HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visit the quaint town of Richmond
- Scenic drive to the summit of Mt Wellington (weather permitting)
- Port Arthur Historic Site guided tour
- Tasmanian winery visit including tastings and a beautiful long lunch
- A visit to the impressive ‘The Wall in the Wilderness’
- Theatre performance of The Ship That Never Was, Strahan
- Stay on Tasmania’s remote and rugged West Coast
- A highlight Gordon River Cruise, Gold Class seats including morning tea and lunch
- Relaxed stay in Tasmania’s high country wilderness at Cradle Mountain
- Cradle Mountain National Park guided Explorer Tour
- Visit Devils @ Cradle, the conservation sanctuary for the endangered Tasmanian Devil
- A stop in Sheffield, the town of murals beneath Mount Roland
- Visit to Ashgrove Dairy Door for local Tasmanian produce
- Tamar River and Cataract Gorge cruise experience
- Lunch and wine tasting at Josef Chromy Estate
- Visit to a local whisky distillery with tastings
- Farewell dinner in Launceston
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider extra time before or after the tour. Some travellers like to include extra time to visit MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). MONA is open Fridays to Mondays. This is by your own arrangement. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional cost.
DAY 1
Arrive to Hobart
Arrival in Hobart is by your own arrangement. Your holiday will commence with a leisurely three night stay in Hobart. This evening meet your fellow travellers for a pre dinner drink at the hotel before joining the group welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Group pre dinner meet up
• Group dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Arrive to Hobart in the morning to allow time to visit MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art) on the outskirts of Hobart. Reaching the museum is a ferry ride. Entry to MONA and travel back to Hobart is by your own arrangement.
Salamanca Markets; 8:30am to 3pm. Visit Salamanca Market website
SPECIAL NOTES:
Pre dinner drinks and dinner are not hosted unless the group is 14 or more travellers, and then a group escort will join. Drinks for the pre-dinner meet up and during the dinner meal are at your own expense.
DAY 02
Visit Richmond. Local Winery Lunch
Later in the morning, we set off for Richmond, a historic and charming town not far out of Hobart. The town has a number of beautiful buildings, quaint shops and is enjoyable for leisurely walking and browsing. For lunch, enjoy a stunning setting at a local winery, beginning with some Tasmanian wine tastings. On our return to Hobart we drive to the top of Mt Wellington for views across the city and surrounds.
Encounter Moment
Enjoy a long winery lunch where local wines, regional flavours and relaxed conversation come together in a beautiful setting.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Visit the quaint town of Richmond
• Visit a local winery with tastings
• Beautiful 3 course winery lunch
• Drive up Mt Wellington
SPECIAL NOTES:
Take warm clothes for the drive to Mt Wellington as it can get very chilly near the summit. This excursion will only be possible if the weather permits.
DAY 03
Hobart - Port Arthur - Hobart
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. This morning you will travel from Hobart to the historic Port Arthur. The penal settlement at Port Arthur is a stark reminder of the harsh conditions endured by the earliest European inhabitants of this one-time island jail, where up to 12,000 prisoners were kept in harsh conditions. Today, take a guided walking tour through the Penal Settlement. We also make a photo stop at Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.
Port Arthur Tour Inclusions:
On this tour you will have access to more than thirty historic buildings, ruins and gardens, as well as a guided walking tour. After the Port Arthur visit, the group is transferred back to Hobart. Tonight is at leisure.
Encounter Moment
Step into Australia’s convict past at Port Arthur, where dramatic ruins, historic stories and the rugged Tasman Peninsula create a powerful and memorable experience.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Port Arthur Historic Site guided tour and free time
• Photo stop at Tasman Arch & Devil’s Kitchen
• Return transfers Hobart to Port Arthur
SPECIAL NOTES:
There is a café/restaurant at the Port Arthur site which is convenient for lunch. Take your umbrella and a warm jacket/windcheater for your Port Arthur visit.
DAY 4
Hobart to West Coast, Strahan
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Hobart for Strahan on the west coast, making some stops along the way. From Queenstown to Strahan, you will enjoy the spectacular scenery through the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to arrive at our first stop near Derwent Bridge. Here you will view a fascinating attraction, The Wall in the Wilderness. The "Wall" is an art installation that is also a work in progress and will take more years to complete. However, already it’s remarkable. It comprises panels with intricate carved scenes, many with a historical background commemorating those who helped build Tasmania. When complete it will measure 100 metres in length.
Along the way we stop at one of Tasmania’s most iconic pubs for a casual lunch together before continuing on to Strahan. A waterfront town, Strahan is located on the edge of pretty Macquarie Harbour. Before dinner, enjoy a live theatre production called The Ship That Never Was. A story about The Frederick, the last ship built at the convict settlement of Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour, is about to sail for the new prison at Port Arthur. Ten convict shipwrights have other ideas. So begins the story of an amazing escape, an extraordinary voyage and an intriguing twist in the tale of The Ship That Never Was.
This evening the group joins for dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Encounter Moment
Experience the charm of Strahan with the lively and uniquely Tasmanian theatre performance, The Ship That Never Was, a much-loved west coast storytelling tradition.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Travel Hobart to Strahan
• A visit to the incredible Wall in the Wilderness
• A theatre production ‘The Ship That Never Was’
• Group dinner at the hotel
SPECIAL NOTES:
Bring drinks and snacks for today’s touring as it’s a reasonable drive between Hobart and Strahan, with stops along the way. The west coast can experience harsher weather than other parts of Tasmania, so come prepared with appropriate clothing and an umbrella.
DAY 5
Strahan to Cradle Mountain
Breakfast at the hotel before boarding the Gordon River Cruise in Gold Class for a premium wilderness experience along the magnificent Gordon River.
On this tour you will get the chance to:
• Explore Sarah Island, one of Australia’s oldest convict settlements, pre-dating Port Arthur by decades
• Cruise through Hell’s Gates, the narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour
• View Tasmania’s renowned salmon and ocean trout aquaculture farms
• Take in the rugged mountain scenery of the World Heritage-listed South West Wilderness
• Pass the historic Huon Pine sawmill
• Enjoy the serenity of the Gordon River, including a rainforest boardwalk experience
• Onboard morning tea and buffet lunch included
This afternoon depart Strahan for Cradle Mountain.
Encounter Moment
Cruise deep into Tasmania’s wilderness on the Gordon River, where mirror-like waters, rainforest scenery and remote convict history create one of the state’s most unforgettable experiences.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Gordon River Cruise Gold Class seats including morning tea and lunch
• Transfer Strahan to Cradle Mountain
• Dinner at our hotel
SPECIAL NOTES
Drinks available for purchase on the cruise.
DAY 6
Cradle Mountain
Today we experience the natural beauty of Cradle Mountain National Park, one of Tasmania’s most iconic wilderness regions. This morning we join the Park Explorer Tour, a fully guided experience through the World Heritage-listed landscape, with opportunities to learn more about the unique flora, fauna and dramatic geological features of the region. Enjoy views across Dove Lake to the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain, along with a walk through the ancient King Billy Pine forest near Waldheim Chalet.
This afternoon offers flexibility to explore at your own pace. For keen walkers, there is time to tackle the famous Dove Lake Circuit Walk, one of Tasmania’s best-known walking trails. The 6km circuit winds around the shores of Dove Lake beneath Cradle Mountain, passing rainforest, alpine vegetation and ever-changing wilderness scenery. Those preferring a more relaxed pace may choose to enjoy shorter walks nearby or simply relax and take in the mountain surroundings.
Dove Lake Circuit Walk
Length: 6km loop | Duration: Approximately 2–3 hours | Grade: Moderate (Grade 3)
Please bring suitable walking shoes, warm layers and wet weather gear, as conditions in Cradle Mountain can change quickly.
This evening we visit Devils @ Cradle, an important conservation sanctuary dedicated to the endangered Tasmanian Devil, followed by time to stop for dinner.
Encounter Moment
Take in the dramatic beauty of Cradle Mountain National Park, where alpine landscapes, ancient forests and crisp mountain air create a true Tasmanian wilderness experience.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Cradle Mountain National Park Explorer Tour
• Visit Devils @ Cradle conservation sanctuary for the Tasmanian Devil
FREE TIME EXTRAS
Optional time to explore, relax, or join additional activities including the Dove Lake Circuit Walk.
DAY 7
Cradle Mountain to Launceston
This morning we farewell Cradle Mountain and make our way to Launceston. Along the way we stop at the township of Sheffield, which sits in the shadows of Mount Roland. The town is unique for its many murals depicting the history of the area.
Before reaching Launceston we visit The Ashgrove Dairy Door, proudly Australian owned, where dairy herds have grazed for generations among Tasmanian bluffs and clear rivers on natural ryegrass pastures.
We arrive in Launceston with time for a lunch break. In the afternoon we embark on a 50-minute round trip exploring the old and new facets of Launceston’s Seaport precinct. Departing from Home Point, learn about the history of Launceston’s Seaport, Kings Wharf, heritage properties and of course the spectacular Cataract Gorge. See the gorge from the perspective of the water and enjoy a unique experience on board the 1890s replica Lady Launceston. A popular option for those wanting a quick taste of what the Tamar River and Cataract Gorge have to offer.
Encounter Moment
See Launceston and Cataract Gorge from the water aboard the heritage-style Lady Launceston, offering a relaxed perspective of one of Tasmania’s prettiest regional cities.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Travel Cradle Mountain to Launceston
• Stop at Sheffield, the town of murals
• Stop at Ashgrove Dairy Door with tastings
• Tamar River cruise, Cataract Gorge
DAY 8
Launceston – A Relaxed End with Local Flavours
Later this morning we set off for a lunch experience at Josef Chromy Wines, one of Tasmania’s most highly regarded wine estates. Set just outside Launceston, the cellar door is housed within a beautifully restored 1880s homestead, rich in character and history. Surrounded by established gardens, a tranquil lake and vineyards stretching across the landscape, it’s a setting that invites you to slow down and settle in.
Here, we begin with a tasting experience focused on Tasmania’s celebrated cool-climate wines. Following this, we take our seats in the estate’s award-winning restaurant, where the emphasis is on seasonal, locally sourced produce thoughtfully prepared to complement the wines. The experience is unhurried and social, offering a memorable dining highlight in a truly picturesque setting.
Later this afternoon, we continue to one of Tasmania’s emerging stars, its whisky. Over the past few decades, Tasmania has built a strong international reputation for premium whisky production. We visit Launceston Distillery for a tasting experience, offering insight into the distilling process along with the opportunity to sample a range of locally produced whiskies.
After our visit, we return to the hotel where there is time at leisure to relax before the evening.
This evening, we come together for a casual farewell dinner, a chance to reflect on the journey, share stories and celebrate our time exploring Tasmania, from Hobart through the west coast and into the north.
Encounter Moment
Slow down and savour the flavours of northern Tasmania with cool-climate wines, a long winery lunch and locally crafted whisky experiences around Launceston.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Visit to Josef Chromy estate with wine tastings
• Long lunch at Josef Chromy restaurant
• Visit to Launceston Distillery with tastings
• Farewell group dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS
Saturday, the nearby Harvest Market Launceston offers a relaxed and authentic local experience. Enjoy a coffee, browse the stalls and sample some of Tasmania’s fresh local produce, from seasonal berries and baked goods to artisan cheeses. It’s a simple, easy-paced way to start the day at your own rhythm.
DAY 9
Launceston
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the group hotel. Transfer to the airport today is by your own arrangement.
Meals: Breakfast
