Set out on a six-day adventure from Tasmania’s trendy capital, capes and coastlines to its ancient interiors and oldest townships. Discover UNESCO national parks, …
Tasmania Adventure
Set out on a six-day adventure from Tasmania’s trendy capital, capes and coastlines to its ancient interiors and oldest townships. Discover UNESCO national parks, from the coastal heath and sand dunes that meet the rainforest in Takayna/Tarkine to the glacier-sculpted terrain of Cradle Mountain. Stroll along Wineglass Bay in the shadow of Freycinet’s pink peaks and count the bright colours that make up the world-famous Bay of Fires. Go in search of the island’s unique endemic wildlife, from Tasmanian devils to fairy penguins and dine on the freshest homegrown grapes and flavours of Tassie.
Welcome to Tasmania! Your adventure begins in Hobart, or Nipaluna in the language of the Muwinina and Palawa peoples, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Hobart is now located. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 9:30 am to meet your fellow travellers, followed by a short walk to ningina tunapri – TMAG's Tasmanian Aboriginal culture gallery. Depart Hobart for a stopover in the historic town of Richmond – home to some of Australia’s oldest institutions. Enjoy some time to explore the town, then leave for your next stop at a local family-owned and operated winery for a tasting session. Finish your tasting experience and continue to the coastal town of Bicheno, where you will stay for the next two nights.
From your base in Bicheno, drive south to Freycinet National Park, home to white sand beaches, clear water coasts and over 49 species of wildlife, including wombats, wallabies and echidnas. Join your leader for a steep, moderate to difficult walk to Wineglass Bay, voted one of the world’s top 10 beaches, then, after lunch, follow the path up to Cape Tourville Lighthouse. Soak up the views at the top, then return to Bicheno. Tonight, you have the option to join a guided tour of a penguin rookery where the area’s little penguins return nightly to feed their young.
This morning, you’ll depart Bicheno and follow the Great Eastern Drive until you arrive in the northeast corner of Tasmania, home to the Bay of Fires. This popular conservation area features Tasmania’s signature white sand beaches, coastal heaths and woodlands filled with protected wildlife, as well as its unique orange-coloured granite rocks. Set off on a leader-led nature hike to one of the many bays before continuing today’s journey towards your accommodation in Sheffield. The former hydroelectric hub has reinvented itself as an arts community with more than 140 murals on its streets that depict local stories and characters. You’ll have a free evening tonight to explore the town and spot some of its street art.
This morning, say goodbye to the east coast and head west towards Cradle Mountain National Park. Cradle Mountain, at 1,545 m high, stands tall among the native vegetation of the area and is a popular attraction for day trippers and overnight hikers. Today, you’ll have the chance to explore the national park on one of the many walking tracks of the area, including the popular Dove Lake Circuit, a grade 3 walk taking you through the low-lying rainforest, Fagus trees, buttongrass and past the Boat Shed. Your leader will be at hand to explain the options depending on your or the group's ability. End the day by driving to your accommodation in Strahan.
From Strahan, enjoy a full day exploring Tasmania’s West Coast, including the Tarkine, which is not only Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, but the second largest in the world. This cool-temperate rainforest has largely been left untouched and still homes wildlife not found anywhere else on earth, including the endangered Tasmanian Devils. It even retains a biological history from when this area was still connected to Patagonia and New Zealand, known collectively as Gondwanaland. Return to Strahan in the late afternoon.
Start the final day on the Apple Isle by passing through Queenstown’s eroded landscape of treeless hills, then stretch your legs on some great and moderately easy short walks along the Franklin River trail and along to the Nelson Falls boardwalk. Your next stop is Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, then continue over the Central Plateau and through the Derwent Valley. Finish your trip traversing Tasmania as you head back to Hobart, where your adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your time in Tasmania, please speak to your booking agent.
Freycinet National Park - Wineglass Bay Lookout walk
Freycinet National Park - Cape Tourville Lighthouse & Lookout
Bay of Fires - Nature Hike
Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake Circuit walk
Tarkine Wilderness - Full Day Trip
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - Nelson Falls Walk
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - Franklin River Nature Trail
Lake St Clair - Lakeside Visit
Trip Highlights
Discover the beaches and historic blazes of the Bay of Fires – a stretch of coastline famous for the fiery orange lichen that clings to its boulder-clad beaches.
Walk to Cape Tourville Lighthouse for a panoramic view of Freycinet National Park’s landscape and watch as the waters lap the sands in the secluded bay.
Trek along walking trails in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain National Park – keeping an eye out for furry critters, including wombats and wallabies.
Explore the uninterrupted wilderness of Takayna/Tarkine on a guided walk through its prehistoric rainforest – alive with unique creatures and habitats not found anywhere else on earth.
Learn about the island’s remote biological species, from the Fagus tree to the Red-Bellied Pademelon, as you visit the lesser-visited regions of the state.