Budget 12-Night Camping Holiday Tasmania

There are many incorrect assumptions about holidays in Tasmania. You only need a few days, it’s too cold, it rains all the time, there’s nothing to see and our favourite – you ‘don’t need to book‘. WRONG – unless you are travelling in the middle of Winter to a more remote part of Tasmania, you should always book wherever possible. Even pre-COVID Tasmania was extremely popular, but its popularity has only increased exponentially as a result of the pandemic where initially overseas travel wasn’t an option, and more recently as people seek out the innumerable holiday experiences Tasmania has to offer. For the budget conscious who want to explore Tasmania and enjoy camping or caravanning, we have put together a 12-night itinerary at free and low cost campgrounds that will give you a great idea of what Tasmania is all about. Our itinerary assumes you start in Hobart and travel in a clockwise direction – of course you can change to suit your needs. If you have longer, great – stay an extra night or two in a location you enjoy. PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is not suitable from mid-December until late-January – it’s simply to busy to take a chance on turning up to campgrounds and expecting them to have availability. If you can only travel at this time, or Easter and long weekends, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK in advance at commercial caravan parks.

Hamilton Campground (no bookings, small overnight fee)

Hamilton is a small rural hamlet in South West of Tasmania in the magnificent Derwent Valley. This council-operated campground is small but has fantastic facilities. Leave Hobart and explore the historic town of New Norfolk and a large number of boutique food, beer and wine producers in the area. Grab breakfast, coffee or brunch before exploring further – the scenery is stunning. Take your time and get to Hamilton before dark to setup your camp for the night.

Low cost
Great facilities
Quiet
Suitable tents, caravans, campervans
Great meals at the adjacent pub

Video Hamilton Camping Tasmania

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Macquarie Heads Strahan (no bookings, small overnight fee)

This is one of our very favourite places to camp in Tasmania. From Hamilton, it’s a 3-4 hour drive so get up and on the road early as there is plenty to see along the way including the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre and the historic mining town of Queenstown. This town is also famous for its gravel football oval – be assured, they are bred tough on Tassie’s West Coast! At Macquarie Heads, if you have a 4WD drive you are able to drive onto Ocean Beach, and trust us when we say the setting is incredible! Be aware, it can be wild and wooly on the West Coast of Tasmania, but if you get decent weather this is a must. You will also want to spend some time exploring Strahan – if you aren’t in any hurry, stay several nights here and do the Strahan Wilderness Cruise on the Gordon River – it’s amazing!

Low cost
Great facilities
Close to beach
Suitable tents, caravans, campervans
Very basic facilities, food etc,. in nearby Strahan

Video Macquarie Heads Camping

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Attractions:

Arthur River (no bookings, small overnight fee)

Arthur River is on Tasmania’s West Coast, and in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, which stretches from the Arthur River in the north to the Pieman River in the south. You will discover amazing scenery and diverse landscapes- there are multiple camping options at Arthur River Manuka Campground, Prickly Wattle Campground, Peppermint Campground, Nelson Bay, and Sundown Point. We highly recommend a 2-night stay at Arthur River, it is a truly spectacular part of Tasmania. Dogs are permitted but must be on leads at all times.