Tasmania Packing List: Essentials for Visiting Australia’s Beautiful Island State
Are you wondering what to pack for Tasmania? You’re not alone. This Tasmania packing list will help you prepare for visiting Australia’s beautiful island state. As a solo female traveller, I know how important it is to feel comfortable while you’re travelling, and my Tasmania road trip packing list covers everything from what to wear to driving and camping essentials.
I’m an Australian and I’ve travelled around the country and enjoyed four amazing trips to Tasmania in spring, summer and autumn. Tasmania is one of my favourite places to explore.
I’ve road-tripped around the island, hiked in the stunning national parks, slept under the stars in campsites, and stayed comfortably in log cabins, hotels and heritage B&Bs.
One moment I was soaking in the sunshine in a T-shirt, and the next I was shivering in an unexpected cold snap. Tasmania’s weather can change dramatically, even in summer, so it’s essential to be prepared for everything from sunshine to snow.
In this article, I’ll help you figure out what to pack for a holiday to Tasmania so you’re ready for your adventure, making your trip smooth, safe, and unforgettable.
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Tasmania’s Weather
Tasmania is Australia’s most southern state, and temperatures tend to be cooler than in other parts of the country. While spring is the wettest season, it can rain at any time of year. Check the weather before you leave home and go prepared.
Even in summer, I needed a waterproof outer layer and warm clothing while hiking in December near Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. And I found myself hiking through snow, mist and torrential rain on Cradle Mountain in autumn.
I even took an umbrella walking in Mount Field National Park on a day trip from Hobart.
As a general guide:
Tasmanian Summer temperatures are mild, ranging from 17°C – 23°C (63°F- 73°F). It’s the perfect time for a beach holiday on Tasmania’s stunning east coast and the most popular time to visit.
In Autumn and spring, average temperatures range from 8°C – 17°C (48°F – 63°F). The weather is more changeable, but it’s still a beautiful time to visit with autumn colours and spring flowers in bloom.
In Winter, temperatures are cooler from 3°C – 11°C (37°F – 52°F). The island is at its coldest, and the mountains are blanketed in snow.
But it can snow in Tasmania even in summer, and temperatures often vary across the island. The East Coast has a different climate from the forested West Coast.
Tasmania Packing List Advice
Although I love to travel light, I found it hard to pack as light as usual for my Tasmania road trip because I don’t like feeling cold. So I packed for both summer and winter, and I’m glad I did. The weather changed dramatically on my two-week holiday in autumn, and I needed everything I packed.
In the first week of April, I experienced glorious sunny weather on the East Coast with highs of 24°C. Nights were cold but it was good weather for camping, and I wore summer clothes and a fleece at night.
The next week was wet and wintry. There was snow in the mountains, and it was bitterly cold in Hobart and on the west coast. I booked cosy accommodation in a warm B&B in Hobart as it was too cold for camping.
I booked my hire car through Discover Cars and had a smooth and enjoyable experience on a solo road trip on Tasmania’s stunning west coast. My holiday was affordable, comfortable and stress-free.
What to Wear in Tasmania – Pack Layers
The best advice I can give for a Tasmania road trip packing list is to take layers. It can be warm in the sun, but the weather can turn and summer can sometimes be quite cold.
Hiking over four days on the Three Capes Track in December (summer), I experienced warm sunny weather, heavy rain and freezing gale-force winds all within a few days. Although I wore a T-shirt one day, the next day I needed full wet-weather gear, including waterproof pants and boots, a warm down jacket, a beanie, a scarf and gloves to keep out the chill at night.
The shoulder seasons are often changeable, and it can rain or snow at any time of year.
I prefer to pack as light as possible, and wash my clothes while travelling when I can. In Tasmania, many campsites and some hotels have coin-operated laundry facilities, and, of course, you can always hand wash if necessary.
Tasmania Packing List Clothing Essentials
The following items are essentials I couldn’t live without on a Tasmania road trip packing list
- Warm fleece or jumper
- Down jacket that packs away and is easy to carry
- Waterproof Gore-Tex Raincoat
- Waterproof top and pants for hiking
- Thermal Underwear or Leggings
- Warm hat, scarf & gloves
- Waterproof hiking Boots
- Daypack – lightweight and easy to carry
- Refillable Water Bottle – to fill up for free with drinkable tap water
- Sunscreen, Sun Hat & sunglasses – essential anywhere in Australia
- Strong Mosquito Repellent with DEET – Mosquito-borne Ross River Virus was active in Freycinet National Park
- Camera
- Power bank or portable charger + leads for charging phone & camera
What to Wear in Tasmania to Stay Warm
If you feel the cold like I do, these are my Tasmania packing list suggestions for clothes to keep you warm.
I took a warm fleece. While I love wearing jumpers or sweaters, a fleece is easier to wash and will dry more quickly than a woollen jumper.
A down jacket is also essential to keep you warm, as it can get cold in Tasmania, especially at night. Choose one that packs down and is easy to carry when you’re not wearing it.
Thermal Underwear or Leggings will keep you warm and snug at night and when temperatures plummet.
A warm hat, scarf & gloves are important to keep your extremities warm. My favourites are super soft and made from New Zealand possum down & wool. They’re ideal when the weather turns cold, and it did on Tasmania’s north coast. I even slept in my beanie when camping in April.
Good woollen hiking socks will keep your feet warm. They’re designed to support your feet and have extra padding that helps prevent blisters if you’re walking a lot or your feet get wet. Woollen socks take longer before they start to smell, and that’s very useful when you’re away.
What to Wear in Tasmania to Stay Dry
A Waterproof Gore-Tex Raincoat is a must-have on a packing list for a road trip to keep you dry when it rains. There’s nothing worse than being cold, wet and miserable if you’re out and about, especially if you’re camping, hiking or sightseeing.
Hiking Boots – Waterproof walking boots with good grip and ankle support are important if you’re hiking. Mine are warm and comfortable enough to wear when sightseeing or driving, and they were the only pair of shoes I took on my most recent holiday, a self-guided road trip on Tasmania’s stunning west Coast.
My boots have inbuilt arch support and a removable inner sole, so I can use my orthotics. Their excellent grip kept me safe in Tasmania on Cradle Mountain and an unexpectedly challenging trail on Mount Amos near Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, where I found myself scrambling over slippery boulders to the summit.
For hiking in Tasmania, waterproof pants will keep you dry in wet weather. I added these to my Tasmania packing list after I was completely drenched in pouring rain on Cradle Mountain and in Mount Field National Park. On my next solo trip to Tasmania, I went better prepared with waterproof pants.
Travel Pants or Jeans?
I love wearing jeans, but I never take them travelling and I would leave them off a packing list for a road trip. They take too long to dry, and they’re hard to hand wash. But if you’re camping or staying in hostels and using Laundromats, you could probably get away with taking your favourite jeans on a road trip in Tasmania.
Hiking or Travel pants are much more practical. They’re made from a synthetic stretchy fabric that’s comfortable, easy to hand wash and quick drying. In Tasmania, I wore leggings underneath my travel pants to stay warm, and I couldn’t have done this with my jeans.
Here are some more items for a Tasmania packing list. I suggest packing for a week and washing your clothes while you’re away.
- T-shirts x 3
- Underwear for a week
- cotton socks x 2
- Wool hiking socks x2
- shoes for driving
- toiletries
- swimsuit *optional*
- sandals *optional*
- Thongs or flip flops for camp showers
What to Pack for Sightseeing
- A Refillable Water Bottle is a great idea fro sightseeing in Hobart or Launceston. There’s no need to buy water as the tap water is safe to drink, so you can easily stay hydrated and fill up for free. Having said that, I had to boil the drinking water at the Port Arthur campsite and on Cradle Mountain.
- Sunscreen, Sun Hat and sunglasses are essential anywhere in Australia. The sun is strong here and can damage and age your skin, so always wear sunscreen. I use factor 30+ for everyday and factor 50+ when I’m in the sun all day.
- I take my Sony Camera everywhere to capture those special moments away.
- A Strong Mosquito Repellent with DEET is a good idea to keep annoying mosquitoes and other insects away. Ross River Virus is sometimes active in parts of Tasmania and is carried by mosquitoes, so it’s best if you don’t get bitten.
- Comfortable walking shoes are essential when travelling. I always find myself walking so much more than usual when I’m away, so comfortable, waterproof walking shoes are high on a packing list for a road trip in Tasmania.
Tasmania Packing List – My Travel Kit
- Travel towel & face washer
- thongs or flip flops – to wear as slippers or in shared camp showers
- small first aid kit – include travel sickness tablets for the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry to Tasmania
- small sewing kit
- Swiss Army knife – with lots of handy attachments like scissors and a bottle opener
- Earplugs – to tune out noisy neighbours and help you sleep
- A good book to read
- Packing cubes – for organising your gear. They’ll keep your bag tidy so you can easily find what you need.
- A Travel Guide for Tasmania or Australia. I rarely travel without a Lonely Planet Guide.
- Toilet paper * optional* I didn’t need it in Tasmania. All the public facilities I came across had toilet paper and were quite well-kept.
Electricals
- Power bank or portable charger – essential if you’re camping in unpowered sites. I charged my power bank in the car while driving and topped up the devices at night.
- USB charging cables for phone & camera
- Power adaptor for Australia – we use a type l plug in Australia. It has 3 flat pins in a triangular pattern. Power in Australia is 230V and 50hz
Staying Safe in Tasmania?
Australia is very safe compared to many other countries in the world, but it’s still a good idea to be mindful of your personal safety in Tasmania and to keep your valuables hidden especially if you’re travelling solo or camping. The crime rate is low in Tasmania and Hobart is Australia’s safest capital city, but you can be unlucky.
On a Tasmania road trip, I kept my valuable with me or locked them in the car, out of sight in the boot.
Money & Valuables
A Tasmania Packing list should include:
- Cash
- Credit cards
- Driver’s License (You’ll need an International Driver’s License if you’re travelling from overseas)
- Medicare card (or Travel Insurance for overseas visitors)
- NRMA Membership card for road service if your car breaks down (+ members get a 10% discount at NRMA Holiday Parks)
- Paper road map of Tasmania – so you don’t get lost when you’re driving through remote areas with patchy or non-existent internet
- Mobile phone
- Travel wallet & document organiser with lots of pockets to keep everything in one place
Tasmania Packing List for Camping
If you’re camping on a road trip in Tasmania, you’ll need to pack:
- A good rain & wind proof tent
- An insulated sleeping mat – this is important to keep you warm. It stops the cold from seeping up from the ground under your tent.
- A warm sleeping bag – my down sleeping bag is warm, lightweight, packable & and easy to carry
- Sleeping bag liner sheet to use inside your sleeping bag – this will help to keep your sleeping bag clean
- Picnic rug – I used mine inside the tent as extra insulation and to add a snug layer to the cold tent floor
- Torch & batteries – essential if you’re camping
- Camp chair that folds away
- Pillow and extra blankets – for added comfort
- Laundry liquid/soap + pegs – campsites usually have washing machines & clothes lines, but no pegs
- Matches – to light the campfire **note** there may be fire restrictions, especially in National Parks
- Dustpan and brush – for sweeping out the tent
- Spare tyre & jack if you’re driving
Tasmania Packing List for Self-catering
I ate well on my road trip through Tasmania, sometimes eating in cafes and restaurants, and sometimes cooking for myself. Self-catering will help to cut costs if you’re travelling on a budget.
In remote areas of Tasmania, there were sometimes few options for eating out, but I found that campsites (and some hotels) provided shared kitchens. Some were well equipped, but many were not.
On my Tasmania packing list, I included the following items for self-catering and was glad that I did:
- Plastic Plates, Cups & Cutlery
- Thermos & cups (so you can stop for a hot cuppa on the road)
- Sharp knife (with a cover) for preparing food
- A cast-iron skillet to use on a stove or for cooking on a campfire
- Pizza tray – some campsites have a pizza oven
- Foil, baking paper, & Glad Wrap for cooking and storing food
Final thoughts: What to Pack for Tasmania
This Tasmania packing list is designed to take the guesswork out of what to pack for a holiday to Tasmania. Whether you’re taking a road trip, staying in charming old pubs, or setting up camp under the stars, being prepared is key to a successful holiday.
With Tasmania’s famously unpredictable weather, packing the right gear can make or break your trip. Smart layering and taking enough (but not too much) will help you to stay warm, dry, and comfortable.
Safe travels and enjoy exploring Tasmania, a gem in Australia.
You might also enjoy
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10 Days in Tasmania – The Perfect Solo Road Trip Itinerary
15 Things to Do in Launceston & North Tasmania
Three Capes Track in Tasmania – The Best Time of Year to Go
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Is Hobart or Launceston Better for a Holiday?
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Why Port Arthur in Tasmania is So Fascinating
Why you’ll Love Visiting Wineglass Bay & Freycinet in Tasmania
Solo Travel in Tasmania – An Unforgettable Adventure
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