= ' Bag a FOR WIN YOUR TEAM & a win for you Starting in hobart Hobart is the ideal starting point for this coast-to-coast island adventure pre or post match. Taking in breathtaking scenery, adventure-filled sightseeing and fine local food and wine, you ll loop around the island touching the coast along the way. There s also a host of events on offer providing more reasons to stay on and play. By the way, did we mention Tasmania was named in Lonely Planet s top ten regions in the world to visit in 2015 Tassie really is the place to be this AFL season! Day One: Hobart You won t need breakfast this morning, as you re heading out on a Gourmania Food Tour to try the best of Hobart s cafes, providores and wines, as well as getting an up close and personal history and architecture lesson from a local in the know. If you re still hungry after the tour fly over to Pigeon Hole Café, a small 16-seater serving up great coffee, paninis and pastries for lunch. Switch gears this afternoon and wander the fascinating collections at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). The gallery and its herbarium reveal the state s geological history, tales of the mysterious Tasmanian tiger and more than 140,800 flowering plants. Check in to your Hobart accommodation for two nights. Extend the day s foodie theme into dinner at the Roaring Grill in North Hobart. Robbins Island wagyu beef and Bruny Island oysters are calling your name tonight. Cap things off with a local beer, wine or cider. Day Two: Hobart Wake up! You re in Tasmania and about to witness some of our spectacularly rugged coastline down toward the Southern Ocean. Jump on a Pennicott Wilderness Journey to Bruny Island. Hugging the weather-beaten coast in their awesome open-air boat, you ll find abundant marine and bird life, enter deep-sea caves and listen to the Breathing Rock. Top 10 Regions Best in Travel 2015 Get Shucked Bruny Island Oysters Bruny Island Cruises
Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park Frank When you get back to Hobart, take the fast ferry to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), an extensive private art collection housed in an incredible purpose built gallery at Berriedale on the Derwent River. The collection is provocative, spanning ancient and modern art and artefacts. Enjoy an afternoon wine or beer on the lawn before heading back. Frankly we thought you d like to head to Frank for dinner, for some charred or fire-roasted local produce action. If you didn t indulge earlier, finish the day with one of their classic South American cocktails. Day Three: Hobart to Port Arthur Meet the state s most famous marsupials at Taranna s Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, a one-hour drive to the southern tip of Norfolk Bay. Join the Devil Tracker tour to monitor local wild devils using remote cameras. Enjoy a lavender inspired lunch at Port Arthur Lavender, then set out for McHenry Distillery. The chilly climate and natural spring water flowing off Mount Arthur provide ideal conditions for making (and tasting) award-winning single malts. Drive the coast road to Roaring Beach, where you ll stand at this outcrop and just make out Antarctica 3000km away. If you re lucky, residing artist Peter Adams might take you around his property Windgrove, where he fuses nature and art to spectacular effect. Check into your Port Arthur accommodation. Tonight you ll meet the true locals. The spirits roam Port Arthur, where guides lead you through the ruins after dark, sharing stories of the absurd, the sad and the downright scary. Dinner and a good swig of local red at Gabriel s on the Bay should calm your nerves afterwards. Freycinet Marine Farm Day Four: Port Arthur to Coles Bay With pristine beaches and fertile farmlands, Tasmania s East Coast is simply stunning. Stop in at Swansea to sample the berry delicious fruit and desserts at Kate s Berry Farm or try the seafood chowder, packed full of Tasmanian seafood at Saltshaker, overlooking the bay. Continue to head north toward Coles Bay, where you ll lay your head tonight. Along these windy roads you ll find Spring Vale Wines (try their outstanding Pinot Noir and lesser known Gewürztraminer) and Freycinet Vineyard (taste the Radenti sparkling), and a few other small hidden gem vineyards. Check in to your Coles Bay accommodation for two nights. Once you ve worked up an appetite strolling along the local beach, enjoy an al fresco dinner of wood-fired pizza and seafood at Tombolo Freycinet, with a sweeping view of the Hazards. Day Five: Freycinet and surrounds Port Arthur Ghost Tours You re spoilt for choice today spend the day paddling, driving, walking, climbing (and even tasting), the pristine coastal wilderness of Freycinet. But keep your camera ready at all times. With dramatic vistas at every turn you ll be creating Kodak moments from dawn til dusk. One thing you won t find is a plastic bag Coles Bay was the first town in Australia to completely ban them. Enjoy a seafood lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm with freshly harvested oysters, rock lobster, scallops, abalone and mussels. If you have time, jump on a tour and discover the secrets of marine farming.
Coles Bay and the Hazards Up next is a 4WD, camera-friendly trip to South Friendly Beach, where the white sand meets orange-lichen covered rocks against the red granite backdrop of the headlands. Enjoy local seafood served with a side of views tonight for dinner at The Edge Restaurant. Day Six: Freycinet to Bicheno Even though you only cover a short distance today, there s so much to see. On top of your to do list this morning is a 45 minute walk to drink in the view that is Wineglass Bay. Returning to Coles Bay to the outdoor express coffee bar, Tombolo Freycinet, the place for morning caffeination, then find the Blowhole in the nearby town of Bicheno, which shoots water 20m in the air when the swell is right. Head north to crane your neck in front of the world s tallest white gums (up to 91 metres) at nearby Evercreech Forest Reserve. But be sure to be back in Bicheno for the nightly tuxedo parade. Check in to your Bicheno accommodation. Little locals come out to play tonight and you ll have a front row seat with Bicheno Penguin Tours. Each night in Bicheno, 600 little penguins emerge from the ocean on their way to the beachside rookery. Check out the views and local seafood at Granite Seafood & Bar over dinner. Ben Lomond Day Seven: Bicheno to St Helens Start your road trip degustation today at Purple Possum Wholefoods and Café in the small village of St Mary s for homemade scones and herbal tea made with herbs picked straight from the garden on site. Cheddar lovers unite today for this is your day. You re heading north to visit one of our finest cheddar makers, Pyengana Dairy Company. These cheese celebrities have been operating for four generations and are still churning out world-class cheese, especially their cloth-bound cheddar. Check out the nearby St Columba Falls, one of Tasmania s highest waterfalls. If you have any room left, order a country lunch at the Pub in the Paddock. As well as home to a beer-loving pig called Pinky, it s one of the state s oldest taverns licensed since 1880. Check in to your St Helens accommodation. Mohr and Smith will have you covered for dinner tonight, with a modern Australian menu, great wine and beer list as well as nice comfy lounges to relax in after dinner. Day Eight: St Helens to Launceston Pyengana Dairy Company Friendly Beaches Wake up! It s an early start this morning for the two hour drive to Launceston. When you get there, let Pepperbush Adventures take over. As seventh-generation Tasmanians, inside tips are guaranteed. Your biggest decision today is which tour to jump on a coolclimate winery jaunt through the Tamar Valley; an alpine walk among the dolerite columns at Ben Lomond National Park; or
Cradle Mountain and the boat shed of Dove Lake Hollybank Treetops Adventure a relaxing day of trout fishing in the north-easts. Take a scenic 15-minute walk up to the Cataract Gorge to stretch your legs before dinner. Check in to your Launceston accommodation for two nights. Me Wah is the multiple winner of Tasmania s Best Asian Restaurant since 1999 and will show you another side to our quality local produce. Make room for the standout handmade egg noodles with shiitake and abalone braising juices. Day Nine: Launceston and surrounds Got your adventure pants on this morning? Hollybank Treetops Adventure gets you up in the tree canopy flying along ziplines of up to 400 metres. It s a more tranquil version of adrenalin sport, where nature and adventure intersect for the three-hour tour. Grab some fine Tassie picnic provisions from Lilydale Larder before leaving town and explore the rest of the Hollybank Reserve, including the new mountain bike trails nearby attracting mountain bike enthusiasts from far and wide. Hit up Black Cow Bistro tonight, a steakhouse in an old butcher shop. Then check out a few local haunts like Saint John Craft Beer and Bakers Lane Bar. Day Ten: Launceston to Cradle Mountain On the way, your first detour should be the spectacular Liffey Falls in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area in the Great Western Tiers. Your lungs won t know what hit them with the piercingly fresh air and aromatic myrtle, sassafras and Leatherwood rainforests. Mole Creek is worth a look in over lunch. Adjust your eyes at the Mole Creek Caves, with tours through Marakoopa and King Solomons, complete with cute glow worms. The Trowunna Wildlife Park is the place to see our wildlife up close, housing the world s largest heritage population of endangered Tasmanian devils. Enjoy lunch at Mole Creek Hotel, with North West Coast beef and hearty burgers. Check in to your Cradle Mountain accommodation. Rest your weary bones this afternoon and book in to the Waldheim Alpine Spa at Cradle Mountain Lodge. Then make your way to the Tasmanian devil sanctuary, Devils@Cradle. You don t want miss the 5:30pm feed. It s your feeding time now, with dinner at the Grey Gum Restaurant. Alpine, cosy and inside Cradle Mountain Hotel, it s part of the amazingly delicious Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail. Day Eleven: Cradle Mountain to Strahan Devils@Cradle Your only decision this morning is how far you d like to walk. For a short walk, try the Enchanted Walk through Pencil Pine Forest (1.1km) or if you re looking for a longer stroll, tackle the beautiful Dove Lake Circuit (5.7km), past the picture-perfect boatshed, built in 1940 by the first ranger at Cradle Mountain, Lionell Connell. Alternatively, walk to the bar and sit by the fire. All options are encouraged! Make your way to Strahan via mining town, Zeehan. The terrain here changes to desolately raw, it feels like a world away. Learn about the mining and railway past at the West Coast Pioneer Museum and enjoy lunch at Mid l Café. Check into your Strahan accommodation for the next two nights. Jump in the car for the short trip to Ocean Beach. This 30-kilometre expanse of sand bordering the Great Southern Pencil Pine Walk
Hells Gates Take a flight past Frenchmans Cap Ocean from Trial Harbour to Hells Gates, is Tasmania s longest uninterrupted stretch of coastline. It s also a playground for local seals and sea lions especially in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight is at Risby Cove, a little touch of fine dining by the quaint marina. You can also stay here, to make the wander home even shorter. Day Twelve: Strahan and surrounds Adventuring is the name of the game today. Hop aboard World Heritage Cruises 35-metre catamaran, The Eagle, to soar into Macquarie Harbour, past Hells Gates and the notorious convict prison at Sarah Island. It s an eco friendly (not to mention relaxing) way to explore the Gordon River, bordered on each bank by the cold-climate rainforests of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. This afternoon join Strahan Seaplanes and Helicopters for a seaplane flight over the Franklin River looking out toward Frenchman s Cap, then snake along the Gordon River, where you ll land and enjoy a quick stop at St Johns Falls. It s a breathtaking way to get your bearings over this protected land. Dinner tonight is at Hamers Hotel, serving up pub dinners since 1936. These days they put a modern, local spin on the classic bistro menu, like wallaby strip loin with pepperberry relish. Day Thirteen: Strahan to Hobart Wall in the Wilderness On the road back to Hobart, stop and witness the Wall in the Wilderness. A wall in the making and an ambitious art project by Greg Duncan, which when completed will create a 100 metre long carving of Tasmanian highlands history, most of which will be in our rare Huon Pine. Along the wilderness road back to Hobart be sure to stop and smell the roses. Dip your toes in the iconic Franklin River or do the Russell Falls trek in Mount Field National Park. Trek might be overstating it, but this 20-minute stroll will lead you past stunning Swamp Gums (the tallest flowering plant on Earth) to the most photographed waterfall in Tasmania. Check in to your Hobart accommodation. Wander through historic Battery Point to Da Angelo Ristorante for dinner tonight. It s like being welcomed into the family, and don t leave without trying the gnocchi, made daily on site by the owner s mother. Day Fourteen: Hobart Recap your journey this morning by flying above it all with a scenic flight with Par Avion. From 30 minutes to three hours, choose a flight to the South West or East Coast. The shorter Hobart City tour takes in the Tasman Bridge, the Botanical Gardens, Kingston Beach and Blackmans Bay. Be sure to book ahead. Then make your way to Cascade Brewery to learn more about beer-making and our famous export. Alternatively all aboard for a day-long cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journey s Tasmanian Seafood Seduction day-long cruise. Pull into seafood hotspots, where your guide will dive for abalone, shuck oysters straight from the stack and gather wild sea urchin and rock lobster from fish farms. All prepared and served fresh on board and washed down with a local wine. PLEASE NOTE: Availability of experiences in this itinerary may be subject to opening times, seasonal operation or booking requirements, please call ahead to plan each day. Photo Credits: All rights reserved Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett, Graham Freeman, Andrew Wilson, Courtesy of Tasmanian Conservation Park, Poon Wai Nang, Andrew Harris, Geoffrey Lea, Scott Sporleder, Stuart Crossett, Brian Dullaghan. DISCOVERTASMANIA.COM.AU