Under Down Under - 10 Days/9 Nights Ultimate Tasmania

Day 1: HOBART > QUEENSTOWN (D)

Departing Niplaluna/Hobart, we quickly begin to venture into the rugged Western Wilds. Our first stop in the rainforests of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is to see the beautiful Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park. As we continue west and climb into the alpine region, we’ll stop at Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, Lake St Clair. Scenes of mountains and buttongrass plains abound as we travel through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and stop to see the tannin-coloured waters of the Franklin River and take a short walk into the lovely Nelson Falls. As we near the historic mining town, Queenstown, take in the impressive views of the Iron Blow Lookout, Horsetail Falls and Mt Lyell. We’ll enjoy a group dinner and settle in for the night.

Overnight: Queenstown

Day 2: GORDON RIVER CRUISE > BURNIE (B, L, D)

Departing from the harbourside village of Strahan, we’ll cruise the Gordon River. This fantastic river cruise includes a guided boardwalk through the UNESCO World Heritage rainforest as well as a tour of the harshest penal settlement in Australia at Sarah Island. Cruise through the treacherous Hells Gates, a narrow passageway into Macquarie Harbour and enjoy lunch aboard the ship featuring Tasmanian produce. See the workings of a Huon pine sawmill, before departing Strahan for a scenic drive to the Northwest Coast. After enjoying dinner together, you may wish to stroll along the foreshore to the penguin parade, where Little Penguins can be seen emerging from the sea.

Overnight: Burnie

Day 3: NORTHWEST COAST (B, D)

Travel west along Tasmania’s stunning Northwest Coast, where sparkling Bass Strait meets charming rural towns. Enjoy scenic stops at beautiful Boat Harbour Beach and Table Cape before free time for lunch in historic Stanley. Stroll colonial High Street or climb—or take the chairlift—to the summit of The Nut, a dramatic volcanic plug offering sweeping coastal views. Continue to Arthur River, known as the ‘Edge of the World’, part of the wild Takayna/the Tarkine region. This coastline holds deep spiritual significance for the Palawa Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Tonight, relax over dinner and settle into comfortable accommodation at Tall Timbers.

Overnight: Tall Timbers

Day 4: TARKINE > DEVONPORT (B, D)

Today offers a deeper exploration of the Tarkine, the second-largest cool temperate rainforest in the world. This vast wilderness protects ancient plant and animal species, as well as Palawa Aboriginal heritage sites dating back thousands of years. Enjoy scenic stops along the loop, including Sumac Lookout, which offers breathtaking views across the Arthur River, and Trowutta Arch, an extraordinary geological formation. Returning to the Northwest Coast, we’ll visit the seaside town of Penguin and travel along the Old Bass Highway through Ulverstone, before arriving in Devonport via The Bluff. This evening, join us for a group dinner and relax at your accommodation.

Overnight: Devonport

Day 5: CRADLE MOUNTAIN > LAUNCESTON (B)

Discover the alpine and glacial landscapes of Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, a part of Tasmania’s Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Area due to its unique flora, fauna, geology, and Palawa archaeological sites. Your guide will help you to select a walk suitable for your fitness, such as the outstanding Dove Lake Circuit - this 6km walk around the glacial lake beneath the peaks of Cradle Mountain is considered the best short walk in Tasmania. Or, stroll to the iconic Boat Shed or Glacial Rock, and wander along the boardwalk at Ronny Creek to look for wombats. Before arriving in Launceston, we’ll admire the colourful murals in the town of Sheffield. Explore Australia’s second oldest city tonight at your leisure.

Overnight: Launceston

Day 6: BAY OF FIRES > BICHENO (B, D)

Visit Launceston’s stunning Cataract Gorge, nestled on the South Esk River, which is a terrific place to spot wallabies. We’ll drive to the East Coast and stop for lunch in the fishing township of St Helens before taking our time to explore Larapuna/ the Bay of Fires. Clear waters, dazzling white sands and rust-orange boulders are classic scenes from the Bay of Fires region, and you’ll love strolling along these pristine beaches. Tonight’s destination is the charming coastal town of Bicheno. Dinner is included this evening, then you may wish to wander down to the blowhole or to the lookout for views over the Tasman Sea.

Overnight: Bicheno

Day 7: FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK > HOBART

Freycinet National Park is Tassie’s East Coast jewel, and we make sure to maximise your time here. Walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout for views of Tasmania’s most famous beach with its curved white shores and turquoise-coloured waters. It’s a moderate climb of around 1000 steps to the Lookout, with several rest stops to admire the woodland scenery. Instead, you may wish to relax at Honeymoon Bay and take in the view of the pink granite Hazard’s mountains. At Cape Tourville, stroll along the short boardwalk to enjoy panoramic views of the peninsula and out to sea. We’ll return to Hobart via the Great Eastern Drive. Take advantage of Hobart’s fantastic restaurants with a night out in the city.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 8: TASMANIAN DEVILS, RICHMOND & WELLINGTON PARK (B)

Meet a variety of Tasmanian wildlife such as quolls, birds, wombats, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Then, walk around the colonial village of Richmond which is home to the oldest convict-built bridges still in operation in Australia. Enjoy seeing the heritage buildings before we make our way back to Hobart via the scenic winery region, the Coal River Valley. This afternoon, we’ll share with you some of our favourite spots in Hobart’s Wellington Park. Known fondly by locals as “The Mountain”, Kunanyi/Mount Wellington is a diverse natural reserve with several trails to see fern glades, eucalyptus forests, dramatic rock columns, boulder fields, and spectacular lookouts. Tonight, unwind in one of the city’s historic pubs or restaurants.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 9: BRUNY ISLAND (B)

Today we’ll discover the highlights of Bruny Island. After a short drive from Hobart, we’ll take the ferry across the D’Entrecastreaux Channel to the island. At the isthmus between North and South Bruny, check out the view from “The Neck” from the top of Truganini Lookout. We’ll visit South Bruny National Park and take in the incredible coastline at Cape Bruny Lighthouse. At Adventure Bay, we’ll try our luck spotting white wallabies and finish our Bruny experience by sampling local Bruny Island produce like oysters, cheese, and beers. We’ll return to Hobart where you may wish to explore the historic Salamanca and waterfront area.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 10: Port Arthur Historic Site and the Tasman Peninsula (B)

At the Port Arthur Historic Site, learn about the harsh life of convicts from the 1800’s at Australia’s best preserved convict settlement. Wander around the preserved ruins and colonial gardens and take a short harbour cruise to appreciate this open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Listed Area. Today you’ll also experience several sites and viewpoints on the magnificent Tasman Peninsula such as Pirates Bay Lookout, Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, and Devil’s Kitchen. We’ll make our way back to Hobart where our ultimate tour of Tasmania comes to an end.