itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Hobart (D)
We fly into Hobart to meet our coach captain and head to historic Richmond, home of the picturesque sandstone bridge whose elegant arches have spanned the Coal River since 1825. Built by convict labour, this heritage-listed bridge is the oldest of its kind in Australia. We take time for a stroll before returning via Mt Nelson to Hobart. 3 Night Stay: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
Day 2 – Port Arthur & Surrounds (B,L,D)
This morning we head to Port Arthur Historic Site, part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Australian Convict Sites. We embark on a guided walking tour of this former seaside penal colony, where we explore more than 30 restored buildings and ruins. Learn about the history of the settlement, which dates back to the 1830’s, and the brutal living conditions for the convicts. We then set off on a 30-minute cruise on Carnarvon Bay to admire the natural beauty of this historic site. From the water, admire the scenery of Tasman National Park with its rugged coastline, see the Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, and circle around the Isle of the Dead. We reboard our coach and travel back to Hobart via Eaglehawk Neck. Tonight we dine out, enjoying the vibrant maritime atmosphere and freshest Tasmanian seafood at the iconic Drunken Admiral.
Day 3 – Bruny Island (B,L,D)
Today we discover everything that makes Bruny Island amazing as we embark on a sightseeing and food tour. Enjoy a gourmet experience as we taste fresh local produce, and spot wildlife in their habitat including Australian Fur Seals, Little Blue Penguins, and White Wallabies. We also take walks along the beaches, climb The Neck lookout and tour the iconic Cape Bruny Lighthouse which is perched high above the stunning craggy Tasmanian coastline.
Day 4 – Hobart to Strahan (B,L,D)
Departing Hobart, we follow the Derwent Valley through historic New Norfolk to beautiful Russell Falls with it’s tiered cascade. We then continue on to ‘The Wall in the Wilderness’, an artistic work in progress which is slowly revealing the history of the harsh Central Highlands, and commemorating those who have shaped the past and present of this region. After lunch we make our way further west, stopping to take a short walk to the cascading Nelson Waterfalls. Further on we view the Iron Blow open cut copper mine and stop in at Queenstown before arriving in Strahan. 2 Night Stay: Strahan Village Motel, Strahan
Day 5 – Gordon River Cruise (B,L,D)
Today we soak up the serene beauty of western Tasmania and relax in reserved premium seating as we cruise the mighty Gordon River. We pass natural landmarks like Hells Gates, which marks the entrance to Macquarie Harbour from the Southern Ocean, and visit Sarah Island, a former convict settlement and shipyard. Enjoy a smorgasbord lunch on board as we journey through this Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area before we return to Strahan for the afternoon.
Day 6 – West Coast Wilderness Railway, Cradle Mountain (B,L,D)
As we board the West Coast Wilderness Railway this morning we step back in time, travelling deep into the heritage of the Tasmanian wilderness. Listening to the live on-board commentary on this majestic steam train, we hear tales of resilience and triumph over rugged terrain, hardship and adversity. Our journey takes us through historic stations, traversing deep into the chasm of the King River Gorge. We’ll see the places where early west coast pioneers lived and worked to create this extraordinary railway. After returning to Strahan we board the coach and travel to the alpine woodland of Cradle Mountain. 1 Night Stay: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Day 7 – Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake, Stanley & The Nut, Smithton (B,L,D)
This morning we join a guided tour, walking through the myrtles and King Billy pines at Cradle Valley to Gustav Weindorfer’s Chalet. Here we gain an insight into the early history of the Cradle Mountain area and the people who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the National Park. There’s time to view picturesque Dove Lake before we depart for the historic village of Stanley, originally established as the headquarters of the Van Diemans Land Company. We take a chairlift ride to the top of The Nut, the core of an ancient volcano, before checking-in at our hotel. 1 Night Stay: Tall Timbers Motel, Smithton
Day 8 – Smithton to Sheffield & Launceston (B,L,D)
Our travels today take us along the picturesque north coast of Tasmania to Sheffield, a town with over 100 murals that depict local history and characters. Next we take in lunch in the beautiful Meander Valley at Villarett Gardens, home to 4 hectares of unique modern formal gardens. Later we arrive at Launceston’s Cataract Gorge, where we take a ride on the world’s longest single span chairlift, enjoying spectacular views of this unique piece of urban wilderness. 1 Night Stay: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston
Day 9 – Launceston to Bicheno (B,L,D)
Leaving Launceston we travel on to Dorset to view the poignant Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees, an amazing avenue of memorial tree carvings that are a lasting tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. Continuing on we stop in at Pyengana Dairy for lunch at this local producer of heritage cheeses, before skirting the east coast to arrive at Bicheno. 2 Night Stay: Beachfront Bicheno
Day 10 – Freycinet Peninsula Scenic Flight, Cape Tourville, Bicheno (B,L,D)
This morning we head to Coles Bay and take to the skies for a scenic flight over the Friendly Beaches, Wineglass Bay and the Hazard Mountains. Tracking the Freycinet Peninsula we spot Maria Island, the impressive pink granite cliffs and Tasmania’s iconic rugged coastline. Back on the ground we arrive at Freycinet Lodge for lunch overlooking the blue waters of Great Oyster Bay and a chance to discover the many scenic walking tracks. There’s then time for a visit to Cape Tourville before returning to Bicheno. After dinner tonight we enjoy a special encounter with the local fairy penguins, taking a guided visit to the local rookery as the penguins head to bed for the night.
Day 11 – Depart Hobart (B)
After breakfast we travel via the pretty seaside village of Swansea to Hobart for our respective flights home.
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