MELBOURNE TO GEELONG - SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

Welcome to our tour around spectacular Tasmania. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew.  We drive to Geelong, arriving at the Spirit of Tasmania dock at Corio Pier where we board the Spirit of Tasmania for our overnight cruise across Bass Strait to Devonport. Settle into your own ensuite twin berth porthole cabin and enjoy dinner in the Tas Market Kitchen as we get to know our fellow travellers.

OVERNIGHT:  SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

DEVONPORT - PENGUIN - STANLEY - SMITHTON

Arriving at Devonport, the gateway to Tasmania, disembark to be greeted and escorted to your coach. After breakfast, we follow the Bass Highway and scenic coastal route through Ulverstone to Penguin. Enjoy a morning tea stop at the picturesque coastal town of Penguin, complete with penguin letterboxes and a big penguin! Tour through the industrial city of Burnie and then the relaxed seaside town of Wynyard enroute to the historical village of Stanley, nestled at the foot of an ancient volcanic core known as 'The Nut'. Tour past Highfield House, historical headquarters of the early Van Diemen's Land Company and explore the quaint town with its terraces and chairlift access to the top of The Nut (ride is optional and own expense). Continue on to the nearby agricultural town of Smithton for our overnight stay.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Tall Timbers Resort, SMITHTON

SMITHTON - CRADLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - STRAHAN

This morning, we follow the highway through mountains and button grass plains to the iconic Cradle Mountain National Park. On arrival, we board a smaller bus for a guided tour to Dove Lake at the foot of the crags of Cradle Mountain and visit Waldheim, forest home of pioneer Gustav Weindorfer. Keep an eye out for the wildlife, especially the wombats! Enjoy lunch at Cradle Mountain Hotel and visit the amazing Wilderness Gallery and Gift Shop for some unique Tasmanian made souvenirs before heading west. Tour through Rosebery and the historic mining town of Zeehan which was established in the late 1800's after tin, silver and lead discoveries sparked the largest mining boom in the west. Nicknamed the 'Silver City', it quickly grew into Tasmania's third largest town. Continue to Strahan, a village set on the banks of Macquarie Harbour with a dark and fascinating convict past and access to the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Accommodation for the next two nights is overlooking the beautiful Macquarie Harbour at the Strahan Village.

OVERNIGHT:  Strahan Village Hotel, STRAHAN

MACQUARIE HARBOUR - GORDON RIVER CRUISE

Today we’ll cruise the incomparable Gordon River into the heart of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area. Cross vast Macquarie Harbour and have an entertaining guided tour of Sarah Island, worst convict settlement of all. Follow the Gordon through stands of ancient Huon pine, sassafras and myrtle rainforest to step ashore for a wilderness boardwalk at Heritage Landing. Voyage to Hell's Gates, the aptly named harbour entrance where many early ships were destroyed by ferocious ocean swells. After our cruise there will be opportunity to explore the village of Strahan including the Visitor Centre and Huon Pine Sawmill before returning to our  accommodation where we can freshen up for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Strahan Village Hotel, STRAHAN

STRAHAN - QUEENSTOWN - THE WALL - HOBART

Departing Strahan we follow the windy road to Queenstown, the largest west coast town with a unique history. Surrounded by dramatic hills and mountains stripped by the mining practices in the early 1990s, which are slowly returning to their natural beauty, it was once the world's richest mining town.  Continue on the 99m bends out of town and through the western wilds to experience the wonders of Gondwanaland during a short rainforest walk to Nelson Falls in the Wild Rivers National Park. Visit “The Wall in The Wilderness”, an extraordinary work of art being carved out of Huon pine telling the story of Tasmania’s Central Highlands. Enjoy lunch at the Tarraleah Estate in the township of Tarraleah, built in the 1930's to house workers on one of Australia's first hydroelectric schemes. Descend the Central Plateau and follow the Derwent Valley through hop fields and hills via historic New Norfolk and onto to Hobart. Here, we check in to the Old Woolstore Hotel, where we will be for the next four nights.

OVERNIGHT:  The Old Woolstore Hotel, HOBART

SALAMANCA MARKET - RICHMOND - HOBART

As it is Saturday morning, take the opportunity to explore the famous Salamanca open-air market with its bustle and buskers, colour and excitement. After a city sights tour, we cross the Derwent River to the historic village of Richmond. Here we have some free time to explore—walk across Australia’s oldest bridge, built by convict labour between 1823 and 1825; visit the cemetery of Australia’s oldest existing Catholic Church, St John the Evangelist, built in 1836 or browse through the many delightful craft shops, galleries and food stores. We complete our day back in Hobart with a visit to the sheltered, landscaped grounds of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens which hold historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating from the nineteenth century. We return to our accommodation where the remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax or explore as you wish.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: The Old Woolstore Hotel, HOBART

TASMAN PENINSULA - PORT ARTHUR

Today, we travel via Sorell Causeway and Midway Point for our full day tour on the Tasman Peninsula. Take in the magnificent views from the look-out above picturesque Eaglehawk Neck and Pirates Bay before continuing to the Port Arthur Convict Settlement. Within the 40 hectares of landscaped grounds lies a rich history of Australia’s convict past. Included in the entry is a guided walking tour, a short harbour cruise, access to the Visitor Centre and Interpretation Gallery as well as more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored gardens and houses; explore as you wish before departing the historic site. On the return to Hobart, be amazed by the geological sites of Tasman Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen. This evening we enjoy a special dinner at Hadley’s Orient Hotel, a heritage listed Victorian-era hotel built in 1834.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  The Old Woolstore Hotel, HOBART

BRUNY ISLAND

We travel south to Kettering this morning to board the ferry and cross the beautiful D’Entrecasteaux Channel to Bruny Island. Not only can Bruny Island boast some of Tasmania’s most superb scenery of sweeping beaches, mountains and spectacular capes and bays, it also has a fascinating history.  Notable early visitors include Captain Furneaux (1773) Captain Cook (1777) and Bligh (1788 & 1792) in the ‘Bounty’ who planted the Tasmania's first apple tree. We arrive at Roberts Point on North Bruny and tour south past The Neck which is a game reserve of penguin and mutton bird rookeries and site of the memorial to famous Tasmanian aboriginal Truganini. Continue to scenic Adventure Bay and admire the pristine beach or see the interesting Bligh Museum followed by a quick visit to Bruny Island Chocolate which offers a superb quality range of fudge, truffles and chocolate sauces. Stop for lunch at Hotel Bruny which prides itself in offering the freshest local produce. This afternoon, we visit Inala Nature and tour the Jurassic Garden which has a collection of over 750 species of plants that have connections to the Gondwanan Supercontinent (about 185 million years ago).  Return to the ferry and travel back to Kettering. We drive into Hobart via Mt Nelson Lookout to take in the panoramic views of the city and Derwent Estuary.

OVERNIGHT:  The Old Woolstore Hotel, HOBART

HOBART - FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK - ST HELENS

Today we cross the Derwent River and travel east through the Prosser River Valley. Enjoy  our morning tea stop at Triabunna Wharf, gateway to Maria Island National Park. Next, we travel via the enigmatic, convict built Spiky Bridge and beside the blue waters of the Tasman Sea to the coastal town of Swansea. We now continue to picturesque Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park with its jagged pink granite peaks, crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. After lunch at the resort, enjoy the magnificent coastal views during the easy walk at Cape Tourville to the lighthouse. Leaving Freycinet, continue through the fishing and holiday village of Bicheno to East Coast Natureworld which sits amongst 150 acres of natural parkland and lagoons and a perfect place to experience Tasmania's unique animals. Learn about their contribution to saving the threatened Tasmanian devils on a guided tour of the sanctuary. Continue on to the coastal town of St Helens for our overnight accommodation overlooking St Georges Bay.

OVERNIGHT: Panorama Hotel, ST HELENS

ST HELENS - DERBY - BEACONSFIELD - LAUNCESTON

This morning, we tour the north east through the Pyengana Valley and myrtle rainforest of Weldborough Pass. We stop at the former tin-mining centre of Derby, now mountain biking mecca, and continue to Legerwood to view the War Memorial Tree Carvings honouring the fallen soldiers of the region.  We travel through agricultural Scottsdale and on to the coastal town of Bridport. Crossing the unique A-frame Batman Bridge we visit the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre. Afterwards we tour the picturesque Tamar Valley to Launceston and the iconic Peppers Silo Hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Peppers Silo Hotel, LAUNCESTON

CATARACT GORGE - SHEFFIELD - DEVONPORT

This morning enjoy the sights of the northern city of Launceston. Highlights include the city park, city centre and beautiful Cataract Gorge with its cliff-side gardens, peacocks, pools, suspension foot bridge and one of the world's longest single span chairlifts (ride is optional – own expense). The nearby village of Evandale is a hidden gem of beautifully preserved historic buildings. Its streets are lined with late Georgian and early Victorian architecture, we will pause here before visiting the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company for lunch and a garden tour. Next, we venture into the hinterland to the mural town of Sheffield where the history of the area is recorded in life size murals on the town walls. On our return to Devonport, we stop to visit the delicious House of Anvers for a taste of Belgian chocolate before we board the Spirit of Tasmania for our journey across Bass Strait back to mainland Australia.

OVERNIGHT: SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

ARRIVE MELBOURNE

Early risers may watch the Spirit of Tasmania dock before we disembark in Geelong. After a delicious breakfast, we’ll meet up with our chauffeurs who will take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.