ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrive Hobart
Arrive Hobart and catch a taxi to your hotel for the next 3 nights. Overnight Mayfair Plaza Hotel or Bay Hotel Apartments.

Day 2: Free day Hobart
Today is a free day to explore Hobart at leisure. Hobart, capital of Australia's island state of Tasmania, sits on the River Derwent. At its fashionable Salamanca Place, old sandstone warehouses host galleries and cafes. Nearby is Battery Point, a historic district with narrow lanes and colonial-era cottages. The city's backdrop is 1,270m-high Mount Wellington, with sweeping views, plus hiking and cycling trails.

Day 3: Port Arthur & Tasmanian Devils
Departs: Hobart at 7.30am,
Returns: Hobart 6.00pm
Overnight: Hobart

Description: We take an early start from Hobart and head to the stunning Tasman Peninsula, home to Australia’s highest sea cliffs. Enjoy the panoramic views of the area from Pirates Bay Lookout, and along the short but spectacular Waterfall Bay Clifftop Track. This is one of Tasmania’s “Great Short Walks”, around 45 minutes, concluding at the remarkable rock formations of Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.

Next stop is the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo. We arrive here for the action of a Tasmanian Devil Feeding. Watch the snarling, fighting and bone crushing in a spectacle of devilish behaviour during the feeding. Hand feed the wallabies and walk amongst the local fauna and flora in the charming “Unzoo” setting.

Just a short drive down the road, we enter the Port Arthur Historic Site. Here you have around 2.5 hours to explore the site. Your entry includes a complimentary Harbour Cruise around the Isle of the Dead and a guided walking tour with Port Arthur’s expert guides. Discover the grim and violent history of the early Australian Penal system and get a sense of the isolation experienced by the convicts in this “inescapable prison”.
On our return to Hobart, we travel via the historic township of Richmond. Arriving late the in the afternoon, you will have time to meander the streets, stop for a coffee, visit the Lolly Shop and walk across Australia’s oldest bridge still in use – a convict built sand-stone bridge, reported to be haunted!

Last but not least, before we re-enter Hobart we stop for a fabulous view across Hobart from a local lookout. A picturesque way to return to the city.
We drop you back to your Hobart central city hotel around 6.00pm.

Day 4: Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park
(Bring your luggage today!)
Departs: Hobart 7.30am,
Returns: Launceston 6.30pm
Overnight: Launceston

Description: We depart Hobart heading east then following the coastline north. We travel through the seaside towns of Orford and Swansea as we make our way to Freycinet National Park. Freycinet is one of Tasmania’s first National Parks, famous for its rich and stunning coastal landscapes. Pink Granite Mountains form the backdrop for secluded bays, pristine waters, white sandy beaches, local wildlife and amazing walking trails.

As we enter the Freycinet area we have a brief stop at the Freycinet Marine Farm for anyone interested in the local oysters fresh from the surrounding pristine waters. We walk as a group to the Wineglass Bay Lookout where your guide will help you take those sought after photographs and offer you some walking options for the day. This walk takes around 1.5 hours, is graded as an easy but uphill walk.

For the keen walkers you can continue the walk down to Wineglass beach (2.5 hr return walking time). You have time on this famous beach to take a swim, relax, eat your lunch or meander along the white sands. If you prefer to select the shorter walking option, then you can explore other areas of Freycinet with our tour guide. Visit Honeymoon Bay, Sleepy Bay, Cape Tourville Lighthouse & great short walk.

We re-group ready for the return journey to Launceston. Still on the East Coast we will make a short stop along the way, for those looking for a sweet treat there will be tasty local ice-cream and desserts available, a well deserved reward after a full day out!
We arrive in Launceston around 6.30pm. Overnight Balmoral on York Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 5: Cradle Mountain World Heritage Area
Departs: Launceston 7.30am
Returns: Launceston 6.30pm
Overnight: Launceston

Description: Cradle Mountain National Park is an area of iconic scenery with a huge variety of walking trails to choose from in this stunning world heritage listed area. With around 5 hours to spend in the National Park we leave our walking itinerary flexible to suit our guests and the weather conditions on the day.

After departing Launceston we enjoy a short stop in Sheffield – The Town of Murals.

Sheffield is a small and quirky village where the history of the Cradle Mountain region is depicted in artworks across the buildings throughout the town, this includes the opportunity to see the famous Eason’s Mural.

We continue our journey into the mountains and arrive at Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake with around 5 hours of possible walking time before us. We begin with a series of short walks to Rainforest City and Pencil Pine Falls. From here we can choose from the gentle and iconic Dove Lake Circuit an easy 2 hour walk with amazing mountain views. For the more active, we offer the chance to climb to the loftier heights of Marion’s Lookout. This walk is well rewarded with amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding World Heritage wilderness area.

Enjoy lunch by a quiet stream, watch the famous and friendly Cradle wombats in their natural habitat, or enjoy the many photographic opportunities that abound. Learn some of the local history as we visit Weindorfer’s Chalet and see the ancient King Billy Pines on Weindorfer’s Forest Walk. Cradle Mountain is the backdrop for a truly memorable and not to be missed Tasmanian experience.

On our return to Launceston, we stop to refuel and refresh at the delicious Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and Van Diemans Land Ice Creamery, before arriving back in around 6.00pm.

Day 6: Depart Launceston
After you check out of your hotel today, please catch a taxi to the airport for flights home. We hope you enjoyed our Tasmania Tour.

Please note: The day by day descriptions published are intended as an indicative guide only. Travel by nature is unpredictable. Weather patterns, road conditions, public holidays, travel restrictions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that ultimately are for the client’s benefit. It is essential that clients are flexible and open minded in this regard.