Planning a road trip to Tasmania

I have been invited on another adventure with my friend Mitch. We have agreed on a camping road trip to Tasmania in his red Mustang. Our tents might not be red, but our car will be.

We will be departing Mudgee on about the 12 May 2024, travelling towards Victoria via Mustang where the following day on 13 May we catch the Spirit of Tasmania. We travel Tasmania, hoping camping will not be too cold, returning on ferry on 24 May 2024. I will probably fly home from here while Mitchell plans to travel along the south coast of Australia.

This is a new challenge as camping usually requires a lot of vehicle space and warm weather. We will have to travel relatively light in the 2-seater Mustang. We have made a preliminary travel plan with dates and a packing list, but we will most likely wing a lot of the trip on how we feel from day to day.

I will put the plan below.

Map of our planned route

I will add our plan below based on some preliminary planning.

The travel plan

DateEvent
12 May 2024Depart Mudgee, travel halfway to Geelong, VIC
13 May 20244:30PM – Ready to board the Spirit of Tasmania. (Use showers on board)
14 May 202406:30AM – Disembark, begin journey west of Devonport. Find a camping area. 
15 May 2024Cradle Mountain Walk (5.1km) that includes Dove Lake and Crater Lake, (include a second walk?). Camp most likely. 
16 May 2024Travel day, South East towards Hobart. 2 nights in Hobart? (with showers). 
17 May 2024A Bush Walk (Cathedral Rock Walking Track?). Mount Wellington afternoon trip. Dinner in Hobart by Harbour?
18 May 2024Bruny Island, ferry, Neck Reserve Camping Area?
19 May 2024Ferry back to Tas, off to Port Arthur for the day! Camp somewhere? (Maybe will want a shower before the next day).
20 May 2024Three Capes Track (~30km) to the photographic area called The Blade. We will have to stay the night on the track!!! Backpack.
21 May 2024Walk back (~30km). Find a place to stay with a shower. 
22 May 2024Drive up East Coast, stay perhaps top right corner? Anson’s Bay? 
23 May 2024Stay in Launceston?
24 May 20244:30PM – Be ready for the Spirit of Tasmania. Sailing back to mainland. 
25 May 2024Tom flies from Melbourne to Sydney. Train back to Mudgee. 

We plan to pack light, but we will need the essentials. Below is our packing list we have put together for our trip.

Packing list:

Sleeping

  • Tent(s)
  • Swag, hammock
  • Sleeping bag
  • Pillow

Toiletries 

  • Toiletries, tooth brush, razor, deodorant
  • Toilet Paper
  • Towel
  • Washing powder

Clothes

  • 4x Sets of clothes, pyjamas. 
  • Swimmers

Electronics 

  • Chargers for iPhone/Laptop

Food & Cooking

  • Water Bottles
  • Thermos for carrying hot water
  • Stove (x2, one small)
  • Washing Up Gear
  • Tidy box to carry food

Backpacking 

  • Backpacks 

We both think this will be fun.

A blog by Tom McAdam