Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Launceston

Dinner

Transfer from Launceston Airport to your hotel for check-in, then an afternoon tour of Tamar Valley and Rosevears Vineyard for a wine tasting. We'll see the Swiss style Village of Grindelwald before returning to the hotel for a welcome drink and dinner with your Tour Director and fellow passengers.

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston.

Day 2: St. Helens

Breakfast, Dinner

A guided tour at Bridestowe Lavender Farm (early December to early February) gets things rolling. We'll see Legerwood's WWI memorial carvings, the old tin mining town of Derby and drive through the lush Myrtle Rainforest at Weldborough Pass before we stop at St. Helens at lunchtime. This afternoon we take the short coastal drive to Binalong Bay Lookout for spectacular views over the Bay of Fires. Return to the picturesque seaside town of St. Helens for dinner.

Accommodation: Tidal Waters Resort, St. Helens.

Day 3: Freycinet National Park

Breakfast, Dinner

Breathtaking Freycinet National Park is first up. A guided walk with a National Park Ranger unveils astonishing views. Cape Tourville Lookout will amaze. Onward to historic Richmond, site of Australia's oldest operational road bridge. This afternoon things get spectacular as we cross the 100 year old Denison Canal and make our way along the impressive cliff-lined coast to Port Arthur. Test your nerve on the optional lantern lit Ghost Tour of Port Arthur.

Accommodation: Fox and Hounds Inn, Port Arthur, 2 nights

Day 4: Port Arthur

Breakfast, Dinner

Today, a fascinating guided walk of Port Arthur's infamous convict prison and Historic Site, and a cruise around the Isle of the Dead. View the ruggedly spectacular sea cliffs from Pirate's Bay Lookout. Cross Eaglehawk Neck to the Tasman Peninsula and feast our eyes on the amazing vistas of Tasman's Arch, Devil's Kitchen and the Blowhole.

Day 5: Hobart

Breakfast, Dinner

Today we set a course for Hobart. You'll love Bonorong Wildlife Park, the best place to see Tasmanian Devils as well as other native animals. Further on to Claremont to see the Cadbury Factory (seasonal). Hobart is all yours for the afternoon, explore it your way - take a Derwent River Cruise or walk through historic, quaint Battery Point exploring its galleries, cafés and convict-built houses.

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, 2 nights.

Day 6: Huon Valley

Breakfast

Over the undulating hills of the apple-growing Huon Valley, we make a beeline for the Tahune Forest AirWalk, for a guided walk amongst the towering treetops, out over the Huon and Picton Rivers on a cantilevered, suspended walkway. The views are brilliant. At lunchtime we head to Geeveston's Forest and Heritage Centre and a history of Tasmanian wood. From Mt. Nelson we'll see a spectacular view of Hobart and the Derwent River. Our Hobart orientation tour takes in Battery Point, Salamanca Place, Consitution Dock and the Botanic Gardens. Then you're free to dine wherever you like.

Day 7: Russell Falls

Breakfast, Dinner

Take a wander through the Salamanca Market then head west to New Norfolk and the magnificent Mt. Field National Park, Tasmania's oldest, and location of the spectacular three-tiered Russell Falls. After morning tea, we take the winding journey up to Lake St. Clair for our lunch break - amazing vistas await us. Back down to Queenstown, along the rainforest bordered road of World Heritage protected Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to coastal Strahan - a unique ride!

Accommodation: The Strahan Village, Strahan, 2 nights.

Day 8: Gordon River Cruise

Breakfast, Dinner

Start the day your way - simply relax or explore the fishing village of Strahan - enjoy an optional, highly recommended, train ride on the West Coast Wilderness Railway from Queenstown to Strahan or maybe visit the Huon Pine Museum. This afternoon we take the Gordon River Cruise, where the wilderness comes to the water's edge. You'll be awestruck by the beauty of the pristine, crystal clear water reflecting the untouched wilderness. We stop at Sarah Island and discover the ruins of the brutal penal colony. See Hell's Gate and Heritage Landing, site of the 1,000 year old Huon Pine. Dinner is onboard our cruiser.

Day 9: Cradle Mountain

Breakfast, Dinner

Discover the mining and Hydro Electric towns of Rosebery and Tullah, as we travel to the sensational Cradle Mountain National Park. After lunch we'll take you up to Waldheim and gorgeous Dove Lake to see spectacular Cradle Mountain. The afternoon is yours. Explore the Australian National Wilderness and Landscape Gallery or just marvel at the view and breathe in the fresh air.

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Chateau, Cradle Mountain.

Day 10: The Nut, Stanley

Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we travel through the rainforest of Hellyer Gorge State Reserve to Wynyard, on the North Coast, and morning tea. En route to Table Cape, home of tulips, you'll think you're in a butter commercial on your drive through rolling green hills with Friesian cows galore. Visit Highfield Historic Site, which was built by the Van Diemen's Land Company, for a guided tour of the estate. Lunch with a view - of the idiosyncratic landform 'The Nut'. Then the hills keep rolling from Irishtown to Allendale Gardens - our next guided tour. We'll arrive at Smithton for dinner.

Accommodation: Tall Timbers Hotel, Smithton.

Day 11: Sheffield - Launceston

Breakfast, Dinner

We travel east along the coast through Penguin, Ulverstone and Devonport up to Braddon's Lookout for a view over the Forth Valley and Bass Strait. Lunchtime, and a wander through town, is at Sheffield, the town of murals. We then head to Ashgrove Farm Cheese Factory for a presentation on cheese making and some delicious product tasting - yum! Then it's back to Launceston.

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston.

Day 12: Depart Launceston

Breakfast

Explore Cataract Gorge - wilderness in the city - rivers, a gorge, peacocks, two minutes from town! Cross the suspension bridge or take the chairlift for an aerial view of this urban wilderness before we transfer you to Launceston Airport.

Tasmanian Spectacular