Tasmania East Coast & Cradle Mountain Loop

Collect your campervan in Hobart and ease into the trip before hitting the road. Wander Salamanca Place and Battery Point, browse the Saturday market if your dates line up, and drive up to the kunanyi / Mount Wellington lookout for sweeping views over the city and the Derwent estuary. Stock up on groceries and gas bottle swaps before your first night.

Head north-east out of Hobart, stopping in the historic village of Richmond to photograph Australia's oldest road bridge (built 1823) and browse the bakery and old gaol. Continue on to the Freycinet Peninsula, arriving at Coles Bay in the afternoon with time to settle into a holiday park before an early start on the walking tracks tomorrow.

A full day in Freycinet. Tackle the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk (around 1.5–2 hours return) for the classic view over the curved white-sand bay, then continue down to the beach itself if you have the legs for it. Round out the day with a swim at Honeymoon Bay or a wander out to the Cape Tourville lighthouse.

Drive north along the coast to Bicheno, calling in at the Blowhole and, if the timing works out, the little penguin viewing area at dusk. Push on to St Helens, gateway to the Bay of Fires, and settle in for two nights near the coast.

Spend the day exploring the Bay of Fires' orange lichen-covered granite boulders and turquoise water around Binalong Bay and the Gardens. It's a great spot for swimming, snorkelling or just a slow beach walk — keep the camera handy for sunrise if you're an early riser.

Head inland to Launceston, Tasmania's second city. On arrival, walk the Cataract Gorge reserve, cross the historic Kings Bridge and take the chairlift or a dip in the Victorian-era swimming pool. Restock supplies and fuel up in town before continuing west tomorrow.

Drive through Deloraine and Mole Creek on the way to Cradle Mountain, with the option of a short detour to Mole Creek Karst or Alum Cliffs lookout. Arrive at Cradle Mountain in the afternoon — note the park runs a shuttle bus into Dove Lake during peak season, so check current transport arrangements at the visitor centre.

Walk all or part of the Dove Lake circuit (around 2 hours, mostly flat) with Cradle Mountain reflected in the water on a calm day. Keep an eye out for wombats around Ronny Creek in the late afternoon, and pack layers — the weather here can change quickly at any time of year.

A long driving day back to Hobart. Break the journey in Sheffield, the "town of murals," for a coffee and a walk past the outdoor artwork, then continue south through the Central Highlands back to Hobart, arriving in the evening.

Return your campervan in Hobart. If your flight isn't until later in the day, use the morning for last-minute souvenir shopping around Salamanca Place or a final coffee on the waterfront before saying goodbye to Tasmania.