Launceston to
Launceston - 20 days
Separated from mainland Australia by the 240 km stretch of
Bass Strait, Tasmania is a land apart – a place of wild
and beautiful landscapes; friendly, welcoming people; a pleasant,
temperate climate; wonderful wine and food; a rich history;
and a relaxed island lifestyle.
Pre-departure briefing
We gather in Launceston, northern Tasmania at 7.30pm, the evening
before tour departure.
Day 1
Travel 3 hours | Afternoon walk 3 to 4 hrs
Our journey commences and concludes in Launceston, beside the
Tamar River.
We depart early morning for the picturesque
rural region of the Great Western Tiers, quaint farmlets, mountain
backdrops and 1830’s colonial buildings. Arriving at the
iconic Cradle Mountain NP we settle in to our comfortable lodge
cabins for 4 nights, complete with friendly wallabies at the
door (do not feed). We’ll visit the nearby national park
centre then continue to the shores of Dove Lake for an easy
2 hour walk.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Lodge cabins
with private facilities
Day 2
Walking 8 to 9 hrs - including Cradle Mountain
climb
.
Today we complete a memorable walk to the base of Cradle Mountain.
For the agile there is a steady 600m scramble over large boulders
to the jagged summit. We cross an alpine ridge exposed to the
elements and featuring small tarns, boardwalks protecting delicate
habitats and the emergency shelter, Kitchen Hut. Our return
trip via the Horse Track offers added lookouts over Crater Lake.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Lodge cabins
with private facilities
Day 3
Walking. Optional short walks or 5 hrs return
to Little Horn
For those seeking an easier day after “Cradle” or
preparing for the Walls of Jerusalem to follow, there is the
option of various short walks, bird and wildlife spotting near
the Lodge, or simply relaxing in this award winning facility.
Others may join a 9 km return walk to the feature known as Little
Horn for an inspirational lunch high in the walls of the Cradle.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Lodge cabins
with private facilities
Day 4
Travel 87 kms each way | Walking 8 to 9 hrs
return
Today is a lengthy but special day as (weather permitting) we
walk into the closed valley formed by the towering 165 million
year old dolerite peaks of the Walls of Jerusalem NP. We start
with a 2 kms / 1 hour steady climb through forest to an historic
Trappers Hut then 2 hrs of level going across the plateau, along
boardwalks negotiating the glacial lakes and tarns known as
Solomons Jewels. Finally we pass through Herods Gate to the
central basin. We’ll relax over lunch, our gaze fixed
on the Walls, before retracing our steps home, views of Barn
Bluff and Cradle Mountain in the distance.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Lodge cabins
with private facilities
Day 5
Travel 3 hrs | Wilderness cruising and relaxing
We commence this day with a 172 km drive to the “denuded
moonscape” of Queenstown and beyond to the harbour-side
village of Strahan. On arrival in Strahan we prepare for a wilderness
cruise up the mighty Gordon River. We board our 18m steel Ketch,
for a solitary overnight retreat, 35 kms deep into the world
heritage reserve. At sunset we’ll savour a local crayfish
or salmon dinner with fine Tassie wine.
Accommodation: Ships bunks with privacy curtains
and shared facilities – one night
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Day 6
Complete cruise. Local travel
We return to Strahan early morning, and relax in our village
quarters. A short walk to view a remarkable 2500 yr old
Huon Pine with its unique water repellent characteristics,
then we take off down river passing over harbour aquaculture
operations, returning to Strahan. |
The flights take off across Macquarie Harbour, circling magnificent
Frenchmans Cap, then following the ravine carved by the raging
Franklin River, before landing on the Gordon River. These afternoon
flights are optional, with extra cost. Late afternoon we take
a short drive to the ocean beach to view the Mutton Bird rookery.
Accommodation: Local village cottages with
private facilities
Day 7
Travel 269 kms
Today we travel east through the heart of the world heritage
reserve bisecting two great national parks. Morning tea break
is at Lake St Clair. We’ll enjoy a leisurely 1 hour walk
along the crest of a glacial moraine. Travelling on, we end
our day at the village of Maydena and our modest cottages, centrally
located for the next three days of walking activities.
Accommodation: Village cottages with shared
facilities
Day 8
Local travel - 52 kms return to trail head
| Walking 6 to 7 hrs
We visit one of Tasmania’s oldest National Parks, Mt Field
NP, with a pleasant but energetic day walk across exposed alpine
country, returning along a beautiful tarn shelf. Finally, a
well constructed track takes us across a labyrinth of tarns
and wet sections. Arguably the most picturesque falls in Australia
are visited late on this day - The Russell Falls.
Accommodation: Village cottages
with shared facilities
Day 9
Local Travel 200kms
For a physical change, today will be devoted to local travel
to scenic destinations. We are on the edge of the South-West
National Park. We’ll travel the 70 kms Gordon River Rd
to Strathgordon. The Scotts Peak road offers views to the dolerite
mass of Mt Anne the highest peak in the south-west, the Western
Arthur and Frankland Ranges. The Styx River Valley, Big Tree
Reserve and a short walk to Shingle Bend are possible options
for this day.
Accommodation: Village cottages with shared
facilities
Day 10
Local Travel 96 kms return | Walking 7 hrs
We rise at a leisurely hour for a day hike to Mt Eliza. The
crest of the ridge is gained in 2 to 3 hours with a strenuous
1 hr climb from there to the Mt Eliza peak where we will lunch
with magnificent panoramic views over Lake Pedder, the Franklin
Range and the sudden drop into Lake Judd. We return by descending
the same trail.
Accommodation: Village cottages with shared
facilities
Day 11
Travel 1.5 hrs
Today we travel a short 88 kms into the City of Hobart for a
free day exploring its features. Our accommodation for the next
three nights is located in the historic Battery Point precinct.
Features include the markets, galleries and retail therapy of
historic Salamanca Place, great southern ocean fishing fleets
around the docks, the Antarctic Centre, a Sub-Antarctic Plant
House or some indulgence at the famous Cadbury chocolate factory.
Stroll the waterfront and quaint street-scapes of Battery Point.
Enjoy dinne rin your own free time.
Accommodation: Battery Point bed and breakfast
apartments.
Day 12
Local travel | Walking 5 to 6 hrs
Mt Wellington is the dominant landform of Hobart. Today’s
day walk takes us along pleasant lower trails to the dramatic
dolerite columns of The Organ Pipes. The Pipes are considered
to be part of a fracture line in the break-up of Australia from
the ancient super-continent of Gondwana. After our inspection
of the Pipes we’ll climb steeply to the summit of the
mountain which offers a stunning panorama over Hobart, islands,
waterways and valleys.
Accommodation: Battery Point historic bed and
breakfast.
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Day 13
Travel 168 kms return | Walking 5 to
6 hours return
Today we bid farewell to the great south-west World Heritage
area with a day visit to Hartz Mountain National Park.
We get a distant view of jagged Federation Peak. |
Our day involves a steep uphill climb to Hartz Pass in about
2 hours, rewarded by magnificent vistas and then beyond to Hartz
Peak, another steep hour over loose rocks and boulders. On return,
we’ll divert to the tranquillity of Lake Esperence.
Accommodation: Battery Point historic bed and
breakfast with private facilities.
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Day 14
Travel 98 kms Some local travel | Walking
4 to 5 hrs
We relax and travel to the Tasman Peninsula this morning
and the Tasman NP. We’ll visit the historic Eaglehawk
Neck and complete some short car park excursions to the
Tasman Arch, The Blowhole and Devils Kitchen. |
Our accommodation of three nights is at historic Port Arthur,
Australia’s infamous, “escape-proof” and tragic
penal settlement. The ruins of Port Arthur are set in picturesque
parkland and can be explored at your leisure over the next few
days. We gather lunch and head for a memorable afternoon walk
(4 to 5 hours) along the Cape Hauy. Here the Totem Pole a 65m
high vertical finger stands defiant.
Accommodation: Motel with Private facilities
Day 15/16
Local travel only
Subject to final tour group configuration and participant choices,
the next two days may contain varied activities. For those preferring
a more relaxed approach, there will be ample opportunity to
explore the ruins of Port Arthur and to undertake shorter local
walks. There are varied precinct tours of the ruins, a harbour
cruise, the popular nightly ghost tour or you can trace a convicts
life at the settlement. If there are sufficient adventurous
walkers we will equip them with packs, sleeping gear and tents
for a two day return walk to Cape Pillar, camping overnight
at the Cape.
Accommodation: Motel with private facilities
or Experiential Camp (1 night) with nature’s facilities
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Day 17
Travel initially 2.5 hrs, later 2 hrs
| Day of roaming.
This morning we have an early start to connect with our
ferry to Maria Island NP, leaving a legacy of creatures
fossilised in its sea cliffs. |
Our day will be spent leisurely, if not lazily exploring the
buildings of the penal settlement, the Fossil Cliffs and the
brilliant colours of the “painted” sea cliffs. A
late afternoon ferry will return us to our vehicle and we travel
north 114kms to our quality lodge facilities adjoining Freycinet
NP, home for 3 nights.
Accommodation: Lodge with private facilities
Day 18
Local travel
We have a leisurely start to the day and then undertake a short
morning climb (3 hrs return) to the top of Mt Amos part of the
colourful granite mountains known locally as the Hazards. As
time permits we’ll take a short drive to the Cape Tourville
lighthouse and a Sleepy Bay for a secluded day-pack lunch. Our
afternoon is devoted to a short drive to Isaacs Point and access
to Friendly Beaches. Here you can roam as one or with company
in either direction for 10 min to 3 hours along a pristine white
sandy beach greeting every new wave rolling in from the Tasman
Sea.
Accommodation: Lodge with private facilities
Day 19
Walking 5 to 6 hrs
Our final day walk of the journey. We take an easy trail to
Hazards Beach and Fleurieu Point on the west side of the peninsula
before returning to Wineglass Bay.
After exploring this celebrated bay and beach,
end to end, we relax over lunch, looking back to The Hazards.
Then back to the lodge for our tour celebration dinner, marking
journeys end.
Accommodation: Quality lodge with private facilities
Day 20
Travel 3.5 hrs
We travel at a leisurely pace, north-west to your departure
lounge at Launceston Airport and afternoon connecting flights
to the Australian mainland, international airports, or the city
centre if you wish.
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