Wild Tasmania - 12 Days

Our Tasmanian adventure begins mid-morning as we depart Hobart for Port Arthur, visiting the Port Arthur Historical Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed former penal settlement, with a guided tour and boat cruise before checking in to our accommodation.

Please note: a passenger weight limit of 130kg applies to flights included in this tour; please contact us in advance if your weight exceeds this amount.

Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner and get to know our fellow travellers.

We discover Tasmania's stunning east coast, travelling north along the scenic Tasman Highway with a brief detour to the charming village of Richmond, home to Australia's oldest bridge, built in 1823. Continuing north through the coastal towns of Orford and Swansea, we head down the Freycinet Peninsula for a short walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout, taking in views of a beach rated among the top ten in the world.We continue on to our accommodation for the night, dining at the on-site restaurant this evening.

We begin at Cape Tourville Lighthouse for sweeping views over the Tasman Sea, before taking to the skies on an exclusive 20-minute scenic flight over Freycinet National Park, taking in a bird's-eye view of Wineglass Bay and the park's towering pink granite cliffs.

Please note: maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

Later, we depart for Launceston, stopping along the way at Woolmer's Estate in Longford, one of the most intact pioneer farm complexes in the country. Tonight, we enjoy Tasmanian produce at a restaurant in our accommodation.

We follow the scenic Bass Highway west through the towns of Ulverstone, Penguin and Burnie, arriving in Stanley, home to "The Nut."

Please note: weather permitting, we take the chairlift to the top for views over Bass Strait; more active travellers may prefer the steep walking ascent instead.

Stanley was once the administrative centre for the Van Diemen's Land Company, a royal charter company formed in 1824. A visit to Highfield House, the company's original headquarters, brings this history to life. We continue on to Smithton for the night.

Smithton sits within Tasmania's most fertile dairy and vegetable-growing area, and is also home to historic Woolnorth Station, still owned by the Van Diemen's Land Company and home to the state's largest wind farm and Australia's biggest dairy operation. We take a fully guided tour of Woolnorth, including the Roaring 40s Wind Farm and rugged Cape Grim.We then continue south to the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, for a 2-night stay.

We discover the area's early tourism history with a visit to Waldheim Chalet, a replica of the original built in 1912, before venturing to Dove Lake, a glacier-carved setting at the foot of Cradle Mountain.

Please note: a 5.7-kilometre circuit walk hugs the lake's shoreline for immersive views, or shorter nature trails are available at your own pace; for a gentler option, the nearby Enchanted Walk offers a 45-minute loop through mossy forest and alpine flora.

Late in the afternoon, we enjoy a local tasting experience featuring Tasmanian cheeses and cool-climate wines.

We farewell Cradle Mountain and head south towards the coast, visiting Queenstown to learn about the area's mining history with a local guide, before continuing to Strahan, the historic port on Macquarie Harbour and gateway to a vast protected wilderness region covering almost a quarter of the island, for a 2-night stay.

We cruise the Gordon River, taking in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, recognised for its natural and cultural significance. The morning includes two guided shore excursions, to Heritage Landing and historic Sarah Island, along with a visit to Hells Gates, where the harbour meets the Southern Ocean.After returning to Strahan mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is free - you might wander the village or visit the Huon Pine Sawmill for a demonstration.

We depart Strahan early, winding through Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to Lake St Clair. We stop at Derwent Bridge to discover the "Wall in the Wilderness," an ongoing work by artist Greg Duncan, before continuing south-east towards Hobart, stopping at Russell Falls along the way, for a 3-night stay.

We uncover Tasmania's natural wonders, beginning at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, the state's largest wildlife rescue service, home to Tasmanian devils and wombats. We continue to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the second-oldest in Australia, home to an impressive collection of cool-climate species and historic trees dating back over a century.This evening, we enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

Bruny Island awaits with its rugged beauty and abundant wildlife. We join a 3-hour adventure cruise along the island's southern coastline with an award-winning operator, spotting marine and coastal wildlife along the way. This afternoon, we return to Hobart, with dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront this evening.

Our journey reaches its high point atop Mount Wellington, with sweeping views 4,170 feet above the city below from several vantage points along the boardwalk - a fitting end to our adventure around Tasmania.Our tour concludes with a transfer to the airport or your CBD hotel if staying on in Hobart.