14 Days -Sunday 13th to Saturday 26th October 2024
Accommodation: Best Westlander Horsham, Best Western Launceston, Port Arthur Motor Inn, Best Western Hobart, Strahan Beach Tourist Park, Argosy Motor Inn Devonport and Spirit of Tasmania
Highlights of the tour:
- «Depart Mawson Lakes at 11am heading to Horsham and stopping at the towns of Tailem Bend, Keith and Kaniva.
- «Visit Harrow Discovery Centre before making our way to to Geelong to board the Spirit of Tasmania and enjoy a 2 course dinner on the ferry, before retiring to your cabin for the night.
- «Make our way to Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre. See and read about the 2006 Anzac Day Mine disaster. Travel on to Beauty Point for a picnic lunch and a visit to Sea Horse World and Platypus World. On our way to our hotel drive into the Swiss village of Grindelweld, developed by Roelf Vos, a Dutch immigrant, who sold his “Roelf Vos” supermarket chain to Woolworths.
- «See the beautiful Cataract Gorge at the lower end of the Esk River where we take the Gorge Scenic Chairlift. Have free time in Launceston before our 2.5h cruise on the Tamar River, which includes afternoon tea.
- «Pass through places such as Evandale (home of the Penny Farthing Race) St Mary’s and Bicheno where we will top for a lunch break in the quiet seaside resort town known for it’s safe beaches and picturesque coastline. Travel to the popular holiday town of Coles Bay. Spend the night at Port Arthur.
- «Take a step in history to the World Heritage Pt Arthur Historic Site. Take a short ferry ride from the site to the Isle of the Dead cemetery and the site of the Point Puer Boys prison. You can grab a bite to eat at the Visitors Centre and then board the coach to visit sites such as the Blow Hole, Tessellated Pavement, Devils Kitchen and Tasmans Arch. Visit the seaside town of Doo Town which emerged in the 1930’s as a popular spot for shacks.
- «Head south for a day that will explain why it’s known as the “Apple Isle”. Take in sights such as Tarooma, home of Queen Mary’s old school and the cascade brewery. Stop and see the Margate Train which is now home to a number of shops and outlets within the former Tasmanian Government rolling stock.
- «Drive to the town of Richmond home of Australia’s oldest surviving large stone arch bridge built by convicts from 1823 to 1825. Stop at the Wicked Cheese Co. Their Triple Cream Brie won gold at the 2016 Hobart Fine Foods Awards. Stop at the Old Hobart Town Model Village which accurately replicates in miniature the life and history of Hobart in 1820. Next attraction is is Zoo Doo, home of many free range animals and here you will get to see Tasmania’s signature animal, the Tassie Devil’s, with a Devil talk and presentation..
- «Have free time to wander around Hobart and visit the many things to see within walking distance. Visit the Salamanca markets which are open from 8.30am to 3pm. You can also visit Constitution Dock. If you wish, later in the afternoon you may want to join us on the coach and travel to the Royal Botanical Gardens. This is entirely optional..
- «We will make our way to Derwent Bridge, travelling through towns such as New Norfolk and Tarraleah with it’s Power Station. At Derwent Bridge you will be treated to one of the most amazing wood carvings you will ever see. Drive to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake and have a picnic lunch by the lake and take in the very chilly waters of this lake carved out by glaciers millions of years ago. After lunch travel onto the very unusual looking town of Queenstown in the West coast region. It was the centre of Mt Lyell mining district and had numerous smelting works, brick works and saw mills.
- «Board the boat for your highlight 6 hour Gordon River Cruise, quietly cruising on the Gordon River ensuring the best possible chance of seeing the famous reflections. We have secured window tables for better viewing. There will be on board guides and character based interpretation during which you will meet the likes of “Captain James Kelly, Lady Jane Franklin and more”. Enjoy a chef prepared buffet lunch featuring Tasmanian produce. After returning you will have a couple of hours free before we settle in to the Richard Davey Amphitheatre to see Australia’s longest running play called “The ship that never was”. This 75 minute play is based on a real event in 1834 when the last ship, The Fredrick, built by the convict settlement in Macquarie Harbour as about to sail for the new prison at Pt Arthur but was hijacked by ten convict shipwrights. After a beautiful big lunch we will have a lighter meal tonight of fish and chips on the beach.
- « Say goodbye to Strahan and make our way through the rugged west coast of Tasmania. Keep a look out for wombats which are a common sight throughout the area plus pademelons, echidnas and Tasmanian Devils. See the stunning mural at Gowrie Park as we travel onto Sheffield, a small dairy farming town which is world-renown for it’s high-quality butterfat products. You will have some free time to wander the town of Sheffield and purchase lunch. We will make a stop at Home Hill, built in 1916, where we will go behind the scenes for a guided tour of former Prime Minister Joseph & Enid Lyons house in Devonport.
- «Explore the north-west coast from Davenport to Stanley and return. See towns such as Burnie, a bustling seaport with it’s Art Deco architecture and Wynyard with it’s chief landmark Table Cape Lighthouse. Penguin does indeed have penguins, however the only one you will probably see is the BIG penguin standing 10 feet high and made of cement. Upon our return to Davenport we will prepare to board the Spirit of Tasmania for our overnight return to the mainland.
- «On the drive back home we will make a brief comfort stop at Skipton, Stawell and Nhill before stopping for a delicious two course lunch at the Bordertown Hotel. Off course Bordertown is the birthplace of our former Prime Minister Bob Hawke so we will drive past his house on our way through town.
We sincerely hope this tour covering a vast amount of Tasmania will be a memory that you will treasure forever. It is truly a stunning place to visit and even though you would need to spend many months there to see most places, you will however have seen most of the amazing attractions the beautiful island has to offer. Tonight you will be back in your own comfy bed knowing you have spent 14 days having fulfilled one of your holiday dreams. Invite family and friends over and tell them all about it
Inclusions
- « 13 nights accommodation at the listed motels and ferry
- « Tea, coffee and cake Day 1
- « Devonshire morning tea Day 2
- « Cooked or continental breakfast every day except day 1
- « Lunch on Days 3, 10, 11 and 14
- « Two course dinner on Days 1 to 13
- « Entrance to Museums/attractions listed
- « Fully escorted with a tour host
- « Deluxe coach travel
COMPLIMENTARY HOME PICK AND RETURN TO SELECTED SUBURBS
A more detailed itinerary is available, please contact the office for your copy
Final cut off for booking is STRICTLY on 25th August 2024