Car hire in Hobart is the key to seeing Tasmania properly. Within an hour of the airport you can be standing on top of Mount Wellington, wandering the Port Arthur Historic Site or queueing for the Bruny Island ferry, and the whole state is small enough to loop in a week or two. The catch is that Tasmanian roads are slower than they look on a map, wildlife is everywhere after dark, and rental agreements have some rules that only matter here, like ferries and snow.
This guide covers what actually matters when you book car rental in Hobart, from the airport desks and peak season to parks passes, Bruny Island, the Spirit of Tasmania and driving at dusk.
Car Hire Hobart Airport vs City Pickup
Hobart Airport is in Cambridge, about 18 km east of the city and roughly a 20-minute drive over the Tasman Bridge. The on-airport rental desks are inside the arrivals hall, opposite the baggage carousels, with major brands including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty and Bargain Car Rentals. That makes Hobart Airport car hire very easy: collect your bags, sign the paperwork and walk out to the car park.
Some cheaper operators sit just off the airport. East Coast Car Rentals, for example, has a depot in Cambridge about five minutes away and runs a free shuttle from the public pick-up area. When you return a car to either type of provider, allow around 30 minutes for the check-in, and longer if you need the shuttle back to the terminal.
If you are spending your first day or two in the city, a CBD pickup can make more sense. Salamanca Place, Battery Point and the waterfront are easy to explore on foot, and Hobart’s steep, narrow inner streets and paid parking are no fun on day one.
When to Book: Summer Peak, Dark Mofo and Winter
Summer, roughly December to February, is peak season for car rental in Hobart. Demand from interstate visitors climbs, cheap car hire in Hobart gets harder to find, and campervans book out early. Book a few months ahead if you are travelling over Christmas or January, and earlier still if you need a one-way hire, as those cars are limited.
Winter brings a second spike in June with the Dark Mofo festival, plus cold, short days and snow on kunanyi and the Central Highlands. Most rental companies do not supply snow chains, and some ban driving in snow altogether, so if Cradle Mountain or Lake St Clair is on your winter plan, read the agreement or use the park shuttle services.
Tasmania National Parks Pass: Which One to Buy
You need a valid parks pass to enter any Tasmanian national park, including Freycinet, Mount Field, the Tasman National Park near Port Arthur and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair. For most road trips the Holiday Pass is the one to buy. It covers one vehicle and up to 8 people for up to two months, and at $98.35 per vehicle it costs about the same as two daily passes ($49.15 per vehicle each).
Cradle Mountain works a little differently. It has its own daily pass that includes the shuttle bus to Dove Lake, and if you already hold a Holiday Pass you pay for the shuttle separately. Buy passes online through Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania before you go. Fees are reviewed every year, so check the current price when you book.
Day Trips From Hobart by Car
kunanyi / Mount Wellington is the obvious first drive. Pinnacle Road is sealed to the summit, but it closes in snow and ice, and during closures no cars are allowed at all, including 4WDs and cars with chains. Check the Pinnacle Road status page before you go.
Hobart to Port Arthur is about 92 km, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, and you can add the Tasman Peninsula lookouts and Eaglehawk Neck on the way. Bruny Island is a 35-minute drive to the ferry terminal at Kettering, followed by a short SeaLink vehicle ferry crossing. Mount Field National Park, with Russell Falls, and the Huon Valley, around 55 minutes to Geeveston, are both easy day trips too.
Unsealed Roads, Ferries and What Your Rental Allows
Standard rental agreements in Tasmania do not allow unsealed roads, apart from short, direct access roads to a recognised attraction or campground. There are plenty of gravel roads here, especially on Bruny Island, in the west and on the way to some walks, and damage on them is usually not covered by your excess reduction. Our rental car excess guide explains why that matters.
Ferries are the other Tasmania-specific rule. Some companies allow their cars on the Bruny Island ferry and others do not, so tell the counter staff if you plan to go. The Spirit of Tasmania is stricter: most rental companies do not let their cars leave the state, so if you are sailing to Melbourne you will usually need to return the car in Devonport and hire another on the mainland.
Compare Other Rental Companies
Fleet, excess and pricing all vary between rental companies, it's worth checking more than one before you book. See our full car rental discount codes guide for every provider we cover, or browse our full range of guides for more travel buying advice.
Wildlife, Winding Roads and Speed Limits
Tasmania has one of the highest roadkill rates in Australia, with hundreds of thousands of native animals hit on its roads each year. Wallabies, pademelons, wombats and Tasmanian devils are most active at dusk and dawn, so avoid driving rural roads at those times where you can. If you do drive after dark, slow down and use high beam when it is safe.
Country roads are generally 100 km/h unless signed otherwise, and speed cameras operate across the state. The bigger surprise is how winding many roads are. A drive that looks short on a map can take far longer, mobile reception drops out between towns, and app directions are not always up to date, so download offline maps and allow extra time for stops.
Fuel and Tolls in Tasmania
There are no toll roads in Tasmania, so you will not need a toll tag or account with your hire car.
For fuel, Tasmania runs FuelCheck TAS, a mandatory real-time price reporting scheme covering more than 230 retailers, with a free website and app. Fill up in Hobart or Launceston before heading to the west coast or the Central Highlands, where stations are fewer and prices are higher. Most rentals expect the car back full, and refuelling charges add up fast if it is not.
What Kind of Car Suits a Tasmania Trip
For Hobart and the main sealed routes, a compact car or small SUV is all you need, and a smaller car is much easier on Hobart’s hilly streets and in tight parking. A mid-size SUV gives you more room and comfort for a longer loop, but remember that AWD does not change the unsealed road rules in a standard rental agreement.
Campervan hire in Hobart is hugely popular, and motorhome hire in Hobart is a good way to handle accommodation over summer, when towns like Coles Bay and Strahan book out. 4WD hire in Hobart is only worth paying for if you are heading somewhere specific that allows it, and ute hire and van hire in Hobart are available from the major brands and local operators if you are moving or carrying gear.
Planning a Tasmania Road Trip From Hobart
Hobart to Launceston is about 200 km, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes up the Midland Highway, with historic towns like Ross and Oatlands to break the drive. The east coast is the other classic: Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park are about 193 km from Hobart, roughly 2 hours 35 minutes, and you can continue north to the Bay of Fires.
Cradle Mountain is about 320 km from Hobart, roughly 4 hours, and Strahan on the west coast is about 300 km but closer to 4 hours 30 minutes because of the winding roads. A Tasmania road trip loop of 7 to 10 days covers the highlights without rushing. If you finish in Launceston or Devonport rather than Hobart, one-way fees are common, so compare the total cost. Our one-way vs return car rental guide explains how those fees work, and relocation vehicle rentals are worth checking if your dates are flexible. Before you lock in a provider, see our car rental discount codes for current savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to hire a car at Hobart Airport or in the city?
It depends on the provider and your dates, so compare both. Airport desks are the most convenient, while off-airport operators such as East Coast Car Rentals run a free shuttle to their depot in Cambridge and can be cheaper. If you are spending your first day walking around Salamanca and Battery Point, a city pickup the next morning saves a day of hire and parking.
Can I take a hire car to Bruny Island?
Often, but not always. Some companies, including Bargain Car Rentals and East Coast Car Rentals, allow their cars on the Bruny Island ferry from Kettering, while others may not cover you if something goes wrong. Tell the counter staff you are going, and remember that unsealed roads on the island are still off-limits in a standard rental.
Can I take a rental car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Usually not. Most rental companies do not allow their cars to leave Tasmania, so you would return the car in Devonport or Launceston and hire another on the mainland. A few may allow it with written permission, so check your agreement before you book a sailing.
Do I need a parks pass in Tasmania?
Yes, a valid pass is needed for every Tasmanian national park, including Freycinet, Mount Field and Cradle Mountain. The Holiday Pass covers one vehicle and up to 8 people for up to two months, which is the best value if you are visiting more than one park. Cradle Mountain also has its own daily pass that includes the shuttle bus.
How long is the drive from Hobart to Launceston?
About 200 km, or roughly 2 hours 20 minutes on the Midland Highway without stops. Ross, Oatlands and Campbell Town are easy places to break the drive. If you are not coming back to Hobart, check the one-way fee before you book.
Is it safe to drive at night in Tasmania?
Within Hobart, yes. On country roads, dusk and dawn are when wallabies, pademelons, wombats and Tasmanian devils are most active, and collisions are common. Plan longer drives so you arrive before dark, slow down when you do drive after sunset, and use high beam when it is safe to.
Can I drive up kunanyi / Mount Wellington in a hire car?
Yes, Pinnacle Road is sealed all the way to the summit. It closes in snow and ice, and during those closures no cars are allowed, including 4WDs and cars with chains. Check the City of Hobart road status page before you head up, especially in winter.
More Hobart Travel Guides
- Hobart Hotel Deals
- One-Way vs Return Car Rental
- How Rental Excess Actually Works
- Relocation Vehicle Rentals
- Car Rental in Melbourne
- Car Hire in Sydney
- Car Hire in Darwin
Michael has been publishing deals and travel content for Australians for more than 10 years and runs the deals section of The Champagne Mile. With a Bachelor of Commerce and a background in commercial law, he reads the fine print so you don’t have to, from insurance PDSs to promo code terms. Every deal on the site is checked before it goes live and updated when offers change. When he’s not testing codes, he’s planning his next overseas trip or out on his dirt bike.
Last Updated on 24 October 2026
