* Tasmania.com offers the most family-ready self-drive packages on the island, with wildlife, national parks, and apartment-style accommodation built in
* Self-drive tours give families the most flexibility around school holiday schedules and driving pace
* Wildlife encounters such as Tasmanian devils, little penguins, and platypus are available across multiple price points
* Minimum age policies vary by operator, so check before booking if your children are under 10
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We put together this guide for families who want to stop scrolling through vague itinerary pages and start planning an actual trip. Tasmania is one of the most rewarding family destinations in the country: compact enough to cover in a week, diverse enough to keep kids and parents genuinely engaged, and full of wildlife encounters you simply cannot replicate on the mainland. The six tours on this list cover self-drive packages, guided small group tours, and everything in between, across a price range from AUD $865 per person to AUD $4,200 for a family of four. We have matched each one to the type of family most likely to get the most from it. Our team of travel specialists reviewed and cross-referenced six Tasmania family tour products sourced directly from operator websites, verified in March 2026. We assessed each tour against criteria most relevant to families: minimum age requirements, accommodation suitability, wildlife inclusions, driving distances, the ratio of pre-included experiences to optional extras, pricing transparency, and operator credibility. Key factors we weighted in this ranking: * Value for families of four: Total cost relative to what is included, not just the headline per-person price * Wildlife and nature access: Whether experiences are pre-included or available only as paid extras * Accommodation type: Apartments and family rooms versus hostel dorms or standard hotel doubles * Age suitability: Confirmed minimum age policies from each operator * Routing logic: How much backtracking the itinerary requires and how manageable the daily drives are * Operator credibility: Years of operation, certifications, review volume, and local expertise To better understand how these six tours compare, here is a side-by-side overview of the details that matter most to families planning a trip.How We Established This Ranking
Comparison Table
Best for: Families wanting a flexible, well-priced self-drive loop with strong wildlife highlights
Price: From AUD $2,895 for 4 people Duration: 8 days / 7 nights Route: Hobart to Launceston Tasmania.com leads the family self-drive market with a tour that delivers outstanding value, flexible pacing, and a well-tested route from Hobart to Launceston, making it a standout option among Tasmania tours for families. The 8 Day Family Tassie Explorer Deal is Tasmania.com's most accessible family package, priced from AUD $2,895 for four people sharing. That covers seven nights of 3 to 3.5-star accommodation (4-star upgrade available on request), eight days of car hire in a Nissan X-Trail or similar with zero excess insurance and unlimited kilometres, a Tasmanian National Parks Pass, and a printed day-by-day itinerary prepared by local specialists certified by Tourism Tasmania. The route moves through four distinct regions: Hobart, the East Coast, Cradle Mountain, and Launceston. Day one begins at Salamanca Place and Battery Point. By day three families are driving the Great Eastern Drive to Freycinet National Park, with the option to hike the Wineglass Bay Lookout or relax at Coles Bay. Day four brings one of the trip's most memorable moments: a guided evening tour to watch little penguins come ashore at a local rookery in Bicheno. Day five passes through Sheffield, the Town of Murals, before arriving at Cradle Mountain for the Enchanted Walk and Pencil Pine Falls. Day six delivers Cataract Gorge with a scenic chairlift ride and free-roaming peacocks. The Tamar Valley on day seven closes the trip, with Seahorse World and Platypus House offering hands-on encounters for younger travellers. The tour is bookable with a 25% deposit, with on-ground phone support available throughout from the Tasmania.com team.
https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/landscape-cradle-mountain-tasmania-australia_31965-6284.jpg?semt=ais_hybrid&w=740&q=80 Best for: Families who want maximum wildlife without the planning overhead Price: From AUD $4,200 for 4 people Duration: 10 days / 9 nights Route: Hobart to Launceston via Bruny Island, Huon Valley, East Coast, Cradle Mountain Tasmania.com's flagship wildlife package is the most comprehensive pre-included family tour on this list. The 10 Day Tassie Family Wilderness and Wildlife Package is priced from AUD $4,200 for four people and bundles six separate wildlife experiences into the base cost, making it the strongest choice for families who want structured animal encounters without arranging extras on the road. The route adds Bruny Island and the Huon Valley to the standard loop. Day one opens at kunanyi/Mt Wellington before heading to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where family entry is pre-included and kids can encounter Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, quolls, and native birds. Day two takes families by ferry to Bruny Island, known for its white wallabies and historic lighthouse. Day three heads to the Huon Valley, where the Tahune Adventures Airwalk places visitors among the forest treetops on a pre-included pass. The pre-booked Bicheno Penguins evening tour visits a private rookery on day four. Wineglass Bay, consistently rated one of the top ten beaches in the world, fills day five. Day seven at Cradle Mountain is a clear highlight: the pre-included Devils@Cradle After Dark Feeding Presentation means families observe Tasmanian devils during their actual night feeding. The Launceston days close the trip with both Seahorse World, where children can hold a seahorse, and Platypus House, where live platypuses and echidnas can be seen in natural daylight conditions. The hire vehicle is a Toyota RAV4 or similar with unlimited kilometres and excess insurance included. Nine nights are in 3 to 3.5-star accommodation. Best for: Active families with kids aged 8 and above who want a guided, eco-certified experience Price: From AUD $865 per person Duration: 6 days / 5 nights Departure: Year-round from Hobart Under Down Under is a Hobart-based operator founded in 1996, certified as an Advanced Ecotourism operator by Ecotourism Australia and Respect Our Culture accredited for authentic First Nations cultural content. The Explorer 6 Day Tour is one of the company's original-style itineraries, suited to active families with children aged 8 and above. The six-day loop covers the wild West Coast, Cradle Mountain, the Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, and the colonial town of Richmond. Day one takes in Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park, the Franklin River, and the historic mining town of Queenstown, with a group dinner included. The East Coast days offer walk choices ranging from the easy Cape Tourville boardwalk to the moderate Wineglass Bay Lookout track and the challenging Mt Amos summit. Entry to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is included on day six, where families encounter Tasmanian devils, quolls, wombats, and native birds. Groups travel in comfortable minibuses of up to 20 to 24 guests. Guides are trained in local ecology, history, and First Nations culture. The motel accommodation option provides private rooms with ensuite facilities, the practical choice for families. A Gordon River cruise is available as an optional add-on at approximately AUD $150 per person. Pricing starts from AUD $865 per person (hostel option), with the motel upgrade priced higher. The minimum age of 8 applies across all original-style tours. Best for: Families who want premium inclusions, small groups, and the full circuit of the island Price: Contact for pricing at funtassietours.com Duration: 8 days / 7 nights Season: September to May Fun Tassie Tours is a locally owned operation run by Robert and Morgan Wilson, with more than 25 years of experience travelling Tasmania and 15 years operating tours. The 8 Day Tour in Circle covers approximately 1,500 km in an anti-clockwise loop of the island and has accumulated more than 400 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google as of 2026. The tour is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and the operator is known for going out of their way for families with children. A TripAdvisor review describes the guide arranging a surprise birthday cake and a Tasmanian devil feeding experience at Cradle Mountain for a 10-year-old guest. Day one includes chocolate tasting at Federation Chocolate, wine and produce at a Coal River Valley winery, and the Richmond Bridge, Australia's oldest bridge still in use. Day two is a fully guided tour of Port Arthur Historic Site with a harbour cruise. Days three and four bring the Bay of Fires, an oyster farm visit, Marakoopa Caves with resident glow-worms, and the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. Day five arrives at the 4-star Cradle Mountain Hotel with the Dove Lake Circuit and optional Tasmanian devil feeding. Most meals are included across seven days, along with free wine, cheese, chocolate, oyster, and honey tastings throughout. Groups are capped at 12 guests and travel in luxury Iveco mini coaches. Pricing is available on request via funtassietours.com. The season runs from September to May only. Private family tours are available from a minimum of 6 guests, with self-contained Cradle Mountain family cabins sleeping up to five guests on request. Best for: Families travelling in winter who want apartment-style comfort and a generous pace Price: From AUD $3,500 for 4 people Duration: 11 days / 10 nights Season: Winter-focused Tasmania.com's dedicated winter family package is the longest self-drive option on this list and the one built specifically around Tasmania's colder months. At 11 days and 10 nights, the itinerary moves from Hobart through the Bay of Fires, Cradle Mountain, and Launceston at a pace generous enough for families who want to settle into each region properly. Priced from AUD $3,500 for four people sharing, the package uses 2-bedroom apartment accommodation for every single night across the 10-night journey, giving families private living and sleeping spaces throughout. The standard package is rated 3.5-star, with a 4-star option at St Helens, and the Cradle Mountain cabin sleeps up to six guests for larger families. Three nights in Hobart open the trip, covering Salamanca Place, the kunanyi/Mt Wellington summit, and a day trip south to the Huon Valley. Days four and five are based at St Helens on the northeast coast, with a full day at the Bay of Fires conservation reserve: white sandy beaches, clear turquoise water, and the orange lichen-covered granite boulders the region is famous for. Day six drives inland to Cradle Mountain, where day seven brings the Enchanted Walk and the Dove Lake Circuit, with wombats and wallabies regularly spotted. The optional Devils@Cradle After Dark Feeding tour is available as a paid add-on. Day eight passes through Mole Creek and its famous limestone caves on the drive to Launceston. Days nine and ten allow two full days for Cataract Gorge, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, and the Tamar Valley. The hire vehicle is a Mitsubishi ASX or similar with zero excess insurance and unlimited kilometres, collected from Budget at Hobart Airport. Best for: Families with teenagers 15 and above seeking a guided, sustainability-focused loop Price: From USD $1,320 per person Duration: 6 days / 5 nights Minimum age: 15 years Intrepid Travel is an internationally recognised small group adventure company, founded in Australia in 1989 and now operating across more than 100 countries, holding B Corp certification. The Tasmania Adventure is its flagship six-day island loop, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 131 reviews, and is suited to families with teenagers aged 15 and above. The tour opens with a visit to ningina tunapri, the Tasmanian Aboriginal culture gallery at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, connecting the group to the Traditional Owners of Tasmania from day one. The itinerary moves through Richmond, Bicheno, Freycinet National Park, the Bay of Fires, Sheffield, Cradle Mountain, and the takayna/Tarkine rainforest on the West Coast, returning to Hobart by day six. Day two includes a leader-led walk to the Wineglass Bay Lookout with the option to continue to the beach, plus the Cape Tourville Lighthouse boardwalk. The Bay of Fires walk and Sheffield's 140-plus street murals fill day three. Day four at Cradle Mountain includes the Dove Lake Circuit and an optional Devils@Cradle daytime visit at AUD $38 per person. Day five enters the Tarkine, the largest tract of temperate rainforest in the country, before arriving in Strahan. Groups travel with a leader who also serves as driver, capped at 16 participants. Tourist-class hotel accommodation is used throughout. Only two meals are included across six days, worth factoring into the total budget alongside the base price from USD $1,320 per person. Travel insurance is mandatory before departure. For families with children under 15, the dedicated Intrepid Family Adventures range (from age 5 or 10 depending on the itinerary) is a more suitable starting point.
https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/eastern-grey-kangaroo-macropus-giganteus-maria-island-national-park-tasmania-australia_974629-256787.jpg The right match comes down to three things: the ages of your children, the time of year you are travelling, and whether you prefer driving yourselves or travelling with a guide. For families with school-aged children seeking value and flexibility, Tasmania.com's 8 Day Family Tassie Explorer Deal is the strongest starting point. Families who want wildlife pre-organised and priced in will find Tasmania.com's 10 Day Wilderness and Wildlife Package the most complete option. Winter travellers are best served by Tasmania.com's 11 Day Winter Package, which offers apartment-style accommodation every night and a pace that suits the season. Families with children aged 8 and above who want guided touring with eco-credentials should look at the Under Down Under Explorer 6. The Fun Tassie Tours 8 Day circuit suits families who want premium inclusions and a small, personal group. The Intrepid Travel Tasmania Adventure is best reserved for families with teenagers, where structured guiding and cultural depth add genuine value. Book early for school holiday periods. Easter, winter school holidays, and the summer break all see popular departures fill quickly. Final Thoughts Tasmania is one of the most rewarding family holiday destinations in the country, and the tours on this list cover the full range of what families need: flexible self-drive routes, pre-included wildlife encounters, guided expert experiences, and accommodation that actually works for a family of four. Tasmania.com consistently leads this list because its packages are built specifically for families, priced for four people rather than per person, and backed by a local team of specialists who know the island inside out. Whether you have a week or nearly two, there is a Tasmania family tour on this list that fits your travel window, your children's ages, and your budget. What is the best Tasmania tour for families with young children? The best option for families with young children is a self-drive package that sets its own pace and uses family apartment accommodation. Tasmania.com's 8 Day Family Tassie Explorer Deal covers Hobart, the East Coast, Cradle Mountain, and Launceston with zero excess car hire, a National Parks Pass, and no minimum age restriction. What wildlife can families see on a Tasmania family tour? Families can encounter Tasmanian devils, wombats, little penguins, echidnas, quolls, platypus, white wallabies, and seahorses across various tour itineraries. Wildlife sanctuaries such as Bonorong, Devils@Cradle, Seahorse World, and Platypus House offer structured encounters, with some tours including sanctuary entry in the base price and others listing it as a paid optional extra. How long should a family Tasmania tour be? Most families find that 8 to 10 days is the right length to cover the key regions without feeling rushed. A 7 to 8 day itinerary comfortably fits Hobart, the East Coast, and Cradle Mountain; extending to 10 or 11 days adds the West Coast, Bruny Island, or the Bay of Fires without cramming the driving schedule. What is the minimum age for guided Tasmania family tours? Minimum ages vary by operator. Guided group tours generally set the minimum at 8 or 15 years depending on the itinerary's physical rating. Self-drive packages do not impose a minimum age, making them the most flexible option for families with children of any age.2. 10 Day Tassie Family Wilderness and Wildlife Package " Tasmania.com
3. Explorer 6 Day Tasmania Tour " Under Down Under
4. 8 Day Tour of Tasmania (Tour in Circle) " Fun Tassie Tours
5. 11 Day Self-Drive Tasmanian Family Winter Package " Tasmania.com
6. Tasmania Adventure (6 Days) " Intrepid Travel
How to Choose the Right Tasmania Family Tour
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