Fly into Hobart or Launceston?
Choose Hobart if your first stops are Hobart, Port Arthur or the southern start of an east coast trip. Choose Launceston if Cradle Mountain is first: it is about two hours away, compared with four hours from Hobart. Hobart and Launceston are 200 km and about 2 hours 20 minutes apart by road, so a one-way hire can avoid backtracking if your rental company offers it.
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Key facts
- Hobart to Launceston
- 200 km, about 2 hours 20 minutes
- Launceston to Cradle Mountain
- 141 km, about two hours
- Hobart to Cradle Mountain
- 320 km, about four hours
- Hobart to Port Arthur
- 92 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes
- Hobart to Coles Bay
- 193 km, about 2 hours 35 minutes
Which airport suits the south?
Hobart Airport suits a city stay and southern trips. Port Arthur is 92 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hobart, and Coles Bay is 193 km and about 2 hours 35 minutes. Pick up at the airport if driving onward immediately, or hire after a city stay.
Which airport suits Cradle Mountain?
Launceston cuts the initial drive to 141 km and two hours, compared with 320 km and four hours from Hobart via the Midland and Bass highways. Devonport is closer again at 79 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes via Sheffield. If Cradle Mountain is the first overnight stop, that difference may matter more than the airport choice.
Can you fly into one and out of the other?
Hobart to Launceston is 200 km, so an airport-to-airport one-way hire can suit an island circuit. Check that your rental company permits the return location and what fee appears in the quote. Plan the route before choosing the airport order.
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and Sixt have desks in the Launceston Airport Arrivals Hall. Operators there do not accept bookings for pick-up after 9pm, so allow for a late arrival.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
Start with the region nearest your arrival airport and end near your departure airport. Coles Bay is 193 km from Hobart and 175 km from Launceston (2 hours 10 minutes via Lake Leake Highway), so either direction can serve the east coast. Weather, accommodation and flight times can decide the final order.
Compare cars at Hobart Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
Is it better to fly into Hobart or Launceston?
Hobart suits the south; Launceston is closer to Cradle Mountain. Choose from your first stops and return flight.
How far apart are Hobart and Launceston?
About 200 km and 2 hours 20 minutes by road.
Which airport is best for Cradle Mountain?
Launceston, at about two hours by road, is closer than Hobart at about four hours.
Can I rent in Hobart and return in Launceston?
Search the two airports as a one-way booking; availability and any one-way fee depend on your rental company and dates.