The newest addition to our self-guided Ambassador rides will take you from Launceston to Hobart through the middle of the island, with colonial-era sightseeing stopovers along the way:
Heritage off Highway · Ride with GPS
The 274km route is broken into several days to make the trip easier and allow time for sightseeing, although the option is there to merge days if you want to move quicker.
Day 1 is an easy 24km from Launceston via Perth to Longford, which is rich in colonial history. The town itself is a lovely place to walk around and is in spitting distance of the World Heritage listed Brickendon and Woolmers Estates. There’s plenty of accommodation and food options.
Day 2 puts in more miles at 75km, heading to the historic town of Ross. This day is mostly riding as there are few spots to stop, other than morning tea at Cressy. Ross is a stunning tree-lined village with quirky shops, accommodation options, a wool museum and third-oldest bridge in the country. It's also become a magnet for Japanese tourists who marvel at how much the town's old bakery looks like a popular Manga illustration.
Day 3 is another long one at 76km heading uphill to the historic village of Oatlands. This route is mostly on low-traffic gravel roads and ends on the scenic shared path around Lake Dulverton, which is bird-lover’s paradise. Oatlands has a lot to see, including its history room, self-guided town tour and the new Callington Mill Distillery in the renovated windmill. Meal and accommodation options make this a great stopover.
Day 4 heads to Richmond for 60km, through the old railway village of Parattah where you can stop at the disused station and Colebrook, which has its own history centre. The road gets busier to Campania but on the last leg you return to quieter backroads to get to Richmond. Richmond is a destination in itself so make time to visit the shops, National Trust buildings, historic bridge and wineries.
Day 5 is 30km into Hobart via Grasstree Hill Road and the Intercity Cycleway. The short day means you can finish your trip earlier or enjoy more of Richmond before heading into Hobart.
Our Ambassador routes are created by volunteer ride leaders and are designed for locals and visitors alike.
Please take note of the advice on riding on Tasmanian roads as many country roads have no shoulder and cars travel at high speeds.
Bicycle Network members can download the audio versions of the ride cues and everyone can download the printed versions.
If you are a Bicycle Network member please email ridestas@bicyclenetwork.com.au to get access to the Rides Club on RidewithGPS to gain the extra features of the rides.