"Tasmanian Wilderness & World Heritage Area"
Departing Sydney: 28th February 2010
Departing Devonport : 3rd March 2010
16 Days (Sydney - Sydney); 14 Days (Sydney - Devonport);
11 Days (Devonport - Devonport)
(Fully Accommodated)
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Tasmania Wilderness & World Heritage Areas - be inspired by the natural beauty of the Island State
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Package A - Sydney/Sydney – 16 Days
Package B – Sydney/Devonport – 14 Days
Package C –Devonport/Devonport – 11 Days |
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HIGHLIGHTS:
• Stand in the Valley of the Giants
• Hike at Cradle Mountain
• See the 'edge of the world'
• Marvel at the tallest hardwoods in the world
• Breathe the world’s freshest air
• Controversial conservation battlefields
• Four wheel driving along the Western Explorer Track
• Drive to the furthest southerly point possible in Australia
• Travel “off the beaten track”
• Enjoy sensational coastal and mountain scenery
• Breakfast at Dismal Swamp Forestry facility
• Visit Woolnorth Station
DAY 1: SYDNEY TO COOMA (via the “Snowball”)
Depart Strathfield 8:00am with pick-ups en-route to Nowra (Sutherland 9:00am; Wollongong
10:30am; Nowra 12:00noon). Drive the route of the old convict built "Wool
Road" over the mountains from Nowra with picnic lunch alongside the
rustic "Bush Pub" at Nerriga, then on to Braidwood with time to
stroll around this historic town. We then drive via back roads over the “Snowball
Mountain” (the mountain that is the starting point for four rivers – Shoalhaven, Moruya, Tuross and Big
Badja) to Cooma and our overnight motel accommodation. Dinner in motel dining room. (L,D)
DAY 2: COOMA - LAKES ENTRANCE
Follow the Bonang Highway from Delegate across the border into Victoria then through attractive forestry country to Orbost on the Snowy River and to Lakes Entrance for overnight motel accommodation. Dinner tonight in the motel dining room. (B,L,D)
DAY 3: LAKES ENTRANCE – BASS STRAIT FERRY
Enjoy the scenic coastal route through the Victorian Gippsland district to Melbourne.
Prior to boarding the 'Spirit of Tasmania' we have time in the bayside suburb
of Sandringham for an early dinner (at own expense). We then board the
'Spirit Of Tasmania' for the overnight crossing of Bass Strait (twin share port hole cabins with private facilities.
(B,L)
DAY 4: DEVONPORT – CRADLE MOUNTAIN –
WYNYARD
Breakfast at own expense on board ferry. After disembarking at Devonport and being joined by the rest of our travellers (those on Package C) we travel via the mural town of Sheffield into the mountains and to Cradle Mountain deep in the World Heritage area. Spend time at the Visitors’ Centre where you will find comprehensive information on the park and enjoy Cradle Mountain’s spectacular scenery and many walks. You may wish to walk around Dove Lake or just simply enjoy being in this picturesque setting (optional scenic helicopter flights at own expense). Mid afternoon we return to the north coast and our
waterfront motel accommodation in the pretty fishing port town of Wynyard.
Dinner in the motel dining room. (L,D)
DAY 5: WYNYARD - DIP FALLS - STANLEY
From Wynyard we follow the north coast of Tasmania visiting Table Cape with
it's tulip farms and stopping at the lookout and then on to pretty Boat
Harbour before once again heading inland via the isolated rural community of Mawbanna. (It was here in 1930 that a local farmer shot a Tasmanian Tiger –
believed to be the last known killing.) We continue along rural roads to Dip Falls and Big Tree Reserve where we walk amongst massive tree ferns, mossy rocks and huge Swamp Gums.
We then drive via forestry tracks with forded creek crossings to historic Stanley on the north coast for the next
three nights. En-suite self contained cabins in the town centre overlooking Sawyer Bay.
(NB. Meals whilst staying in Stanley are at your own expense. Adjacent to
the Cabin Park is an excellent convenient store, all cabins have full kitchen facilities and within easy walking distance is a range of excellent dining
opportunities). (B,L)
DAY 6: STANLEY - WOOLNORTH STATION -
STANLEY
We drive via the fertile farmlands of the Smithton area (home of McCain foods and seafood packaging plants) to historic Woolnorth Station on the northwest corner of Tasmania. Then along station tracks in our 4WD coach past Robbins Island to the wild west coast and the newly built wind farm (with 79 turbines harvesting energy from the “Roaring Fourties”). Learn of the famous Van Diemans Land Company’s 350,000 acre property. Walk on the beaches where Bass Strait collides with the Great Southern Ocean. Enjoy a BBQ lunch before departing Woolnorth. The remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy Stanley’s many attractions
- chair lift to “The Nut”, former PM Joseph Lyon’s home, historic ‘Highfields House’, numerous historic buildings in town centre, town wharf, etc.
(at own expense). Dinner tonight is at your own expense. (L)
DAY 7: STANLEY – EDGE OF THE WORLD - STANLEY
First highlight today is a visit to the Tasmanian Forestry Facility at Dismal Swamp followed by some easy walking through the forest with interesting sculptures and suspended walkways. Next we visit the “edge of the world” on the extreme western coast of Tasmania before driving
through superb forestry areas en-route back to Stanley. (L)
DAY 8: STANLEY - ZEEHAN
Today we drive the Western Explorer track through the Tarkine
Wilderness. The steep track leads to the Pieman River at Corinna where we
board an old ferry built from Huon pine and cruise the pristine waters to the
mouth of the Pieman. Time to enjoy a walk along the wild, stormy section of the
western coastline. Overnight motel accommodation in the historic mining town
of Zeehan. (L,D)
DAY 9: ZEEHAN - QUEENSTOWN
Browse the mining and heritage display in the Zeehan Museum as well
as the historic Opera House then to Strahan with time to browse the harbour
front town before departing for Queenstown aboard the ABT Wilderness Railway
through the mountains. Tonight’s motel accommodation is in the mining town of Queenstown (lunch
at your own expense). (B,D)
DAY 10: QUEENSTOWN - BERRIEDALE
The stark moonscape of the Queenstown hills is visible from the motel’s panoramic breakfast room. First highlight is a stop at the old “Iron Blow” look-out where copper was first discovered at Queenstown and later enjoy a short wilderness walk at Nelson Falls. Accommodation for the next three nights at Berriedale on the banks of the Derwent River. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: DERWENT VALLEY – FOREST OF THE GIANTS
Through the upper Derwent Valley with trellised hop fields, distinctive drying sheds and to Maydena then along forestry trails into the Styx Valley to see the tallest hardwoods in the world and site of forestry & conservationist battlefield. Spend time walking in the valley and amongst the massive trees.
Subject to weather and track conditions, we drive up onto Mt Abbott for a
'rooftop' experience at the Eagles Eyrie boardwalk. (B,L,D)
DAY 12: THE SOUTHERNMOST ROAD IN AUSTRALIA
We travel south of Hobart today through the Huon Valley enjoying
changing scenery. The main feature is our drive along gravel tracks to Cockle Creek - the most southerly point to which it is possible to drive in Australia. Time
to enjoy a short walk in this historic area overlooking Recherche Bay. (B,L,D)
DAY 13: BERRIEDALE - SWANSEA
See the Dunalley Canal near the Forestier Peninsula and enjoy a scenic forestry drive through Wielangta Forest. Short easy rainforest walk and great views over Mercury Passage to Maria Island. Tonight’s accommodation at Swansea on Great Oyster Bay. (B,L,D)
DAY 14: SWANSEA - DEVONPORT
Visit the historic towns of Ross with its convict built buildings.
Travel through Campbelltown in the Midlands en-route to Devonport and the return ferry crossing tonight back to Melbourne.
** Passengers on Packages ‘B’ and ‘C’ will be dropped off
at Launceston Airport or in Devonport before boarding the ferry. (B,L)
DAY 15: MELBOURNE - YARRA VALLEY - ALBURY
Drive through the pretty Yarra Valley and visit a winery and then via Alexandra and Mansfield to Albury. Overnight motel accommodation and dinner. (D)
DAY 16: ALBURY- HOME
To Sydney via the Hume Hwy with regular stops along the way arriving at Strathfield 5:00pm, Sutherland 6:00pm, Wollongong 7:30pm, Nowra 8:30pm. (B)