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ROADS in TASMANIA
My map shows you what the locals know and you need to know. The light green area is the farmed area, while the dark green is all forest.
Tasmania is 70% forest and - no one lives in the forests! If you go wandering into the forests on logging trails, you may be a very long way from help. Driving into the forests is only for the experienced!
Note my white spot localities. Here you may find a shop, but in many other localities, you may not even find houses.
There are more towns than the ones I included on my map, especially around the big cities. I wanted to specify what localities and towns you should really note the locations of, so that you don't run out of petrol and food.
1/ RULES are the same for driving in Tasmania, as for Australia. The highways use the same signs and icons. The maximum speed is 110 kph on some highways, like the A1 Midland Highway. You should remember that this speed is a limit - not a challenge!
2/ LOGGING TRAILS are for 4WD vehicles with drivers who know the local area. They are often uncharted and lead nowhere of benefit to you. If you do get stuck on a logging trail, you may be a long way from help.
Note especially the yellow routes on my map. These are gravel roads and can be rough, especially after rain or snow. You will need to use them to access some attractions. If the gravel road is a well signed C class route, then it is going somewhere. If not - then stay off it! It might be just a logging track!
I know that gravel roads scare some foreign drivers, who are used to first class roads going everywhere. However, if the road signs says that it goes to your chosen location, then it should be OK to drive, except in wet or snowy weather. Note too that hire car companies may not allow their users to go on gravel roads!
In wet weather gravel roads may be difficult and in snowy weather, check that the road is safe. Also be very wary of ice on the roads. If the sign says the road is closed, then turn around.
If there is water covering the road stop! Only proceed if a policeman waves you on. Tourists have died attempting to cross flooded roads.
3/ SETTLED AREAS of TASMANIA:
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MIDLANDS: a wide strip between LAUNCESTON in the north and HOBART in the south,
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EAST COAST: a narrow strip from St HELENS in the north to TRIABUNNA in the south,
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NORTH WEST COAST: a long strip north of the TARKINE forest from DEVONPORT to SMITHTON.
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HOBART and the area to the east to Sorell.
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WEST COAST: the triangle around STRAHAN, ZEEHAN and QUEENSTOWN.
4/ MAJOR ROADS: I noted on my map the best sections of roads in red and the less desirable sections of the roads in orange. The red routes are usually A class routes, but sometimes the best routes are B class routes, as the A class routes are too winding. Further sometimes the A class routes deteriorate.
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A1 HIGHWAY connects BURNIE, DEVONPORT to LAUNCESTON and HOBART. It is the best road in Tasmania and has double carriage ways in some sections. The A1 is called the Bass Highway between LAUNCESTON and BURNIE and the MIDLAND Highway between Launceston and Hobart.
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A10 MURCHISON HIGHWAY connects BURNIE to STRAHAN on the WEST COAST. Curiously the B18, which connects to the A10 near WARATAH is a better road in this section, as the parallel A10 section is more winding.
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A10 LYELL HIGHWAY from NEW NORFOLK north of HOBART to QUEENSTOWN is the only road to the WEST COAST from the south. The A10 is called both the Murchison in the north and the Lyell in the south.
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A3 TASMAN HIGHWAY is the EAST COAST Highway. It goes all the way from Sorell east of HOBART to LAUNCESTON in the north. South of St HELENS the A3 is quite straight, but north of St Helens, it is very winding. From SCOTTSDALE to LAUNCESTON, it is faster to use the B81 via LILYDALE.
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A5 HIGHLAND LAKES HIGHWAY goes south from DELORAINE to BOTHWELL. In most sections it is winding and in some sections, it is gravel. The B51 road via POATINA is the better route around the GREAT LAKE.
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A4 ESK HIGHWAY via FINGAL is the best way to cross from the A1 MIDLAND highway to the EAST COAST.
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KING ISLAND can only be access by flights from WYNYARD, DEVONPORT and LAUNCESTON in Tasmania and from Melbourne regional airports.
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FLINDERS ISLAND can be accessed by flights from Melbourne regional airports, from Adelaide in South Australia and from LAUNCESTON. There is a ferry from BRIDPORT in Tasmania but the future of this ferry service was in doubt in 2012.
5/ LPG: Petrol, diesel and LPG are more expensive in Tasmania. Although there are petrol stations on the major highways, you can only count on getting petrol in the towns and only in the cities can you get LPG. Gas car drivers beware!
6/CREDIT CARDS, surprisingly, are not always accepted in the small towns and hamlets of rural Tasmania. This failure even includes some accommodation venues, so expect to pay in cash or find out the method of payment, when you book. You can also only expect to find ATMs in the major towns and cities.
