Tasmania

By bus

If you have plenty of time in Tasmania, buses can be an option, but you would be advised to study timetable carefully and to do an extra bit of planning, as services can be infrequent.

Two major companies which service most of Tasmania:

Tassielink (http://www.tigerline.com.au)

Redline Tasmania (http://www.tasredline.com.au)

Metro Tasmania (http://www.metrotas.com.au/) provides intra-city bus services for Burnie, Hobart and Launceston.

Merseylink (http://www.merseylink.com.au) provides services to Devonport and Latrobe

By train

Tasmania has no passenger trains, the last having ended in 1975. There is, however, a passenger tourist train operated as the West Coast Wilderness Railway running between Strahan and Queenstown on the west coast of Tasmania. The trip takes about 3 hours with lunch included.

By car

Getting around Tasmania by car is by far the most convenient way to see what the state has to offer. Cars can be brought into Tasmania from the mainland on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry see above, or hired upon arrival.

With the exception of Highway 1 between Devonport, Launceston and Hobart, travel times by car will be much longer than you think. Averaging anything near the state limit of 100km/h is generally just not possible. Even A and B roads wind their way through mountain passes and along coastlines, with few overtaking lanes, and on some roads averaging 60km/h is only just achievable. Seek local advice if timing is critical, or just allow more time. What appears the most direct road can add hours to your journey time. Again, seek local advice on the quickest route if timing is critical.

Tasmania uses an alphanumeric system for road references, and all roads are generally well marked with references and destinations. Attractions are generally well signposted from the nearest main road. As a result, it is quite possible to navigate most of Tasmania using only a rudimentary map. Exploring the forests can often lead to a maze of forest roads. A GPS can come in handy for finding your way out, but beware GPS maps are not always up to date and following them blindly can add unnecessary time to travel.