SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS:
- Port Arthur Historic Sites tour
- Morning visit to the quaint town of Richmond
- A visit to Puddleduck Winery with wine tasting
- A visit to the impressive ‘The Wall in the Wilderness’.
- Theatre performance of 'The Ship that Never Was', Strahan
- Gordon River Cruise, Gold Class seats including lunch and morning tea
- Waldheim Chalet & Dove Lake, Cradle Lake
- Stay in Tasmania's high country wilderness at Cradle Mountain
- Visit Devils @ Cradle, the conservation sanctuary for the endangered Tasmanian Devil
- A stop in Sheffield at the foothills of majestic Mount Roland
- A visit and tour of Ashgrove Farm Cheese Factory
- A historic walking tour, Launceston
Pre Tour Stay
Consider arriving a day before the tour starting date, or enjoy a stopover. You can relax and refresh after your flight. If you want to spend the day visiting the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) or spend some time at Salamanca Markets on Saturday, we recommend travelling a day early.
The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
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. The hotel sits right at the port of Hobart and is within walking distance of the picturesque Salamanca Square.
On Saturdays, Salamanca comes alive with the famous Salamanca Market. Over 300 stallholders sell fresh and gourmet produce, arts, and handicrafts from all over Tasmania and wider Australia. As such, this is considered to be one of the top attractions in Tasmania. To make the most of this charming city, why not make plans to arrive in the morning? You can leave your luggage with the hotel concierge until check in and enjoy your Saturday in Hobart.
You will meet at the hotel bar at 6pm for pre-dinner drinks followed by dinner one of at the hotel’s restaurants. Please note that this evening is not hosted. Drinks are at your own expense.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 02
Hobart - Port Arthur - Hobart
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
This morning you will travel from Hobart to the historic Port Arthur for a day out at the site. 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 12000 prisoners were kept in harsh conditions. We will take a guided walking tour through the Penal Settlement, a cruise around the harbour, and tour the Isle of the Dead. It was here that around 1000 convicts and paupers were buried, mostly in unmarked graves. There is a café/restaurant at the site which is convenient for lunch.
Port Arthur Tour Inclusions:
On this tour you will have access to more than thirty historic buildings, ruins, and gardens, as well as a 40 minute “Introduction to Port Arthur” guided walking tour, a harbour cruise aboard the MV Marana, and a visit to the Isle of the Dead.
After the Port Arthur visit, you will be transferred back your hotel.
Tonight, meet the group for dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Please note that all drinks are at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
DAY 03
A visit to Richmond
In the morning you will enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Your coach captain will drive up to Mount Wellington to admire the superb views across Hobart and the Derwent River. We suggest that you bring warm clothes as it can get chilly near the summit. This excursion will only be possible if weather permits.
You will visit Richmond, a historic and charming town not far out of Hobart. The town has a number of beautiful buildings and quaint shops and is enjoyable for leisurely walking and shopping.
Enjoy a visit to Puddleduck Winery, where you will taste a variety of wine accompanied by some cheese.
On the way back to Hobart, your coach captain will drop off any group members who would like to visit MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art) on the outskirts of Hobart. Travelling back to Hobart is easy with a ferry ride from the museum to the city.
Tonight you will have free time to explore further or relax at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 04
Drive to Strahan on the West Coast
In the morning you will enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Today we travel from Hobart to Strahan, 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 at 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 another five to seven years to complete. It currently comprises twenty-three panels with intricate carved scenes; many with a historical background to commemorate those who helped to build Tasmania. When complete it will measure 100 metres in length.
Located 298 km west of Hobart and 41km from Queenstown, Strahan is a Tasmanian waterfront town located on the edge of the unspoilt beauty of Macquarie Harbour.
You will also experience what are said to be some of the most beautiful sunsets across all of Australia while in Tasmania, although it is important to note that the weather patterns can change without notice. For this reason, visitors should come prepared with appropriate clothing.
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
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 05
Strahan to Cradle Mountain
In the morning you will enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
We will then take a Gordon River cruise with World Heritage Cruises in gold class seats to the enjoy the ultimate wilderness cruise experience along the magnificent Gordon River.
On this tour you will get the chance to:
- See some of Australia’s oldest convict ruins on Sarah Island, a settlement which pre-dates Port Arthur by decades. Created to put the 'fear of God' into the convicts of Van Diemen’s Land, this tiny outpost of 18th century British penal history hides a fascinating tale of human triumph over adversity, brought vividly to life by expert guides.
- Hear the intriguing story of Macquarie Harbour and its settlement.
- Pass through Hell’s Gates, the narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour named by the convicts on their way to Sarah Island.
- See high-tech aquaculture where hundreds of thousands of Tasmania’s famous Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout are farmed.
- Cruise past the majesty of the rugged mountain ranges in Tasmania’s World Heritage listed South West Wilderness National Park.
- Spend two hours in the serenity of the imposing Gordon River, complete with a stroll into the rainforest, which reclaimed the land after the last Great Ice Age.
- Enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch freshly prepared on board which includes smoked salmon, cold meats, a selection of salads, fresh fruit, Tasmanian cheeses, and local bakery bread.
Our gold class seating includes a buffet lunch and morning tea, with beverages available for purchase.
After the cruise, you will travel from Strahan to Cradle Mountain for a two night stay.
Tonight you will enjoy a fine dining experience at Altitude restaurant, at your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Highlight Dinner
DAY 06
Cradle Mountain
In the morning enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Travel to nearby Cradle Mountain National Park for a guided tour that includes the areas of Waldheim and Dove Lake.
The afternoon will then be at your leisure. You may like to take the option to return to Dove Lake and enjoy some of the walking options. Your driver will arrange a time to drop you off and pick you up. Otherwise, we suggest a visit to the Wilderness Gallery, one of the largest privately owned photographic galleries in Australia, showcasing ten rooms of works from internationally renowned nature photographers. The Gallery also has a retail shop. Or, perhaps you’d like some time to relax at the hotel.
Housed within The Wilderness Gallery is the fascinating Tasmanian Tiger Exhibition which brings together a remarkable collection of artefacts, photographs, and film about the extinct Tasmanian tiger.
This evening our group visits Devils @ Cradle, the conservation sanctuary for the Tasmanian Devil (bring some warm clothes). Following our evening adventure, we return to the hotel for dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 07
Cradle Mountain
In the morning enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
You will then depart Cradle Mountain for our final night in Launceston. Not far from Cradle Mountain is the township of Sheffield which sits in the shadows of Mount Roland. The town is unique as there are many murals depicting the history of the area. There is some time at leisure to wander and take in some of the murals around town.
On your way to Launceston, you will visit the Ashgrove Cheese Factory for a tour and tasting. Ashgrove Cheese is Australia’s premier producer of award winning Cheddar style cheeses, crafting authentic cheeses by hand on the farm in Tasmania. We then make our way for a lunch break at the Raspberry Farm café. You can guess what’s on the menu.
At the end of the day, you will arrive at your hotel where you will enjoy a three-course farewell a la carte dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Highlight Dinner
Day 08
Launceston
Start the day by enjoying breakfast at your hotel.
This morning there will be a short walking tour escorted by a local Launceston guide to fill you in on all the historical and cultural significance of this quaint part of Tasmania.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning. Please check out of the hotel prior to the walk, and the hotel can store your luggage until your return.
Recommended
Afternoon flights from 1pm are recommended to ensure there is time to enjoy the morning tour and have time to travel between Launceston and the airport. There is the option to opt out of the morning walking tour if you wish to travel home in the morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries are subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. IF there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
Solos Only
This tour is operated by Encounter Travel. Book with Encounter Travel for your Return Traveller Reward (conditions apply) or earn your status as a Return Traveller for future savings.
