Jewels of Tasmania Grand Tour
Launceston, Grindelwald Swiss Village, Tamar Valley, Ross, Richmond, Hobart, Port Arthur, Huon Valley, Queenstown, Strahan, Sheffield, Stanley, The Nut |
| Price |
$3,500pp Twin Share | $4,220 Sole Use | includes Air Ex Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne
This package is subject to a fuel levy excise or surcharge without notice. |
Departure
dates 2011 |
7th March, 17th October, 7th November
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| Tour overview |
· Return flights ex BNE, SYD & MELB
· Chairlift ride Cataract Gorge
· Overnight Tamar Valley Resort Launceston
· Grindelwald Swiss Village, Brady’s Lookout
· Seahorse World or Platypus House visits
· Legerwood Carvings, Batman Bridge
· Overnight Tidal Waters Resort St Helens
· East Coast Nature World, Ross, Richmond
· Derwent River, 4 nights Fountainside Motel Hobart
· Copping Colonial Museum, Port Arthur & Isle of the Dead
· Eagle Hawk Neck, Blow Hole, Tasman’s Arch & Devils Kitchen
· Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory, Huon Valley, Tahune Air Walk
· Salamanca Markets, New Norfolk, Hamilton
· The Wall in the Wilderness, Nelson Waterfalls
· 2 nights at Chancellor Inn, Queenstown
· Strahan, Gordon River Cruise in Reserved Premium Seating
· Heritage Landing, Hells Gates, West Coast Wilderness Railway
· Cradle Mountain, Stanley, The Nut
· Overnight Tall Timbers Resort, Smithton
· M.V. George Robinson Cruise, Wynyard, Burnie, Penguin
· Overnight Gateway Inn, Devonport, Ashgrove Cheese
· Sheffield, Deloraine, Woolmer’s Estate & National Rose Garden
· Last night Mercure Hotel, Launceston
· Excellent accommodation & all meals (except free day at Salamanca Markets)
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Tasmania Gardens
Seahorse Farm
Batman Bridge, Richmond
East Coast Nature World
Port Arthur ruins
Hobart
East Coast Wilderness Railway
Cradle Mountain
The Nut at Stanley
Woolmers Estate & National Rose Garden
Our flight arrives into Launceston then we head out to Cataract Gorge to take a ride on the world’s longest single span chair lift. We then check-in to our accommodation at the Tamar Valley Resort.
Day 2 - Tuesday (B,L,D)
Today we explore Grindelwald Swiss Village, with its alpine-style houses and roadside wooden carvings. Our next stop is Brady’s Lookout which offers panoramic views of the Tamar Valley and eastern mountains. We then make our way through the gold mining town of Beaconsfield to Beauty Point where we are given the choice of visiting the only Sea Horse Farm in the world or Platypus House. After lunch we visit the Legerwood Carvings and travel to East Tamar via the unique A-frame Batman Bridge. We continue down through Weldborough Pass to the seaside village of St Helens for an overnight stay at Tidal Waters Resort.
Day 3 - Wednesday (B,L,D)
This morning we visit East Coast Nature World and get up close and personal to the Tasmanian Devil. We then move into the midlands stopping at Campbell Town to view the convict trail before heading to Ross for lunch, then head to the historical town of Richmond. View the spire of Australia’s oldest Catholic Church from beneath the arches of the oldest stone bridge in Australia. Cross the Derwent River into Hobart for a 4 night stay at the Fountainside Motel.
Day 4 - Thursday (B,L,D)
This morning we visit a collection of trash and treasure at the Copping Colonial Museum before arriving at the penal settlement of Port Arthur. We join a guided tour and learn how hundreds of convicts lived, worked and died under threats of the lash. Take a guided tour across Carnarvon Harbour and around the Isle of the Dead. This was the burial ground for the soldiers and convicts. Later this afternoon we visit some natural rock formations on the south-east coastline at Eagle Hawk Neck, namely the Blow Hole, Tasman’s Arch and Devils Kitchen.
Day 5 - Friday (B,L,D)
A sweet treat this morning visiting Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory before travelling through the picturesque Huon Valley. We arrive at the Tahune Air Walk before a BBQ lunch is served, take a guided walk through the tree tops. On our return enjoy the panoramic views from Mt Nelson.
Day 6 - Saturday (B,D)
Saturday morning at Salamanca Place offers colourful stalls at the famous openair Salamanca Markets, where you can browse at your leisure. The rest of the day is free, perhaps a visit to the Botanic Gardens, Museum or a stroll around Battery Point – the choice is yours.
Day 7 - Sunday (B,L,D)
Today we follow the Derwent Valley through hop fields to historic New Norfolk, gem of the derwent. We continue on through Hamilton, before taking a step into history at “The Wall in the Wilderness”, a magnificent commemoration of Tasmania’s past, carved in three-metre high wooden panels. Lunch today, at the Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel, is followed by a short rainforest walk in the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, to Nelson Waterfalls. We make our way further west, and the scenery changes dramatically as we head for Queenstown where we check in at the Chancellor Inn for a 2 night stay.
Day 8 - Monday (B,L,D)
This morning we make our way to the port of Strahan to explore Tasmania’s breathtaking wilderness. We cruise along the mighty Gordon River in RESERVED PREMIUM SEATING past infamous Sarah Island, the harshest convict settlement of all. Step ashore at Heritage Landing and see the 2000 year old Huon Pine. Sail on through Hells Gates where many early ships were destroyed by severe tidal swells. Enjoy a smorgasbord lunch on board before cruising back to Strahan. Late afternoon we return to Queenstown via the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Day 9 - Tuesday (B,L,D)
This morning we travel north through spectacular rainforest and mineral rich mountains to the Cradle Mountain National Park. Here we join a guided tour of pioneer Gustav Weindorffer’s Chalet and Dove Lake at the foot of Cradle Mountain. Enjoy lunch at Cradle Mountain Chateau, also part of the Wilderness and Landscape Photograph Gallery. We then visit the historic village of Stanley nestled at the foot of The Nut before checking into Tall Timbers Resort, Smithton for an overnight stay.
Day 10 - Wednesday (B,MT,L,D)
This morning we venture into Tasmania’s great nature trail, the heart of temperate rainforest, on board the ‘M.V. George Robinson’. Experience the majesty of the sea eagles as they are fed from the bow and enjoy BBQ lunch on-board. Back on the road we travel east via Table Cape, Wynyard, Burnie & Penguin, a scenic coastal route travelling through deer and tulip farms, and some of Australia’s richest agricultural country, enjoying the diversity of crops including opium poppies, pyrethrum daisies, potatoes, carrots and onions. We arrive at Devonport and check in at the Gateway Inn for an overnight stay.
Day 11 - Thursday (B,L,D)
Today our first stop is Ashgrove Cheese factory for a presentation about cheese making, followed by tasting. We travel on through Sheffield, the town of murals stopping at Deloraine for lunch, taking time to view the many sculptures that enrich the streets. We then visit historic Woolmer’s Estate for a guided tour and then self guided tour of the out-buildings and the National Rose Garden. Arrive and check in at the Mercure Hotel, Launceston for our last night together.
Day 12 - Friday (B)
This morning at leisure for last minute shopping or a visit to City Park to view the Japanese Monkeys before heading to the airport, where we bid farewell to our delightful Coach Captain and board our scheduled flight for home.
Deposit required to secure this booking $600pp.
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