Wild Tasmania Tours 6 Day Taste of Tasmania Tour Private room with shared bathroom – Double

Map View Full Details

Taste of Tasmania: a 6 day small group tour from Hobart that takes in both the east and west coasts of Tasmania.

Days

6 days

Group size

Small group

Start / finish

Hobart / Hobart

Return

See itinerary for details

Accommodation

Wilderness accommodation, surrounded by wildlife
This option: private double room with shared bathroom

Transport

Tour bus from Hobart, and a ferry to Maria Island

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Wild Tasmania Tours 6 Day Taste of Tasmania Tour Private room with shared bathroom – Double

View map

Included experiences

Cradle Mountain National Park
Russell Falls
Bay of Fires — orange lichen-covered rocks
Freycinet National Park — Wineglass Bay views
Cape Hauy — walk to Australia's highest sea cliffs
Maria Island — ferry trip and wildlife spotting

Wild Tasmania Tours 6 Day Taste of Tasmania Tour Private room with shared bathroom – Double

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: HOBART TO THE WILD WEST COAST

An early start from central Hobart, then west into the hills. At Mount Field National Park, declared in 1916 as one of Tasmania's first two national parks, you walk among swamp gums, some of the tallest flowering plants on earth, to Russell Falls, which drops over two broad tiers of rock. Keep an eye on the creeks for platypus. Further west you stroll beside the Franklin River, saved from a hydro dam in 1983 after one of Australia's biggest environmental campaigns, and walk through rainforest to Nelson Falls. Then it's Queenstown, a copper town since the 1890s, where the hills are still bare from a century of smelting. With free time at the lodge, wander the shore of Lake Rosebery.

Overnight: West Coast (Lakeside Lodge, Lake Rosebery)

DAY 2: THE WEST COAST TO CENTRAL TASMANIA, VIA CRADLE MOUNTAIN

The road north climbs through cool temperate rainforest to Cradle Mountain, whose jagged dolerite summit stands 1,545 metres high. The park owes its life to Gustav Weindorfer, an Austrian who campaigned for it from his chalet here in the early 1900s. Take your pick of walks. The Dove Lake Circuit is a level loop of about 6 km around the lake, under the mountain the whole way. The climb to Marions Lookout is steeper and rewards you with the view straight down onto Dove Lake. Wombats graze the buttongrass in daylight here, so look out for them. That night you stay in remote bush cabins where wildlife wanders past, and the evening ends with a group barbecue dinner, a campfire and marshmallows.

Overnight: Central Tasmania (remote bush cabins)

DAY 3: CENTRAL TASMANIA TO BICHENO

Today you cross to the east coast and the Bay of Fires, named by Captain Tobias Furneaux in 1773 after the Aboriginal campfires he saw along the shore. Its granite boulders are stained bright orange by lichen, and there's time to rock hop along the beaches. At a wildlife sanctuary you watch a Tasmanian devil feeding, a rare chance to see an animal now found in the wild only on this island. Then on to Bicheno, where the Bicheno Blowhole sprays seawater up through a gap in the granite, and a coastal loop leads to Whalers Lookout, where whalers once watched for the spouts of passing whales. A guided little penguin tour at dusk can be booked ahead for an extra cost.

Overnight: Bicheno (beachside bungalows)

DAY 4: FREYCINET AND THE GREAT EASTERN DRIVE

Freycinet National Park, the other of Tasmania's two oldest parks, is your morning. Choose your walk, weather permitting. The climb to the Wineglass Bay lookout looks down on a near-perfect curve of white sand, and you can carry on down to the beach itself. The Hazards circuit loops around the pink granite range, and Mount Amos, at 454 metres, is a steep scramble up bare rock for the best view of all. Cape Tourville has an easy boardwalk around its lighthouse with views down the coast. Then south along the Great Eastern Drive, with the option of lunch and a glass of wine at a winery overlooking the ocean (at your own cost), to farm stay cabins in southern Tasmania.

Overnight: Southern Tasmania (farm stay cabins)

DAY 5: MARIA ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

A ferry takes you to Maria Island, where there are no cars and no shops. Your guide leads you through the national park, starting at Darlington, a convict settlement from 1825 that is now part of the World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. The brick and stone buildings still stand among the grass, grazed short by wombats, Forester kangaroos and Cape Barren geese. Along the shore, the Fossil Cliffs are packed with the shells of sea creatures that lived around 290 million years ago. At the Painted Cliffs, iron oxide has washed swirls of orange and brown through the sandstone. Tasmanian devils were released here in 2012 as a disease-free insurance population, so the island is busy with wildlife from end to end.

Overnight: Southern Tasmania (farm stay cabins)

DAY 6: CAPE HAUY AND THE TASMAN PENINSULA

The last day is the big walk. From Fortescue Bay in Tasman National Park, the track to Cape Hauy is about four hours return, up and down stone steps through heath and along cliffs to the tip of the cape. From the end you look down on the Totem Pole and the Candlestick, slender dolerite sea stacks that rock climbers come from around the world to climb. Back at Fortescue Bay there's time to rest by the water before a taste of local produce and the drive back to Hobart. If it's a Saturday you can finish at Salamanca Market, held on the waterfront since 1972, or ask for a drop at the airport.

Map

Good to know

Fitness: There are walking options to suit all fitness levels, from a leisurely stroll to more challenging walks.

What is included

Accommodation — this option is a private double room with shared bathroom
Ferry to Maria Island

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.