Tasmania’s is all about its untamed wilderness, dramatic coastlines, and charming villages. So it is the ideal holiday spot for thrill-seekers. The diversity of the activities, from trekking in the awe-inspiring Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park to Hobart’s cultural hub MONA, adds to Tasmania’s unique global appeal.
Among the considerations for visitors is transportation—whether to rent a car for your journey or not. We present the benefits and limitations of car renting in Tasmania below to ease your decision-making process.
The Pros of Car Hiring in Tasmania
Tour at Your Own Leisure
Renting a car gives you unparalleled freedom to visit Tasmania at your leisure. The island’s public transport is limited, so a car frees you from the confines of a scheduled bus. Fancy grabbing a scenic view on the drive to Wineglass Bay? A car rental makes it completely within your grasp. This freedom enables you to take the less travelled roads and find hidden treasures like the charming Richmond town or the Tarkine Rainforest.
Unmatched Ease of Access
Tasmania’s spectacular locations like the Bay of Fires or the Gordon River are found in remote regions. A hire car makes reaching these otherwise challenging and time-consuming destinations. Your key to remote walking trails or scenic routes like the Great Eastern Drive, which is famous for its stunning seascapes, is a hire car.
Cost-Effective Group Travel
Group travel with family or friends is easy with a car rental. Combined car rental and gas expenses typically cost less than separate tour or bus fares. And it gives your group a personal space for your things and a cosy road trip. Contact LeisureRent, for example, to start pricing up your hire today.
Tailor-Made Itineraries
Tasmania’s charm lies in diversity. You can spend the morning seeing Port Arthur’s convict site and the evening drinking in the tranquillity of a Launceston vineyard. Driving allows you to make your own schedule, not having to wait for established tour times.
The Cons of Renting a Car in Tasmania
High Costs
Car hire in Tasmania, while convenient, is expensive, especially during peak holiday periods. There will be the standard hire charges plus extra for insurance, petrol, and likely parking fees in cities like Hobart. These can be large, and their potential impact on frugal travellers has to be offset against their convenience.
Navigational Difficulties
Tasmania’s roads demand a careful drive, particularly for rural road inexperienced drivers. Country roads are usually narrow and curved, and wildlife may appear unexpectedly on the road—dusk kangaroos being a common concern. For foreign visitors, getting used to driving on the left-hand side may also be challenging.
Few Public Transport Options
For nervous drivers, Tasmania’s public transport might not be an all-round support system. Buses primarily move around cities and towns, with minimal connectivity to rural regions. However, if you are going to stay within urban cities like Hobart or Launceston, you might not even need to rent a car.
Environmental Impact
If minimising your carbon footprint is something you are keen on, car hire might be against your policy. While hybrid or electric vehicles are an option with some operators now, they might not be an available service on the island. If going green is something you have included in your travel itinerary, you could look at other forms of transport or pay for green-friendly tours.
Final Thoughts
Renting a car in Tasmania provides certainly favourable prospects, particularly with regard to flexibility, accessibility, and group tours. It’s the perfect choice for visitors who wish to reach everything from popular attractions to off-the-beaten-path locations at their own discretion.
But it should be balanced against the potential costs, driving difficulties, and environmental considerations. If you do rent a car, it’s best to prepare. Reserve your rentals in advance, particularly during peak demand seasons, and learn about safe rural Tasmanian driving practices.
Those who do not hire a car can also experience the whole of Tasmania by focusing on the central areas and going for green tours. Regardless of how you travel, Tasmania will captivate you with its pristine beauty and experiences that linger.
