Outback Spirit - Tasmanian Wilderness Explorer

Experience Tasmania’s wild beauty and rich history with Outback Spirit. Fly over Wineglass Bay, stay at Cradle Mountain Lodge, and cruise Bruny Island and the Gordon River. Visit Cape Grim, Port Arthur, and Hobart, with stunning views from Mt. Wellington and ‘The Nut.’ Adventure and luxury combined in one unforgettable journey.

Today you will be greeted by your friendly and professional Tour Directors. The journey begins as you depart for Port Arthur and visit the Port Arthur Historical Reserve. Here, you will enjoy a fascinating tour and boat cruise before heading to Port Arthur Motor Inn for your overnight stay. Enjoy a welcome dinner to mark the beginning of your Tasmanian Wilderness Adventure. 

Depart Port Arthur this morning and journey north along the Tasman Highway. Enjoy a brief detour to explore the charming village of Richmond, home to Australia’s oldest bridge (1823). You will then continue north and pass through Orford and Swansea before heading down the Freycinet Peninsula.
This afternoon, enjoy a walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout (a good level of fitness is required). Take in the stunning views of the pristine bay and beach below, rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world. You will then make your way to Freycinet Lodge, one of Tasmania’s premier environmentally friendly resorts located on Great Oyster Bay. Tonight we dine in the Dove Restaurant.

This morning, you will visit the Cape Tourville lighthouse, which boasts spectacular views of the Tasman Sea and beaches. We then enjoy an exclusive 20-minute scenic flight to take in the wonders of Freycinet National Park from the air, a real highlight of the adventure! Fly over Wineglass Bay for a bird's eye view of the stunning beach and bay before marvelling at the park's towering pink granite cliffs that plunge into the Tasman Sea. The helicopter, a Bell Jet Ranger, is chartered exclusively by Outback Spirit from Rotor-Lift in Hobart.

After your scenic flight, you will depart for Launceston. On the way, visit Woolmer's Estate at Longford before heading into the city and checking in to the Peppers Silo Hotel. Tonight we enjoy dinner together at Grain of the Silos Restaurant.

After breakfast, you will depart Launceston along the Bass Highway, heading for the majestic north-west. Travel through Ulverstone, Penguin and Burnie before arriving at Stanley, home to 'The Nut'. If weather permits, we'll take the chairlift to the top of the Nut for stunning views over Bass Strait.

Stanley was once the administrative centre for the Van Diemen’s Land Company, a royal charter company formed in 1824 during the reign of King George IV. This afternoon you'll visit Highfield House, the company's original headquarters. Afterwards, continue on to Smithton where you will spend the night at Tall Timbers Hotel. 

Smithton is home to Tasmania’s most fertile dairy and vegetable growing area. It's also home to the historic Woolnorth Station, which is still owned by the Van Diemen's Land Company. This morning, you will enjoy a fully guided tour of Woolnorth, including the Roaring 40’s Wind Farm and rugged Cape Grim.

Afterwards, journey south to the World Heritage Listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, where you will spend the next two nights at the Cradle Mountain lodge.

This morning experience the 'Enchanted Walk', a 45- minute easy stroll amongst the area's unique alpine flora and fauna. You will then visit Waldheim Chalet, a replica of the original built by Gustav and Kate Weindorfer in 1912. The original chalet was still used as a guest lodge up until 1974, at which point it was deemed structurally unsound. The replica was built in 1976 using the same local materials.

Afterwards, you will make your way up to the stunning glacial-formed Dove Lake. Enjoy dramatic views of Cradle Mountain in the distance, the rugged jewel in the crown of this World Heritage Listed area. For the energetic, a 5.7-kilometre walk will take you around the lake and beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mountain. The track is a boardwalk for much of the way and is regarded as one of Tasmania's premier walks. Your guides will accompany you for the trek, which also passes through a magnificent cool temperate rainforest known as the Ballroom Forest. If you don't feel up to taking part in the walk, you'll be transferred back down to the Lodge where you can relax or enjoy the various short walks around the lodge.

This afternoon you'll sample some of Tasmania’s finest wines and cheeses at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will depart Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and head south. Visit Queenstown and learn about the area's mining history with a local guide before continuing to Strahan.

You will spend the next two nights at the Strahan Village Motel, set on a hilltop with commanding views over Macquarie Harbour. 

This morning, you will board the 'Spirit of the Wild' for a cruise up the Gordon River and into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. You'll be seated on the Premier Upper Deck and enjoy two guided shore excursions, including Heritage Landing (home to ancient Huon pines over 2,000 years old) and Sarah Island, once a dreaded penal colony. You will also head out to Hells Gates where the harbour meets the ocean.

After returning to Strahan mid-afternoon, the rest of the day can be spent at your leisure. Wander through the village and perhaps call in to the Huon Pine Sawmill for a demonstration.

Departing Strahan early this morning, you will head through the scenic Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to Lake St Clair, carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Then, discover the ‘Wall in the Wilderness’ at Derwent Bridge, an exquisite work in progress by artist Greg Duncan. The carved panels stretch down two rows and tell the history of the Central Highlands region, beginning with the Indigenous people, and then to the pioneering timber harvesters, pastoralists, miners and Hydro workers. It is truly one of Tasmania’s best attractions!

After lunch, you will continue heading southeast towards Hobart, stopping off at the beautiful Russell Falls along the way. You will arrive in Hobart late this afternoon and spend the next three nights at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, located on the waterfront overlooking Constitution Dock. Enjoy premium harbour view rooms

For today’s touring, you can choose from some of Hobart’s most popular attractions. Discover the highly-acclaimed Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) or delve into the natural world with a combined visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

MONA is home to the private ancient, modern, and contemporary art collection of David Walsh. Noted for its unusual art curation, MONA makes for an invigorating change of pace with thought-provoking artworks displayed alongside interactive and traditional museum pieces. (Subject to opening hours)*.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton is Tasmania’s largest wildlife rescue service. Come face to face with the native animals that the passionate Bonorong team are devoted to returning to the wild, including wombats, devils, quolls, birds, reptiles and more.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are the second oldest Botanic Gardens in Australia. Spend some time exploring the collection of cool climate species, historic plants, and significant trees, many of which date back to when the gardens were first planted.

Later this afternoon, you will return to Hobart and embark on a historical walking tour. Your guide will take you to various places including the Hobart Docks, Salamanca Place and the CBD with fascinating commentary and local insights. This evening, enjoy a dinner together at the hotel.

Today, you will head to Bruny Island for a sensational three-hour adventure cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, rated as one of the Top 100 trips in the world! Board your custom-built adventure craft and travel along Bruny Island’s rugged southern coastline to spot the island’s abundant marine and coastal wildlife. Spot Albatross and other seabirds that sit at the bottom of Bruny Island’s towering sea cliffs, surrounded by hundreds of seals. Keep an eye out for dolphins surfing on the bow wave of the boat!
This afternoon, you will make your way back to Hobart. Enjoy dinner at the Old Wharf Restaurant located on the waterfront and celebrate an unforgettable journey around Tasmania.

This morning, you will enjoy a visit to Mount Wellington, which rises to 4170 feet above the city below. Admire the mesmerising views of Hobart and the Derwent River from several vantage points along the boardwalk, a perfect ending to your adventure around Tasmania.
For passengers departing Hobart today, you’ll be dropped off at the airport for your return flight. Please ensure return flights are booked for after midday. For those staying on, you will be dropped off at the location of your choosing.