Tasmania West coast tour

Explore wild mountains, fish for dinner, 4WD to amazing bush and coastal camps – 5 Days unforgettable experience We love to go beyond the glossy brochures, to glimpse the real Tasmania. From Launceston to Hobart discover glacially carved terrain, wild campsites, brilliant National Parks and reserves. Your feet take you higher, further, deeper underground. Your guide will ensure great food, safety and the odd tall story by the campfire. Bring a camera because this is incredible, wild country.

The island of Tasmania is located 240 kilometers south of mainland Australia and covers an area of around 68,000 sq kms. It is similar in size to Ireland. Around 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, Tasmania was part of mainland Australia. After the great ice age, Tasmania separated from the mainland forming many islands, including Flinders Island (the Furneaux Group) and King Island. There are an estimated 330 islands in total. There are over 60 peaks on the island exceeding 915m. Eight mountains higher than 1500m and 28 mountains higher than 1250m.

Climate: Tasmania has a temperate maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. There is more variation in landscape over distance than any other part of Australia, with no point further than 115 kms from the sea. Variations in landscape are due to the topographical conditions (wind etc). The Roaring Forties (40° south) are westerly winds laden with moisture which cool and release much of their moisture over western and central Tasmania. This results is Eastern Tasmania being much drier. Rainfall ranges from 2,400 mm on the west coast to 560 mm on the east coast.

Flora & fauna: The flora and fauna of Tasmania is unique due to its large array of endemic (found only in one region) species which are scattered throughout the island. Protected by its isolation and rugged mountainous ranges, the flora and fauna has stayed intact to a large degree, whereas the southern parts of mainland Australia have been more affected. The Tasmanian Devil, was once widespread throughout mainland Australia, but now it can only be found in Tasmania. Also, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, which is thought of as common in many parts of Tasmania, is restricted to small colonies in Victoria. The Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) was found on mainland Australia and survived in Tasmania until recently. There have been no sightings of the Tassie Tiger in 50 years, but there are many people who still believe that it exists. On our small island, nearly 2,000 species of flowering plants are known to the state, with over 200 of these being endemic. We also boast over 220 species of birds of which 12 are endemic to Tasmania.

People : Aboriginals were inhabitants of the island more than 36,000 years ago. Before European settlement in 1803, the population of Tasmanian Aboriginals was an estimated 5,000 to 10,000. By 1847, there were around 70,000 European settlers in Tasmania, of which 35,000 were convicts. The present day population of Tasmania is around 480,000.
We use 4WD troop carriers that carry a maximum of 9 passengers. We access remote areas requiring a considerable amount of off-road driving. The seats are side-facing so you can talk to everyone in your group! We use 4WD vehicles rather than large buses because we believe that this is the best way for you to experience wilderness Tasmania.

Camping equipment : We use heavy duty canvas tents and supply cosy swags, so all you need is your sleeping bag. All camping and cooking equipment is provided. Tasmanian weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to be prepared for all types of weather. Warm and waterproof clothing is essential. Please advise us when you book if you need to hire sleeping bags or waterproof trousers/jackets.

Get involved: Our tours are designed to give you the experience of bush camping. Assisting with some camp duties such as, preparing meals, washing up, erecting tents etc. is often necessary. If the whole group gets involved, then this can really help to make the trip an enjoyable one.