Tassie Explorer

Itinerary

DAY 1 Hobart

A visit to Cadbury Chocolate Factory* provides some tasty delights and an optional downhill bicycle ride from the summit of Mt. Wellington offers panoramic views and is great fun. Afternoon visits to Constitution Dock and Salamanca Place, home to many of Hobart’s arts and craft shops, provides an excellent opportunity for souvenir hunting. A meal out tonight at a local restaurant and then we’ll check out Hobart’s nightlife. Overnight: Motel *Cadbury Chocolate Factory is closed for maintenance at Christmas and Easter. Please check if require these dates.

DAY 2

HOBART TO STRAHAN First up this morning we travel to Mt. Field National Park. A short walk through a temperate rainforest to the scenic Russell Falls is a must. Continuing through the Central Highlands, we visit the Lake St. Clair National Park Headquarters and the mining town of Queenstown. Our final destination is Strahan, situated on the banks of Macquarie Harbour and gateway to the West Coast wilderness. (B, D) Overnight: Motel

DAY 3 Strahan to Cradle Mountain

After taking in the sights of Strahan, we make a stop at the Henty Dunes where the option exists to try a quad bike for a thrilling ride over these massive sand dunes. Further north, we take time away from the sealed roads and explore the old mining region of Zeehan and the wild and remote Trial Harbour. Here some of the wildest seas in the world lash a rugged coastline. Continuing on Tassie’s backroads our next stop is Montezuma Falls – some of the highest in Tasmania. The walk here through some beautiful temperate rainforest is impressive indeed. Our late afternoon drive up Tassie’s remote West Coast and inland to Cradle Mountain provides great mountain scenery. Tonight we can view the nocturnal activities of some of Tasmania’s unique wildlife including the elusive Tasmanian Devil. (B, D) Overnight: Lodge

Day 4 Cradle Mountain to Launceston/Devonport

Time to explore the northern section of Tasmania’s most famous National Park including part of the world famous walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair. The views here in this World Heritage area are quite unique. We then travel via rolling farmlands to Launceston. On the way we detour along the Lorinna Track to view Lake Cethana and the Lemonthyne Power Station before we undertake an optional visit to the King Solomon Limestone Caves. Upon reaching Launceston we will of course visit the city’s main attraction, Cataract Gorge. Four day passengers depart here. Then on to Devonport and a chance to check out the local nightlife! (B) Overnight: Hotel

Day 5 Devonport to ST. Helens

Today we travel on one of Tassie’s “back roads” to Exeter, situated alongside one of Tasmania’s major rivers, the Tamar. We travel along the banks of the Tamar River towards Launceston where great views of the Tamar Valley await us at “Brady’s Look-out”, named after a former Tasmanian Bushranger. We now travel deep into Tasmania’s northeast region via the old gold mining town of Derby. Next we venture off the main route and head for Mt William National Park and the magnificent Bay of Fires. This afternoon we will take time to do some walking in these coastal reserves and spectacular beaches with a beachside barbecue to finish the day (subject to weather conditions). Then to St. Helens for our overnight stop. (B, D) Overnight: Hotel

Day 6 ST. HELENS TO TRIABUNNA VIA FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK

Great coastal views today as we travel down Tassie’s East Coast. We detour briefly “off road” into the Scamander Tiers for a different view of one Tasmania’s more inaccessible areas. Next stop, the coastal village of Bicheno, where we visit two natural attractions, the local boat harbour known as “The Gulch” and also the “Blowhole”. Then to beautiful Coles Bay, situated beside Freycinet National Park, an area dominated by granite mountains and secluded bays. We’ll get awesome views from Cape Tourville before the opportunity exists to undertaking some of the great walks available here. Two of the more popular, are to the summit of Mt Amos, or to the much photographed Wineglass Bay. Our late afternoon drive takes us via Swansea and onto Triabunna another coastal town, this one with sweeping views across Mercury Passage to Maria Island. (B, D) Overnight: Motel

Day 7 TRIABUNNA TO HOBART VIA PORT ARTHUR

Leaving Triabunna this morning we cross the Prosser River and head south through the forests of South Eastern Tasmania. We will break for a walk in the Wielangta Forest on our way to the Tasman Peninsular and the historic site of Port Arthur. Our guided tour here gives a great insight into the harsh conditions experienced by the inmates of this former penal settlement. The surrounding area is blessed with some impressive coastline and natural features such as Tessellated Pavement, Tasman’s Arch and Remarkable Caves. After exploring the Tasman Peninsula it’s time to head to Hobart, Australia’s second oldest city and the Capital of Tasmania, where we bid farewell to our travelling companions. (B)