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Our tours are personally designed to suit each group. However to follow, are a number of suggestions for basic itineraries which have proved to be successful with other groups. You may find them helpful as a starting point for working out what you would like to do during your stay, based on your main interests, and the amount of time that you have available. Please note that these itineraries are guidelines only, and it is possible that you will wish to incorporate localities from the different choices listed below in your tour. We can then finalize a plan to suit you...
DAY 1. On arrival at Hobart airport, you will be welcomed by your guide. We will travel through Hobart (Tasmania's capital city and the second oldest capital in Australia) to the picturesque seaside village of Kettering, where we will connect with the vehicular ferry to Bruny Island. During the 15 minute ferry trip, we will search for a variety of seabirds, including gulls, terns and shearwaters (seasonal). We will then spend the day exploring Bruny. After dinner, there will be the opportunity to visit the Little penguin and Short-tailed shearwater rookery and also view some of Tasmania's nocturnal wildlife. Dinner and accommodation: Bruny Island.
DAY 2. We will leave Bruny Island after a hearty breakfast and travel to the Hobart area to visit Mount Wellington, where we will see some interesting flora and spectacular views of the area (weather permitting). Then onto the historic township of Richmond, where there will be a chance to view some of Tasmania's history (Including the oldest bridge, gaol and catholic church in Australia). After lunch, we will travel to Tasmania's scenic east coast. A good chance to see a number of water birds in the lagoons and waterholes en route. Dinner and accommodation: Freycinet Peninsula.
DAY 3. Today, we will explore the Freycinet Peninsula. Some magnificent beaches, wonderful birding and some great walks in the area. Dinner and accommodation: Freycinet Peninsula.
DAY 4. After breakfast, we will travel northwards, to visit a reserve of remnant wet forest which is home to some giant eucalypts, tree ferns and blackwoods. Then onto a national park on the north coast of Tasmania. Dinner and accommodation near Launceston.
DAY 5. If your schedule only allows for 4 days in Tasmania, your guide can deliver you to Launceston airport this morning for your flight. For those who can spend the extra day in the state, it would be a great opportunity to visit a wildlife research and rehabilitation center to view some of Tasmania's wildlife such as the Tasmanian devil at close quarters. Your choice of staying the extra night and departing the following morning, or scheduling your flight out from either Devonport or Launceston airports this afternoon.
DAY 1. Arrive at Devonport airport, where your guide will be waiting to welcome you. We will begin our Tasmanian adventure with a visit to an area where there is a high likelihood of seeing a platypus in the wild. Spend the afternoon seeing wild animals such as Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats at a National Park in the area. There are also good opportunities for birding in this locality. Leave late afternoon for a 4 course a la carte candlelit dinner and accommodation at a Land for Wildlife property located approximately 30 minutes from the park. Dinner and accommodation: near Launceston.
DAY 2. This morning after breakfast, we will visit a wildlife research and rehabilitation center, where the group can view Tasmania's wildlife (including the Tasmanian devil) at close quarters, and learn of the involvement of the staff at the park in wildlife rehabilitation and Dasyurid (Tasmanian devil and quoll) research. After lunch, we will visit the township of Sheffield, the "town of murals", before heading to Cradle Mountain. Time to settle in and explore the nature walks around the accommodation before the evening meal. The cabin style accommodation is nestled in the rainforest and each cabin has a cozy log fire. Dinner and accommodation: Cradle Mountain.
DAY 3. We will spend the day exploring the Cradle Mountain National Park, a place of spectacular grandeur carved out by the glaciers of the last Ice Age. We will visit Dove Lake for a stroll to view the spectacular scenery, which also affords classic views of Cradle Mountain itself (weather permitting). A great chance to see a number of birds, such as the endemic Scrubtit, Tasmanian thornbill, Tasmanian scrubwren, Black currawong and the highly sought-after Pink robin. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Information Centre and Gustav Weindorfer's hut "Waldheim", which is nestled amongst the myrtles and King William pines at Cradle Valley. Also an opportunity to see a variety of unusual plants. Dinner and accommodation: Cradle Mountain.
DAY 4. Leave Cradle Mountain and travel towards the south of the state. Lunch a bakery in a historic township which was previously used as a staging post in the days of the horse and cart, before heading to Tasmania's capital city, Hobart. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart.
DAY 5. This morning after breakfast, we will travel south down the Channel Highway to Kettering where we will connect with the vehicular ferry to Bruny Island, which is separated from the Tasmanian mainland by the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The 15 minute vehicular ferry trip across the channel to Bruny Island provides good views of the channel and Bruny, and there is a chance of sighting dolphins, penguins and a number of seabirds in the surrounding water. We will spend the day exploring the island, which offers a great diversity of plants and animals and some magnificent scenery. We will visit a number of different habitats, which include a cool temperate rainforest with Gondwana relics such as Nothofagus and huge tree ferns, tall eucalypt forest and the coastal areas, which range from quiet secluded beaches to the rugged southern coast of the island, which overlooks the Southern Ocean (next stop Antarctica!). This will also provide a good opportunity to view echidnas (strange, egg-laying mammals. We will return to Hobart on a late afternoon ferry. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart
DAY 6. Today, we will visit a National Park near Hobart, which provides a wonderful diversity of habitat, ranging from fern glades with giant tree ferns and a picturesque waterfall that plunges over a 110 foot cliff, to alpine areas containing some interesting plants, including Australia's only deciduous plant. We will return to Hobart during the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart, for departure the following morning from Hobart airport, or depart this afternoon.
Other Notes:
I have chosen arrival in Devonport and departure Hobart to minimize travel and maximize things to see and do, but if that poses a problem, we can reorganize it accordingly (either arrival Launceston departure Hobart or arrival and departure from the same location if necessary.)
An alternative to the above, which incorporates the east coast of Tasmania:
DAY 1. Arrive at Devonport airport, where your guide will be waiting to welcome you. We will begin our Tasmanian adventure with a visit to an area where there is a high likelihood of seeing a platypus in the wild. Spend the afternoon seeing wild animals such as Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats at a National Park in the area. There are also good opportunities for birding in this locality. Leave late afternoon for a 4 course a la carte candlelit dinner and accommodation at a Land for Wildlife property located approximately 30 minutes from the park. Dinner and accommodation: near Launceston.
DAY 2. Launceston-east coast Tas-penguins-overnight in cottage style accommodation
DAY 3. East coast to Freycinet Peninsula and explore the area. Accommodation at Freycinet
DAY 4. Frecinet to Hobart (visit a winery enroute). Accommodation Hobart
DAY 5. This morning after breakfast, we will travel south down the Channel Highway to Kettering where we will connect with the vehicular ferry to Bruny Island, which is separated from the Tasmanian mainland by the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The 15 minute vehicular ferry trip across the channel to Bruny Island provides good views of the channel and Bruny, and there is a chance of sighting dolphins, penguins and a number of seabirds in the surrounding water. We will spend the day exploring the island, which offers a great diversity of plants and animals and some magnificent scenery. We will visit a number of different habitats, which include a cool temperate rainforest with Gondwana relics such as Nothofagus and huge tree ferns, tall eucalypt forest and the coastal areas, which range from quiet secluded beaches to the rugged southern coast of the island, which overlooks the Southern Ocean (next stop Antarctica!). This will also provide a good opportunity to view echidnas (strange, egg-laying mammals. We will return to Hobart on a late afternoon ferry. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart.
DAY 6. Today, we will visit a National Park near Hobart, which provides a wonderful diversity of habitat, ranging from fern glades with giant tree ferns and a picturesque waterfall that plunges over a 110 foot cliff, to alpine areas containing some interesting plants, including Australia's only deciduous plant. We will return to Hobart during the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart, for departure the following morning from Hobart airport, or depart Hobart airport this afternoon.
DAY 1. Arrive Hobart airport. Visit Mount Wellington and then we will catch the ferry to Bruny Island. Dinner and accommodation: Bruny Island.
DAY 2. Spend all day exploring Bruny Island. Dinner and accommodation: Bruny Island
DAY 3. Depart Bruny after breakfast and travel to a national park near Hobart, where we will spend the day exploring. A nice mix of alpine areas and wet forest. Dinner and accommodation: near the national Park.
DAY 4. Travel to the west coast of Tasmania, visiting good birding and walking areas en route. Dinner and accommodation: Strahan.
DAY 5. Leave Strahan and continue traveling up to the north-west "corner" of Tasmania. Birding on a private property. After dinner, we have the chance to observe wild Tasmanian devils feeding. Dinner and accommodation: north-west Tasmania.
DAY 6. Leave the north-west coast after breakfast and travel to Cradle Mountian. Spend the remainder of the afternoon birding and walking around the accommodation. Dinner and accommodation: Cradle Mountain.
DAY 7. Spend all day exploring the Cradle Mountain area. Dinner and accommodation: Cradle Mountain.
DAY 8. Leave Cradle Mountian after breakfast. You would have the choice of departing from either Devonport or Launceston airports or spending the day traveling back to Hobart, visiting some historical townships on the way. Dinner and accommodation: Hobart and depart from Hobart airport the following morning, for those who choose to stay the extra day.
Note: I would recommend a longer stay in the far north-west of Tasmania if your schedule would allow a longer trip and could provide some suggestions on request.
Flinders Island. Access by light plane. I would recommend spending at least two days and one night in this area
Tasman Peninsula- an easy day's drive from Hobart and worth spending at least the day in the area
South-west Tasmania. Attractions include the South-West World Heritage area, South Forests, a walk through the canopy of the trees, and thermal springs
South-West World Heritage flight to see the endangered Orange-bellied parrot (September to February). I would recommend a half-day trip. Departures can be arranged from either Cambridge airstrip near Hobart airport, or the airstrip on Bruny Island.
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