Discovering Tasmania: Australia's Island of Extremes
This 10D9N Tasmanian journey takes in the best of the Land Down Under’s smallest and southern most state. You’ll experience the sites of historic Hobart, from the trailblazing MONA to evocative, penal Port Arthur, while awaiting you to the north are the pristine, primordial forests and mirror-like lakes of the island’s premiere parks. While breathing the world’s cleanest air, you’ll witness the island’s wallabies, possums and penguins, visit its red-speckled beaches and admire its surprising array of street art. Savour along the way the culinary delights for which the island has become renowned, from cheeses and craft beers and wines to the excellent truffles that are hunted from its cool forest floors, and not least, enjoy a sumptuous seafood feast, plucked fresh from the ocean on a coastal cruise.
This journey outline is by no means fixed. As the traveller takes centre stage in our planning – from the type of lodging to daily activities – your journey will be crafted to suit you.
Day by Day Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Hobart/Mona
Upon landing in Hobart, Tasmania’s charming capital, you’ll be met by your private guide, then whisked to the city’s dynamic MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), a stunning space with an ever-changing slew of state-of-the-art exhibits. Following lunch, a guide of the capital will commence before settling into your stylish, waterfront lodgings.
Day 2: Hobart to Strahan
Today, you’ll delve into the heart of Tasmania’s UNESCO-listed forest reserve, breathing the fresh alpine air of Lake St. Clair, Australia’s deepest lake. Nearby, you’ll witness the sculpted Wall in the Wilderness, a giant relief that traces the island’s past, then make the easy walk through a pretty fern forest to Nelson Falls before reaching your accommodation for the night on tiny Strahan’s quaint little harbour.
Day 3: Gordan River Cruise & Cradle Mountain
Set out across the harbour to the south to sail up the mouth of the Gordon River, taking a rainforest walk from Heritage Landing amid ancient Gondwanan trees. Take a step back in time on Sarah Island at the overgrown ruins of a notorious penal colony, then arrive at last at your hotel after a precursory pass through the immaculate landscapes of Cradle Mountain National Park.
Day 4: Cradle Mountain National Park
On this morning you’ll have your choice of walking paths to take through Tasmania’s flagship park, among the many routes on offer the immersive Dove Lake Circuit, easily done in two hours and passing en route the picturesque lakeside beaches and the ancient Ballroom Forest. Learn of the region’s flora and fauna along the way.
Day 5: Launceston & Low Head Penguin Tour
Exiting the park through the village of Sheffield, home of a series of murals on Tasmanian life, you’ll delve into the stunning Marakoopa Caves before reaching Launceston in the afternoon to settle into your hotel in the afternoon. In season, head north to the coast in the evening to glimpse Tasmania’s distinctive penguins in action, waddling ashore from the waters of the Bass Strait to reach their burrows on the beach.
Day 6: Launceston, Pyengana to Binalong Bay
Spend the morning indulging in the comforts of your Launceston lodgings before heading to the east, where an artisanal cheese platter awaits in the village of Pyengana, as does a rainforest walk to St. Columba Falls. You’ll retire for the evening in beachside St. Helens, the gateway to the beautiful Bay of Fires.
Day 7: Bay of Fires Reserve/ Saffire Freycinet
Feast your eyes on a outing of the brilliant white beaches of the Bay of Fires, deriving its name from the bright orange lichen-splashed rocks strewn along the bright blue water’s edge. After lunch, travel south along the coast to Coles Bay and your night’s abode at the feet of The Hazards, named among Lonely Planet's Top 10 Most Extraordinary Places to Stay.
Day 8: The Freycinet Peninsula
Today you’ll have plenty of time to explore the rugged, windswept peninsula, choosing from several spectacular walks in the area, among them a jaunt to a clifftop lighthouse and a hike up The Hazards to a spectacular lookout over Wineglass Bay. Alternatively, stay where you are and be pampered at Saffire’s award-winning spa and massage complex.
Day 9: Tasmanian Devils/ Hobart
After a leisurely morning, you’ll trace the coast south to return to Hobart and lunch in a top boutique winery. Afterwards, pay a visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to glimpse the island’s array of peculiar wildlife, encountering wombats, wallabies, quolls and, of course, Tasmanian Devils, cared for by a dedicated team. Retire to your waterfront room to get some rest before the tour’s final flourish.
Day 10: Culinary Seafood Delight (or Day at Leisure)
Take a stroll to the Franklin Wharf and prepare to be pampered on a Seafood Seduction Cruise. Exiting the mouth of the River Derwent you’ll soon reach the deserted beaches of Bruny Island, where a salmon farm awaits, along with the chance to harvest oysters fresh from the sea. Watch as your guide takes a dive for abalone and urchin before boarding your boat again, where you’ll dig into a sumptuous Tasmanian seafood BBQ before returning to Hobart in the late afternoon. A private airport transfer will ensure that you reach the airport on time for your departing flight.
Hobart, Strahan, Gordon River, Cradle Mountain National Park, Launceston, Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires, and the Freycinet Peninsula
Recommended months to travel
March (21°C-24°C) to May (12°C-18°C).
Altitude range
Maximum 1,617m.
Level of difficulty
Easy to Moderate. No difficult hikes involved.
Indicative price
Pricing upon request.
As we’ll customise your journey based on your preferences and needs, please note that this indicative price is just a rough estimate. Prices can fluctuate depending on season, type of accommodation and activities/experiences chosen (private vs. shared) etc.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
