"Tasmanian Wilderness & World Heritage Area"
(Fully Accommodated)
Departures: Sydney - 6th March
2011; Melbourne - 8th March 2011; Devonport - 9th March 2011
16 Days (Sydney - Sydney); 14 Days (Sydney - Devonport); 11 Days (Devonport - Devonport)
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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
• Dismal Swamp Forestry facility
• Visit Woolnorth Station
DAY 1: Sun 6th
March 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 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: Mon 7th March 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: Tues 8th March 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 a snack or early dinner (at own expense). We then board the
'Spirit Of Tasmania' for the overnight crossing of Bass Strait (twin share
cabins with private facilities).
(B,L)
DAY 4: Wed 9th March 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: Thurs 10th March
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: Fri 11th March
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
Forties”). 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: Sat 12th March
STANLEY – EDGE OF THE WORLD - STANLEY
First highlight today is a visit to the Tasmanian Forestry Facility at Dismal Swamp
- some easy walking through a sunken forest with interesting sculptures and suspended walkways. Next we
enjoy a lunch time cruise along the Arthur River before driving to the “Edge of the
World” on the extreme western coast of Tasmania. (L)
DAY 8: Sun 13th March
STANLEY - QUEENSTOWN
Today we drive the Western Explorer track through the Tarkine
Wilderness heading for the Pieman River at Corinna for our picnic lunch stop.
Time to enjoy a beautiful riverside walk. We then drive via Savage River to
the historic mining town of Zeehan then on to Queenstown for the next two
nights. (L,D)
DAY 9: Mon 14th March
QUEENSTOWN - STRAHAN - QUEENSTOWN
Ride to Strahan aboard the ABT Wilderness Railway
through rugged mountainous terrain. Time to browse the historic port town
before returning to Queenstown by coach (lunch
at your own expense). (B,D)
DAY 10: Tues 15th March 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: Wed 16th March DERWENT VALLEY – FOREST OF THE GIANTS -
MT FIELD
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.
(B,L,D)
DAY 12: Thurs 17th March THE SOUTHERNMOST ROAD IN AUSTRALIA
Enjoy the pretty scenery as we drive the gravel track 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: Fri 18th
March 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: Sat 19th March
SWANSEA - DEVONPORT
Visit the historic towns of Ross with its convict built buildings
and 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: Sun 20th March
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: Mon 21st
March 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)