Taste of Tasmania

Welcome to Tasmania! We visit the famous Salamanca Markets in Hobart, marking the start of your adventure. Visit Mount Wellington Park to savour some magnificent views of the city and its surrounding mountains, forests and waterways. We head North via the Hobart Airport (an option for a late flight arrival) to enjoy one of the many walking tracks for a relatively short and moderate walk within this stunning park (weather permitting). We head North stopping in the historic village of Richmond in time for lunch, then on to a wildlife sanctuary, for a chance to see some of Tasmania’s native wildlife up close including the famous Tasmanian Devils (they’re not as fiendish as they sound!). We follow the scenic Great Eastern Drive, passing through the coastal towns of Orford and Swansea, before reaching our overnight destination at Bicheno. Tonight, you can take a guided tour for a closer look at the life of the Little Penguins as they return nightly to their rookeries to feed their young.  Today’s driving time approx. 182 km / 2.5 hrs. Approx. hike 2-4 hrs.

This morning, drive east to the beautiful Freycinet National Park, home to a wild domain of sublime beaches, whose powder-white sands are lapped by translucent waters. For those seeking a challenge, try the climb to the summit of Mt Amos or join the walk to Wineglass Bay, voted one of the world’s top 10 beaches. There are other free walking choices available, including the path up to Cape Tourville Lighthouse, where you can enjoy panoramic vistas across the coast. We return to Bicheno for our second night’s accommodation, with the option of sampling some of the regions famous seafood dishes. Today’s driving time approx. 80 km / 1.5 hrs. Approx. hike 3 hrs.

Today we follow our nose along the Tasman Highway stunning East Coast of Tasmania. Passing through some small coastal towns of Scamander and Beaumaris, enroute to the Bay of Fires. The Bay of Fires is remarkable for its beauty, wildlife and cultural history with long stretches of dazzling white beaches, shimmering turquoise waters, coastal heath and woodlands that abound with wildlife. We leave the beaches, and head inland towards the cool temperate rainforest and ferns surrounding St Columbia Falls and Pyengana’s Farmhouse, overlooking the undulating country of Tasmania’s North-East. Our travels carry on to Cataract Gorge, then to Capital of the North, Launceston, where we will spend the night. Today’s driving time approx. 315 km / 4.5 hrs. Approx hike 1.5 hrs

We travel via Sheffield, the town of murals this morning towards the magnificent wilderness of Cradle Mountain National Park. The mountain at 1545m high, is one of the park’s iconic features and is surrounded by stands of native deciduous beech, rainforest, alpine heath lands and button grass. Icy streams cascade down the mountainsides and ancient pines are reflected in the still glacial lakes. Explore the park along a number of different guided or self-guided walking tracks. For those who prefer to travel at a leisurely pace, consider taking a trip to Waldheim Chalet or wandering along the Dove Lake circuit. For those with a little more grit, or people who simply love views of gorgeous lakes with rugged mountain backdrops, the hike to Marion’s Lookout is perfect. With weary legs we continue onto our overnight stay at Strahan. Today’s driving time approx: 279 km / 4 hrs. Approx hike 3 hrs.

Enjoy a full day of exploration in Tasmania’s north-west, beginning with a visit to the shifting sands of Henty Dunes. Reaching heights of up to 30 metres, these vast dunes are a desert amid Tasmania’s dense rainforests. Continue to Ocean Beach and inhale some of the freshest air in the world before venturing into the Tarkine region. Nestled in the untouched wilderness of Tasmania’s north-west coast, the Tarkine is alive with unique creatures and habitats not found anywhere else on earth, and home to vast forests of myrtle, leatherwood and pine trees – living links to Gondwanaland that it shared with Patagonia and New Zealand millennia ago. Take a guided walk among its pristine rainforest and discover a beautiful waterfall encased in a lush fern forest and rocky cliffs before returning to Strahan. Today’s driving time approx: 150 km / 4 hrs. Approx hike 3 hrs.

Pass through Queenstown with its intriguing, eroded landscape of treeless hills. Continue on to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest freshwater lake before entering the temperate time capsule that is the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Walk in the land of the giants as you explore beautiful surrounds on a guided walk-through tremendous fern forests to Russell Falls that forms part of Mt Field National Park – home to an abundance of wildlife, diverse fauna and stunning lush vistas. Stretch your legs on some great short walks including Donaghy’s Lookout and Franklin River before Hobart and saying farewell to your new mates after your ‘Taste of Tasmania’ experience. Today’s driving time approx: 324 km / 5hrs. There will be three hikes today, one will take approximately 1 hour and the other two will take around 45 minutes.