Highlights
Inclusions
Itinerary
Day 1 - Saturday 16 March 2024
Hobart & Surrounds
On arrival at the Hobart Airport be greeted by your Tasmanian Coach Captain and welcomed aboard the luxury 5 star touring coach. Firstly we vsit the famous Salamanca Markets. Enjoy exploring the famous open-air Market with its bustle and buskers, colour and excitement. Later this morning we take a short drive to the historic village of Richmond. Here you may view the spire of Australia’s oldest Catholic Church from beneath the arch of Australia's oldest stone bridge still in use. Wander the streets of this delightful Georgian town and discover the arts and crafts, bakeries and tea rooms. Travel to nearby Rosny Lookout for panoramic views of Hobart set against the majestic backdrop of the Wellington Range. Cross the Tasman Bridge to Hobart City and tour historic Battery Point, Salamanca Place and the vibrant waterfront before settling into accommodation for the next 3 nights.
Day 2 - 17 March 2024
Tasmanian Peninsula - Port Arthur (B)
Travel via Sorell Causeway and Midway Point for our full day tour to Tasman
Peninsula. Take in magnificent views from the look-out above picturesque
Eaglehawk Neck and Pirates Bay before continuing to the Port Arthur Convict
Settlement. Within the 40 hectares of landscaped grounds lies a rich history of
Australia’s convict past. Included in the entry is a guided walking tour, a short
Harbour Cruise, access to the Visitor Centre and Interpretation Gallery as well as
more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored gardens and houses; explore as you wish
before departing the historic site to tour beside Norfolk and Frederick Henry Bays
back to Hobart.
Day 3 - 18 March 2024
Bruny Island (B,L)
After a relaxed start to the day travel south to Kettering and board the ferry across
the beautiful D’Entrecasteaux Channel to Bruny Island. Arriving at Roberts Point on
North Bruny, tour south past The Neck which is a game reserve of penguin and
mutton bird rookeries and site of the memorial to famous Tasmanian aboriginal
Truganini. Continue to scenic Adventure Bay and enjoy lunch on the island then
continue exploring before reboarding the ferry and return to Hobart.
Day 4 - 19 March 2024
Derwent Valley - "The Wall" - Queenstown (B,D)
Departing Hobart, follow the Derwent Valley through hop fields and hills to historic
New Norfolk. Climb the Central Plateau through highland trout-lakes country to
Tarraleah Gorge site of an early Hydro-electric Power Station. Visit “The Wall in The
Wilderness”, an extraordinary work of art telling the story of Tasmania’s Central
Highlands which has been carved out of Tasmania's famous Huon pine. Enter the
Wild Rivers National Park and experience the wonders of Gondwanaland during a
short rainforest walk to Nelson Waterfalls. Observe the altered landscape of bare,
colourful hills as we cross Lake Burbury and descend through the ghost towns of the
Chamouni Valley to the copper mining town of Queenstown. After a short town, tour
we continue to our overnight accommodation at Strahan Village.
Day 5 - 20 March 2024
Macquarie Harbour - Gordon River Cruise (B,L,D)
This morning, cruise the incomparable Gordon River into the heart of Tasmania's
wilderness and the edge of World Heritage. Cross vast Macquarie Harbour past
Sarah Island, worst convict settlement of all, to follow the Gordon through stands of
ancient Huon pine, sassafras and myrtle rainforest to step ashore for a wilderness
board-walk at Heritage Landing. Voyage to Hell's Gates, the aptly named harbour
entrance where many early ships were destroyed by ferocious ocean swells. On
return to Strahan there will be time to explore the village, including the visitor centre
and Huon pine saw mill, before retuning to our accommodation.
Day 6 - 21 March 2024
Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake - Sheffield (B,L)
This morning tour through the rugged west coast which is rich in mining history,
journey past Tullah which is located on the shores of peaceful Lake Rosebery.
Continue north through rainforest and mineral rich mountains, crossing the Vale of
Belvoir and alpine cattle country to reach Cradle Mountain National Park. Board the
shuttle bus to Dove Lake at the foot of the crags of Cradle Mountain and visit
Waldheim, forest home of pioneer Gustav Weindorfer. Enjoy lunch at Cradle
Mountain Hotel and opportunity to visit the Wilderness Gallery before following the
highway through mountains and button grass plains to the North West Coast and
overnight accommodation at Tall Timbers.
Day 7 - 22 March 2024
Tarkine Wilderness (B,L)
Today we will discover the Tarkine Wilderness area. Unlike many places in the world
the Tarkine remains as a hidden treasure and a forgotten wilderness. This expanse
of uninterrupted 477,000 hectares of Tarkine wilderness is the largest single track of
temperate rainforest in Australia and holds ancient relics of both plants and animals
dating back millennia, and unique habitats not found anywhere else. Breathe the
purest air in the world as you look out over the planets largest uninterrupted stretch
of ocean reaching all the way to South America before touching landfall.
Day 8 - 23 March 2024
The Nut - Penguin - Sheffield (B)
This morning, visit the historic village of Stanley nestling at the foot of an ancient
volcanic core known as ‘The Nut’. Tour past Highfield, historical headquarters of the
early Van Diemen's Land Co. and explore the quaint town with its terraces and
chairlift access to the top of The Nut (ride is optional and own expense). Marvel at
the breathtaking views from the rich agricultural Table Cape with its amazing
diversity of crops and farms. Continue through the coastal towns of Burnie & Penguin
en route to Sheffield and admire the wonderful out-door art gallery of impressive
murals. Later in the afternoon travel to Launceston and your accommodation at the
Hotel Grand Chancellor.
Day 9 - 24 March 2024
Launceston & Surrounds (B,L)
This morning, explore Launceston's city centre and magnificent Cataract Gorge with
its cliff-side gardens, peacocks, pools, suspension foot bridge and one of the longest
single span chairlifts in the world (ride is optional and own expense). Visit the historic
village of Evandale, home of the National Penny-farthing Championships and visit
the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce company for an amazing BBQ lunch and garden
visit. Upon returning to the hotel mid afternoon, take some free time to relax with a bit
of retail therapy.
Day 10 - 25 March 2024
Bridestowe Lavender - North East - St Helens (B)
After Breakfast, tour north of Launceston through Lilydale and visit the Bridestowe
Lavender Estate. The farm runs over 260 acres and is the world’s largest privatelyowned lavender farm. With an estimated 650,000 plants, the lavender rows stretch
for about 200 kilometres in total. Continue on to the north east through agricultural
Scottsdale, Branxholm and former tin-mining centre of Derby. Visit Legerwood and
view the War Memorial Tree Carvings, honouring the fallen soldiers of the region.
Tour the myrtle rain forest of Weldborough Pass before descending to the East
Coast at St. Helens and our accommodation overlooking Georges Bay.
Day 11 - 26 March 2024
St Helens & Surrounds (B,L)
Today we'll travel a short distance from St Helens to visit the award winning
Pyengana Dairy, who have been creating some of Australia’s finest artisan
farmhouse cheese from rich creamy milk for over 130 years. Build up your appetite
with a walk to the stunning St Columbus Falls then enjoy lunch at the famous Pub in
the Paddock. Later in the afternoon enjoy a walk along the white sandy beaches of
Binalong Bay.
Day 12 - 27 March 2024
East Coast - Freycinet - Hobart (B)
Travel this morning beside the Tasman Sea, stopping off at the East Coast Nature
World to meet a Tasmanian devil. Continue to the east coast resort town of Bicheno
to tour the Gulch Fishing Harbour and view the Blowhole before taking in the
magnificent views of Great Oyster Bay, encompassing Maria Island and the rugged
Freycinet Peninsula. Following the Tasman Highway, pass through Swansea and
pause at the convict built, enigmatic Spiky Bridge. Follow the Prosser River valley
through Buckland and Cambridge to cross the picturesque Derwent River into the
city of Hobart.
Day 13 - 28 March 2024
Royal Botanic Gardens (B,L)
Take in the panoramic views of the city and estuary from Mt Nelson and visit the
sheltered, landscaped grounds of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens which
holds historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating
from the nineteenth century. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transfers to the
airport and your flight home.
Today may vary depending on flight times.