Tasmania, Australia’s island state, provides a rare opportunity to encounter unique and endemic wildlife. Renown as a prime area for marsupial spotting, Tasmania is a crucial habitat for many species, including quolls, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and the most famous resident, the Tasmanian devil. Tasmania provides sanctuary for an abundance of birdlife, including the twelve endemic species, as well as marine mammals and the only two types of egg-laying mammals in the world, echidnas and platypus. Our focus on this small-group tour is to observe wildlife in the wild. It is a soft-adventure tour focusing on wildlife and wilderness but offers a high level of comfort. Tour starts in Hobart and ends in Launceston.

 

Tasmania, Australia’s island state, provides a rare opportunity to encounter unique and endemic wildlife. Renowned as a prime area for marsupial spotting, Tasmania is a crucial habitat for many species, including quolls, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and the most famous resident, the Tasmanian devil. Tasmania provides sanctuary for an abundance of birdlife, including the twelve endemic species, as well as marine mammals and the only two types of egg-laying mammals in the world, echidnas and platypus. Our focus on this small group tour is to observe wildlife in the wild. It is a soft-adventure tour focusing on wildlife and wilderness but offers a high level of comfort.

Tour includes:

  • 5 days of small group touring with a local guide
  • Transport in a well-appointed vehicle
  • 4 nights accommodation
  • 4 x breakfast, 2 x lunch
  • 2.5-hour Bonorong Night tour
  • Maria Island Ferry
  • Wineglass Bay Cruise
  • Penguin Night Tour
  • All National Parks passes

This tour can be combined with the 5 Day Western Wilderness Tour for a more in-depth experience.

 

DAY 1/ Sunday                        

HOBART ARRIVAL – BONORONG NIGHT TOUR

Upon arrival at Hobart airport no later than 3 pm, be transferred to your accommodation in the CBD, where you have time for a quick refreshment stop. At 04.30 pm, we will take you to the first highlight of this tour. Arrive at Bonorong sanctuary, where we invite you to a 2.5-hour behind-the-scenes night tour where you have the opportunity to get close to many of Tasmania’s endemic animals and get a lot of information first-hand.

Accommodation:  Old Woolstore Hotel Hobart, Studio apartment (or similar)

Meals:                   –

 

DAY 2/ Monday                       

HOBART – MARIA ISLAND – BICHENO

This morning, travel to the seaside village of Triabunna and board a ferry to cross the Mercury Passage to Maria Island. This unique island national park sits just off Tasmania’s east coast. Enjoy a day of peaceful walking amongst historic ruins across sweeping bays, rugged fossil cliffs and imposing mountains. This island sanctuary provides an opportunity to view its resident wildlife, including Wombats, Cape Barren Geese, Tasmanian Pademelons, Forester Kangaroos and even the Tasmanian Devil in their natural environment. Later this afternoon, continue your journey along Tasmania’s sunny east coast to Bicheno in the Freycinet area.

 Accommodation:  Beachfront at Bicheno Hotel or Bicheno by the Bay (or similar)

Meals:                   Breakfast and picnic lunch

DAY 3/ Tuesday          

Freycinet Peninsula – Penguins

After breakfast, travel to Coles Bay and embark on the award-winning 4-hour Wineglass Bay cruise. Cruise the spectacular coastline of Freycinet National Park from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay. Be enthralled by the stunning granite coastline, including the dramatic pink peaks of the Hazards range. Discover a coast dotted with sparkling white sand beaches, including Cooks and Bryans Beaches, only accessible by water or a full day bushwalk. Explore the inner passage of remote Schouten Island, home to little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters, before heading into the Tasman Sea towards Wineglass Bay. Look out for hidden sea caves, blowholes and waterfalls amongst the sheer granite cliffs. Disembark the vessel in the early afternoon and visit the Friendly Beaches before your guide takes you to your accommodation. The rest of this afternoon is at leisure. At dusk, we invite you to an informative tour on private property to get close to the local colony of fairy penguins nesting and breeding in the dunes.

Accommodation:  Beachfront at Bicheno Hotel or Bicheno by the Bay (or similar)

Meals:                  Breakfast and lunch (ploughman-style)

 

DAY 4/ Wednesday                 

BICHENO – BAY OF FIRES – LAUNCESTON

Today, continue your journey along the East Coast and visit the stunning orange-lichen-covered granite rocks of the Bay of Fires conservation area. Take the opportunity to wander around and explore the whitest sandy beaches and turquoise waters. We travel on to St. Columba Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Tasmania and through lush and green valleys before we arrive in Launceston, the second-largest city in Tasmania.

Accommodation:  The Verge Hotel, Launceston, King or Twin room (or similar)

Meals:                   Breakfast

 

DAY 5/ Thursday                      

LAUNCESTON – DEPARTURE

Enjoy a city introduction to Launceston this morning and visit the stunning Cataract Gorge, where the South Esk River forces its way through sheer granite rocks, before your journey ends at approximately 11:30 am at the Launceston transit centre or the airport.

Meals:                Breakfast

2024 Departures

From Date To Date
Sunday, 7 July 2024 Thursday 11 July 2024
Sunday, 21 July 2024 Thursday, 25 July 2024
Sunday, 4 August 2024 Thursday, 8 August 2024
Sunday, 18 August 2024 Thursday, 22 August 2024
Sunday, 1 September 2024 Thursday, 5 September 2024
Sunday, 15 September 2024 Thursday, 19 September 2024
Sunday, 29 September 2024 Thursday, 3 October 2024
Sunday, 13 October 2024 Thursday, 17 October 2024
Sunday, 27 October 2024 Thursday, 31 October 2024
Sunday, 10 November 2024 Thursday, 14 November 2024
Sunday, 24 November 2024 Thursday, 28 November 2024
Sunday, 8 December 2024 Thursday, 12 December 2024

 

2025 Departures 

From Date To Date
Sunday, 5 January 2025 Thursday, 9 January 2025
Sunday, 19 January 2025 Thursday, 23 January 2025
Sunday, 2 February 2025 Thursday, 6 February 2025
Sunday, 16 February 2025 Thursday, 20 February 2025
Sunday, 2 March 2025 Thursday, 6 March 2025
Sunday, 16 March 2025 Thursday, 20 March 2025