Tasmania tours, discovery tours
| country: | Australia |
| location: | Tasmania |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | Departs Hobart on Sundays and Thrusdays and Launceston on Mondays and Fridays, Sep - May |
| price: | From AU $1390 (10 days) excluding flights. Price includes meals, accommodation & activities as per itinerary. Maximum 9 people |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
See more than just the sights - 4WD to remote areas, sleep under bright stars, dine by the roaring ocean, discover wild Tassie. Join a safari from Launceston or Hobart. Enjoy bushwalks of 3-5 hours every day. Learn about native and endemic animals, birds and plants. Visit 7 National Parks and spend time in Wilderness World Heritage Areas. Then a camp fire, a delicious dinner prepared using local ingredients (maybe the fish you caught!) and a snug sleep in your swag under cover or just the wide open night sky.
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.
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.
Tasmania
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.
our equipment
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.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart Hobart at 6.30am - pick-ups from your accommodation. Amazing bush walk/hike to Cape Raoul on the Tasmanian Peninsula (4hr+ walk). Bush camp on the East Coast of Tasmania. (L,D) |
| Day 2: | Head off to Freycinet National Park. Hike up Mt Amos for outstanding views of magical Wineglass Bay (3hr+ walk). Afternoon beach walks where yours are the only footprints. Return to bush camp for another magic night. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | Explore local gorges, waterholes and option for wildlife park then head north to soak up the amazing Bay of Fires coast line. Bush camp in a North East Tasmanian Forest. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4: | Early morning bush walk in The Blue Tier amongst beautiful temperate rainforest and cascading waterfalls (2hr+ walk). Discover the North East highlands (2hr+ walk). Arrive in Launceston at around 6pm. Please note we don’t provide meals in Launceston. You have 2 free evenings to explore the city. We provide 2 nights hostel accommodation, included in the price of your tour. If you prefer not to stay in a hostel, we can arrange alternative accommodation at additional cost. (B,L) |
| Day 5: | Today is a free day for you to explore Tasmania’s largest Northern city. Options include a tour of the Boag's Brewery tour a visit to beautiful Cataract Gorge. |
| Day 6: | Depart Launceston at 6.30am - pick-up from the hostel. Tour of Marakoopa Caves (inc.in price of your tour). For the more adventurous, there is the option to explore Honeycomb Caves on an amazing caving expedition (optional extra - price dependent on the number of participants). Head to Cradle Mountain for a hike up to Marion's Lookout (4hr+ walk). Bush camp in a historic mining village. (L,D) |
| Day 7: | Bush walk in The Tarkine (4hr+ walk), Australia’s largest temperate rainforest. Cross the Pieman River, on the West Coast of Tasmania, at Corinna, a remote Tasmanian settlement. Off-road driving to our coastal bush camp, next to the Southern Ocean. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8: | Off-road driving to Zeehan, an old mining town. Bush walk at Montezuma Falls, Tasmania’s tallest waterfall (3hr+ walk). Drive to Strahan to pick up some supplies before we head to camp. Bush camp at MacQuarie Heads. If you are interested, you can try a spot of fishing and catch your dinner! (B,L,D) |
| Day 9: | Drive through Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Stop off at Nelson Falls, Franklin River and many lookouts. Walk at Lake St Clair (3hr+ walk). Bush camp at Highland Lakes. (B,L,D) |
| Day 10: | Visit Mount Field National Park. At Mt Field, enjoy a hike to Lady Barron Falls, Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls (3hr+ walk). Head to The Styx Valley, home to some of Australia’s tallest trees. Arrive in Hobart at around 6pm. We'll drop you off at your accommodation. (B,L,D) |
how this holiday makes a difference
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For our trips, we use a local butcher and “Veggie Shed”, and we include Tasmanian produce such as cheese and wine. As far as practicable, we purchase fuel close to our camp sites or hikes & stop in remote community shops to give our clients the opportunity to purchase souvenirs or other goods. In this way we are able to show our appreciation to the local community, and we provide clients with information on the local environment & history.
All our brochures are printed on recycled paper and we encourage clients to recycle brochures or pass them on (this is printed our brochures). We are proud to be a member of Ecotourism Australia and all our tours are certified Advanced Ecotours.  We support local environmental groups, participate in local environmental awareness forums (particularly in relation to tourism) & have taken interested parties to areas threatened by clear-fell logging. All our guides are trained in “minimal impact” techniques, have a good knowledge of local flora & fauna, and are trained in Remote Area First Aid Techniques. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |