One of the most common misconceptions people have about Tasmania is that, because our state has a relatively small land area, travelling from one place to another should not take a significant amount of time. This belief is not limited to our overseas visitors, but extends to mainland Australians who come to Tasmania.

The reality is that our road system has to traverse one of the most mountainous areas of the world and even short distances in some areas require considerable concentration and patience to negotiate. While this is countered by the fact that around many a corner there lies a beautiful view that you will want to stop and enjoy anyhow, some people organise schedules that leave little time for unplanned delays.

The following diagrams provide estimates of travelling times and distances. As a general guide, you should equate travelling times to be on average twice the time expected to cover the same distance on "normal" roads. Please pay special attention to these notes. The road toll in Tasmania is low by most standards, but a significant proportion of accidents involve visitors to our state. Currently, there is one permanent sea link to Tasmania, serviced by the three Spirits of Tasmania which dock in Devonport.

We want it to be possible for you to come back again.