Intrepid Travel: Tasmania Adventure

Welcome to Tasmania! Your adventure begins in Hobart (nipaluna in the language of the Muwinina and palawa peoples, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Hobart is now located). You’ll have a welcome meeting at 9:30 am to meet your fellow travellers, followed by a short walk to ningina tunapri – TMAG's Tasmanian Aboriginal culture gallery – to start your journey off by connecting to the Traditional Owners of Tasmania. Then, leave Hobart behind, and head to the historic town of Richmond – home to over 40 heritage buildings. Stop for lunch and walk the charming streets before continuing north. On the way, there are optional stops at a local whiskey, gin and vodka distillery or at a winery. After your tasting, continue to the coastal town of Bicheno and your accommodation for the next two nights.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Activities:

• Hobart - ningina tunapri TMAG's Tasmanian Aboriginal culture gallery
• Richmond - Town Stopover

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

From your base in Bicheno, drive south to the beautiful Freycinet National Park, home to a wild domain of sublime beaches, whose powder-white sands are lapped by translucent waters. Join your leader for the walk to Wineglass Bay, voted one of the world’s top 10 beaches, then after lunch follow the path up to Cape Tourville Lighthouse. Pose for a picture (or two) in front of the panoramic views, and then head back to Bicheno. This evening, there’s the option for you to join a guided tour for a closer look at the life of the area’s Little Penguins as they return nightly to their rookeries to feed their young.

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. The walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout is a Grade 3, 2.6 km/1-1.5 hours return walk. It is a steep hill uphill walk the whole way (and then back down), but with many places to stop for a rest. To get to Cape Tourville Lighthouse & Lookout is a Grade 1, 600 m/20 min walk mostly on a raised boardwalk. If you are interested in doing the guided penguin tour tonight, please book directly through the operator's website: bichenopenguintours.com.au. Please note that this activity can sell out far in advance, so it is recommended you make a booking well ahead of time.

Activities:

• Freycinet National Park - Wineglass Bay Lookout walk
• Freycinet National Park - Cape Tourville Lighthouse & Lookout

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning, you’ll depart Bicheno and follow the Great Eastern Drive until you encounter the peaceful northeast corner of Tasmania. The Bay of Fires is remarkable for its long stretches of dazzling white beaches, shimmering turquoise waters, coastal heath and woodlands abundant with wildlife and orange coloured granite rocks. Take on one of the multiple walking paths, then head to St Marys – a heritage hinterland town surrounded by natural beauty. Your next stop is Campbell Town, steeped in convict history. Then, visit some local dairy producers to sample their cheese and ice cream. Later, arrive at your accommodation in Sheffield. The former hydroelectric hub has reinvented itself as an arts community. Before settling in for the night, maybe admire the more than 140 murals on its streets that depict local stories and characters.

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Activities:

• Bay of Fires - Nature Hike

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning, drive over to the magnificent wilderness of Cradle Mountain National Park. The mountain, at 1545 m high, is one of the park’s iconic features and is surrounded by stands of native deciduous beech, rainforest, alpine heath lands and button grass. Icy streams cascade down the mountainsides and ancient pines are reflected in the still glacial lakes. You’ll have the chance to explore the park along a number of different walking tracks, including Dove Lake Circuit – your leader will be at hand to explain the options depending on your or the group's ability. In the afternoon, there’s an optional visit to Devils @ Cradle – a unique Tasmanian Devil conservation sanctuary in the national park. End the day by driving to your accommodation in Tullah – a former mining town sitting on the scenic shores of Lake Rosebery.

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. The Dove Lake Circuit is a Grade 3, 6 km circuit typically taking around 2-3 hours. Your leader can suggest other suitable walks for the time spent at Cradle Mountain. To best enjoy your time at Cradle Mountain please keep in mind that sudden changes in weather may occur at any time in Tasmania. Always carry additional warm clothing, including a waterproof outer layer.

Activities:

• Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake Circuit walk

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

From Tullah, enjoy a full day exploring Tasmania’s West Coast. You’ll drive to a range of lookout stops before entering the enchanting takayna/Tarkine region. The largest tract of temperate rainforest in Australia, the Tarkine is alive with unique creatures and habitats not found anywhere else on earth, and is home to vast forests of myrtle, leatherwood and pine trees – living links to Gondwanaland that it once shared with Patagonia and New Zealand. Take a walk among the pristine rainforest and discover Tasmania's highest waterfall encased in a lush fern forest and rocky cliffs. Then, take the road to the very edge of the west coast, and your accommodation for the night in Strahan.

Your driving time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

Start the final day on the Apple Isle by passing through Queenstown’s eroded landscape of treeless hills, then stretch your legs on some great short walks along the Franklin River and to Nelson Falls. Your next stop is Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, then continue over the Central Plateau and through the Derwent Valley. After traversing Tasmania back to Hobart, your adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your time in Tasmania, please speak to your booking agent.

The total driving time today is approximately 5 hours. Nelson Falls is a Grade 2, 1.4 km/45 min walk along a boardwalk. Franklin River Nature Trail is a Grade 1, 1 km/20 min walk, partly on a boardwalk with no steep sections or steps. Your trip comes to an end this evening upon arrival in Hobart at around 6pm. Please take this into consideration when booking your onward travel. We recommend you stay an additional night in Hobart.

Activities:

• Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - Nelson Falls Walk
• Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - Franklin River Nature Trail
• Lake St Clair - Lakeside Visit