Launceston to Cradle Mountain & Hobart: Campervan Route Guide

The Route at a Glance

This route covers roughly 450 kilometres from Launceston south-west to Cradle Mountain, then south-east through the Central Highlands to Hobart. It is not a motorway blast — expect winding two-lane roads, wildlife at dusk, and some of the most dramatic highland scenery in Australia. Budget three to five days if you want to do it properly, and more if you plan to walk the Overland Track or spend serious time in the national park.

Before you leave Launceston, make sure your vehicle is the right fit for the terrain. If you are still deciding between a compact campervan and a larger motorhome, the Campervan vs Motorhome: What's the Difference? (Australia Guide) is worth a read — it matters more in Tasmania than almost anywhere else in Australia, because some access roads genuinely punish big rigs.

Picking Up Your Campervan in Launceston

Launceston is a solid starting point. It has a genuine depot presence from several major operators including Apollo, Britz, Maui, Jucy, Travellers Autobarn, and Mighty. Smaller outfits like Camperman and Cheapa Campa also operate here, which keeps pricing competitive. Rates vary significantly by season — expect to pay roughly $120–$180 per day for a basic two-berth in shoulder season (April–May, September–October), and $180–$280 per day or more in peak summer (December–January). Always check what is included: some operators bundle unlimited kilometres for Tasmanian hires, others cap you at 100–150 km per day, which adds up fast on a route like this.

You can compare campervan hire options in Launceston on CamperCompare to see which operators have availability and what vehicle classes suit your group size. The Campervan Hire Launceston: Complete 2026 Guide also covers depot locations, one-way hire fees, and what to check at pick-up.

One practical note: if you are arriving by ferry into Devonport instead, the Devonport to Cradle Mountain by Campervan: Ferry-to-Wilderness Guide covers that approach in detail. The two routes converge near Sheffield, so you can mix and match.

Launceston to Cradle Mountain: The Drive

The most direct route from Launceston to Cradle Mountain is via the Bass Highway (A1) west to Deloraine, then south on the B12 through Mole Creek and up through Moina to the park entrance. Total distance is around 155 kilometres and takes approximately two to two-and-a-half hours without stops — but you will stop, because the road through Mole Creek Karst National Park and the climb into the highlands is genuinely worth it.

Road Conditions and Vehicle Warnings

The sealed road runs all the way to the Cradle Mountain visitor centre, so a standard two-wheel-drive campervan handles it fine in dry conditions. The gotcha is weather. Snow can fall on the plateau any month of the year, and the road above Moina can ice over overnight between June and August. If you are travelling in winter, check the Parks Tasmania road report the morning you plan to drive up. Most hire operators — Apollo, Britz, Maui, and others — explicitly exclude cover for damage caused by driving on roads closed due to snow or ice, so do not push it.

Large motorhomes (over 7.5 metres) should check with their operator before booking this route. The Cradle Mountain shuttle bus zone means private vehicles are restricted beyond the visitor centre during peak periods anyway, so a smaller campervan is genuinely more practical here.

The National Park Pass

You need a Tasmania Parks Pass to enter Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. As of 2025, a Holiday Pass (valid 8 weeks, covers all Tasmanian national parks) costs around $96 for a vehicle with up to eight passengers. A two-day pass is around $48. Buy it online through the Parks Tasmania website before you arrive — the entry kiosks can queue badly in summer. Keep the pass visible on your dashboard; rangers do check.

If you are planning to walk the Overland Track (the 65 km multi-day route from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair), you need a separate Overland Track booking on top of the parks pass. Bookings open months in advance and the track is quota-managed from October to May. This is not something to leave until the week before.

Where to Camp at Cradle Mountain

Camping options near Cradle Mountain range from basic to genuinely comfortable. Here is a practical comparison:

Campsite	Type	Facilities	Approx. Cost (per night)	Booking Required?
Cradle Mountain Campground (Discovery Parks)	Powered & unpowered sites	Showers, toilets, camp kitchen, laundry	$45–$75 powered	Yes, especially peak season
Waldheim Cabins Area (Parks Tasmania)	Unpowered campervan sites	Composting toilets, no showers	~$20–$30 per vehicle	Yes, via Parks Tasmania
Kentish Hills Retreat (near Sheffield)	Powered sites, holiday park	Full amenities	$40–$60 powered	Recommended in peak
Mole Creek Caravan Park	Powered & unpowered	Showers, toilets, BBQ	$35–$55 powered	Advisable in summer

Free camping within the national park boundary is not permitted. If you are weighing up the broader cost question of free camping versus holiday parks across your Tasmanian trip, the Free Camping vs Holiday Parks in Australia: The 2026 Cost & Legality Guide breaks down the trade-offs clearly.

What to Do at Cradle Mountain

The Dove Lake Circuit is the walk most people do — 6 kilometres, two hours, relatively flat, and the views across the lake to Cradle Mountain's jagged dolerite peaks are as good as the photos suggest. Go early morning to beat the shuttle bus crowds. The Enchanted Walk (1.6 km, 30 minutes) through ancient pencil pines near Ronny Creek is worth doing even if you are not a big walker.

If you have a full day, the climb to Marion's Lookout and on to the Cradle Mountain summit is a serious undertaking — around 6–7 hours return, scrambling on loose rock near the top, and weather can close in fast. Check the forecast, take layers, and tell someone your plan.

Cradle Mountain to Hobart: Through the Central Highlands

This is the section most guides skip over, and it is genuinely the most interesting driving on the whole route. From Cradle Mountain, head south on the C132 and C138 through Derwent Bridge (the southern end of the Overland Track, and home to the famous Derwent Bridge Hotel murals). From there, the Lyell Highway (A10) takes you east through the Central Highlands — past Lake St Clair, through Bronte Park and Tarraleah, and eventually down into the Derwent Valley toward New Norfolk and Hobart.

Total distance from Cradle Mountain to Hobart via this route is around 300 kilometres. Allow four to five hours of driving time, more if you stop at Lake St Clair (which you should — the Platypus Bay walk is an easy 30-minute return and platypus sightings at dusk are common).

Central Highlands Road Conditions

The Lyell Highway is sealed and manageable in a standard campervan. The stretch between Derwent Bridge and Bronte Park crosses open moorland with almost no services — fill your tank and water before you leave Derwent Bridge. Mobile coverage is patchy to non-existent through much of this section. Download offline maps before you leave.

Wombats, wallabies, and Tasmanian devils are active at dawn and dusk. Drive to the conditions, not the speed limit, on this road. Hitting a wombat at 90 km/h causes serious vehicle damage and most hire operators will charge you the excess — typically $3,000–$5,500 depending on the operator and whether you have taken a reduced-excess package.

Overnight Stops: Central Highlands

Bronte Park Village has a small caravan park with powered sites (around $35–$50 per night) and is a useful halfway stop. Tarraleah Estate has glamping and cabin options if you want a night off the campervan, though it is on the pricier end. New Norfolk, about 35 kilometres north of Hobart, has a good caravan park and makes a relaxed final night before returning the vehicle.

Arriving in Hobart

Most operators with a Launceston pick-up will allow a Hobart drop-off, but one-way fees apply — typically $150–$350 depending on the operator. Apollo, Britz, and Maui tend to have the most flexible one-way policies in Tasmania; Jucy and Cheapa Campa can be more restrictive. Confirm this at booking, not at drop-off.

Hobart depots are generally located in the suburb of Moonah or near the airport. Parking a large motorhome in central Hobart is genuinely difficult — Salamanca Place and the waterfront have height and length restrictions. If you want to explore the city properly, park at the depot or a designated RV area and use public transport or a rideshare for your last day.

You can use CamperCompare to check which operators offer Launceston-to-Hobart one-way hires and what the relocation fees look like before you commit.

Quick Route Summary

• Launceston to Deloraine: 50 km, ~45 minutes. Good fuel and grocery stop.
• Deloraine to Mole Creek: 24 km, ~20 minutes. Karst caves worth a detour.
• Mole Creek to Cradle Mountain visitor centre: 80 km, ~1 hour 15 minutes.
• Cradle Mountain to Derwent Bridge: 85 km, ~1 hour 15 minutes.
• Derwent Bridge to Hobart via Lyell Highway: 175 km, ~2 hours 30 minutes.

Best Time to Go

October to April gives you the best walking conditions and the longest daylight hours. December and January are peak season — book campsites and the national park shuttle well ahead. March and April are arguably the sweet spot: crowds thin out, autumn colour appears on the deciduous beeches in the park, and prices drop. Winter (June–August) is doable but cold, and you need to be prepared for snow on the plateau and limited services.