Six tips for a stress-free road trip

The best road trips start at sea: you won’t need to worry about hiring a car or renting any gear – you can drive aboard with all you need. And if you are thinking of road tripping around Tassie, our six tips will keep you safe, well fed and happy the whole way.

Your car could turn from best friend to worst enemy in no time during a long trip. Tasmania’s roads can get rough – think of Queenstown’s legendary 99 Bends or the sheer ascent of Jacob’s Ladder – and the last thing you want is breaking down in a remote location. Make sure everything is on point before your adventure begins: RACV has a full checklist that will help you get ready for your trip, so you can head to your mechanic knowing what to get checked out. And don’t forget to check that your spare tire is fully inflated, and to learn how to change it before you set off… you’ll thank us later.

Snacks are life on a road trip, so make sure you pack enough for the journey, including healthy treats. Leave plenty of room to load up your car with Tassie’s incredible produce though – and make sure you stop along the way to sample it. Our favourite stops to stock up on delicious treats? The Wicked Cheese Company in charming Richmond, and the Launceston Harvest Market.

It’s always a good idea to have an itinerary mapped out before you hit the road. You can always deviate from it, stop wherever you want to stop, explore and reroute, that’s the beauty of a road trip – but it’s good to have a plan in mind and know where you are travelling to. We’ve done all the work for you on this one: get inspired with our five road trip itineraries, and come back for more in a few weeks’ time, when we release our brand-new Spirited Travellers itineraries.

Our top pick for a Tassie road trip? If we really had to choose just one, we’d go the Western Wilds – an exciting journey taking you from Devonport to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area through untamed rough country, rich history and thundering waterfalls.

When you are on the road, you’ll hit areas where radio is not available, and driving in silence is not fun at all! The right music makes a road trip even better: so rather than fumble with your phone while you are on the road, and create a fuss with your travel companions about which song to play, make sure you take some time to come up with the perfect playlist ahead of time. Include fun songs, sing-a-long hits and make sure it’s a collaborative work – don’t leave your road trip companions out of this!

Need some inspiration? Check out Spirit of Tasmania’s road trip playlist here.

The best thing about a road trip is getting to know the places you visit – and get to know the locals. So don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations when you stop to fill up your car, or when you’re out and about. Sure you can just Google it or use TripAdvisor to find the best restaurants in the area – but locals will give you invaluable insights and precious recommendations on the destinations you are visiting.

We got some insider’s tips from locals too, and have put them all together in this article… make sure you add some of these secret destinations to your road trip.

Tassie is known not only for its spectacular landscapes, but also for its incredible wildlife. Pademelons, echidnas, possums, wombats, kangaroos and of course the Tassie devils are all residents’ superstars of the island, so always keep an eye out for these incredible creatures – and be extra careful when you drive at dusk.

Want to come up close and personal with Tassie’s wildlife? You can find what our top five wildlife experiences are here. 

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure? Come aboard: the best road trips start at sea.

Information included in this blog is correct at the time of publishing. Please contact individual operators for further information.