Tasmania’s most iconic in 11 days

Our arrivals day is for passengers to settle into Hobart and unwind in their centrally located accommodation.

In the evening feel free to say hello to our team and fellow guests who you will be travelling with for the next 10 days. There will be welcoming drinks from 5pm, which will be followed by a delicious two course dinner.

This morning we begin your Tasmanian tour with a visit to what is arguably one of Tasmania&s best day tours - the magnificent Bruny Island.

Our day starts with a 7:30 AM hotel pickup where we leave the early morning hustle and bustle of Hobart City and travel south to the sleepy coastal village of Kettering, where we will board the ferry for a short ride across the tranquil waters of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to reach the shores of Bruny Island.

After disembarkation, we proceed to Adventure Bay to check in at 9:30 am for the award-winning Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise. We will explore the rugged coastline of Bruny Island in southern Tasmania, cruise alongside some of Australia's highest sea cliffs, beneath towering crags and drift up close to listen to the awesome 'Breathing Rock'. Enter deep sea caves, pass through the narrow gap between the coast and 'The Monument' and feel the power of nature at the point where the Tasman Sea meets the might of the Southern Ocean. Join in the search for the abundant coastal wildlife such as seals, dolphins, migrating whales and sea birds. The highly trained interpretive guides love what they do - they work hard to ensure that the experience is fun, enjoyable, entertaining and informative.

After your cruise, we will have lunch at the Bruny Island Cruises Restaurant, we will go on the lookout for the elusive albino wallaby before proceeding to the Neck lookout to experience one of the most iconic images of Bruny Island where the North and South of the island converge at an isthmus. The climb to the top of the lookout involves many steps, but we are rewarded with a magical, 360 degree view of southern Tasmania.

After the climb up the steps to the Neck lookout, we unwind and relax while sampling award-winning local produce of honey, cheese, beverages and oysters, as we meander our way toward the ferry for the drive back to Hobart.

Today, we explore Hobart and surrounds as we uncover the beauty of Australia&s 2nd oldest and southernmost capital city.

Our day begins with a hotel pickup at 8:00 AM where we make a gentle start to the day consisting of a guided commentary loop of Hobart CBD and its iconic landmarks. From there, we proceed up to the summit of kunanyi (Mt Wellington), where you will be greeted by pristine air and the best views of Hobart and the surrounding landscape.

We descend from the summit of Kunanyi where we arrive at Hobart&s waterfront to the world-renowned Salamanca Markets for morning tea and to explore the 300 fresh produce, bespoke arts and artisan craft stalls that coalesce into Tasmania&s largest selection of locally made products.

After 90 minutes of exploring the markets, we make our way on to Richmond - an iconic township rich in convict history, sandstone and colonial buildings that is home to Australia&s oldest bridge and catholic church. Here there will be an opportunity for lunch from one of the many quaint cafes and shops that line Richmond.

After a stop at the Wicked Cheese Company for a sampling of their award winning cheeses, we proceed on to one of the most quirky and controversial places in the world - MONA museum and Moorilla Winery. This awe-inspiring museum will shock, surprise and leave you pondering as you board the MONA ROMA ferry back to the Hobart waterfront, where you will be able to explore this beautiful place at your leisure and make your own way back to the hotel.

Dinner tonight will be your own choice at one of the many restaurants that are within the CBD and waterfront. Some suggestions for beautiful meals in beautiful restaurants: Roaring Grill, Cargo, Ball and Chain, Bar Wa Izakaya, Customs house, Blue Eye, Mures, the Drunken Admiral, or food punts on the waterfront.

Our morning begins with a 9:00 AM hotel pickup before embarking on the relaxing 90 minute drive east past farmlands, vineyards and small country towns toward our destination - Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula. En route, we will pull up to the Pirate&s Bay lookout for a photo and to survey our destination.

A short drive down the road we make our next stop at the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry for tastings of some of the very unique hand forged chocolates, as well as traditional-style chocolates or an ice cream.

Next stop we&ll visit Port Arthur Lavender where you can soak up the aroma as you walk through the fields of this ancient fragrant plant at the family owned and operated farm which overlooks Long Bay on the doorstep of Port Arthur. Explore the gift shop and garden, sample or buy their lavender produce or simply purchase a coffee and morning tea.

Next stop, we will have 3 hours to explore Port Arthur Historic Site with a harbour cruise. Here is your opportunity to grab some lunch at the cafe and eateries on site to dine-in or takeaway. Eat as you gaze upon the UNESCO world-heritage listed former penal colony and its buildings.

After exploring the historic site, you will have the option to jump back on the bus and head to the Remarkable Caves. Enjoy the vista from the Maingon Bay lookout, overlooking the Southern Ocean, watch the wild waves crash against the coastal sea cliffs and take in exceptional views of Penguin rocks and the bay. Descend down 115 steps to the view called Remarkable Caves. Surrounded by ancient sandstone cliffs and the view through the cave itself, it is well worth the descent. At certain times of the year, weather conditions and tides will have the water rushing through the cave. Be prepared to get a little wet should the conditions align. For those that would like to spend more time at the historic site, our driver will come back and collect you after the Remarkable Cave visit, giving you 4 hours at the historic site.

It&s then a short drive to our peaceful waterfront accommodation. Dinner tonight will be at the Lodges restaurant, On the Bay.

An early start of 7:30 AM will see us leaving Port Arthur for Freycinet National Park, home to the world-famous Wineglass Bay.

On route, we will call into Kate&s Berry Farm for morning tea as a start to our East Coast adventure. Our main destination will be appearing on the horizon as we travel through the old village of Swansea and skirt around the Apslawn forest reserve toward Freycinet.

Unwind and relax with some lunch at Devil&s Corner Vineyard, and a tasting of the vineyard&s award winning wines. Set the scene while sitting on a sun-drenched deck overlooking the vineyard, The Hazards and Great Oyster Bay.

After fueling up on some delicious food and wine, we&re off to the Freycinet National Park.

From here you will have 1 of 2 options:

For those interested in seeing the iconic Wineglass Bay we will have a group walk up to the lookout. This is classed as a Grade 3, 1.5hr/2.6km return walk consisting of short, steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps. There is plenty of seating along the track for rest stops and spectacular views.

For those not looking for longer walks, you can optionally stay with the guide to head on to the Cape Tourville lighthouse short walk (Grade 1) where we can spy out onto the Tasman Sea to potentially spot some migrating whales breaching the surface. We will then head back down to sea level, where some options include relaxing beach walks, and exploring Honeymoon Bay.

After an afternoon at the national park, it&s time to head to our accommodation for the night, Beachfront Bicheno.

Dinner tonight will be at the hotel pub.

Our morning will start at 9:30 AM, heading to the East Coast Nature World wildlife sanctuary for our first stop. The sanctuary is home to many native species from Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Wallabies, Forester Kangaroos, Spotted Quolls, reptiles and many more. You will have the opportunity to hand-feed some of the local residents, with a chance to watch a Tassie Devil feeding. A light morning tea will be available from the cafe at Nature World before venturing onward.

Now it is time to venture back to the little fishing village of Bicheno where we will call into the local Blowhole, a drive through of its main sights on our way to our lunch spot, the Lobster Shack. Boasting arguably the best dining location in Bicheno, the Lobster Shack is a boutique, farm gate style eatery overlooking the majestic ‘Gulch& in Bicheno, where Lobster really is the hero!

We resume our trip northward up the east coast where old farm homesteads meet the wilds of the Tasman sea until we reach Ironhouse Brewery situated on the wind and sea battered shoreline. Here we will have a guided tour of Ironhouse and a tasting of some of the most extraordinary and delicious craft beers, whiskeys, spirits and wines.

After a relaxing afternoon at Ironhouse, we will continue on to the fishing town of St Helens. Here is where we will stay at the newly constructed Tasman Holiday Park. Tonight we will enjoy a free night to explore St Helen&s.

Our morning begins at 9 AM with a short drive up the coast to explore and discover first-hand why Lonely Planet declared this to be one of the world&s “Most Beautiful Beaches” and how this coastline came to be named the “Bay of Fires.” For the daring, the opportunity for a quick, refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters of Binalong bay is a must.

With fresh sea air (and a bit of sand) in our hair, we will make a track inland to the idyllic dairy country town of Pyengana where we will pull up to the Pyengana Dairy Farmgate cafe for a cheese tasting.

Next up, we watch as the green pastures and grazing dairy cows give way to the densely wooded hills of the St Columba Falls State Reserve of which we travel into the heart of to discover the seldom visited and one of Tasmania&s highest waterfalls. A beautiful, short stroll (Grade 1, 20 min/1 km return) over a hard compacted trail surface which weaves down through a forest of tree ferns, sassafras, beech, myrtle and what was once prime Tasmanian Tiger habitat to the base of the falls. The fine mist will refresh and invigorate you as you stand at the base of the 90m+ waterfall. Although a Tasmanian Tiger is unlikely to be spotted, a sharp eye may spy on another elusive character as it rummages around the creeks for yabbies: the platypus.

Refreshed by the walk and an appetite built up, we will move on to the Pub In The Paddock - a quintessentially Tasmanian experience at a heritage listed pub that is quite literally in the middle of a paddock - for lunch and a beer or two. This pub has a unique resident drinking partner called Priscilla, the beer guzzling pig (“special ales” only). So while you await your meal, grab a couple of brews for you and Priscilla to chug on while overlooking the beautiful and lush, forest encapsulated pastoral valley.

After a hearty country pub meal, we make for another superbly contrasting colour landscape - Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Bridestowe is a large lavender farm where the hillsides are lined with thousands of rows of lavender that, when in flower, strikingly contrasts with the rich, red soil and big open sky. The ultimate photo opportunity while testing your taste buds on beautiful lavender ice cream.

With the day beginning to set, we travel toward Launceston, the heart of the Tamar Valley wine region and our overnight hotel. Tonight, dinner will be in the hotel restaurant.

Today is our recovery day where we take it a little slower to indulge in beautiful local produce, fine wine and relaxation in the newly crowned UNESCO gastronomy region.

First off, we make our way to Launceston's Cataract Gorge - a local favourite on a sunny day, where you can choose to ride the single-span chairlift across the gorge or stroll around the grounds with the peacocks and native wildlife or grab some morning tea at the cafe to ease into the day.

From Cataract Gorge, we travel across the strikingly white Batman bridge over to the western shore and through to Beauty Point. Here we visit either Seahorse World or Platypus House for an up close encounter with these extraordinary creatures. While you are left pondering how on earth a platypus came to be, we will travel through the gold mining town of Beaconsfield and past its gold mine - the site of the tragic 2006 mine collapse and subsequent rescue of miners.

From Beaconsfield, we continue back through the Tamar Valley wine region where we will stop to relax over lunch and a tasting of some of the world's best cool climate wines.

With the savouring taste of beautiful wine and produce lingering, we make our way back to our Launceston hotel to where we can spend free time to freshen up, head out for a short exploration of the city centre and/or the local city park. Tonight, you will have the opportunity to explore Launceston and eat out wherever you wish.

This morning sees us embark for the majesty of Cradle Mountain. Our morning begins at 08:00 AM where we make for Tasmania&s outdoor art gallery - Sheffield, where over 150 murals line the walls throughout the town. Here is a great opportunity to grab a coffee, some morning tea and stretch the legs while admiring the artwork.

With the foothills of Mt Roland as our compass point, we move on toward Cradle Mountain National Park. Upon arrival we will be greeted by the visitor centre where we will check in to the park before making our way on to the jewel in the Cradle - Dove Lake. Here we will spend an hour exploring the lake and an opportunity to have a light pre-packed lunch on the shores of the lake.

Our next stop will be at Waldheim Chalet and Weindorfers Forest Walk (Grade 2, 750m/20 min loop) where we will uncover the colourful history of the Weindorfers. Following out of the chalet leads to what is a lovely, winding stroll through a rainforest, where ancient King Billy pines, pandani and Tasmania's renowned deciduous beech (fagus) reside amongst many varieties of colourful fungi and mosses. One could be forgiven for believing that they have stumbled into a fairy tale forest.

With a goodbye to the Weindofer&s chalet, we head up to the Interpretation Centre and Peppers Lodge where we can optionally take multiple short walks through the Enchanted forest walk (Grade 2, 20min/1.1km circuit) and the Pencil Pine Falls Rainforest walk that encircles the Interpretation Centre. For those with a little more left in the tank, the King Billy track (Grade 2, 40 min/2 km circuit) is a boardwalk trail that rambles through the old temperate rainforest to discover myrtle, sassafras and ancient King Billy pines up to 4000 years of age.

Next we head off to our overnight destination. The Tullah Lakeside Lodge, positioned right on the banks of Lake Rosebery, is set in the heart of Tasmania&s wild west. Dinner will be at the Lodge&s Lakeside Bar & Grill.

Today you will have the opportunity to choose one of two award winning activities - The Gordon River Cruise or the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Option 1 - Gordon River Cruise

Step aboard Spirit of the wild and glide through the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Take in the tranquil surroundings of the Gordon River as you glide across the water in 'Whisper Mode'. Dedicated guides and character-based interpretations will take you through the history of this remarkable place, including Macquarie Harbour, Hells Gates, Heritage Landing and Sarah Island. This is an incredible way to experience the untouched rainforest, rugged history and fascinating characters of Tasmania's west coast.

Gordon River Cruise Inclusions

• Quiet cruising on the Gordon River with Spirit of the Wild's unique hybrid system
• First access to the Gordon River ensuring the best possible chance of seeing the famous reflections
• Dedicated on-board guides
• Character-based interpretation during which you'll meet the likes of Captain James Kelly, Lady Jane Franklin and more
• Chef-prepared buffet lunch
• Two walking tours (Heritage Landing and Sarah Island)
• Cash bar on the Main Deck

There is an option to level up your cruise experience and upgrade to the premium deck.

Premier upper deck additional inclusions

• Complimentary Tasmanian red, white and sparkling wines, as well as beers, juices, tea and espresso coffee
• Premium leather recliners with full-length windows
• Private viewing deck and lounge area
• Morning, afternoon tea and canapés
• An additional $151 per person is required to upgrade your booking.

After the cruise we will return to our accommodation.

Option 2 - West Coast Wilderness Railway

Travel south to the mining town of Queenstown where we will proceed to the Queenstown train Station and the West Coast Wilderness Railway. We will board a beautifully restored steam engine-powered train for a spectacular and often jaw-dropping ride through the mountainous rainforest terrain all enclosed within a luxury carriage. Sections are believed to be the steepest steam hauls in the southern hemisphere. The train stops at various small stations along the way. The experience includes a glass of wine on arrival and light meals served throughout the journey.

West Coast Wilderness Railway Highlights

• Journey deep into western Tasmania's cool temperate rainforest.
• Pan for gold at Lynchford Station – named after prospector Cornelius Lynch, who found a gold nugget the size of a cricket ball here in the 1880s, and sparked the west coast's gold rush.
• Climb the steep mountainside at Rinadeena Saddle, under the power of the Abt rack and pinion system, the only operating Abt rack and pinion railway in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Enjoy stunning views as you traverse the spectacular King River Gorge.
• Take a short walk in the rainforest at Dubbil Barril and see the train being turned on the turntable, before your return journey to Queenstown.

After the rail experience, we board the bus for a loop of the main sights of Queenstown before we wind our way back to Strahan.

Tonight marks the final night of our tour. We will have dinner tonight as a group to celebrate the epic adventure we have had over the last 10 days.

This morning we will check out of our accommodation and start to make our way along the Lyell Highway into the central highlands and back down into Hobart. Along the way we will stop at the Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge. The Wall was created over a 15 year period by Greg Duncan, a woodwork sculptor, who set out to carve the history of the highlands in 100 metres of timber, most of which will be in our rare Huon Pine. The beautifully carved works set out in relief sculpture depict the history, hardship and perseverance of the people in the Central Highlands and pay homage to the individuals who settled and protected the area. After our visit to The Wall, we will head to the Derwent Bridge where you will be able to get some lunch.

With the legs stretched, it is time to begin our descent from the highlands, down through the Derwent Valley for our return to Hobart. Upon arrival back into Hobart your tour will come to an end, where your guide can drop you off at the Airport or at your preferred hotel.