Under Down Under Tours: Ultimate Tasmania

Departing from the harbourside village of Strahan, we’ll cruise the Gordon River. This fantastic river cruise includes a guided boardwalk through the UNESCO World Heritage rainforest as well as a tour of the harshest penal settlement in Australia at Sarah Island. Cruise through the treacherous Hells Gates, a narrow passageway into Macquarie Harbour and enjoy lunch aboard the ship featuring Tasmanian produce. See the workings of a Huon pine sawmill to further appreciate the town’s history, before departing for a scenic drive to Tullah. On a clear day, enjoy magnificent views of the rugged peaks of Mount Murchison. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group dinner and relax in the lakeside chalet which sits on the shores of Lake Rosebery.

Travelling north, wind through lush rainforest at Hellyer’s Gorge and rugged mountains before opening up to rolling farmland and coastal views, revealing charming rural towns and the sparkling waters of Bass Strait on the Northwest Coast of Tasmania. At Stanley, take in the views of The Nut, the volcanic plug that sits proudly out to sea and provides sweeping views of the coast. We’ll continue west as far as ‘The Edge of the World’ at Arthur River. This region forms part of the wild Takayna/the Tarkine coast, and to Palawa Tasmanian aboriginal people, it is a deeply spiritual place.  We’ll enjoy dinner together this evening at the comfortable lodgings at Tall Timbers.

Today offers a deeper experience of the Tarkine. This ancient rainforest is the second largest cool temperate rainforest in the world. It is a wilderness area that holds ancient relics of animals and plants as well as Palawa indigenous heritage sites from thousands of years ago. Enjoy several stops along the loop such as Sumac Lookout which offers breathtaking forest views across the Arthur River, and Trowutta Arch which is an extraordinary geological wonder. Returning to the Northwest Coast, we’ll explore several seaside stops along the way, including a visit to the idyllic Boat Harbour Beach, Table Cape, and the town of Penguin, before arriving at our accommodation in Devonport. Join us for a group dinner and then relax this evening.

Discover the alpine and glacial landscapes of Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, a part of Tasmania’s Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Area due to its unique flora, fauna, geology, and Palawa archaeological sites. Your guide will help you to select a walk suitable for your fitness, such as the outstanding Dove Lake Circuit – this 6km walk around the glacial lake beneath the peaks of Cradle Mountain is considered the best short walk in Tasmania. Or, stroll to the iconic Boat Shed or Glacial Rock, and wander along the boardwalk at Ronny Creek to look for wombats. Before arriving in Launceston, we’ll admire the colourful murals in the town of Sheffield. Explore Australia’s second oldest city tonight at your leisure.  

Visit Launceston’s stunning Cataract Gorge which is a terrific place to spot wallabies. We’ll drive to the East Coast and enjoy lunch in the fishing township of St Helens before taking our time to explore the Bay of Fires/larapuna. Clear waters, white sands and orange boulders are classic scenes from the Bay of Fires region, and you’ll love strolling along these pristine beaches. Our final destination is the charming coastal town of Bicheno, home of the little penguin. Dinner is included this evening, then you may wish to wander down to the blowhole or to the lookout for views over the Tasman Sea.

Freycinet National Park is Tassie’s East Coast jewel, and we make sure to maximise your time here. Walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout for views of Tasmania’s most famous beach with its curved white shores and turquoise-coloured waters. It’s a moderate climb of around 1000 steps to the Lookout, with several rest stops to admire the woodland scenery. Instead, you may wish to relax at Honeymoon Bay and take in the view of the pink granite Hazard’s mountains. At Cape Tourville, stroll along the short boardwalk to enjoy panoramic views of the peninsula and out to sea. We’ll return to Hobart via the Great Eastern Drive. Take advantage of Hobart’s fantastic restaurants with a night out in the city.

Meet a variety of Tasmanian wildlife such as quolls, birds, wombats, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Then, walk around the colonial village of Richmond which is home to the oldest convict-built bridges still in operation in Australia. Enjoy seeing the heritage buildings before we make our way back to Hobart via the scenic winery region, the Coal River Valley. This afternoon, we’ll share with you some of our favourite spots in Hobart’s Wellington Park. Known fondly by locals as “The Mountain”, Kunanyi/Mount Wellington is a diverse natural reserve with several trails to see fern glades, eucalyptus forests, dramatic rock columns, boulder fields, and spectacular lookouts. Tonight, unwind in one of the city’s historic pubs or restaurants.

Today we’ll discover the highlights of Bruny Island. After a short drive from Hobart, we’ll take the ferry across the D’Entrecastreaux Channel to the island. At the isthmus between North and South Bruny, check out the view from “The Neck” from the top of Truganini Lookout. We’ll visit South Bruny National Park and take in the incredible coastline at Cape Bruny Lighthouse. At Adventure Bay, we’ll try our luck spotting white wallabies and finish our Bruny experience by sampling local Bruny Island produce like oysters, cheese, and beers. We’ll return to Hobart where you may wish to explore the historic

At the Port Arthur Historic Site, learn about the harsh life of convicts from the 1800’s at Australia’s best preserved convict settlement. Wander around the preserved ruins and colonial gardens and take a short harbour cruise to appreciate this open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Listed Area. Today you’ll also experience several sites and viewpoints on the magnificent Tasman Peninsula such as Pirates Bay Lookout, Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, and Devil’s Kitchen. We’ll make our way back to Hobart where our ultimate tour of Tasmania comes to an end.