North-west and West Coast

Tasmania's north-west coast runs from Devonport through Ulverstone, Penguin, Burnie and Wynyard to Stanley and Smithton, with fertile red-soil farmland rising behind the towns. Inland and to the south-west lie Cradle Mountain and the West Coast mining and harbour towns of Queenstown, Zeehan, Rosebery and Strahan. The area is often called the Cradle Coast.

This is general information to help you research a move. It isn't legal, financial or migration advice, and we don't recommend particular suburbs, agents or businesses.

Devonport and the Mersey

Devonport is where the Bass Strait passenger and vehicle ferry from Victoria docks, so it is many new arrivals' first sight of Tasmania. It is a regional city with shopping, schools and services, and it has an airport. Nearby Latrobe, Port Sorell and Shearwater offer river and beach settings.

Burnie, Wynyard and the coast

Burnie is a working port city with the North West Regional Hospital and a University of Tasmania campus. Coastal towns such as Penguin, Ulverstone and Wynyard are linked by the Bass Highway, and Burnie (Wynyard) Airport has flights to the mainland. The coastline offers beaches and views of Bass Strait, while the hinterland is farmland and forest.

Stanley and the far north-west

Stanley, beneath the volcanic plug known as the Nut, is one of the state's best-known small towns. Further west, Smithton serves a dairy and farming district. The far north-west is spread out, so think about distance to hospitals, specialists and secondary schools, and about mobile coverage on the roads you'll use.

The West Coast

The West Coast is rugged, forested and wet, shaped by mining history and the Gordon and Franklin river wilderness. Strahan sits on Macquarie Harbour; Queenstown is known for its hills and mining heritage. Living here can suit people who value wilderness and community, but distances are large, roads wind through mountains, and services are limited. Weather and road conditions in winter deserve respect.

Housing and work

Housing choices range from coastal towns to farms. As in any region, check heating, insulation, water supply and internet options. Work in the north-west draws on agriculture and food processing, health, education, tourism, mining, manufacturing and port activity. Look at real job listings in your field before you commit.

Health care

The North West Regional Hospital in Burnie and the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe are the main public hospitals. Finding a GP taking new patients can take time in regional areas, so start early. Healthdirect's service finder can help. See our healthcare guide.

Bringing a car on the ferry

If you arrive by ferry with an interstate-registered car, Service Tasmania says you must apply to register it in Tasmania within three months of arrival, after an inspection at an approved inspection station. Our licence and registration guide explains the steps.

Questions to answer before choosing

• How far is the nearest hospital, GP and pharmacy?
• What is mobile and internet coverage like at the property?
• How long would your regular drives be in winter?
• Which schools serve the area, and is there school transport?

Visit before you commit

If you can, spend time in Tasmania before you sign a lease or buy. A week in winter will tell you more about everyday life than a summer holiday: how cold the mornings are, how early it gets dark, how quiet the towns become, and what the roads are like in rain and frost. Use the trip to inspect homes, drive the commutes you'd make, visit schools, and talk to locals at the shops, the library or a sports club. Keep notes and photos so you can compare places once you're home. If a visit isn't possible, ask someone you trust to look on your behalf, and use video calls to inspect homes.

Choosing a region

Tasmania is small on the map, but its regions feel different. The south centres on Hobart and its valleys and peninsulas; the north on Launceston, the Tamar Valley and farming country; the north-west on coastal towns from Devonport to Smithton; the West Coast on remote harbour and mining towns; and the east coast on beaches and holiday towns. Think about what matters most to you, such as work, schools, health care, climate, community or landscape, and rank the regions against those needs. Our region guides describe each area in more detail.

Your first winter

Many people who move to Tasmania say the first winter is the real test. Days are shorter, mornings can be frosty and some towns get very quiet. Prepare by checking your home's heating and insulation before the cold arrives, buying warm clothing and good footwear, and making plans that get you outside on clear days. Winter also has its pleasures: crisp sunny days, snow on the mountains, cosy pubs and festivals that celebrate the season. Going in with realistic expectations makes it much easier to enjoy.

Internet and mobile coverage

Reliable internet matters for remote work, study, telehealth and staying in touch. Coverage varies a lot in Tasmania's hills and valleys, so check what's available at the exact address rather than the town in general. Ask the current occupants or neighbours how well their connection works, and test mobile reception inside the home. For rural properties, compare fixed wireless, satellite and other options before you commit. If good internet is essential to your income, make it a deal-breaker in your property search.

Moving later in life

Many people move to Tasmania in retirement. If that's your plan, think carefully about access to health care, especially specialists and hospitals; whether your home will suit you as your needs change; how you'll get around if you stop driving; and how far you'll be from family. Smaller towns can be welcoming and affordable, but services may be limited. Visiting in winter and talking to local GPs and community groups can help you choose wisely.

Finding your community

Settling in is about people as much as places. Many newcomers find friends through work, schools, sporting clubs, volunteer groups, community gardens, churches, Men's Sheds, choirs, bushwalking clubs and local markets. Neighbourhood houses run activities and are a good place to ask about what's on. In small towns, turning up regularly and joining in tends to matter more than anything else. Give yourself time: it's normal for a move to feel lonely before it feels like home, and staying in touch with friends and family back home helps during the first year.

Getting around

Outside the inner suburbs of Hobart and Launceston, most Tasmanians rely on a car. Buses link major towns and cities, but services can be infrequent in regional areas. Roads in the highlands and west can be narrow and winding, with ice, snow or fog in winter, and wildlife is often on roads around dawn and dusk. Drive to the conditions, allow extra time, and keep a warm layer, water and a phone charger in the car on longer trips.

Use the move planner

Our free move planner turns your arrival date into a dated checklist. It includes the key deadlines for registering an interstate vehicle (within three months of arrival) and converting your licence (within six months), plus biosecurity steps such as treating your dog within 14 days before entry. It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. Always confirm dates with the relevant agency.

Where our information comes from

We base the rules and deadlines in this guide on official sources, including Service Tasmania, Transport Services Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, the Department for Education, Children and Young People, the Bureau of Meteorology, Healthdirect and Services Australia, listed at the end of the page. Descriptions of places are general and written in our own words. Rules change, so we show the date we last checked the page; follow the source links before relying on any detail.

Key points

• The north-west coast runs from Devonport to Smithton, with farmland behind.
• The ferry from Victoria docks at Devonport.
• Burnie has the North West Regional Hospital and a university campus.
• The West Coast is remote, wet and rugged; plan for distance.
• Register an interstate car within three months of arrival (Service Tasmania).