Tasmania campervan hire looks simple until you realise the island has three obvious places to start. You can fly into Hobart in the south, into Launceston in the north, or arrive by ferry at Devonport, and each changes your route, your budget and your first night. The good news is that Tasmania is small, roads are mostly easy and a campervan is arguably the best way to see it.

We have not rented a campervan in Tasmania ourselves, so this is a researched guide built on CampervanPlanet’s live Hobart page and the stable facts about the island. If you are comparing Tasmania with the mainland, our Tasmania campervan hire guide gives the big picture, and our campervan rental guide explains the vehicle types.

Tasmania campervan hire prices by season

CampervanPlanet’s Hobart page, updated 3 November 2026, shows typical prices of about A$226 a day in winter and A$246 in summer, with the cheapest offers from about A$101. The data covers 34 vehicles from 6 companies and 341 prices. For sample 7-night rentals, the page shows vehicles from A$155 a day for pick-ups on 10 November 2026 and 9 March 2027, and from A$96 a day for 8 June 2027, which is winter.

The page describes the seasons clearly:

• December to February: peak season, with highs of about 17–22°C, 16 hours of daylight and stable dry weather on the east coast. Book four to six months ahead, as the fleet sells out for Christmas.
• March to May: the “sweet spot”, with crisp 13–18°C days and rates 20–30% below summer.
• June to August: cold at 4–11°C, with snow on kunanyi (Mt Wellington) and Cradle Mountain, but powered campgrounds drop rates by up to 40% and winter campervan rates are the lowest.
• September to November: spring, with wildflowers and unpredictable weather, at 8–18°C. The page suggests booking 6–8 weeks ahead.

You can check live prices on CampervanPlanet’s Hobart page.

Hobart: the default pick-up

Hobart is where most visitors start, and for good reason. The airport has the most vehicles, the city is a pleasant place to spend a day before you collect your van, and the main routes radiate from it. CampervanPlanet lists both Hobart Airport and a city-centre pick-up.

From Hobart you can reach almost everything: the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur, Bruny Island by ferry, the Huon Valley, Mt Field National Park, and the east coast to Freycinet. The page also describes a loop to Cradle Mountain, via Lake St Clair and Strahan, that takes five to seven days and about 650 km.

If you want details of the Hobart-based routes, our Hobart campervan hire and road trip guide covers them. The drawback of a Hobart start is that most travellers do the same loop, so popular campsites such as Freycinet fill early in summer.

Launceston: the northern alternative

CampervanPlanet also lists Launceston Airport as a pick-up location. A Launceston start suits you if you are flying in from Melbourne, because flights are frequent and cheap, and if you want to see the north first: the Tamar Valley wineries, Cradle Mountain, and the north-east towards the Bay of Fires.

The decision depends on whether you will do a one-way trip, collecting in Launceston and dropping in Hobart, or the other way round. One-way fees apply, as they do everywhere, so check the total price. Our guide to one-way rental fees explains what to look for.

Think about the weather too: the east coast is described as stable and dry in summer, while the west is wetter. If you are unsure, the east coast is the safer bet for a first trip.

Devonport and the Spirit of Tasmania

The third option is Devonport, where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry arrives from Melbourne. CampervanPlanet lists Devonport as a pick-up location, which is handy if you want to start straight off the boat, and its pick-up list also includes mainland cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Whether you can take a mainland rental on the ferry depends on the rental company, so always check the terms before you book, and ask about any ferry fees.

The overnight crossing from Melbourne is part of the adventure for many travellers. Book the ferry early for summer and school holidays, because it sells out, and remember that vehicle fares depend on the length and height of your vehicle. If you are travelling with a mainland campervan, check the pick-up and drop-off conditions, and compare with the alternative of flying to Tasmania and collecting a local vehicle.

If you are starting in Melbourne, the Melbourne page shows what is available, and our Melbourne campervan guide covers the area.

A classic route: Hobart to Freycinet and the Bay of Fires

CampervanPlanet describes this as a four-to-five day trip of about 500 km, easy, with a standard two-wheel-drive campervan fine. Best months are October and April. You leave Hobart on the Tasman Highway and drive north through the convict-built bridges at Richmond and Buckland, stop at Orford for an estuary swim, then continue to Swansea on Great Oyster Bay for fresh oysters and views to Freycinet.

At Freycinet, climb to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, Tasmania’s most photographed view, and camp for two nights at Richardsons Beach. Continue north to Bicheno’s penguin colony and the fairy-pink granite boulders of the Bay of Fires at Binalong Bay. The page lists powered sites at BIG4 Iluka in Coles Bay, Bicheno Holiday Park and Discovery Parks St Helens.

In summer, book Freycinet campsites as early as you can, because they are among the most popular on the island. In autumn, the page says sites at Freycinet and Cradle can be booked three to four weeks ahead.

Christmas, school holidays and big events

Tasmania in summer is the bucket-list season, but it is also busy. The page notes that the Sydney to Hobart yacht race finishes on 27–29 December and that the “Taste of Summer” festival runs in December and January, so Hobart is crowded and accommodation is tight. The fleet sells out for Christmas, so if you are reading this in November and have not booked, do it this week.

Check our guide to Australian campervan hire at Christmas and in school holidays if you are planning a last-minute trip, and think about travelling in March or April, when the page says rates are 20–30% below summer and the weather is stable. In June, the Dark Mofo festival brings visitors to Hobart even in winter.

Whatever the season, check campground rules: Tasmania has plenty of free and low-cost camps, but many popular spots require booking, and rules vary. Our guide to freedom camping in Australia explains the principles.

Autumn in Tasmania: the locals’ favourite

If your dates are flexible, the data points to autumn. CampervanPlanet’s Hobart page calls March to May the sweet spot: clear, crisp 13–18°C days, stable weather and the native deciduous beech, known as fagus, turning gold and copper at Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair from mid-April to early May. It is the only deciduous tree native to Australia, and seeing it in colour is one of the island’s special moments.

Rates are described as 20–30% below summer, and sites at Freycinet and Cradle can often be booked just three to four weeks ahead, compared with months ahead in December and January. Days are shorter than in summer, so plan your driving for the daylight hours, and pack layers and a decent sleeping bag, because nights can be cold. For many travellers that mix of better prices, calmer roads and golden light makes autumn the best value time to rent a campervan in Tasmania, even if the water is too cold for a long swim at Honeymoon Bay.

Choosing the right vehicle for Tasmania

Tasmanian roads are mostly sealed and easy, though they can be narrow and winding, particularly on the west coast and in the highlands. A compact campervan is easy to drive and park, and it is plenty for two people. Larger vehicles suit families, but they are slower on the hills.

In winter, check that the vehicle has heating. The page says modern campervans fit diesel heaters and thermal insulation, and recommends sticking to the east coast, the Huon Valley, Richmond and the Tasman Peninsula, and checking conditions before heading west. In summer, check for powered sites, because they are useful for charging and running a fridge.

Wildlife is a hazard on Tasmanian roads: wallabies, pademelons and wombats are active at dawn and dusk, so avoid driving at those times, and drive slowly on rural roads. Insurance may not cover animal collisions in all cases, so ask the rental company.

How to book and save

To save money, travel in autumn or winter, book early for summer and compare brands for the same dates. Decide on the excess level first, and consider the cover that reduces your excess to zero. Our guide to rental extras explains which extras are worth paying for.

When you are ready, compare Tasmania campervans on CampervanPlanet and use code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 at checkout to take €20 off. For the national picture, see Australia campervan rental. Visitors who book within 30 days of clicking our links are credited to us at no extra cost to you, which keeps this blog on the road.