Best of Tasmania - 9 Days

Welcome to Tasmania or Lutruwita in the language of the Palawa peoples, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Tasmania is now located. If you arrive early, go exploring at your own pace. Your adventure begins in Launceston with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After, head out for a welcome dinner with your group.

Drive to the Tiagarra Museum on Mersey Bluff in Devonport this morning. Here, you'll take part in a Welcome to Country ceremony, followed by a guided tour of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. See Aboriginal petroglyphs and learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Palawa peoples. Continue towards Cradle Mountain National Park and get to know Tasmania’s most emblematic animal – the Tasmanian devil. Visit a wildlife conservation facility aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. After, continue to your hotel and settle in for the night.

Today, put your hiking shoes to good use in Tasmania's UNESCO-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Set out on the Dove Lake loop, – one of the area's prettiest walks. Walk around the glacially carved lake directly beneath Cradle Mountain, passing through iconic Tasmanian flora like buttongrass, sassafras and myrtle. After, spend the afternoon at your leisure. Perhaps just sit back and admire the views of the Tasmanian highlands – you might see the wombats, wallabies and echidnas who roam the hotel grounds.

Settle in for a longer drive today from Cradle Mountain to Edge of the Bay – your scenic home for the next two nights. It's a good time to read, scroll through your camera roll for your cutest wallaby photos, or get to know your fellow travellers a little better – roadtrip game, anyone? Along the way, stop at Sheffield – this former hydroelectric hub has reemerged as an arts community with more than 140 murals lining the streets. Continue the drive, stopping for tasting and shopping opportunities – maybe some local raspberries, cheese or ice cream. When you arrive on Tasmania's East Coast, settle into your tranquil hotel – you're in the heart of the Freycinet Peninsula, with Great Oyster Bay, Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay all within easy reach.

After breakfast, head out into Freycinet National Park, home to rugged beaches with powder-white sands. Join your leader for the walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout. This is a gradual, uphill walk with some steep sections, but many spots to stop for a rest. You might like to continue to the beach itself for a swim or just to soak up the views – this beach was voted one of the world’s top 10 beaches! After, head back to the hotel and soak up some free time and the views from you hotel.

After breakfast, depart Freycinet and drive to Eaglehawk Neck, the gateway for the Tasman Peninsula. When you arrive, stretch your legs on a walk down to the Tessellated Pavement to see its distinctive tiled rock formations along the coast – a photographer's dream. Then, go behind the scenes at the McHenry Distillery for a guided tour – often led by Bill McHenry himself, you’ll follow the process from distillation through to barrel ageing. Start in the working brewery where the beer is crafted – this also where the wash for whisky production is made. If fermentation is underway, you can taste the beer straight from the tank! Finish in the underground tasting vault, where you’ll sample a selection of handcrafted gins, including Australia’s oldest Solera barrel-aged gin – and take home your own Glencairn tasting glass for your next dram. Round out the day with a guided stargazing session at the distillery, where you’ll use professional telescopes to trace Southern Hemisphere constellations and deep-space wonders, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

After breakfast, drive to Port Arthur for a walking tour through the site’s sobering history. With a local guide by your side, you’ll learn more about the sombre story of this former penal colony, taking a short boat cruise through the harbour. Later this afternoon, check out Remarkable Cave and get a glimpse of the surrounding beach scenery. On the way back to your waterside hotel in Eaglehawk Neck, stop by a lavender farm overlooking the ocean at Long Bay where you can learn about the millennia-old uses of this fragrant flower and visit the essential oil distillery. Tonight, return to the hotel for dinner with your group.

See some of Tassie's most iconic natural features today – Tasman Arch and Devil's Kitchen. These dramatic coastal rock formations are the result of millions of years of wave erosion. At the Arch, snap a few photos of the massive stone bridge that was created when the middle of the sea cave’s roof collapsed. At the open trench of Devil's Kitchen, try to see what the sailors of the past saw as they stared into the chasm. After, maybe grab some lunch in Richmond, then continue to your afternoon wine tasting. Sip wines with one of the friendly cellar door staff who will guide you through the current selection. Then, head to Hobart for your final night. Perhaps head out to dinner with your group to reflect on all you've seen and done in Tasmania.

Your trip comes to an end in Hobart this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Tasmania, please speak to your booking agent.