Tasmania
12 Days, Monday 15 to Friday 26 March, 2010
Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state and the most geographically diverse. Come and experience the charming mix of historic richness and untouched wilderness on our 12 day tour. To ensure you start the tour fresh and make the most of your holiday we have added an extra night in Launceston; then you will travel in a first class coach with local crew and learn all about this beautiful and historical place. At the end of the tour we have added another night in Launceston so you can get a good nights sleep before returning home.
DaY 1 - PERTH to LAUNCESTON
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Relax and enjoy our home pick-up service by private car. Transfer to the airport to meet your fellow travellers and board your flight to Launceston via Melbourne. This evening enjoy dinner at the hotel.
HOTEL: 2 NIGHTS AT THE GRAND CHANCELLOR.
DAY 2 - WOOLMERS ESTATE – CATARACT GORGE
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Enjoy free time in Launceston this morning. Your journey starts this afternoon with a visit to the historic Woolmers Estate, regarded as Australia’s most significant colonial property with a collection of buildings, photographs, art and furniture. Join the local guide for a tour of the main house and spend time exploring the National Rose Garden which covers 1.5 hectares and is planted with over 3,000 roses. We visit the famous Cataract Gorge Reserve before returning to the hotel.
DAY 3 - SCOTTSDALE TO BICHENO
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Discover the city of Launceston as you embark on a sightseeing tour. Experience a guided tour of Bridestowe Lavender Farm, the largest and oldest lavender plantation in the southern hemisphere. Continue on to Scottsdale to the Forest Eco Centre, an interactive forest interpretation centre. We’ll see Legerwood’s WW1 memorial tree carvings, and drive through the lush Myrtle rainforest at Weldsborough Pass to St Helens. After dinner, we join a private guided tour of a fairy penguin colony.
MOTEL: BEACHFRONT AT BICHENO MOTEL.
DAY 4 - FREYCINET NAT. PARK to RICHMOND to PORT ARTHUR
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Prepare yourself for the breathtaking beauty of Freycinet National Park. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park. Spectacular scenery, azure bays and white sand beaches. Visit Bonorong Wildlife Park and get up close and personal with a Tasmanian devil and other native animals. Spend time exploring the charming Georgian Village of Richmond with free time to stroll along the town’s quaint streets and admire its delightful sandstone buildings. Then travel south to the Tasman Peninsula and visit Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.
MOTEL: FOX & HOUNDS INN, PORT ARTHUR.
DAY 5 - PORT ARTHUR TO BOTANIC GARDENS TO HOBART
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Spend time exploring the Port Arthur Historic Site, once the home of up to 12,500 convicts. Visit the Interpretation Gallery and play the Lottery of Life before wandering amongst its buildings and ruins during your guided tour and cruise around the Isle of the Dead. Continue on to Hobart and join a naturalist expert for a guided tour of the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens, Australia’s second oldest botanic garden. Established in 1818, this 13.5 hectare property offers panoramic views of the River Derwent and is dominated by the largest public collection of mature conifers in the southern hemisphere. Enjoy the stunning views from Mt Wellington (weather permitting), then an orientation tour of the city visiting Battery point, Constitution Dock, Salamanca Place and more.
HOTEL: 2 NIGHTS AT THE GRAND MERCURE HADLEY’S HOTEL, HOBART.
DAY 6 - SALAMANCA MARKETS
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This morning stroll through Salamanca Place and mix with the locals as you explore the colourful stalls of bustling Salamanca Market, one of the Nation’s most popular markets. Some of the State’s finest arts, crafts and produce can be found here. The rest of the day is free for you to explore other areas of Hobart at your leisure or you may choose to take an optional tour. This evening is at leisure for you to discover the amazing array of local fare as you explore Hobart’s many restaurants.
DAY 7 - RUSSELL FALLS TO LAKE ST CLAIR TO QUEENSTOWN
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Follow the scenic Derwent Valley to historic New Norfolk where you will see St Matthews, Tasmania’s oldest church. Continue on to Mt Field National Park, one of Tasmania’s oldest and most popular National Parks and explore this area as you take a short stroll through lush rainforest to stunning Russell Falls. Travel to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake and admire the stunning wilderness scenery. View “The Wall in the Wilderness”, an artwork in progress. 100 hand carved Huon pine panels depicting the history of Tasmanian life. Descend in to the lunar landscape of the old copper mining centre of Queenstown and discover its history.
HOTEL: 2 NIGHTS AT THE CHANCELLOR INN, QUEENSTOWN.
DAY 8 - STRAHAN TO GORDON RIVER CRUISE
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This morning travel to Strahan to join your cruise along the picturesque Gordon River. Cruise across Macquarie Harbour to Hells Gate where the harbour meets the Great Southern Ocean. At Heritage Landing wander through the rainforest to view an ancient Huon Pine. On return to Strahan enjoy some time at leisure to explore this quaint town.
DAY 9 - CRADLE MOUNTAIN NAT. PARK
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Discover the engineer within as we travel through the mining and hydro electric towns of Rosebery and Tullah, toward the sensational Cradle Mountain National Park. After lunch, join your local guide for a visit to Waldheim Chalet and gorgeous Dove Lake to see spectacular Cradle Mountain. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore the Australian National Wilderness and Landscape Gallery or to just marvel at the view and breathe in the fresh air. This morning you have the opportunity to join the famous West Coast Wilderness Railway for a journey through dense wilderness from Queenstown to Strahan. (Optional)
HOTEL: CRADLE MOUNTAIN CHATEAU.
DAY 10 - CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE!
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Travel to the town of Sheffield, renowned for its street murals which depict its pioneering history, geography, wildlife and the people of this region. Then on to the House of Anvers, for a guided tour of the chocolate factory. Watch the confectionery staff mould and enrobe fine chocolates, truffles, pralines, fudges and more. Afterwards enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and some fresh truffles. We then head to Ashgrove Farm Cheese Factory for a presentation and to learn about the art of cheese making and some delicious product tasting. Follow the Tamar River Valley to Grindelwald, a Swiss Village famous for its Swiss chocolates and bakery, crafts, souvenirs and much more. This evening enjoy your farewell dinner and recall fond memories of your Tasmanian holiday with your fellow travellers.
MOTEL: THE QUALITY INN TAMAR VALLEY.
DAY 11 - BEACONSFIELD TO TAMAR VALLEY
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Explore the beautiful Tamar Valley, firstly with a visit to Beaconsfield, a town full of history and interesting old buildings. Here you visit Grubb Shaft Gold & Heritage Museum. A museum showing the history and heritage of the area, and learn about the miraculous survival on miners Webb & Russell during April 2006. We then travel to Beauty point where you will have time to discover the towns’ unique attractions of Seahorse World and Platypus World. Returning to Launceston we cross the Batman Bridge, one of the world’s first cable-stayed truss bridges. Tonight we enjoy dinner a farewell dinner.
HOTEL: THE GRAND CHANCELLOR.
DAY 12 - LAUNCESTON to PERTH
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This morning we transfer to the airport for our journey home. On arrival in Perth your driver will be waiting to take you home safely.
TOUR PRICE
Twin Share Per Person $3875
Single supplement $710
Includes:
• Home pickup and return
• Kings Tour Manager
• Return economy airfares and taxes
• Travel Insurance (age loading additional)
• 11 nights Accommodation with private facilities
• Breakfast daily
• 9 Dinners
• Sightseeing and entry fees as per the itinerary
• Port Arthur Isle of the Dead Cemetery Tour $12pp
• Walking Tour & Derwent
• Peppermint Bay Cruise $78pp
• Old Hobart Pub Evening
• Walking Tour $26pp
• Bruny Island Adventures $145pp
• Wilderness Railway Journey $95pp
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