Tasmania is Australia's smallest state and this down under country's only island state. It's nature's verdant holiday house, a place of enormously diverse inland and coastal wilderness areas that range from the wildest of ocean dunes and satellite islets to near-impenetrable rain-forest, rugged mountain ranges, soaring sea cliffs and serenely fragile alpine moorlands. One quarter of this outlandishly beautiful island is made up of wildlife-saturated national parks, with most of that awarded to the status of World Heritage Area.
Arrive Melbourne - Transfer to Spirit of Tasmania, via Melbourne downtown shops if time permits, for your cruise to Devonport. ( Dinner at own expense on the Spirit of Tasmania.) 9.00pm Departure: Station Pier Overnight: Spirit of Tasmania.
7.00am. Arrive Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania. Disembark an rejoin your coach and travel a short distance to the Argosy Motel. After breakfast visit the Ashgrove Cheese Factory and then on to Sheffield the town of Murals, Australia's largest Art Gallery. Lunch, Deloraine. (Own Expenses). After lunch travel to Launceston and visit Cateract Gorge, featuring the world's longest chair-lift, span-308 meters. (BD) Overnight: Abel Tasman Motel Launceston
See Batman Bridge and the world's first cable stayed truss bridge and Beauty Point Seahorse World. Experience the Mystery of the Pot Bellied Seahorse. Visit Grindelward an authentic Swiss style Village nestled in the rolling hills of the Tamar Valley. Visit Penny Royal. (BD) Overnight: Able Tasman Motel Launceston
Travel the Tasman Highway through rich farmland and magnificent rainforests towards the east coast. Scottsdale is the center of a rich agricultural dairy and forestry area. Travel over the Weldborough pass though St Helens, the largest town on the east coast. Follow the coastline of the Tasman Sea to the resort town of Scamander. (BD) Overnight: Chancellor Inn Scamander
Follow the pearl white beaches to the east coast Natureworld, a birdlife & animal park on 62 hectacres. Say, "Hello" to a Tasmanian Devil. Continue past the Freycinet Vineyards to the town of Swansea. Step back in time at the Bark Mill with its machinery still in working order. Stop and ponder the idea behind the Spiky Bridge. Visit the Church of St John the Baptist (1846) at Buckland, featuring a stained glass window made in the 14th century in England. Join the Arthur Highway at Sorell, the Gateway to the east coast and Port Arthur. Visit Doo Town, the Blowhole, Tasman's Arch and Devil's Kitchen. After Dinner an optional Ghost Tour of Port Arthur Penal Settlement. (BD) Overnight: Chancellor Inn Port Arthur
Guided tour of ground and ruins of Port Arthur Penal Settlement. Harbor Cruise to view the two famous Islands of Port Arthur. Visit the Isle of the Dead (Own Expense). Free time to explore the Port Arthur ruins, commandant's cottage, the dispensary, prison, the church and many other buildings. Visit the Port Arthur Interpretation Center and Museum. Optional seaplane flight over Port Arthur. Travel to Richmond - site of Australia's oldest bridge built in 1823 & still in use. Visit Australia's oldest Catholic Church. Free time to wander the many craft shops in Richmond. Visit old Hobart Historical Model Village. (BD) Overnight: Balmoral Inn (Glenorchy) Hobart
Morning tour south of Hobart to view the world's only round Shot Tower. Travel on top Huonville & the Tahune Treetop Walk. Return to Hobart via the summit of Mount Wellington for a spectacular view of Hobart. (weather permitting) After Dinner, we visit Wrest Point Casino ( Australia's First ). Try your luck or just absorb the atmosphere. (BD) Overnight: Balmoral Inn (Glenorchy) Hobart
Visit Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Lunch own expense. Free time for shopping (BD) Overnight: Balmoral Inn (Glenorchy) Hobart
We farewell Hobart and travel the Lyell Highway to New Norfolk & Bushy Park. See Hop Fields and Oast Houses Travel through the Derwent Valley and the Village Of Westaway, Ouse & Tasmania's Hydro Electric plants at Tarraleah, Penstocks and Tungatinah. Pass through the geographical center of Tasmania as we enter the Wild Rivers National Park. Travel through the Ghost Towns of Linda and Gormanston. Descend Gormy Hill into the West Coast's Largest town Queenstown. A guided tour of the surface workings of Mt. Lyell Copper Mine is included. (B D) Overnight: Chancellor Inn Queenstown.
An early rise as we travel small fishing village of Strahan. Join our cruise on the Wanderer 111 for a boat cruise on the Macquarie Harbour. Visit famous Sarah Island Penal Settlement as portrayed in the book by Marcus Clarke "For the Term of His Natural Life". Cruise through the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, known as Hell's Gate. Cruise up the Gordon River and enjoy a short walk into the dense rainforest to view a 2000 year old Huon Pine tree. Returning to Strahan, we pass an Atlantic Salmon Farm in Macquarie Harbour. Free time to browse the shops and the old Saw Mill, before returning to Queenstown. Optional return to Queenstown on the historic Abt Railway. ($90) (BD) Overnight : Chancellor Inn Queenstown
Leaving the West Coast we travel to Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake or Glacier Rock (weather permitting). In the afternoon travel to Burnie for a short tour prior to boarding the Spirit of Tasmania for travel back to Melbourne. Depart Devonport 9.00pm Overnight: Spirit of Tasmania. (B) (Dinner own expense on the Spirit of Tasmania)
7.00am Arrive Station Pier Melbourne-disembark (Breakfast own expense on arrival in Melbourne) Transfer to the Airport, to join your flight from Melbourne to your ..or Board the Coach bound for Warrnambool
