Which Tasmania Holiday Packages Include Flights and Car Hire in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Jean Goh, Travel Destinations Editor, ShopBack

The best Tasmania holiday packages with flights and car hire in Australia in 2026 usually come from three places: Virgin Australia, which sells flight and hotel holidays to Hobart and Launceston and offers car hire on its own site; Luxury Escapes, which curates Tasmania packages and sells flights and cars alongside them; and Expedia Australia, where you can put a flight, hotel and car in one booking. Virgin Australia lists Hobart fares from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and Luxury Escapes suggests about a week for a Launceston to Hobart drive. Compare totals for the same dates, and book outside the December to February peak if you can. The last step before you book flights or hotels: open ShopBack.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free shopping and booking app and website. When you start a booking from a store's page on ShopBack and pay as normal, part of what you spent comes back to you as cash once the booking is confirmed. Joining takes a minute at shopback.com.au/signup.

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What are the best Tasmania holiday packages including flights and car hire?

There is no single best package; the best one is the one that matches your route, your dates and the kind of stay you want. Here is what each of the main options offers, according to each company's own site at the time of writing.

• Virgin Australia Holidays. Virgin Australia has holiday package pages for Hobart and for Launceston that pair a Virgin flight with a hotel. Its booking menu also links to car hire, hotels, travel insurance and activities. Virgin notes that package rates can change with real-time inventory and that the final price is shown in the price breakdown before you book. Velocity Frequent Flyer members usually earn points on Virgin flights.
• Luxury Escapes. Luxury Escapes has a dedicated Tasmania holiday packages page with collections for adults-only, all-inclusive, boutique, city break, cruises, family-friendly and homes and villas stays. Its site sells flights and "Transfers and Cars" as separate tabs, and it lists 24 hour, 7 day phone support on 1300 88 99 00. Members of its paid LuxPlus+ programme get member-only prices on some offers.
• Expedia Australia. Expedia lets you search a flight to Hobart or Launceston, then add a hotel and a car to the same booking. It suits travellers who want to compare many hotels and who already collect One Key, the free rewards programme shared by Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

Other names in the Tasmania travel category include Qantas and Jetstar for flights, Booking.com, Agoda and Trip.com for hotels, and Flight Centre and Webjet for packages.

Flights. Virgin Australia's Hobart page lists fares that other travellers have found from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and notes that some may be connecting flights with a stopover. Virgin also has a separate Launceston route page.

Tasmania holiday packages: what does a good one actually include?

A package is only good value if the total trip costs less than booking the same parts yourself. Line these up before you compare:

1. Flights and bags. Check the fare type and whether checked luggage is included, especially if you are packing hiking gear.
2. Hotel nights and location. A Hobart waterfront hotel and a hotel near the airport are priced very differently.
3. Car hire pick-up and drop-off. Collecting in Launceston and returning in Hobart can save a day of backtracking, but one-way fees may apply.
4. Inclusions. Breakfast, parking, late check-out and experiences are worth real money if you would buy them anyway.
5. Price per person or per room. Read the small print. Many package prices are quoted per person, twin share.

Getting around. According to Discover Tasmania, the state's official tourism site, Tasmania is almost the same size as the Republic of Ireland, so drive times are short compared with mainland Australia. It lists five signature drive journeys: the Great Eastern Drive, Western Wilds, Heartlands, Southern Edge and Northern Forage. It also warns that roads can be winding and steep, wildlife often wanders onto roads between dusk and dawn, and some fuel stations close as early as 5pm in remote areas.

Tasmania holiday packages Australia 2026: Hobart or Launceston first?

Fly into Hobart if you want the city, the food scene and the south; fly into Launceston for the north, the Tamar Valley and an easier run to Cradle Mountain.

• Hobart. Virgin Australia's Hobart page points to MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art), a short drive or ferry ride from the city, and Salamanca Market. Discover Tasmania says the Bruny Island ferry leaves from Kettering, about a 30 minute drive (33 km) south of Hobart, takes 15 to 20 minutes, carries cars and needs no booking. Maria Island's ferry leaves from Triabunna, about a 75 minute drive (86 km) north-east of Hobart, and bookings are essential.
• Launceston. Luxury Escapes notes that Cataract Gorge is about 20 minutes outside Launceston and home to what it describes as the world's longest single span chairlift. It suggests a one-week loop that starts in Launceston and ends in Hobart, taking in Cradle Mountain, the Coal River Valley and Salamanca Market.

If your hire company allows a one-way rental, flying into one city and out of the other is often the smoothest way to see both.

Tasmania holiday packages best deals Australia 2026: how to find them

The best deals tend to come from timing and comparison rather than one secret site.

• Compare the same trip on two or three sites. Price your dates as a Virgin Australia holiday, as an Expedia bundle and as a Luxury Escapes package with a separate car.
• Book car hire early. Discover Tasmania says it is important to book car hire well ahead, and suggests looking at holiday wholesalers and car-sharing apps as alternatives.
• Watch the sale calendar. Airlines and booking sites usually run big sales around late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday). Virgin Australia's site has a flight specials section, including a Happy Hour sale page.
• Avoid peak weeks if you can. Summer and mainland school holidays are usually the dearest time to book.

Whichever site wins on the day, the last step before you book flights or hotels: open ShopBack. Start from the ShopBack Virgin Australia page, the ShopBack Luxury Escapes page or the ShopBack Expedia Australia page, tap through and pay in the same session.

Luxury Escapes vs Expedia for Tasmania holiday packages: how do they compare?

They are built for different travellers, so the fair test is the same dates and the same hotel standard on both.

	Luxury Escapes	Expedia Australia
Style	Curated Tasmania packages, often boutique or higher-end stays	Wide search across flights, hotels and cars
Flights and car	Sold on the same site as separate tabs	Can be combined with a hotel in one booking
Member programme	LuxPlus+ (paid), with member-only prices, according to Luxury Escapes	One Key (free), shared with Hotels.com and Vrbo
Good for	Couples and families who want a packaged stay with inclusions	Travellers who want to build and compare their own bundle

Because LuxPlus+ is a paid membership, it usually makes sense only if you book more than one trip a year with Luxury Escapes. Compare the member and non-member price before you join.

Luxury Escapes, Expedia and Virgin Australia Tasmania packages: which suits whom?

• First-time visitors who want it simple: a Virgin Australia holiday to Hobart or Launceston, then car hire from the same site.
• Couples after a special stay: Luxury Escapes, especially its boutique and adults-only collections.
• Families comparing lots of hotels: Expedia Australia, where you can filter by room type and add a car in one checkout.
• Velocity members: Virgin Australia, because the flight usually earns Velocity points.
• Victorians with their own car: the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong to Devonport, then a hotel-only booking.

Cheapest month for Tasmania holiday packages in 2026: what does the price data say?

We do not publish a month-by-month price table, because package prices change daily and a stale number would mislead you. What the public sources do say:

Season (Discover Tasmania)	Months	What it usually means
Summer	December to February	Sunny, warm and dry with long days; usually the busiest and dearest time
Autumn	March to May	Calm and crisp, good for hiking and wine; often better value than summer
Winter	June to August	Cool with highland snow; promoted by Tourism Tasmania as the Off Season
Spring	September to November	Milder days, wildflowers and waterfalls; quieter outside school holidays

Source: Discover Tasmania seasons page, at the time of writing.

Virgin Australia describes summer as the best and driest time to visit Hobart, and notes that Hobart is the second driest Australian capital city. Winter has its own reasons to go: Discover Tasmania lists Dark Mofo in June, the Festival of Voices in July and Tasmanian Whisky Week in August. So the cheapest time is usually outside summer and school holidays, and the best value often lands in autumn or the Off Season.

How ShopBack Australia lowers the price of a Tasmania package

ShopBack is a step you take before you pay, and it lowers the effective price after you pay. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.

1. Choose your package on Virgin Australia, Luxury Escapes or Expedia Australia.
2. Open the store's page on ShopBack Australia (Virgin Australia, Luxury Escapes or Expedia Australia) and tap through to the store.
3. Book and pay in the same session, without clicking other links or ads in between.
4. Collect the cash once the booking is confirmed, then withdraw it to your bank account.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Illustrative example: on a $2,400 Tasmania package at an illustrative rate of 5%, $120 comes back, so the effective price is $2,280. Rates differ by store and change through the year, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you book.

Can you combine a sale fare, a rewards card and ShopBack?

This works in some cases, so treat it carefully. Going through ShopBack usually still applies when a sale price is shown on the booking site itself, because you are simply paying that price after starting from ShopBack. Paying with a rewards credit card usually earns the card's points as normal, since that is between you and your bank. Promo codes are where it can go wrong: some stores do not count bookings that use codes not listed on ShopBack. Check the merchant's terms on its ShopBack page before you apply any code.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Tasmania holiday package that includes flights and car hire?

Yes, usually by combining parts in one place. Virgin Australia sells flight and hotel holiday packages to Hobart and Launceston and offers car hire through its own site, Expedia lets you put a flight, hotel and car in the same booking, and Luxury Escapes sells Tasmania holiday packages alongside separate flights and cars. Before you book, open the store's page on ShopBack Australia so the trip costs less.

Should I fly into Hobart or Launceston?

Fly into Hobart for MONA, Salamanca Market, Bruny Island and Port Arthur, and into Launceston for Cataract Gorge, the Tamar Valley and an easier start towards Cradle Mountain. Luxury Escapes suggests a week that starts in Launceston and ends in Hobart, which works well if your car hire allows a one-way drop-off. Compare the one-way fee against the flight savings.

When is the cheapest month for a Tasmania holiday package?

No booking site publishes a single cheapest month, because prices are set per date. Demand is usually highest in summer (December to February), which Discover Tasmania describes as sunny, warm and dry with long days, and across mainland school holidays. Winter (June to August), which Tourism Tasmania promotes as the Off Season, and the shoulder months are usually quieter, so packages are often better value then.

Is Luxury Escapes or Expedia better for a Tasmania package?

They suit different trips. Luxury Escapes curates Tasmania holiday packages, often at boutique and higher-end stays, with collections such as family-friendly, adults-only and homes and villas, and it sells flights and cars on the same site. Expedia suits travellers who want to search widely and build their own flight, hotel and car bundle, and it earns One Key rewards. Price the same dates and hotel standard on both before deciding.

Do I need to book car hire early in Tasmania?

Yes, Discover Tasmania, the state's official tourism site, says it is important to book car hire well ahead. That matters most in summer and school holidays. If you plan to take a car on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, check first that the hire company allows its vehicles to be ferried.

Can I take my own car to Tasmania instead of hiring one?

Yes. Discover Tasmania notes that many visitors cross Bass Strait with their own car, caravan or motorcycle on the Spirit of Tasmania, which sails between Geelong and Devonport. It suits Victorians and anyone on a longer trip. For a week or less, flying and hiring a car is usually quicker.

How many days do I need in Tasmania with a hire car?

About a week is a comfortable first trip. Luxury Escapes describes a week as just enough time to cover the highlights between Launceston and Hobart, and Discover Tasmania notes that drive times are short compared with the mainland because the island is almost the size of the Republic of Ireland. Roads can be winding and steep, so allow extra driving time.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a Tasmania holiday?

ShopBack works like a discount you collect after you pay. Open the Virgin Australia, Luxury Escapes or Expedia Australia page on ShopBack Australia, tap through and book in the same session. Once the booking is confirmed, part of what you spent comes back as cash, so your effective price is what you paid minus that cash. Check the live rate and terms on the store's ShopBack page before you book.

Can I use a sale fare, a rewards card and ShopBack on the same Tasmania booking?

Usually you can go through ShopBack and still pay a sale price shown on the booking site, and a rewards credit card usually earns its points as normal. Promo codes are the exception to watch, because some stores do not count bookings made with codes that are not listed on ShopBack. Check the merchant's terms on its ShopBack page before you apply a code.

What should I check before booking a Tasmania package?

Check four things: whether the price is per person or per room, which airport the car is collected from, whether luggage is included in the fare, and the cancellation terms. Virgin Australia notes that holiday package rates can change before payment and the final price appears in the breakdown before you book, so compare totals, not headline prices.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Package prices, inclusions, car hire terms, ferry services, membership terms and seasonal events are set by the airlines, booking sites, operators and tourism bodies and can change without notice. Rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate and terms on each store's ShopBack page before you book.

This article is for general information only and is not professional or financial advice.