shows what is on offer at each stop. For general trip planning, Discover Tasmania is the official state tourism site, and background on the region is on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
Can tours be booked all year?
Yes. Half-day, full-day, overnight and extended tours can be booked at any time of the year, though the Hobart tours to the Tasman Peninsula, Bruny Island and Maria Island are seasonal.
Will a tour pick guests up from their accommodation?
Many operators can collect guests from the front of their room. Confirm this when booking.
Which tours suit families?
Ranger-guided tours for kids, sea kayaking and penguin tours at Bicheno are all options for families.
