Tour of Tasmania

For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 50 years & over
Sunday 14 - Monday 22 November 2010 (9 days)

Itinerary

Tasmania has a distinctive physical presence - misty rainforests, craggy mountains, wild river rapids, wide grazing lands and clean uncrowded beaches.  Wilderness is the heart and soul of Tasmania.  The state's World Heritage Area now covers more than 1.4 million hectares from Cradle Mountain to South West Cape.  The cities are compact and the population evenly spread.  Wherever you go you are never more than an hour from the sea. The site of the second European settlement in Australia was Hobart in 1804.  A rich architectural heritage today provides a fascinating insight into a bygone era.  At Port Arthur a darker side of Australia's earlier life emerges, while at historic villages there is a feeling of stepping back into time to a more genteel era of gracious sandstone and cricket on the village green.

Meal Key:
B = cooked breakfast
L = lunch
D = dinner

Where these codes are used it indicates meals included. All other meals not mentioned are at your own expense.

Day 01 (D): TO HOBART Sunday 14 November
Arrive to Hobart at your leisure.   Check-in at the hotel is 2pm. Set between the towering peak of Mount Wellington and the Derwent River, Hobart is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Founded in 1804, Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital and everywhere you go the past steps out to meet you. Sullivans Cove is lined with sandstone warehouses reflecting the area's rich maritime history and at Battery Point tiny cottages vie for space with grand mansions and Victorian terraces.  Our coach leaves us at the Wrest Point Casino.  This afternoon, meet with the group around 4pm for a brief introduction to Hobart. This evening at 7pm we will gather for pre dinner drinks with our fellow travellers before our Welcome dinner.  
(Dinner in the Hotel)
Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms

Day 02 (B): HUON VALLEY Monday 15 November
After a hearty breakfast and weather permitting, we will travel to Mt. Wellington for a magnificent view of Hobart and the Harbour.  We then head south to the beautiful Huon Valley.  Nearby is the Tahune Forest where we will be taking the Tahune Forest Airwalk, high in the tree top canopy.  We continue our touring to Geeveston for our lunch break heading back to Hobart.  Tonight dinner is at our own arrangement - our hotel has numerous restaurants to choose from and many bars where we can relax over a drink and get to know our new friends.  
(Breakfast in the hotel)
Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms

Day 03 (B,D): PORT ARTHUR Tuesday 16 November
This morning we head to the Port Arthur Historic Site.  The penal settlement at Port Arthur is a stark reminder of the harsh conditions endured by the earliest European inhabitants of this one time island jail.  The ruins are the greatest single tourist attraction in Tasmania and the place where up to 12,000 prisoners were kept in an atmosphere of hopelessness and misery.  Even though the Tasman Peninsula is spectacular, you can imagine the conditions, especially on a cold winter's day, endured by the prisoners 150 years ago.  On arrival we have time to purchase lunch before taking a fascinating journey, retracing the life of a convict from the time of his petty crime in England, to his transportation to Port Arthur and finally his life in the penal colony.  We take a guided walking tour through the Penal Settlement. and a cruise around the harbour and past the Isle of Dead.  It was here that around 1000 convicts and ex convict paupers were buried, mostly in unmarked graves.  Late afternoon we head to our accommodation, but not before stopping just south of Eaglehawk Neck to see two dramatic natural coastal attractions - the Tasman Arch and the Devils Kitchen.  Even more dramatic when there is a rough sea running!  After a great day, we head back to our hotel for dinner.  
(Breakfast & dinner in the hotel)
Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms

Day 04 (B,D): HOBART - LAUNCESTON Wednesday 17 November
Today we are going to the historic town of Richmond.  Richmond was proclaimed a township in 1824 and is probably Tasmania's best known man made tourist attraction.  Its streets are paved with history and many of the fine colonial buildings have been adapted for use as art galleries, craft shops and restaurants and a gaol that predates Port Arthur by five years and is one of the best preserved of Australia's colonial prisons.  The convict built Richmond Bridge over the Coal River is the oldest bridge in Australia.  We have time to explore the township.  Perhaps have a look in the gaol or the miniature village "Old Hobart Town".  Then it's onto Ross, a garrison town with a Government Stock Run, a race course and the four corners: - Temptation, Salvation, Damnation and Recreation and the most beautiful of the remaining old bridges in Australia.  We have plenty of time to stretch our legs and explore this gorgeous village and purchase lunch - the aroma emanating from the local bakery is very tempting!  Our last stop today is Longford - an historic property called Woolmers Estate which was settled by Thomas Archer in 1816 and is the oldest property in Australia to have been owned by the one family.  We enjoy a tour and afternoon tea before arriving at our accommodation in Launceston.  (Breakfast and Dinner in the hotel)
Colonial on Elizabeth, Launceston

Day 05 (B,D): LAUNCESTON - CRADLE Thursday 18 November
This morning we take a sightseeing tour of Launceston.  The city is situated at the point where the South and North Esk Rivers meet to become the Tamar River, which then flows away to Bass Strait.  The city nestles in the wide valleys formed by the river systems and is surrounded by mountains.  After a sightseeing tour of town, we spend some time in Cataract Gorge - a magnificent Reserve in the city centre.  There are some pleasant walks through the landscaped gardens to the tea rooms, or those who are interested can take a ride on the chairlift (own expense) which crosses the gorge.  Of the overall length of 457 metres, the 308 metre central span is claimed to be the longest single span in the world.  Early afternoon we drive to Sheffield, a delightful township which sits in the shadows of Mt Roland and the Western Tiers.  The town centre features many murals depicting the history of the area.  We have some free time to discover the murals and purchase lunch before heading to Cradle Mountain.  We arrive in at the Cradle Mountain Chateau with some time to wander through the adjacent Wilderness Gallery before dinner.  After dinner, rug up, as we are visiting Devils@ Cradle - a conservation sanctuary for the Tasmanian Devil. We will view these nocturnal creatures up close and see what a wonderful job this sanctuary is doing in helping these unique Australian creatures.  Following our evening adventure, we return to the Chateau - where a night cap in the lounge bar may be in order!
(Breakfast & Dinner in the hotel)
Cradle Mountain Chateau, Cradle Mountain

Day 06 (B,D): CRADLE MOUNTAIN - QUEENSTOWN Friday 19 November
Today we travel into the Cradle Mountain National Park for a guided tour of the National Park including Waldheim and Dove Lake.  Late morning we join the Murchinson Highway and drive south to the fascinating historic town of Zeehan.  This was once a booming silver-mining town known as 'silver city' - for a time it even had its own stock exchange.  It also had a lot of bars, a thriving theatre and a rollicking social life.  Rich in mining history, its economy is now focused around tourism and the nearby Renison Bell tin mine.  Its population of 900 is only one-tenth of the size that it was at its peak in the early 20th century.  Much of its jaunty history is preserved - the Gaiety Theatre is restored to its former glamour, other buildings of the old mining town are still used, and the Pioneer Memorial Museum (the former School of Mining) has a great display of transport, mining equipment and minerals.  We can purchase lunch in a local cafe before a visit to the West Coast Pioneer Museum.  Our base for tonight is Queenstown, a town which was established as a result of the discovery of gold and other minerals at Mount Lyell last century. Queenstown is surrounded by mountains, which were once covered in vegetation but which are now strangely bare and stained purple, grey and pink by sulphur fumes from mining processes. Bushfires and logging, combined with heavy rain which washed the soil away, have stripped many of the hills of vegetation and created Queenstown's famous "moonscape".
(Breakfast & Dinner in the hotel)
Chancellor Inn  Queenstown

Day 07 (B,L,D): QUEENSTOWN - HOBART Saturday 20 November
We farewell our hosts early as we prepare for a spectacular drive past lakes and rivers, through the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.  Our first stop is at Derwent Bridge (the geographical centre of Tasmania) to view a brand new attraction - The Wall in the Wilderness.  The "wall" is a work in progress which will take another 5-7 years to complete.  It currently comprises 23 panels but when complete it will measure 100 metres in length.  The area to our immediate right is part of the huge South West National Park, which, combined with the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National makes up almost a full, one third, of the land mass of Tasmania.  Of course much of this area is now World Heritage Listed.  We arrive back in Hobart after a morning of picturesque touring. 

We will have time this afternoon to pick up lunch and enjoy the Salamanca Markets.  We have free time to enjoy the sights, sounds, flavours, action and colour of what is known as Australia's best outdoor market. 

(Breakfast & Dinner in the hotel and Lunch at Derwent Bridge)
Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms

Day 08 (B,D): HOBART Sunday 21 November
After breakfast we leave Hobart on the Lyell Highway until we deviate at the beautiful Russell Falls in the Mt Field National Park - and a great photo opportunity.  We will take an easy walk that will have us meander through a mixed forest of towering swamp gums, the tallest flowering plant on Earth and species typical of temperate rainforests such as dogwood, musk and myrtle.  The falls themselves are impossibly picturesque.  We have time for lunch in the new Café before we return to Hobart.  The afternoon is at our leisure for any last minute shopping or sightseeing.  Tonight we enjoy a special farewell dinner. 

(Breakfast & Dinner in the hotel. Lunch at Russell Falls)

Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms

Day 09 (B): HOBART - HOME Monday 22 November
This morning we say our final farewells over breakfast before making our own arrangements to go to Hobart Airport and connect with our flights home. Hotel check-out time is 11am. (Breakfast in the hotel)

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc.

HOTELS

Wrest Point Casino, Water Edge Rooms
http://www.wrestpoint.com.au

Colonial on Elizabeth, Launceston
http://www.colonialinn.com.au/

Cradle Mountain Chateau, Cradle Mountain
http://www.cradlemountainchateau.com.au/

Chancellor Inn, Queenstown
http://www.ghihotels.com/hgc/Queenstown%20Tasmania/hotels.aspx