TASMANIAN WEST COAST & BRUNY ISLAND Thur 9th Thur 16 th November 2017-8 days/7 nights The Tour Price Includes: Door to Door Pick Up & Return Flights & Airport Transfers 7 nights Quality Motel Accommodation Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner as per itinerary (20 Meals) All Entry Fees and Guides as per Itinerary Tour Highlights: Historic Richmond Full Day Tour of Bruny Island including: o Private Cheese tasting o Oyster Tasting o Lunch at Hotel Bruny o Cider Tasting o Chocolate/Fudge tasting o Cape Bruny National Park o Bruny Island Lighthouse Tour o The Neck Lookout o Adventure Bay o Mt Mangana Salamanca Markets Cascades Female Factory Historic Site SV Rhona H Tallship Lunch Cruise Richmond Gaol Tarraleah Estate Lake Saint Clair The Wall in the Wilderness Gordon River Lunch Cruise Cradle Mountain Devils @ Cradle Strahan Stanley The Nut chairlift Sheffield Murals Kentish Museum Cataract Gorge River Cruise Gorge Scenic Chairlift Gorge Reserve & much, much more..
Day 1 - Thursday 9 November: Home - Hobart (D) Mid-morning we depart our pre-arranged pick up point for transfers to the Melbourne Airport. After our flight into Hobart, we board our bus and make our way to the historic township of Richmond to soak up the village history, which boasts Australia s oldest bridge, built in 1823 and more than fifty 19th Century Georgian buildings. After purchasing our own lunch in town we then make our way to the Richmond Gaol, the oldest intact gaol in Australia. Building of the gaol commenced in 1825, and predates the establishment of the penal colony at Port Arthur in 1833. After some time exploring the hardships the convicts were faced with at the gaol we head to our accommodation for check-in and a chance to freshen up before dinner. Day 2 - Friday 10 November: Bruny Island (B,L,D) With an early start this morning we make our way to the magnificent Bruny Island. Bruny Island sits off the Southeast coast of Tasmania. The local Bruny Islanders are producing some of the finest gourmet food products in Tasmania, making this one of the best foodie tours in Tasmania. Following a short 30 min drive to Kettering, we board the ferry departs for its 15 minute crossing. The coastlines are dominated by towering sea cliffs, mountains, seabirds, penguin colonies, seals, whales, shipwrecks and sweeping white sandy beaches. Our Hosts - Bruny Island Safaris provide us with a spectacular day tour with nature, wilderness, coast and heritage on Bruny Island and Kettering. We will be guided through the Mount Mangana rainforests in search of White Wallaby in the wild, cross the narrow sandy isthmus known as The Neck and onwards to the Cape Bruny Lighthouse Station and join Australia s southern most lighthouse tour. Along the way we stop at many of the Bruny Island food producers, lookouts and beaches with ample time for short walks or a paddle in the cool ocean waters of the Tasman Sea. We will experience some of the Bruny Island short walks, Bruny Island sights, history, culture, wildlife and Bruny Island food.
Day 3 - Saturday 11 November: Salamanca Markets & Tall Ship Luncheon Sail (B,L,D) This morning we visit the sights, sounds, action and colour of Salamanca Market one of Australia s best markets with over 300 stalls offering Tasmanian arts and crafts, fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, clothes, books, skincare products and lots more. We then move on to Cascades Female Factory Historic Site. The Cascades Female Factory is Australia s most significant historic site associated with female convicts. It was a purpose built, self-contained institution intended to reform female convicts and is the place to discover the stories of Australia s convict women. Thousands of women and children were imprisoned here, and many never left, due to high rates of illness and infant mortality. Visiting the site today can be both emotional and rewarding, creating a connection with the stories of female convicts in Australia and their children stories that are often tragic, but that also inspire hope and resilience. Next we move on to one of the highlights of our time in Hobart our Lunch Sail on the traditional Tall Ship SV Rhona H, She is a Gaff-rigged Topsail Ketch and is now one of Hobarts icons. We will sail on this wonderful vessel for 3 hours around the river Derwent. Lunch and snacks will be served on board and guests can choose to help sail or sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. After our lovely day fun filled day we return to our motel and prepare for dinner. Day 4 - Sunday 12 November: Hobart Lake Saint Clair - Queenstown (B,L,D) This morning after breakfast we depart Hobart and make our way to the beautiful Tarraleah Estate. A special place with stunning views of the Tasmanian Highlands and wilderness, and once the home of hundreds of Hydroelectric pioneers. We enjoy morning tea before travelling west to Lake Saint Clair where we will stop by the Visitors centre. Here, via innovative displays, we take a trip through time that shows how the Lake St Clair area has developed from ancient times through to the present day. We will discover the effects of glaciation on the highland areas of Tasmania, learn how Aborigines and early white explorers interacted with the environment and explore the relationship between animals and their habitat. We will stop at one of the local cafés for a light lunch. We then head towards Derwent Bridge, where we visit the amazing Wall in the Wilderness. The Wall in the Wilderness is Greg Duncan s commemorative of those who helped shape the past and present of Tasmania s central highlands. A work in progress, The Wall is being carved from three-metre high wooden panels. The carved panels will tell the history of the harsh Central Highlands region - beginning with the indigenous people, then to the pioneering timber harvesters, pastoralists, miners and hydro workers. After leaving Derwent Bridge we travel across to Queenstown driving through the pristine wilderness of the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park showcasing some of the state s most spectacular lakes and mountain areas. Our steep descent into Queenstown is an eerie highlight in itself, surrounded by mountains, which were once covered in vegetation, but now strangely bare and stained by the sulphur fumes from mining processes. Bushfires, logging and heavy rain have combined to wash the soil away and stripped many of the hills of vegetation and created Queenstown s famous moonscape. We check in to our accommodation and dinner tonight is in the motel restaurant. Overnight: Westcoaster Motel Queenstown
Day 5 - Monday 13 November: Gordon River Cruise (B,L,D) After arriving in Strahan this morning we begin our delightful Gordon River Cruise on board a multi-million dollar state of- the-art World Heritage Vessel for our cruise to Macquarie Harbour and the famous Gordon River. We will see some of Australia s oldest convict ruins on Sarah Island, a settlement which pre-dates Port Arthur by decades. Created to put the 'fear of God' into the convicts of Van Diemen s Land, this tiny outpost of 18th Century British penal history hides a fascinating tale of human triumph over adversity, brought vividly to life by expert guides. We will hear the intriguing story of Macquarie Harbour and its settlement; Passage through Hells Gates the narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour named by the convicts on their way to Sarah Island. We will see high-tech aquaculture where hundreds of thousands of Tasmania s famous Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout are farmed. We will cruise past the majesty of the rugged mountain ranges in Tasmania s World Heritage listed South West Wilderness National Park. We will be spending two hours in the serenity of the imposing Gordon River, complete with a stroll into the rainforest, which reclaimed the land after the last Great Ice Age. On board is narrative, which brings the river and its rich history to life completing what is an unforgettable experience. We will enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch freshly prepared on board - including smoked salmon, cold meats, a selection of salads, fresh fruit, Tasmanian cheeses and local bakery bread. After arriving back in Strahan we enjoy some free time exploring the village before returning to our accommodation for dinner Overnight: Westcoaster Motel Queenstown Day 6 - Tuesday 14 November: Cradle Mountain - Wynyard (B,L,D) This morning we visit Cradle Mountain and develop a new understanding of glacial lakes and deep rugged gorges. Learn how the valley was formed. See the alpine flora and fauna which flourishes in this unique environment. See Buttongrass plains to temperate rainforest and King Billy Pines thousands of years old. Dove Lake offers the most beautiful views and our personally guided tour with our local operator, will prove to be one of the highlights of our time in Tasmania. After our tour we enjoy a light lunch at the Cradle Mountain followed by the Devils at Cradle Day-keepers Tour. The sanctuary houses a large number of adult, subadult and baby devils within a range of naturally landscaped viewing enclosures. We see the animal s daylight habits, sleeping in their dens, sunbaking, play fighting or fossicking for food. After leaving Cradle we travel up to the village of Wynyard for check in and dinner. Overnight Waterfront Motel, Wynyard
Day 7 - Wednesday 15 November: Stanley Sheffield Tamar Valley (B,L,D) After breakfast we discover Stanley which is nestled at the foot of a volcanic core called the Nut, which is a rocky outcrop towering above the town. The adventurous ones may wish to take a ride on the chair lift. We spend some time at the Visitor Information Centre learning more about this wonderful little town. After leaving Stanley we travel down to Sheffield, which is known as the town of murals due to the 34 superb painted murals. We have the chance to view the magnificent murals as well grab some lunch in town before visiting the Kentish Museum. This afternoon we check-in to our accommodation and have a chance to relax before dinner. Overnight Aspect Tamar Valley Resort Day 8 - Thursday 16 November: Tamar Valley Cataract Gorge - Launceston - Home (B) This morning we enjoy a delightful Cataract Gorge and Tamar River Discovery cruise. Our cruise takes in the beautiful Tamar River and includes expert commentary along our journey. View picturesque landscapes and hear the tales of Launceston`s colourful beginnings. The cruise highlights the history, bird-life and riverside culture of the Tamar River and the stunning Cataract Gorge. After our cruise we enjoy some free time in the Cataract Gorge Reserve to purchase lunch enjoy the Gorge scenic chairlift for those who are interested and perhaps use the inclinator to travel up to the Gorge reserve. After lunch we arrive at Launceston Airport for our mid-afternoon flight home. Upon arrival we are transferred home after a wonderful adventure away with Daytripper Tours. Tour Cost from $2990.00 per person Twin Share ($540.00 single supplement) Minimum numbers required. Please send $400pp deposit & Booking Form provided to secure your seats. Tour Price is Valid for Travel during 2017. Please note that itinerary is subject to change without notice.