Tasmania touring

An internationally renowned tarmac rally, the Targa Tasmania takes in some of the most spectacular driving roads Australia has to offer. But you don’t have to be racing to enjoy these spectacular roads and a more leisurely approach, coupled with the island’s numerous other attractions combine for the perfect driving escape.

Tasmania’s rich history and picturesque scenery are perhaps as emblematic of the island state as the warmth of its inhabitants, its sumptuous food, and honeyed liquors.

But the Apple Isle is equally well recognised for its enduring connection with motor racing – spanning from the earliest days of the sport, through its time as host of the Australian Grand Prix, to the current day and the Targa Tasmania road rally.

Since 1992, the adrenalin-pumping event has drawn competitors from across the globe, Tassie’s serpentine roads and undulating terrain providing a copybook chart from which to carve a most challenging course for driver and machine alike.

Of course, the Targa stages, as they’re know in racing parlance, are as enjoyable at an ambling pace as they are in the full-throttle clangour of competition – and with so many located within a stone’s throw of Tassie’s charming capital city, Hobart, there’s a chance you could find yourself driving a Targa stage without even knowing it.

Plentiful accommodation in the heart of Hobart – including the likes of the historic Henry Jones Art Hotel, suave MACq01 Waterfront Hotel, or ritzy The Tasman – provides the perfect stepping off point for a rally-inspired road trip, both to the north or south of the city centre.

Grasstree Hill

Crossing the Derwent River over the mile-long Tasman Bridge, our first Targa stage begins just 14km from the city centre. Climbing 179 metres over just 6.7km, Grasstree Hill is fast and frantic at rally pace, taking mere minutes to drive from end to end.

At a more leisurely (and speed legal) pace, the C324, as it’s officially signposted, offers vistas of towering Mount Direction to its western side and the stunning Coal River estuary to the east, passing numerous boutique vineyards before exiting at the Georgian-era township of Richmond.

Convict-built Richmond and the neighbouring Coal River Valley provide the perfect stopover on your way to Freycinet and the eastern coast, or Port Arthur further south, but is equally a place to pause and savour the sights.

Local providores offer tastings of world-class cheeses and chocolates, with hearty pub food or flaky pastries available a mere stroll from the heritage-listed Richmond Bridge. If you’re up for a tipple, Richmond is bordered by no fewer than 20 cellar door venues and vineyards – at least one, Pooley Wines, receiving James Halliday’s highest commendation.

Oyster Cove

A demanding and technical stage to the south of Hobart, Oyster Cove is famed for its challenging corners and elevation changes. The 12.1km shelf-road rises and falls over 241 metres, flanked by tall native eucalypts as it hugs the contours of Farewell Hill.

But there’s more to the Oyster Cove stage than its energetic topography might suggest. In quieter times, the C626 provides links to related stages of Targa Tasmania’s famed Southern Loop, and a scenic alternative to the busier shoreline drive.

The postcard perfect Snug Falls are hidden high above the road’s northern end, while to the south, berry farms, orchards, cideries, and vineyards offer the opportunity to sample tasty local delights, including a range of decadent liqueurs.

Of course, the creamy oysters of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel are a regional highlight, the nearby fishing township of Kettering home to several vineyards, a distillery and several inviting cafes with views across the marina to Bruny Island and beyond.

Gardners Bay

From Oyster Cove it is easy to find the Gardners Bay stage, the section a wild ride at competition pace rising and falling over 349 metres in just 8.8km. Flowing through farmland on the C627, this nail-biting run is one of the fastest in the Southern Loop group of stages, but one we think is best enjoyed at a more relaxed pace.

Home to comfortable farm stays, the unique Woodbridge Hill Handweaving Studio, and with the sleepy seaside village of Woodbridge at its finish line, this meandering drive is the perfect Targa stage from which to imagine the thrill of ‘race pace’, or to simply access the beauties beyond.

The lovingly restored Pickers Cottages at Hartzview Vineyard offer a glimpse into a bygone time, while the nearby Huon Valley showcases some of Tasmania’s freshest local produce.

Velvety sheep cheeses are on offer at Ewenique Tasting House and curious whey-based spirits at Hartshorn Distillery. Mewstone Wines offers charming views across the vines, while the Art Farm Birchs Bay has over two kilometres of walking trails punctuated with locally carved sculptures.

The Gardners Bay stage also serves as a point of departure to the wondrous south where the Tahune Airwalk and Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs await your visit.

Cygnet

The Cygnet stage is one that follows neatly from either Oyster Cove or Gardners Bay but is one that offers slightly more of a challenge to navigators.

Following the C640, C639, and C641 (in that order), the stage rolls by quiet farmland before cresting a rise upon the Huon River – our advice is not to be distracted by the view. Tracing the river bank, the stage makes a sharp right at Silver Hills Road before coming to its unremarkable conclusion.

In all, the Cygnet stage covers 14.9km with a change in elevation of some 248 metres.

While the stage is certain to flash before competitors’ eyes in a blink, at road speeds it is simply spectacular. The broad Huon River is stunning, its parallel path (C639) connecting Huonville to the north with the township of Cygnet in the south, the latter blissfully perched at the neck of glassy Kangaroo Bay.

If you’re passing through Cygnet on a weekend, be sure to stop in at the community market. Culinary creations to every taste, lovingly crafted handmade clothing and rousing musical performances tug at the senses while locals and ‘mainlanders’ pause to shoot the breeze.

Whether you stop for lunch or stay the night at one of a dozen nearby bed and breakfasts, Cygnet is a charming spot from which to enjoy life at a slower pace.

Longley

Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the ‘wheel, for the Longley stage is perhaps the most exhilarating of all. The 11.6km stage climbs and winds its way from the famous Longley International Hotel, ascending 322 metres up the southern side of Mount Wellington (Kunanyi) to Long Creek at Neika.

The B64, or Huon Road, is one that doesn’t see a lot of traffic, or sunlight, and may be very slippery when wet. But it’s one Targa Tasmania entrants cherish as a favourite and is certainly a more entertaining means of getting yourself back to Hobart’s doorstep.

But before you do, be certain not to miss the turn-off to the 1271-metre Mount Wellington summit. The views from the peak change not just with the season, but often with the hour, taking in not only Hobart below, but the Derwent River, south-western World Heritage Area, and, on a clear day, the Tasman Peninsula.

If you’re feeling more energetic, the Walk on Kunanyi guided tour is well worth the effort, even offering stories from the past and present, as well as fascinating insights into the mountain’s diverse flora and fauna. In the darker months, your guide can also help you to learn about nocturnal wildlife or to unravel the secrets of the southern stars before returning to warm up by the roaring fire of the Lost Freight Cafe.

No trip to Hobart is complete without a visit to the 200-year-old Cascade Brewery, which is conveniently located on the Hobart side of Mount Wellington’s base. With your driving tour over, drop in for a beer at the Cascade Brewery Bar or enjoy what locals say is the ‘finest beer garden in Australia’. After a drive like this, we think you’ve earned it.