·Hike the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair World Heritage Area
·Explore the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers area, learning of its significance in Australia's environmental movement
·Walk two sections of the famous long distance Overland Track
·Hike to picture-postcard Wineglass Bay
Tasmania is a magnet for walkers from all over the world. Boasting several World Heritage Areas, this is the world's last great temperate wilderness. Vast tracts of isolated forests, alpine meadows studded with a sparkling mosaic of crystal-clear lakes, wild rivers and rugged mountains - unspoilt beauty abounds in all directions.
Walk to pristine Wineglass Bay on the sunny Freycinet Peninsula, marvelling at the exquisite pink granite of the craggy peaks. Travel through some of Australia’s oldest settlements to the central lakes district. Walk through magnificent myrtle beech rainforest. Travel through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, stopping for wilderness walks along the way. At Cradle Mountain, stroll along an elevated walkway around picturesque Lake Dove - Cradle Mountain’s reflection in its waters is stunning. For many, the highlight of the holiday will be a section of the famous Overland Track as it winds its way through alpine heath lands brimming with wildflowers, past cascading waterfalls and ancient glacial lakes to the foot of mighty Cradle Mountain. The traverse of this elevated alpine area epitomises the special qualities of the vast Tasmanian wilderness.
Location Tasmania is a small island state off the south coast of the Australian mainland. This holiday starts in Hobart and finishes in Launceston at 1pm or you can travel back to Hobart with the guides.
Travel Air-conditioned mini bus. Total travel distance 1100km.
Grading 30% easy, 40% moderate, 30% more strenuous. 5-14km (2-5½ hours) walking each day. Some of the tracks are well formed and easy to follow, and others are rough and uneven. They can all be slippery. Everyone on this holiday needs sturdy, quality footwear. It is essential to be prepared for variable weather, from cold, wet, windy weather, to quite hot days. This trip operates with two guides so we are able to offer easier and harder walk options on most days.
Mt Wellington has easy to moderate walking on well graded tracks. At Freycinet, the harder option will involve quite a lot of climbing - the easier option also has a climb but not so high and we'll do it more slowly. The walks at Lake St Clair and the Wild Rivers area are all relatively easy. At Cradle Mountain we will offer choices from easy strolls along boardwalks to hard, steep climbs requiring agility and a good head for heights - take your pick.
Accommodation Comfortable cottages, eco lodges & motels. Overnight stays Swansea, Lake St Clair, Strahan & Cradle Mountain areas.
Food & wine highlights Tasmania is noted for its apples, berries, cheeses & smoked salmon. Wash it down with local beer or cider or try some boutique Tassie wines.
What’s included Guiding, all ground transport, 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, National Park fees, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, maps.
Not included Alcohol, additional meals.
Itinerary guide - 8 days (includes 7 nights accommodation)
Day 1: Starts in Hobart at 9am. Explore the high alpine areas of Mt Wellington - a stunning mountain peak right on Hobart's doorstep. Enjoy lunch strolling around the Salamanca Markets. Travel the convict route to Swansea on the coast. Accommodation: Swansea
Day 2: A full day walk at Freycinet Peninsula. Along the way you’ll get sweeping views over the perfect crescent of Wineglass Bay, from the place where most promotional photos of Freycinet are taken. Amazingly, kangaroos are often seen hopping along the beach here and the coastal heathlands are always alive with birdsong. The craggy peninsula is sculpted out of exquisite pink/red granite that changes colour as the light changes. Accommodation: Swansea
Day 3: Drive through Oatlands and Hamilton, two of the oldest settlements in Australia. At Lake St Clair, we’ll learn about the vegetation in the cool temperate rainforest, sedge and button grass plains and snowgums forest in the region. Accommodation: Lake St Clair / Derwent Bridge area
Day 4: A full day on the track today with easier and harder options. Start with a cruise on Lake St Clair with an easy walk along the lake shore. In the afternoon, climb through rainforest to Shadow Lake and Forgotten Lake, both pristine alpine tarns. The surrounding mountain peaks cast their reflection in the crystal clear waters of this wilderness lake. The descent is through magnificent rainforests thick with myrtle beech, and festooned with mosses and lichen. Accommodation: Lake St Clair / Derwent Bridge area.
Day 5: Continuing the journey, we’ll travel along the "Wild Way", passing through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and the lunar landscape of Queenstown’s copper mining district, to the bustling tourist village of Strahan. Along the driving route, we’ll do several short walks into the famous Franklin River area, one of the few remaining wild rivers in Australia. Conservationists fought long, hard battles to protect it from damming. The area is now a renowned World Heritage Area. The afternoon is free to enjoy the many activities on offer in Strahan such as a cruise on the Gordon River. Accommodation: Strahan
Day 6: Today we travel through historic mining villages such as Rosebery, to Cradle Mountain National Park. There’ll be a walk around pristine Lake Dove. If you are interested in plants, there are many here that are unique to this region. We provide a simple plant identikit to help identify them. Accommodation: Cradle Mountain area
Day 7: Today’s walk is sure to be the highlight of the holiday for many people. Our group will walk a section of the famous Overland Track, winding upwards through alpine heathlands brimming with wildflowers, past cascading waterfalls and ancient glacial lakes, to the foot of mighty Cradle Mountain. There will be an option of climbing Cradle Mountain for those interested. This area epitomises the special qualities of Tasmanian wilderness, of space, rugged mountain ranges and strange vegetation. Accommodation: Cradle Mountain area
Day 8: Travel back to Launceston with one or two short stops along the way. Finishes in Launceston about 1pm. You then have the option of travelling back to Hobart with the guides, arriving around 6pm.
