ITINERARY

seven DAYS IN

Hobart – Strahan – – Freycinet National Park –

The island state of Tasmania is a place of wild beauty. There are rainforests, mountain peaks, alpine lakes, wild rivers, rugged coastline, and scenic farmland.

AT A GLANCE DAY ONE

Tasmania’s state capital is Hobart. After a wander around the yacht-filled It’s a cosy, attractive town set on the waterfront make your way to Mount Derwent River. Wellington, which stands on Hobart’s doorstep. On a clear day you can see one Head first to Salamanca Place, here third of the island from its summit. you’ll find historic sandstone buildings featuring a range of art and craft stores, >> Browse the shops and galleries in galleries, cafes and bars. Salamanca Place

Each Saturday, Salamanca Place hosts >> Sample fresh local produce at the bustling weekly market, where Salamanca Markets (Saturday stallholders sell locally grown produce, mornings) and handmade crafts. >> Learn about the aboriginal and >> Hobart – Strahan (4.5 hours) shipping history of the area at the From here it’s a short stroll to Battery Maritime Museum of Tasmania >> Strahan – Cradle Mountain Point, an area of pretty colonial cottages (2.25 hours) and historic buildings. Stop in at the >> Take in views of Hobart and across >> Cradle Mountain – Coles Bay/ Maritime Museum of Tasmania and learn Tasmania from Mount Wellington Freycinet National Park (3.5 hours) about early explorers, the local whaling history, shipwrecks, and Aboriginal >> Freycinet National Park – Hobart bark canoes. (2.5 hours) ITINERARY

DAY TWO DAY THREE

From Hobart travel inland to Mount You can get an idea of the size and >> Join a cruise on the Gordon River Field National Park for a short walk beauty of the World Heritage-listed through World Heritage wilderness through a temperate rainforest to wilderness around here by flying over it >> Hear about the notorious convict the scenic Russell Falls. Look out for in a seaplane. You can immerse yourself prison on Sarah Island beautiful tree ferns and towering in the beauty and peacefulness of the swamp gums, the tallest flowering pristine Gordon River by exploring by >> Get a bird’s eye view as you fly over the plant on Earth. kayak. You can take a boat cruise into the World-Heritage listed wilderness in a wilderness too. seaplane Head slowly across country to the picturesque fishing village of Strahan, on the island’s far west coast. Along the way is the mining town of DAY FOUR Queenstown, which is surrounded by colourful, moon-like hills. Next stop is Cradle Mountain, where you >> Take one of the walking trails on offer >> Take a short walk from the visitor could stay the night in a first class lodge. in Cradle Mountain – centre through temperate rainforest This spectacular area consists of button National park they range in difficulty grass plains, alpine forests and dozens to Russell falls in Mount Field >> Join an evening wildlife spotting of lakes. Take a stroll around Dove Lake, National Park tour to see some of the more elusive formed by glaciation in this region over nocturnal animals >> Join an underground mine tour in 10,000 years ago. Queenstown >> Stroll around Dove lake formed over In the evening, go on a guided wildlife >> Hire a kayak and absorb the serenity 10,000 years ago tour to see nocturnal animals, including of Gordon River Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, and marsupial ‘cats’ called quolls. ITINERARY

DAY SEVEN

Start off with a short uphill walk to the Wineglass Bay Lookout for breathtaking views. You can continue hiking for hours if you wish, along beaches and past shell middens – seashell refuse heaps. These grew up over thousands of years ago, thanks to the local Aborigines.

A pleasant drive along the east coast eventually brings you back to Hobart, just in time for a seafood meal overlooking the harbour. DAY FIVE DAY SIX Visit Wineglass Bay lookout for views You won’t be in a hurry to leave the Start early today and drive to the over one of the top 10 beaches in natural world of beautiful of Cradle other side of the island. Pass through the world Mountain, and if you had around six the historic city of Launceston, and more days to spare you could hike head towards Coles Bay gateway to >> Hire a sea kayak and explore Great ’s best-known walking trail, Freycinet National Park. This stunning Oyster Bay the . area features craggy pink peaks, >> Game Fishing enthusiasts can join a coastal dunes, heathland and chalk- trip from Coles Bay where giant blue Still, you can trek to the summit white beaches. fin tuna run in autumn of Cradle Mountain, and get close to Tasmanian Devils at Devils @ In the afternoon you could take a >> Rock climbers can choose from a Cradle. This sanctuary is working dolphin cruise, enjoy local delicacies at number of granite climbing areas hard to help conserve this iconic an oyster farm, or paddle a sea kayak >> Follow one of the many meat-eating marsupial through a along the sheltered coastline. walking trails through Freycinet breeding program. National Park >> Visit one of Australia’s oldest cities, >> Visit a Tasmanian Devil sanctuary Launceston with its elegant colonial and Victorian architecture >> For the more adventurous, join a canyoning or abseiling adventure >> Explore Cataract Gorge, just a short USEFUL LINKS walk from Launceston centre >> Follow one of the many walking Tasmania trails through the national park >> For those with more time follow www.discovertasmania.com and admire the spectacular the Tamar River Valley north scenery while you breathe in the through Tasmania’s premium Maritime Museum of Tasmania pure fresh air wine growing region www.maritimetas.org >> Join a cruise on the Freycinet Devils @ Cradle Peninsula www.devilsatcradle.com