Coastal Hikes and Great Lodges in a Magnificent Land Down Under
Wild Tasmania
Overview
The spectacularly green island-state of Tasmania invites exploration—the WT way! We'll walk amid towering tree ferns at Mt. Field National Park, sail by private yacht, and look for wallabies, wombats, and Tasmanian devils as we hike in Cradle Mountain National Park. On the dreamy Freycinet Peninsula, we enjoy a fabulous coastal hike and sundowners on the beach. Our Trip Leaders share the secrets of Tassie's superb food, from fresh-shucked oysters to artisan cheeses, and we'll sip the finest local chardonnays and pinot noirs. Our accommodations include lodges warmed by roaring fires and cozy cabins on the shores of the deep blue Tasman Sea.
Arrive: Hobart, Australia
Depart: Hobart, Australia
Highlights
- Enjoy expert Trip Leaders who know this island as home
- Hike dramatic Cradle Mountain, and Freycinet, Tasmania's spectacular coastal reserve
- Cruise by private yacht in Macquarie Harbour
- Stroll among artists and musicians at Hobart's Salamanca Market
- Visit the Port Arthur penal colony, Australia's most historic site
Itinerary
We’ll stroll through the Saturday Salamanca Market before our spectacular hike up the slopes of Mt. Wellington. In Mount Field National Park, we walk in a forest of giant eucalyptus to the three-tiered cascade of Russell Falls. In Strahan, we’ll enjoy a sundowner sail by private yacht in Macquarie Harbour, with dinner on board.
Leaving the West Coast, we head to Cradle Mountain National Park for hikes through alpine moorlands where wallabies, wombats, possums, quolls, and Tasmanian devils are often encountered. Our beautiful wilderness lodge offers optional spa treatments.
Sampling the wines of Tasmania's east coast cellars, we make our way to Freycinet, Tasmania's premier coastal park, with its striking pink granite rocks, turquoise waters, and white-sand beaches. We take a gorgeous hike to Hazards Beach, then cross the isthmus to Wineglass Bay for a picnic.
We feast on Tassie fish and fresh oysters at a country fish market, visit the historic Port Arthur penal colony, then cruise from Port Arthur into the Southern Ocean and along the wild and scenic coast to Tasman Island and Cape Pillar, with a chance to see dolphins and southern right and humpback whales. Depart on Day 11 via Hobart.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Anyone in a reasonable state of fitness, accustomed to outdoor adventures, should be able to fully enjoy the planned activities. Participants should be prepared for at least 1-5 hours of hiking each day over uneven terrain (carrying a daypack only). As the weather in Tasmania is often variable, we must occasionally wait for it to change to participate in our planned activities. In such a case, we may rearrange the daily itinerary to accommodate the weather.
Tasmania has a cool maritime climate, rarely extremely hot or extremely cold. The seasons are opposite to that of the northern hemisphere. Summer is from December to February, when the average maximum temperature is about 70°F. The weather on the east coast is nearly always warmer and milder than the rest of the state. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
The trip features a variety of accommodations chosen for their character, size, and location. Overnights range from "bed and breakfast" inns to cabins, historic inns, and delightful wilderness lodges.
Vehicle touring is mostly over good roads (though they can be very windy at times) in a comfortable van or minibus. Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.).
Client Testimonials
"It would have taken me many individual trips to find all the visual and experiential treasures I enjoyed in nine short days. Hats off to James Fuss—he’s one of your best."
Carmela C.
Fallbrook, CA
"James knows not only the nature trails but also the small restaurants, the art exhibitions—good planning!"
Carmen O.
Portola Valley, CA
"Everything went very smoothly - couldn't ask for anything better."
Carol M.
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
"We loved the trip! The best part of traveling with your company is not having to worry about details. The hotel and restaurant selections were always very good and at times exceeded our expectations. The traveling time we spent in the van was very limited considering that we saw almost every corner of Tasmania. Not only were we able to hike in beautiful remote parks but we met people who demonstrated by their hard work and artistic attributes a love for their land."
Georgia S.
Sacramento, CA
"The trip was great, with wonderful surprises in store as each day unfolded."
Jan B.
Denver, CO
"The variety of our days and the choice of venue, whether hiking, sailing, exploring, or wine tasting, was superb!"
Jean Y.
Jackson, WY
"James did an excellent job of organizing and leading an outstanding trip with great variety and depth."
Jerry T.
Portola Valley, CA
"Really awesome itinerary design with nice mix of locations, lodging, and activities. Our Trip Leader outdid himself—his local knowledge and connections made for many unique experiences."
Kate F.
Santa Monica, CA
"The trip was fabulous with a great itinerary and variety. Tasmania is a truly unique area. This was my best trip yet!"
Kathy B.
Lafayette CA
"We loved all of the different scenery in Tasmania, from the seashore to the mountain lakes to the temperate rainforest. Every day was an adventure!"
Lyn S.
Las Vegas, NV
"Trip of a lifetime. Fell in love with Australia, which I did not expect to do."
Lynn K.
Denver, CO
"The best way to see this beautiful, exciting part of Australia!"
Mary Ellen B.
Bloomfield Hill, MI
"Good mix of natural beauty, history, great food and wine, and hiking."
Norm S.
Chicago, IL
"The small group together with sterling leaders and food/facilities made this an unforgettable trip—thank you!"
Patricia J.
Berkeley CA
"One of our best trips ever."
Penny A.
Los Angeles, CA
"James is a great guide. Very knowledgeable about Tasmania. I especially enjoyed his interest in food and wine."
Piage L.
Rye, NY
"This trip was wonderful. A well-designed itinerary, great accommodations, and food that was over the top! I can't believe the diversity of things we saw and did , from visiting markets and museums, to an exhilerating boat ride, to petting a wombat and seeing Tasmanian devils up close (boy, do they sound terrible!)."
Randy L.
Kensington, CA
"Our trip to Tasmania was a wonderful experience that will be remembered for a long time. James and Lucy, our guides, were superb, knowledgeable, personable, and a lot of fun to be with. They both went the extra mile to make sure that everyone was having an enjoyable experience. The scenery, hiking trails, animals, birds, and the super friendly ‘Aussies’ were simply terrific! Wish we were still there!"
Roger E.
San Francisco, CA
"The trip was wonderful and we saw so much of the island. The food was fantastic!"
Sandy B.
Petaluma, CA
"The food and lodgings were superb; the places we went were beautiful, engaging, sometimes astounding and exhilarating."
Vicki N.
Corte Madera, CA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.