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South Pacific Specialists
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Get a true taste of Tasmania with this 10-day luxury self-drive tour which offers a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Explore Hobart, Launceston, and the national parks of Cradle Mountain and Freycinet. Highlights: Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Parks. Experience the Wild Southwest by plane and boat, visit a truffle farm and Tamar Valley for some delicious wine & cheese fun.
Duration: 10 days
Starts: Hobart
Finishes: Hobart
Explore Australia's oldest city, nestled amongst the foothills of Mt Wellington
Welcome to Hobart, one of Australia’s oldest cities. Nestled amongst the foothills of Mt Wellington, Hobart is a harbour town with heritage charm and a modern lifestyle. From the bustling waterfront of Salamanca Place to the historic houses of quaint Battery Point, Hobart is a gorgeous place to wander and get lost in.
You won’t be short of delicious dining options this evening: Hobart has fast become one of Australia’s top gourmet hotspots, thanks to its amazing local produce.
3 Nights Staying at The Tasman
Explore by Sea and by Aeroplane...
Today’s tour explores the remote and harsh Southwest National Park and waterways of the rugged and beautiful southwest region of Tasmania. A scenic flight brings you to Melaleuca where we take you to the water and explore the pristine waterways of the Port Davey Marine Reserve including Waterfall Bay and the Breaksea Islands.
After a gourmet lunch featuring delicious Tasmanian produce, disembark your vessel and explore the Melaleuca Museum and the Needwonnee Walk, a fantastic monument to the rich indigenous history of the area.
Your flight back to Hobart goes over the Arthur Range, arguably Tasmania’s most spectacular mountain range. Taking in Mount Picton and Huon Valley, return to Hobart via Mount Wellington for a birds-eye view of the beautiful capital of Tasmania.
A day at MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art)
Mona (The Museum of Old and New Art) is Australia’s largest private museum and one of the most controversial private collections of modern art and antiquities in the world. Described by its owner as a “subversive adult Disneyland”, the collection includes everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to some of the world’s most infamous and thought-provoking contemporary art. With around 300 artworks on display, the collection takes up three floors within a subterranean architectural masterpiece and is guaranteed to impress.
The 3.5 ha site includes a function centre, Moorilla winery and vineyard, a cellar door, and a wine bar. There’s also the Source restaurant, a 63-seat cinema, the Mona Library and Gallery, and eight stylish accommodation pavilions.
Moorilla Winery and Vineyard
Later, Moorilla’s wine ambassador will take you on a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the Moorilla winery and vineyard. Taste the wine as it is being made and learn the history of the winery. The tour includes an exclusive tasting of the best wines from Morrilla’s Cloth Label and Muse series. After your tour, enjoy a delicious two-course lunch with matched wines. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the museum.
Your drive to Cradle Mountain takes you through historic villages and past stunning natural wonders
Cradle Mountain National Park is arguably one of the prettiest national parks in Australia. With alpine wilderness, abundant native wildlife, and a huge variety of walking trails to choose from, you’ll love exploring this peaceful haven. The gentle Dove Lake Circuit takes around two hours with amazing mountain views. Or you try the climb to Marion’s Lookout if you feel energetic. It’s ridiculously steep but the lake & mountain views from the top are a worthy reward.
If hiking isn’t your thing, there are endless ways to explore the area: try a scenic flight, horse treks, canyoning adventure, or a wildlife-spotting walk to name but a few!
2 Nights Staying at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Approximate Distance: 321 km | 199 miles
Total Driving Time: 4 hours 5 mins
Today you are free to roam and enjoy this World Heritage wilderness however you wish
Experience Lake St Clair Wildlife
Lake St Clair is home to wallabies, echidnas, native quolls, possums, wombats, the famous Tassie Devil, and a wide variety of birdlife. Stay perfectly still and you may be rewarded with a sighting of the shy platypus hiding in the shallows.
Lace up your walking shoes, hit the trails and breathe in fresh mountain air: the giant myrtle forests, button grass plains, mossy tracks, and ferny rainforests are just begging to be explored.
However, when spending your day here, keep your camera handy – you’ll want to preserve these peaceful moments forever.
Visit Australia's first truffle farm with truffle tasting and lunch platter
Visit Australia’s first truffle farm and join the truffle dogs on the hunt for the rare black truffle. This 2.5 hours experience takes you into the trufflery to unearth truffles with your own hands, followed by a generous truffle tasting and lunch platter.
Tasmania’s second city is your next port of call. One of Australia’s oldest cities, charm-filled Launceston is a boutique riverside town with Colonial and Victorian heritage buildings in abundance.
Located at the head of the picturesque Tamar Valley, Launceston’s beautiful attractions include the spectacular Cataract Gorge Reserve and beautiful parks & gardens. Settle in with a stroll along the waterfront, perhaps head out to the Tamar Valley region for a taste of Tasmania’s fine wines or take a short walk to the wild and beautiful Cataract Gorge, just 15 minutes from town.
2 Nights Staying at Stillwater Seven
Approximate Distance: 141 km | 88 miles
Total Driving Time: 1 hour 55 mins
These classic premium cool climate wines are absolutely world-class
The Tamar Valley is a truly cool climate wine region, producing wines of exceptional quality that are elegant and pristine, reflecting the region’s pure soil and air. Tasmania is the oldest wine-producing region in Australia, and the Tamar Valley currently produces 40 percent of Tasmania’s premium quality wine. The wine varietals comprise of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir along with exotics that create a real sense of discovery.
The Tamar Valley wine route is the oldest wine region in Tasmania and offers around 30 cellar doors. The naturally elegant wines are made from grapes grown in climates similar to those of the famous European wines. On your small group tour today, your guide will explain the various grape varieties and the history of the beautiful Tamar Valley. Enjoy fun and informative tastings at 4 vineyard cellar doors, and enjoy a generous gourmet lunch with a glass of premium wine. Tasmanian cheeses round off the last cellar door tasting.
Make your way to the unspoiled coastline and pristine white beaches of Tasmania's East Coast
If you thought Tasmania couldn’t get any more beautiful, Freycinet will prove you wrong. Against a backdrop of pink granite mountains, you’ll find secluded bays, pristine waters, soft beaches, local wildlife, and coastal walking trails.
Freycinet National Park consists of knuckles of granite mountains all but surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park. The national park offers a wide variety of activities.
2 Nights Staying at Saffire Freycinet
Approximate Distance: 172 km | 107 miles
Total Driving Time: 2 hours 10 mins
The national park offers a wide variety of activities
Freycinet National Park consists of knuckles of granite mountains all but surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park. The national park offers a wide variety of activities.
Take a walk to the pass overlooking the perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay or try less strenuous activities like beach strolls, swimming, or wildlife spotting. Pink granite mountains, white sand beaches, grey-green casuarinas, seawater blue as sapphire – they’re the colours of the Freycinet Peninsula, a premier holiday destination with abundant Tasmanian wildlife and pristine beaches and a rich colonial history with cool-climate Tasmanian wines and fine local produce; all yours to enjoy on your holiday at Freycinet.
We hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent
Make your way to the airport in Hobart and say farewell to Tasmania today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 10 Day Tasmanian Luxury Self Drive vacation.
We hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.
Approximate Distance: 174 km | 108 miles
Total Driving Time: 2 hours 24 mins
“Experience Tasmania's most beautiful corners, from the historic Hobart port to the stunning national parks in Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. And don't forget to taste some of Australia's best cool-climate wine in the Tamar Valley! You'll love it here as much as I do!”
Ready to find out more? Talk to one of our friendly travel designers about his tour. We guarantee you it will be the experience of a lifetime!
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Stay at this architecturally stunning and historically rich hotel in the heart of Tasmania’s capital Hobart. The Tasman boasts luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites with state-of-the-art technology. Guests will experience three eras of design; from the history-filled hallways of the original 1840s heritage building, the understated luxury of the 1940s Art Deco building, or taking in the spectacular views of the Hobart waterfront from the modern Pavilion building.
The Tasman hotel embraces the character of its locale, integrating seamlessly with Hobart’s breathtaking scenery and culture, with its signature Italian restaurant in partnership with Tasmanian Chef Massimo Mele and Mary Mary, a reimagined old-world cocktail bar.
Located at the edge of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge features a selection of wood cabins with views of the surrounding Tasmanian wilderness.
Waldheim Alpine Spa offers a range of therapies and treatments, along with a steam room, sauna, large hot tub and cool plunge pool. The lodge has more than 20 walking trails to suit every level of fitness.
Recognised as one of Tasmania’s best dining experiences, the Highland Restaurant offers fine dining in a relaxed setting.
Even by Tassie’s formidable foodie standards, Stillwater Seven’s locavore cuisine stands out – the restaurant has won a myriad of awards over the decades. And now they have added steampunk-inspired rooms above the inn, with blackened timbers softened by forest green velvet and views of the Tamar River.
Lovers of a local story: everything you drink, touch and eat is crafted or created nearby. Grist is never far away in this former flour mill, so bring your appetite: freshly baked bread appears as if by magic, the honesty bar groans with small-batch gins and, oh yes, there’s that world-famous restaurant right downstairs.
Saffire Freycinet is Australia’s new luxury coastal sanctuary on Tasmania’s East Coast, delivering sophisticated and intimate style and an inspirational experience – it’s Tasmania’s luxury resort.
Discreetly positioned overlooking the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, Saffire Freycinet blends mankind and nature with breathtaking beauty. Featuring 20 luxurious suites, an exclusive day spa, restaurant, guest lounge and bar, this new experience is a celebration of the art of service, internal and external well-being, local culinary delights, ancient landscapes and abundant wildlife.
MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art) is Australia’s largest private museum and one of the most controversial private collections of modern art and antiquities in the world. Described by its owner as a “subversive adult Disneyland”, the collection includes everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to some of the world’s most infamous and thought-provoking contemporary art. With around 300 artworks on display, the collection takes up three floors within a subterranean architectural masterpiece and is guaranteed to impress.
The 3.5 ha site includes a function centre, Moorilla winery and vineyard, a cellar door, and a wine bar. There’s also the Source restaurant, a 63-seat cinema, the Mona Library and Gallery, and eight stylish accommodation pavilions on site.
Moorilla’s Wine Ambassador will take you on a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the Moorilla winery and vineyard. Taste the wine as it is being made and learn about the history of the winery, one of the oldest in Tasmania. The tour includes an exclusive tasting of the best wines from Morrilla’s Cloth Label and Muse series. After your tour, enjoy a delicious two-course lunch with matched wines. Then spend the afternoon exploring the MONA museum (Museum of Old and New Art) which happens to be located within Moorilla winery.
Located just a 15-minute walk from the centre of Launceston, Cataract Gorge Reserve is where pristine wilderness brushes the urban city. The stunning site offers outdoor distractions like walking and hiking paths, lookouts, gardens, a swimming pool, local wildlife, a suspension bridge and chair lift, as well as a restaurant and cafe – complete with resident peacocks.
Located on the riverbanks of the South Esk and set among a wildlife reserve, Cataract Gorge offers stunning vistas with plunging cliffs. Known locally as ‘The Gorge’, it’s a favourite spot for families, rock climbers and visitors. Take the 1km | 0.6mi long path along the cliff face and over the Kings Bridge suspension bridge. On the southern side is the First Basin, which contains a free swimming pool (open from November to March) and bushland. On the northern side of the Gorge is Cliff Grounds Reserve which features a Victorian fern garden, exotic plants and picnic lawns, a pub and other dining spots.
Dwelling in the dark of Tasmania’s fertile soil, French black truffles take shape like fragrant diamonds. Safe in the cool earth they grow – slowly, delicately, fold upon fold, until time and the alchemy of nature send an aromatic message to the hunter above, that’s when the moment has arrived to unearth the sublime.
Visit Australia’s first truffle farm and join the truffle dogs on the hunt for the rare black truffle. This 2.5 hours experience takes you into the trufflery to unearth truffles with your own hands, followed by a generous truffle tasting and lunch platter.
Experience the flavours of the Tamar Valley vineyards with the Launceston wine tour. The Tamar Valley wine route is the oldest wine region in Tasmania and offers around 30 cellar doors. The naturally elegant wines are made from grapes grown in climates similar to those of the famous European wines.
Your guide will explain the various grape varieties and the history of the beautiful Tamar Valley. Enjoy fun and informative tastings at 4 vineyard cellar doors, and savour a generous gourmet lunch with a glass of premium wine. Round off your day with Tasmanian cheeses to pair with the last cellar-door tasting.
Hobart is the state capital and largest city in Tasmania offering all of the amenities of a large city and few of the hassles. Attractions range from rows of 19th century Georgian sandstone warehouses in Salamanca Place where every Saturday the famous Salamanca Market is held. Theatre in the Botanical Gardens is a summer highlight not to be missed. The city is not only ideal base for southern Tasmanian journeys but it is also city full of friendly people, relaxed lifestyle, beautiful scenery and vibrant culture.
Cradle Mountain is at the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Park is 2.5 hours west of Launceston and 90 minutes from Devonport.
The sheer magnificence of Cradle Mountain inspired Austrian born Gustav Weindorfer to build a chalet out of King Billy pine here in 1912 and work tirelessly to have the area declared a national park “for the people for all time”. His dream was realised in 1922, and today a quarter of all visitors to the state travel here to share his vision.
Launceston, Tasmania’s second-largest city is compact, and its pretty, colourful Victorian and Edwardian homes line the hillsides along the river banks. With a population of 68,000, the city has a strong sense of identity and has one of the best regional galleries in Australia – the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk, along with art and craft galleries and quality restaurants. Like most Tasmanian towns, it’s easy to explore and nature is right nearby – Launceston Gorge, with its Victorian parklands, complete with peacocks, has steep, rugged cliffs and wild areas that attract climbers. Launceston is a good base for exploring the vineyards of the Tamar Valley, and you can visit boutique cool-climate wineries that line both river banks.
Jutting out into the sea on Tasmania’s mild east coast is the rugged and beautiful Freycinet Peninsula. Freycinet National Park consists of knuckles of granite mountains surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park.
