Day 1                                                                               Thursday 26 February

Arrive Hobart from Auckland and transfer to your hotel in the city.  A light lunch on the waterfront followed by a storybook walking tour completes our first day.   Enjoy a welcome drink and buffet meal at our hotel.

Day 2                                                                                  Friday 27 February

We enjoy a morning walk along the Hobart Rivulet  into the foothills and  optional tour of the famous Cascade Brewery with lunch along the way.

In the afternoon we reach the heady heights of kunyani/Mt Wellington for the expansive 360 degree views from the summit.   Walk one of the incredible downhill hiking tracks through the reserve to help us gauge the enormity of this wonderful recreational area on the doorstep of the city and appreciate all angles of the Hobart and the surrounding coast.

Day 3                                                                                    Saturday 28 February

Saturday is Market Day and nowhere compares with the atmosphere and standards made famous at the Salamanca market with over 500 stalls of artisans, handmade gifts, craft, food and batch brewed alcohol.  The afternoon is free to pursue  personal interests.  Maybe a trip on the Derwent River to the infamous MONA Museum of Old & New Art, a walk to the Botanical gardens or to browse the galleries and hideaway shops.   The day isn’t complete without a fabulous seafood dinner enjoyed harbourside amidst evening lights and twinkly water.

Day 4                                                                                         Sunday 1 March

Packed and heading south we begin our discoveries in the south west of the Island. Taking in a pre-ordered bakery lunch en route to the Hastings Cave system for a guided walk underground. Lunch and a swim at a picturesque forest dell before a sit down sheep cheese tasting before settling into our river cottages for 4 nights.

Day 5                                                                                    Monday 2 March

Taking the ferry across the D’Entrecastreaux Channel today to enjoy Bruny Island. At the isthmus between North and South Bruny, we’ll climb the 279 steps to the top of Truganini Lookout.   We hike this morning on a picturesque trail at Adventure Bay National Park   Enjoy a fabulous winery lunch and later be tempted by a few Bruny shops offering locally sourced produce like oysters, cheese, and honey.

Day 6                                                                                      Tuesday 3 March

A packed day begins with a coffee and scone aboard our river cruise to learn the importance of the river system to this glorious and quiet part of Tasmania. Wooden Boats are essential to todays learnings and we get to meet some exceptional craftsman today who not only repair, renovate and recycle traditional wooden fleets, but creating beautiful new craft using age old skills and tools.  Pottery, cider and an old fashioned School House lunch round out the day.

Day 7                                                                                      Wednesday 4 March

Today we travel a short distance to Cockle Creek National Park – as far south as you can possibly drive in Australia!  And we take a day guided walk on the South Cape track through to Lion Rock (16km return).  We’ll have snacks & sustenance for morning tea plus a gourmet packed lunch to help us enjoy and appreciate this stunning South West World Heritage area.  Full day.

Day 8                                                                                     Thursday 5 March

Departing Port Huon we travel north past Hobart and beyond to walk among the magnificent Tall Trees and several impressive water falls in the rainforests of Mt Field National Park in yet more of Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage areas.    We lunch in the rainforest then head off to do a Farm visit and experience an exceptional farm to plate dinner and overnight in the Derwent Valley.

Day 9                                                                                             Friday 6 March

After a magnificent farmhouse breakfast we continue to visit Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, Lake St Clair, Franklin River and take a walk into the lovely Nelson Falls. As we near the historic mining town of Queenstown, take in the impressive views of the Iron Blow Lookout, Horsetail Falls and Mt Lyell.  Arrive and overnight in Strahan.

Day 10                                                                                       Saturday 7 March

Departing from the harbourside village of Strahan, today we’ll cruise the Gordon River. This fantastic river cruise includes a guided boardwalk through the UNESCO World Heritage rainforest as well as a guided tour of the harshest penal settlement in Australia at Sarah Island.

See the workings of a Huon pine sawmill to further appreciate the history of this picturesque town.

Pre-dinner we enjoy the last piece of the days puzzle by attending The Ship That Never Was – a light-hearted re-enactment from one of today’s famous convict stories.

Day 11                                                                                    Sunday 8 March

Today we head for Tasmania’s highest waterfall. At 104 metres, Montezuma Falls is a spectacular sight., our 3 hour walk (8km) almost entirely through rainforest and following the course of a former mining tramway beside the Ring River.

A mid afternoon arrival at our Lakeside Lodge accommodation we can adventure the trails around the picturesque wilderness of Lake Rosebery.

Day 12                                                                                   Monday 9 March

A full day is scheduled to discover the alpine and glacial landscapes of Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. We will make the most of the diverse walk options to experience around the park, such as looking for wombats at Ronny Creek and visiting Waldheim Chalet to learn about the Park’s history, plus a circumnavigation around Dove Lake Circuit (6km)   Before arriving in Launceston, we’ll admire the colourful murals in the town of Sheffield.

Day 13                                                                                    Tuesday 10 March

Launceston’s stunning Cataract Gorge and recreational area which is a terrific place to spot wallabies.  Todays drive is south east on the Heritage Highway to enjoy a fascinating stop at Campbell Town  History lovers will enjoy the colonial buildings and the informative Convict Brick Trail and great for “antique-ing“  Our destination is the charming coastal town of Bicheno, home of the little penguin. A walk to the blowholes and whalers lookout for views over the Tasman Sea.

Day 14                                                                                 Wednesday 11 March

Collecting a packed lunch from the bakery we head for a day in the magnificent Freycinet National Park – Tassie’s East Coast jewel and make sure to maximise our time here. See the stunning Hazards pink granite mountains from Honeymoon Bay. Walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout for views of Tasmania’s most famous beach with its curved white shores and turquoise-coloured waters.

Day 15                                                                            Thursday 12 March

Boarding our ferry early for a full day of exploration on Maria Island. The island is a native wildlife sanctuary surrounded by peaceful bays, rugged cliff face, and sheltered by tall eucalypt. Steeped in history, Maria Island is also the most preserved and intact example of convict life across Australia. Highlights could include  fur seals, dolphins, wombats, kangaroos, Cape Barren geese, eagles, wallabies, albatross and whales (during migration). World famous landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage history all packed into one day. We return back to Hobart this evening.

Day 16                                                                                Friday 13 March

Not finished with UNESCO World Heritage Listed areas, we head to Port Arthur today to understand the harsh realities facing 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.  We finish the day with some spectacular stops along the Tasman peninsula  including the Tessellated Pavement and Eagle Hawk Neck.

Day 17                                                                                      Saturday 14 March

You will be pleased to have a day to call your own.  Revisit the hum of the waterfront and markets, downtown music, last minute shopping and enjoying the Hobart weekend vibe as you feel.

Tonight we have a farewell dinner we hope will be the cherry on the cake!

Day 18                                                                              Sunday 15 March

Transfer to the airport for flights back to Auckland.