Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Tasmania in first/second week of Sept

I know it will be cool. Wondered if driving is impact by weather...road conditions, etc.

Expect Hobart thru Strahan to Davenport thru Launceston, down to Port Arthur and back to Hobart. Hoping to have about 7 days.

It is rough country and the weather can be harsh, but beautiful most of the time. Use common sense, just be aware that if a big storm hits it will be more intense than you are used to in California (imagine an El Nino Ca storm with mud-slides, then multiply by 5). Big difference between leeward and windward side. Locals can guide you, and if weather is a concern just adjust your routing to stay in the good zone.

No problem at all. Weather at that time is coldish but snow and ice are extremely unlikely except in the mountains at night. Highways and main roads are excellent, and it is not the season for storms.

Tasmania has a mild winter by North American standards in all respects, and it is quite a good time to visit Tassie.

You may even strike it lucky and encounter the week-or-two-long ski season at Ben Lomond near Launceston, although the last few miles of the road to the chalet can be greasy and in cloud.

Then head up to Queensland to thaw out for a few of our dry 80 degree winter days.

Ekka, welcome to FT.

Perhaps a bit late, but I'm going to rent a car in Tasmania last week of May... I was also planning the Launceston-Hobart drive through Queenstown... how likely are snowstorms, mudslides, etc. at this time of year? Are gas/petrol stations frequent? And is it possible to do Queenstown-Hobart in one day (via Lake St. Claire)? Thanks for the feedback!

ec336
www.cradlechalet.com.au/travel_times.htm (http://www.cradlechalet.com.au/travel_times.htm) is the site you want to do travel times throught Tassie.

Launceston to Hobart is 2 hours
Hobart to Queenstown is 3:40

Launceston to Hobart thru Queenstown is 7:15 at the most. There is now way to get it from this map closer as the route is not one of those posted, but it looks to be about 7 hours or less if another road is available. You must add to this the distance from the Highway to Lake St Clair (and return), if that is what you want to do.

It looks like we are going to do Hobart thru Bronte, past Lake St Clair turnoff to Queenstown and then to Strahan the first full day we have. Stay. We do not plan any stops that day. The next day is Tullah on to Burnie (Pioneer Museum, Tiagarra Abriginal Culture Centre & Museum) on to Davenport. Stay. We may go to Latrobe (10 minutes south) to see if we are lucky enough to see a platapus (spelling). Also possible in Ferndale East of Burnie. Then it is Launceston (Maritime Musuem, maybe Seahorse Museum, maybe Grindelwald Swiss Village, maybe cataract Gorge and Batman Bridge). Stay. Next day is Ross (historic & bridge), Richman (historic, goal and recreation of Hobart) Stay. Then it is Sorrell and Port Arthur (Historic site-$22, visitor Centre, but not like tour of the Isle of the Dead or the Ghost tour). Stay. Then it is back to Hobart. We will do what ever we can there in the days remaining so as to leave on the 8th day back to Melbourne. Overnight near the AP and then head home. Hobart and surrounds hoped for include: Bororong Park Wildlife Centre, Parliament House, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Tasmanian Museum, Van Diemen's Land Folk Museum, Museum of Antiquities (Moorilla Estate), Battery Point, Salamanca, Sullivans Cove and, if there is time, do the Huon Trail and its 24 stops down south.
Hope some of that helps, please share if you have something that you think I could use to enhance our experience.
Enjoy your visit