Best of Tasmania

Welcome to Tasmania or Lutruwita in the language of the Palawa peoples – the Traditional Owners of this land. Your adventure begins in Launceston with an 8 am welcome meeting. Your first stop this morning will be the Tiagarra Museum on Mersey Bluff in Devonport. You’ll watch a Welcome to Country ceremony and then head out on a guided tour of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. See Aboriginal petroglyphs and learn about the importance of this landscape. Travel along part of the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail. Along the way, there will be plenty of scenic stops, and if there’s time, sample some local ciders, chocolates and truffles along the trail.  After stopping for lunch in the town of Penguin, continue along the rocky coastline to Stanley. Climb the famous landmark The Nut – an ancient volcanic plug that juts out into the Bass Strait and offers outstanding views from the top – then wander down to the working wharf where some of the freshest seafood in Tasmania comes in each day. Continue to your comfortable accommodation, set in the rural area near Smithton, where you’ll spend the next two nights. (D)

Today, you’ll explore the Tarkine Wilderness area (Takayna in the language of the local Palawa peoples) – home to the largest temperate rainforest in Australia and the second largest in the world. Rich with geological wonders, Aboriginal history and unique creatures with habitats not found anywhere else on earth, you can explore sites like the hidden Trowutta Arch and the Lake Chisholm sinkhole – both examples of fascinating geological change. Along the Tarkine Coast, you’ll also see Marrawah – famous for its big wave surfing – and the desolate Edge of the World which marks the longest stretch of ocean on the planet. From here, there’s no land until Argentina! You’ll head out on a few short walks to explore the sites. Later, return to your rural accommodation near Smithton for the night and look up after sunset (this is a gorgeous spot for stargazing).   (B)

Today, you’ll travel to Corinna via Rocky Cape National Park – home to windswept heathlands, sea caves, rock pools and twisted rocks formed over millions of years. Continue to the historic lighthouse at Table Cape and Boat Harbour Beach. Stop by Hellyer Gorge, then walk to see Philosopher Falls near Waratah. Tonight, settle into your accommodation for the night in Corinna’s remote, rural town in a restored miners’ cottage, where you can soak up some phone-free time, as there’s no service out here! Enjoy a group dinner with your fellow travellers and watch the sunset.   (B/D)

You have a free morning this morning to get active. Maybe head out for some optional kayaking or hiking around the Corinna area, exploring the Pieman River and Tarkine Rainforest. After lunch, head to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, where your accommodation for the night sits among the trees. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure, then as the sun begins to set, head out to meet Tasmania’s most emblematic animal – the Tasmanian devil. This activity visits a wildlife conservation facility aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. Finish your day with a sunset over Cradle Mountain and listen out for the unmistakable sound of the devils.   (B/L)

After breakfast, hike the scenic Dove Lake Circuit in the Cradle Mountain area. This trail will take you around the lake and beneath the impressive spires of the mountain, passing gorgeous scenery along the way. As the circuit is board-walked most of the way, it’s a fairly easy walk and gives you plenty of time and energy to focus on the surroundings. After, head to a local restaurant in the park for a group lunch – maybe grab a drink and relax by the fire as you wait.  Then, drive to Launceston, where you'll spend the night, stopping for optional tastings and shopping opportunities along the way (pick up some delicious, locally grown raspberries or cheese and ice cream).  Tonight, you’re free to relax at your accommodation or head out for dinner with your group. (B)

After breakfast hit the road for Hobart (or Nipaluna in the language of the Muwinina and Palawa peoples, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Hobart is now located). When you arrive, you'll have another welcome meeting for new members of your group. Then move on to the Port Arthur Historic Site – a former convict settlement with a horrific past where you’ll learn about the history of this former penal colony with an audio experience and a short boat cruise.  Next, check out Remarkable Cave and soak up the beach scenery. Head to your waterside accommodation at Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsula then join your group for dinner tonight and get to know your new group members a little better. (D)

This morning after breakfast, drive down the beautiful Tasman Peninsula, passing through the narrow sliver of Eaglehawk Neck. Stop at Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Tessellated Pavement to view the unusual rock formations. Head back to Hobart, where the vibrant Salamanca Markets await, ready to tempt you with everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. Then, head out for a bush tucker experience with NITA Education – a local First Nations organisation working to inspire connection to their 50,000-year-old culture. Watch a Welcome to Country ceremony, then try some bush tucker and listen to their stories. Tonight, maybe head out with your group for dinner at one of the popular restaurants near the waterfront. (B)

Today, you’ll drive to the top of kunanyi / Mount Wellington to take in some magnificent views over the city and its surrounding mountains, forests and waterways. Then, drive into the Hartz Mountains wilderness, where you'll explore the remote and rugged place shaped by ancient glaciers on a few short walks. Next, head to Geeveston – a small township known for its forestry heritage, then continue up the Huon Valley and visit a cidery, where you’ll learn about the history of local apple farming in the valley, maybe with a few cider samples from the fourth-generation orchard (optional). Return to Hobart for your final night together. (B)

This morning you’ll hop on the ferry over to Bruny Island – one of the most gorgeous spots in Tassie! Climb 279 steps to Truganini Lookout at The Neck for sweeping views, Indigenous history and wildlife spotting. Explore South Bruny National Park, where the Cape Bruny Lighthouse perches high above the wild waves of the Southern Ocean.  Stop in at a few local shops for tastings of locally sourced products such as oysters, honey, cheese and beer. Then, head back to Hobart where your trip will come to an end. (B)