Day 1 Arrive Hobart
Welcome to Tasmania! Upon arrival to Hobart, collect your rental car and make your way into the city. Enjoy a stroll through Hobart’s legendary and colorful Salamanca Market, taking in the fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, preserves, wines, and arts and crafts on offer. Continue on foot along Hobart’s picturesque waterfront to the Lark Distillery cellar door for a tour of their historic premises, where you’ll gain an understanding of the craft of whisky distillation. If time permits, drive to The World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula. It’s Australia's most intact and evocative convict site with over 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes set in 40 acres of landscaped grounds, and is an essential destination for any tour of Tasmania. You’ll want to allow plenty of time to fully experience all that Port Arthur has to offer.
Day 2 Hobart to Freycinet National Park (239km / 148mi)
Drive along Tasmania’s scenic East Coast to the Freycinet Peninsula, with its exceptional beauty, white sandy beaches and granite coastline. Be sure to stop at the Freycinet Marine Farm (just 10 minutes before Coles Bay) and enjoy a casual seafood lunch with shellfish like abalone straight from the water. Arriving to Freycinet National Park (park fees apply), climb the trail to the Wineglass Bay lookout, where you can soak up the postcard-perfect views of one of the world's most photographed beaches. The rest of the day is yours to explore the unsurpassed beauty of Freycinet National Park.
Day 3 Freycinet National Park – Wineglass Bay & Freycinet Peninsula Cruise
After breakfast, take to the water to experience Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula aboard the Schouten Passage II, catamaran. Cruise highlights include the spectacular sheer granite cliffs, getting up close to the wildlife and the informative commentary on landmarks, wildlife and history. Wineglass Bay is so beautiful and remote, a shimmering crescent of white sand fringes at the edge of a perfect turquoise sea. There’s truly no better place than this to anchor for your Tasmanian Ploughman's lunch in relaxed style.
Day 4 Freycinet National Park to Launceston (177km / 110mi)
Make your way into Launceston today and explore the Tamar Valley wineries, well known for pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay, and sparkling varieties. If you’re up for an adventure ask us about the back route, which takes you to spectacular waterfalls and the historic Pub in the Paddock. A visit to the local Boag’s Brewery just outside Launceston is also a must along the way.
Day 5 Launceston to Cradle Mountain (142km / 89mi)
Head into high country today and make your way to your accommodations in Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair National Park. Listed as one of Tasmania’s most picturesque nature parks, you can take advantage of the pristine environment with guided walks, bike rides, horseback riding, fishing, driving and canoeing, or just relax with wine, cheese, and spectacular views.
Day 6 Cradle Mountain - Day at leisure to explore
Today you can explore the national park at your leisure, taking time to enjoy the breathtaking views of Cradle Mountain. If you want the opportunity to meet a Tasmanian Devil, the Devils@Cradle sanctuary is a great way to learn more about the endangered creatures.
Day 7 Cradle Mountain to Strahan (139km / 87mi)
After breakfast, make your way along Tasmania’s wild and rugged west coast towards Strahan. Along the way be sure to stop at Tullah, a town on the edge of Lake Rosebery that’s overlooked by both Mount Farrell and Mount Murchison. Once a small mining town, Tullah was extended in the 1970s to accommodate workers on the Pieman River Power Development Scheme. The Wee Georgie Wood Railway — under its earlier name of the North Farrell Tramway – serviced the town before its roads were built, and today you can ride the small-gauge steam locomotive on a 25-min (1.6 km) ride from the center of town.
Day 8 Strahan – Day at leisure to explore
The picturesque fishing village of Strahan offers a slice of comfort and convenience on the wild West Coast, and today it’s yours to explore. Follow the tannin-dark Gordon River into the World Heritage Area rainforest for an entirely unique adventure, or climb to the Teepookana Plateau. Take the steam railway journey from Queenstown through to Strahan like miners did in the early days, but this time enjoy all the included fine Tasmanian food and wine.
Day 9 Strahan to Hobart (301km / 187mi)
Today you’ll travel south-east from Strahan to make your way back to Hobart. Along the way you’ll find Norfolk on the banks of the Derwent River, a historic town surrounded by farmland and rich in colonial history. The town's many early buildings include one of Australia's oldest inns, the Bush Inn, and Australia's oldest Anglican church, St Matthews (1823). The town also has one of Australia's few traditional English village squares. Once you arrive at the Launceston Airport, drop your rental car and connect to your flight home.