HIGHLIGHTS
- Launceston highlight dinner
- Platypus House
- Beautiful Tamar Valley touring
- Tamar Valley winery visit and tasting
- Tamar Valley lunch
- Craft gin distillery visit and tasting
- Wine Glass Bay Half Day Cruise, Sky Lounge with lunch & beverages
- Optional extension with Bruny Island tour
PRE & POST TOUR STAYS
Maybe you’d like to arrive the day prior and add an another night of stay in Launceston and/or extend your stay at the end of the tour in Hobart to include our extension package with a Bruny Island visit.
SNAPSHOT
Day 01 START. Launceston.
Day 02 Launceston/Tamar Valley/Launceston
Day 03 Launceston to Coles Bay/Freycinet, overnight Bicheno
Day 04 Bicheno/Freycinet to Hobart
Day 05 Hobart. END.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Day 05 Hobart stay with optional tour Bruny Island tour.
Day 06 Hobart – END
DAY 01
Launceston
Arrive to Launceston today at your leisure. This evening, meet up with your fellow travellers at the hotel before enjoying a welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- An impressive welcome dinner
DAY 02
Tamar Valley Discovery | Overnight Launceston
Today we discover the beautiful Tamar Valley, home to Tasmania’s principal wine producing area where wineries snuggle side by side with picturesque orchards, forests and fertile pastures. The Tamar River is distinguished as Australia’s longest tidal navigable river. Its long, lazy bends wind 65 kilometres inland, around hills and plains, beaches and bush. At the river’s head is the pretty city of Launceston. At its mouth – wide sandy beaches.
Our first stop is Platypus House in the northern region of the Tamar valley for the unique opportunity to see Tasmanian platypuses and echidnas. As the Tamar region is well known for its boutique wineries, we visit a lovely winery for tastings. Then, onto nearby Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre which includes the mine rescue exhibition that tells the incredible story of the 2006 underground mine rescue, before enjoying lunch together in the valley. On our way back to Launceston, we visit a local boutique craft gin distillery, showcasing their award-winning gin including gin tastings. The is evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Platypus House
- Tamar Valley winery visit and tastings
- Lunch in the Tamar Valley
- Visit a local craft gin distillery for a tour & tastings
DAY 03
Launceston – Ross - Coles Bay - Bicheno
We set off from Launceston and head south to arrive to Ross, a quaint town with some splendid historic buildings mostly of Georgian architecture and there’s also the beautiful Ross Bridge. It’s here we stop at Ross Female Factory erected in 1833; the most archaeologically intact female convict site in Australia. With a short break in Ross, why not visit a local bakery for a coffee and delicious pastries and pies. From Ross we make our way east to reach Freycinet National Park, known for its postcard views, pristine beaches, turquoise water and red granite mountains. Enjoy a relaxed lunch with views over Wineglass Bay.
Wineglass Bay Lookout Walk 2.6KM
After lunch there is the option to take a walk to the Wineglass Bay Lookout to see the view of one of the top ten beaches in the world.*
We then travel to the seaside town of Bicheno. This tiny town boasts some of the prettiest scenery on the East Coast and features the Bicheno Blowhole. There is an optional penguin tour in the evening.
Enjoy a relaxed dinner at our hotel this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Visit to the quaint town of Ross
- Relaxed casual lunch overlooking Wineglass Bay
- Optional walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout
- Dinner this evening is at our hotel’s restaurant
SPECIAL NOTES:
* The Wineglass Bay Look: some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps. It is a 1-1.5 hour return trip, 2.6km. The walk is a grade 3 out of Grade system where 1 is the easiest, and 5 is the most challenging. The walk is unguided.
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Bicheno Penguin Tour
This is optional as it is low season for penguins. You can expect to see penguins but the numbers will be lower than other times of year. Price AUD40
DAY 04
Bicheno - Freycinet - Hobart
After breakfast, we head off from Bicheno to arrive to Coles Bay, on Tasmania’s East Coast and the entrance point for visitors to the Freycinet National Park.
Today we cruise the spectacular coastline of Freycinet National Park from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay (regularly voted in the world’s top ten beaches). Enjoy this highlight cruise experience on board the Schouten Passage II, enjoy the SKYLOUNGE upgrade included with your tour, the adults only top deck of the boat. The cruise is on board a luxurious 150 seat catamaran.
Be enthralled by the stunning scenery of the land and coastline as you take in the sheer beauty of Wineglass Bay from the rarely seen perspective of the water. The waters surrounding Freycinet National Park are home to diverse and remarkable wildlife. Keep a look out for sea eagles, pods of dolphins and Australian fur seals hauling out along the coast. Spot diverse birdlife, including albatross, shearwaters, diving gannets, terns, little penguins and cormorants.
Returning mid afternoon to Coles Bay we board our coach and travel south to Hobart. Along the way, and not far from Hobart we will make a stop in the quaint town of Richmond. After a full but relaxing day we arrive to Hobart early evening to check into our hotel. Tonight, is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Wineglass Bay half day cruise
- Lunch on board the cruise boat
- A stop at the quaint town of Richmond, not far from Hobart.
UPGRADE OPTION: SKY LOUNGE ON CRUISE
Sky Lounge is the adults only lounge on the upper deck with banquette style seating for up to 26 passengers. It’s a more intimate experience, with direct access to the Captain’s bridge and private viewing deck. Morning tea, lunch and beverages, including renowned wines and artisan brews are included with Sky Lounge.
SPECIAL NOTES:
- The cruise boat is enclosed which protects you from the elements, however we still suggest you bring some warm clothes.
DAY 05
Hobart
After breakfast your visit comes to an end and you check out of the hotel. There’s the option to extend your visit with a very worthwhile 1 night/1 day extension in Hobart including a Bruny Island tour.
Meals: Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXTENSION - BRUNY ISLAND TOUR
DAY 05
Hobart – Bruny Island – Hobart
Extend your visit with another night’s stay in Hobart and join the Bruny Island Traveller tour. See Bruny Island with a local guide who will show you the very best of what the island has to offer including visits to cellar doors and local providores.
This is a full day tour of Bruny Island, exploring spectacular landscapes and gourmet local produce. This is a delicious day out where every course on the menu is a stop on your journey. You'll visit the home of Bruny Island's cheese, oysters, fudge, honey, wine and whisky to savour their produce and hear the stories behind the harvest. At every stop, sit back, relax and enjoy a fully inclusive experience.
See incredible scenery; take a stroll and leave your footprints in the sand of a deserted beach and see the light bush of the northern island give way to the dense rainforest of the south - this pristine wilderness is home to diverse wildlife including rare white wallabies.
This is a full day; depart Hobart approximately 7:30AM and return around 5:30PM. The evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Full day, locally guided Bruny Island Tour
- Gourmet food tastings
- Morning tea
- Winery Lunch and Whisky Distillery visit
SPECIAL NOTES:
Have warm and comfortable clothing including a jacket.
DAY 06
Hobart
After breakfast, your visit comes to an end and you check out of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be 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.
