This walking holiday includes selected walks on the East Coast including some small offshore islands from the Tasman Peninsula to the Bay of Fires. It includes selected areas of the North East, including the Blue Tier and Tamar Estuary and concludes in Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city. Graded As Easy (see “Grading” at bottom of this document)
Details & Starting Dates
This walk is available from the 15th October through to the 15th May 2024 (with the exception of any dates that include December 25th and 26th and 8th to 24th February 2024)
See “Our Walking Tours” for full details of how to book a walking tour and options available.
PRICE RANGE: Dependent on your group size, ranges from 4 participants at $6100.00 each to 8+ participants at $5450.00 each.
SINGLES WALK: minimum of 8 participants is $5400.00 each. Bookings close for this walk on 10th December 2023. – book early to avoid disappointment.
Tour Overview
Itinerary:
| Day | Activities | Sleeping |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival Hobart – Explore City (Own time) Salamanca Market etc | Hobart |
| Day 2 | Mt Wellington or bad weather alternative. | Hobart |
| Day 3 | Tasman Peninsula – Port Arthur and walks to outstanding coastal features | PA |
| Day 4 | Tasman Peninsula – Tasman Island Cruise & Day Walk | PA |
| Day 5 | Grindstone Bay – Half Day Walk Private | Triabunna Area |
| Day 6 | Maria Island – Series of Short Walks | Triabunna Area |
| Day 7 | Schouten Island – Island Walk and Dolphins | Freycinet |
| Day 8 | Freycinet Walks – various | Freycinet |
| Day 9 | Bay of Fires Area – various short walks. | St Helens and Binalong Bay |
| Day 10 | Blue Tiers & Penguins at Low Head | George Town or Low Head |
| Day 11 | Launceston via wine and lavender, plus local walks | Launceston |
| Day 12 | Departure |
What’s Included:
- Breakfast – buffet style
- Lunches – build your own with quality ingredients
- Dinners – we dine together at selected local restaurants (cost of meals is INCLUDED in the Tour Price)
- All Transport – air-conditioned bus and waterborne transport where indicated
- National Park and other entrance fees where shown.
- All accommdation on twin share or single supplement available. (11 nights)
- Fully escorted holiday
- Expert tips and advice from our experienced guides!
Detailed Tour Information
Day 1
Meet and Greet in Hobart. With prior arrangement with us we can pick you up at the Airport. You will be advised a minimum of two weeks prior to your arrival of our actual meeting point, however this is likely to be a private room in a very accessible hotel where we will provide a light lunch and brief you on what to expect over the next few days. We will then take you and your luggage to our Hobart Accommodation which will include a brief city tour. Once you have freshened up you are free for the rest of the day to explore the Hobart Waterfront and the famous Salamanca Market. We will pick you up later that afternoon at a pre-arranged location to return to our accommodation to prepare for dinner that evening.
Day 2
Our first full day of our walking program. Weather permitting we will take you by bus to the top of 1270m Kunanyi/Mt. Wellington ( “Kunanyi” is the Tasmanian aboriginal name for the Mountain. It was first ascended by George Bass and was originally named Table Mountain and was officially renamed in 1832 after the Duke of Wellington). Depending on the time of the year there may still be a little snow on the top. This majestic mountain features the “Organ Pipes” giant dolerite columns and is a popular rock-climbing spot for the bold and adventurous.
Here you will enjoy magnificent 360 degree views of Tasmania with the Tasman Peninsula to the East, Bruny Island to the South, Ben Lomond, a distant speck in the north, to the wild south west wilderness that extends to the west and south west of this remarkable place so close to the bustling city below.
Plenty of time will be available for breathtaking images from the summit to send back home before we set off down one of the many bush walking tracks that descend from alpine wild flowers on the summit, down through the rain forest to emerge at “The Springs” for a well-earned coffee stop. We will carry lunch with us.
Remember to bring that warm clothing today as it will be up to 10 degrees cooler on the summit and if windy feel much colder even on a bright sunny Tasmanian day.
Depending on time and wishes of those in the group there will be an opportunity for a late afternoon walk along the Hobart waterfront from Constitution Dock, via the Cenotaph, picking up the route of the disused railway line (now a walking/bike way) towards Tasman Bridge, Government House and ending at the beautiful Botanic Gardens. This is an easy walk with only a mild incline.
Day 3
We depart Hobart immediately after breakfast to ensure we make the most of our day, travelling East via the Tasman Bridge we head initially for a brief visit to Richmond Historic Village, in the Coal River Valley. Here you will see the historic bridge that was built using convict labour in 1823 providing the first access to both the East Coast and Tasman Peninsula – at this time this was the main highway East, making Richmond a very important staging post. There is a great bakery here and several other interesting places to see and this will be our morning coffee stop before travelling on to the Tasman Peninsula, via Dunalley were you will cross Tasmania’s only man made canal built in 1905 so that smaller boats could avoid the notorious rough seas near Tasman Island, and in addition saving a about 65km distance on the journey to Hobart.
Our next stop will be at Eagle Hawk Neck and the convict dog line, followed by several coastal features which we will explore on foot, including the Tessellated Pavement, The Blowhole, Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen.
Although this is a walking tour, we know that nearly all our guests will want to explore Port Arthur and as this can only be done on foot will take up most of the afternoon. For those that prefer to go on another walk this option will be also available as there are many short coastal walks in the area.
Following our afternoon activities, we will go to our accommodation and after dinner guests will again have the option of various walks, including the well-known “ghost tour” of Port Arthur or just relax and unwind.
Day 4
Our morning starts in a nautical theme, as no visit to the Tasman Peninsula would be complete without going on a “Tasman Island Cruise” As our description would not do this sea adventure justice, please refer to “Pennicott Wilderness Journeys” for a full description and information about this 3 hour cruise that is included in our program.
https://www.tasmancruises.com.au
Should you prefer not to participate in this water-based journey then we will take you on some shorter walks in the area or you can choose to opt out completely and do your own thing.
Afternoon:
Following lunch at Fortescue Bay, it’s on with those walking shoes again as we set off on a three hour walk along the rugged coast line on breathtaking cliff top tracks to Cape Hauy, immersing yourself in some of the same areas that you saw from the boat earlier today. Only the pictures below will provide an indication of how magnificent the coastline is in this area.
Your evening is free.
Day 5
Today we walk in an area that even most Tasmanians will not have seen, following the coast just north of Triabunna largely on private land due to the generosity of the owners and custodians of this beautiful stretch of coastline. In my view (having completed many coastal walks in the UK) this area has a similar feel to it. Our route takes us along undulating cliff tops and deserted, remote white sandy beaches. On a sunny day the blueness of the sea seems almost surreal and in spring and early summer the sea and shorebirds and many wildflowers makes this area a photographers paradise – during our lunch break we are treated to tantalising views of Maria Island to our East – our destination tomorrow. A full day walk, but with plenty of time for photography, hunting for colourful shells with our shoes off on the soft white sand and relaxing with a picnic lunch in the company of our fellow walkers who are becoming our newfound friends.
Day 6
Maria Island (National Park) just off the central East Coast of Tasmania is one of those places that even many of the locals have not really explored, yet this small island is a microcosm of all that Tassie has to offer in a neat little package with the added bonus of a short scenic sea trip to get there.
The island has had an incredibly mixed history, first a convict settlement, followed by an industrial period which almost at the same time saw the establishment of one of Tasmania’s first vineyards and other farming practices. The island then saw a quiet period when the industrial period finished quite abruptly and nature started taking back the areas that had been mined and peace and tranquillity returned. Amazingly, somehow the island far from being spoilt by these periods of industrialisation, retains something of a mystique with eerie ruins of some of the earliest concrete buildings in Tasmania, rusting machinery and disused tramways, which somehow seems to add interest to the walking rather than detract from it especially around the main settlement of Darlington (Formerly a prison).
There are many walks to undertake from 30 minutes to half a day in duration, in fact, something for everyone’s taste – two mountains to climb , where you will find fern glades and even some rain forest remnants, beautiful cliff top walks, white sandy beaches or a walk along one of the old tramways exploring the historical artefacts. In addition, the island has an abundance of wildlife that you don’t have to go looking for – the animals find you!
Whilst it was tempting to allow two days to explore Maria, as this holiday is a “taste of the East” then we must restrict our visit to just the one day.
Day 7
Day seven and eight are interchangeable and both within the Freycinet National Park, however, one of these days, providing sea conditions are favourable, we will go to Schouten Island a kilometre off the southern end of the peninsula. Walking here is so very different from the rest of the park as we are away from the popular walking tracks and consequently the many walkers to this popular National Park. Again this does involve a private charter of a boat that will not only take us to the Island for a walk but time permitting will hug the shore-line on the return journey to view both native shorebirds and as on one of my recent trips, Dolphins playing and diving around and under our boat, up close and personal, allowing for some fine close up photographs . Do not forget your camera today!
Day 8
Depending on the time of the year you choose to walk with us there may be many other walkers on the various tracks within the most popular parts of the Park, unfortunately, to avoid them, means not seeing Wineglass Bay, which even if there are many others, is STILL worthwhile. However, during our discussion and walk briefing the previous evening we will give you the option of which direction to walk and the length of walk. If it’s warm, then we strongly recommend you bring your swimwear as we will visit a minimum of two different beaches. Freycinet is generally a dryer area so we must all carry enough drinking water for this trip.
Note: Depending on group wishes we will visit Cape Tourville Lighthouse after our evening meal on either Day 7 or 8.
Day 9
Departing Freycinet at approximately 9am we head north following the coastline via Bicheno (short stop here to view the Blowhole) getting excellent coastal views as we travel north passing through, Falmouth and Scamander to the popular holiday destination of St.Helens. With just a brief stop here, we head to Binalong Bay and the area of coastline called “The Bay of Fires” Here we will undertake short walks taking in as much of this area as possible in the time we have available. We will spend the night close to St.Helens giving you time to explore this coastal town.
Day 10
We need an early departure this morning as our journey is slightly longer than normal and the scenic drive can be a little windy at times. We have several shorter walks planned to include, waterfalls and many fern and shady rainforest areas which on a warm sunny day are a delight to walk through. We travel via the Blue Tier area, stopping at Derby to explore a little of its history and then onward via Scottsdale and Bridport to George Town and Low Head where we will spend the night. Following dinner, we will head to the Penguin Rookery near the Lighthouse, where you will be entertained and enchanted by these charming little creatures in the company of your specialised local guide.
Day 11
Alas, this is our last full day of our holiday. However, we promise to squeeze in as much as we can, including several short walks. En-route to Launceston our plan is to visit the Lavender Farm at Golconda (if in season) and then to one of the many well-known vineyards in the Tamar Valley giving those that would like some liquid souvenirs an opportunity to both sample and buy some quality wine. If you’re not a drinker, then don’t worry the vineyard has a fine coffee shop in beautiful grounds amongst the vines. Later, crossing the Batman Bridge with “whirlpool reach” far below us we follow the scenic Tamar estuary to Launceston, known locally as the garden City due to its many parks and gardens. Lunch will be in the City and then we will take you to the locally famous Cataract Gorge where you can choose a walk to suit your taste and if hot perhaps cool off in the natural swimming pool at “First Basin”
It will be our final dinner together tonight when we can review the week and the places and walks we have completed. We hope that our short “Taste of the East” will make you want to come back to undertake some longer and more adventurous walks in the future or perhaps join us on our “Taste of the West” holiday which follows on a few days after this holiday is completed.
Day 12
This morning we bid you a sad farewell. You are free to continue your holiday in Tasmania under your own steam. We can take you to the Airport if you have a morning departure or for those wanting to return to Hobart, we can take you back for a small additional charge. Hobart is approximately two and a quarter hour drive from Launceston. We sincerely hope that our holiday was all you had hoped for and look forward to your company once again on one of our walks in the future.
GRADING OF HOLIDAY:
Easy: Suitable for any fully mobile person of average fitness and capable of walking up to a maximum of 10 km on gently undulating ground. Tracks usually well marked and with hardened surface with only limited sections of mud under wet conditions. Limited steep sections, usually with well made steps. If you walk regularly each day, whether to work or for pleasure you should be capable of this holiday. If unsure please contact us direct.