Allure of Tasmania

Day 1 – Friday 29^th OCTOBER ’21     MELBOURNE – HOBART                    (D)

Welcome aboard for an enjoyable tour of Tasmania, with all of its spectacular Spring colour.  We make our way to Melbourne Airport where we board our flight to Hobart. On arrival in Hobart we check into our accommodation for the next three nights at The Henry Jones Art Hotel or similar.

DAY 2 - Saturday 30^th              HOBART              (B,D)

This morning, following breakfast, we take in the city sights and visit the Botanical Gardens. We have time to explore the Salamanca Markets before lunch with a free afternoon to explore. Maybe you might choose to have lunch at the Markets - You will find fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee and delicious breakfast and lunch options to enjoy, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products. Or you may like to explore Hobart, or even take the afternoon to rest at the Hotel before dinner that evening.

DAY 3 – Sunday 31^st             PORT ARTHUR          (B,D)

Wake up! Time for breakfast, before heading to Port Arthur. We see Eaglehawk Neck, Tessellated Pavement, Doo Village and more wonderful sights. We enjoy morning tea at the Blow Hole. The Blow Hole and Tasman Arch are just two of many unusual geological formations found in the Tasman National Park, a place of rugged beauty with some of the most stunning coastal scenery found anywhere in Australia. We arrive at Port Arthur and take part in a Walking Tour, which includes access to the Port Arthur Gallery, house museum and the gardens. After lunch we take a delightful Port Arthur Harbour Cruise. Time to depart and head to the Port Arthur Lavender Farm. Nestled within seven hectares of lavender, rainforest and lakes and overlooking the ocean at Long Bay, Port Arthur Lavender’s Farm showcase millennia-old uses of this fragrant flower alongside modern cuisine and a fully functioning essential oil distillery. We then head back to our hotel for dinner.

DAY 4 – Monday 1^st November ’21      NATIONAL PARKS - DERWENT  (B,D)

This morning we farewell Hobart and follow the Derwent River, New Norfolk then onto the impressive Russell Falls located in the Mt Field National Park. We continue our journey passing the giant Hydro Power Station at Tarraleah and Derwent Bridge on our way to Lake St. Clare National Park. Here we enjoy lunch and a chance to explore “The Wall”, which features lifelike sculptures carved from Huon Pine. We travel into the World Heritage Wilderness Region with its raw beauty to arouse us as we cross the Franklin River and onto Queenstown for a total contrast as vegetation suddenly diminishes.  We explore the town before we settle Overnight at Strahan Village.       

DAY 5 – Tuesday 2^nd                GORDON RIVER CRUISE    (B,L,D)

An exciting day awaits as we join World Heritage Cruises at Strahan for a spectacular cruise across the Macquarie Harbour with lunch included. We cruise towards Hell's Gates - the mouth of the harbour.   We go ashore Sarah Island, where Marcus Clark's well-known story "For the term of his Natural Life" originated, and then continue along the placid Gordon River.  The cruiser makes a brief stop at Heritage Landing for a chance to take a wilderness walk.  We see the natural beauty of dense rainforest and the 2000 Year Old Huon Pine.  Enjoy some free time in Strahan to explore the shops before travelling to our accommodation Peppers@Cradle, Cradle Mountain for the next two nights.   

DAY 6 – Wednesday 3^rd     DOVE LAKE – CRADE MOUNTAIN – DEVILS@CRADLE    (B,L,D)

This morning is at leisure. You may choose to explore the area, or have some rest and relaxation at your accommodation. We enjoy lunch at ‘The Lodge’ which is a restaurant conveniently located at our accommodation. We board the coach after lunch and travel to Dove Lake, with Cradle Mountain as its backdrop, which is equally impressive and a perfect shot for the keen photographer. Learn about Austrian born Gustav Weindorfer’s vision for Cradle Mountain “This must be a National Park for the people for all time. It is magnificent and people must know about it and enjoy it”. We also make time to visit Devils @ Cradle and both view, and learn, about the Tasmanian Devil, once found all over Australia but can now only be found in Tasmania. Leaving this wilderness region, we make our way to back to our accommodation to freshen up for dinner.  

DAY 7 – Thursday 4^th     Burnie – Devonport - Spirit Of Tasmania            (B,D)

This morning, following a hearty breakfast, it’s off to Burnie and a visit to the Little Penguin Observation Centre. Friends of Burnie Penguins provide a free interpretative guided experience to visitors to the Burnie Little Penguin colony. You will have an opportunity for an intimate view into the seasonal life of penguin families from courtship, through to chick rearing and to moulting adults at the end of the breeding season. We make our way to Hellyers Distillery for a visit and taste. Then on to House of Anvers – for the lovers of fine chocolate. Visit the chocolate antique display of chocolate and learn how chocolate came to be in the form we know it today.  We visit the Bass Strait Maritime Centre – a collection is a repository developed as a resource to inspire and educate the community and visitors. A key focus of the collection is to contribute to the interpretation and preservation of the history and maritime heritage of the Devonport region and its connection with the Bass Strait. We then travel along the scenic coast road to Devonport where we board the Spirit of Tasmania for our Overnight journey to Melbourne.

DAY 8 – Friday 5^th        SPIRIT OF TASMANIA - MELBOURNE – HOME             (B)

A chance to enjoy the views across Port Phillip Bay this morning as the Spirit of Tasmania berths at Station Pier, Port Melbourne.  We rejoin our coach and head for home with a breakfast stop en-route. Time for morning tea, farewells and to reflect on all the magnificent Highlights of Tasmania.

PRICE $4470 per person, based on TwinShare.

Single Supplement $1365