8 Day Budget Tour (twin share room)

Tour Details

Operator

Groups Tasmania

Destinations

Hobart, Launceston, Deloraine, Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, Huonville, Sheffield, Latrobe, Tamar Valley, West Coast Tasmania, Strahan, Richmond, Russell Falls, Derwent Valley, Derwent River, New Norfolk, Lake St Claire, Mt Field, Mt Wellington, Salamanca Market, Dunally, Devil's Kitchen and Huon Valley

Departs From

Launceston

Tour Description

8 DAY BUDGET TOUR
3 departure options: 15 October 2008, 21 January 2009 & 15 April 2009
Cost of tour: AUD$1499.00 per person twin share, AUD$1819.00 for a single room

Day 1 Arrival in Launceston (D)

Your tour begins! Meet your experienced Tasmanian coach captain at reception at 2.00pm and board the comfortable coach for an afternoon visiting some of the sights of Launceston. Situated in the Tamar Valley, Launceston is a city of contrasts, blending history and scenery with a reputation for quality food and wine. This afternoon a tour of the city gives you the opportunity to see some of the graceful Victorian architecture.
• Launceston City Park. A peaceful parkland in the heart of the city, visit the Conservatory, see the monkeys or just feed the ducks. It is only a short walk into the CBD and a chance to look around the magnificent architecture of Launceston’s preserved sandstone buildings or perhaps grab a souvenir.
• The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is the largest museum and art gallery in Australia located outside a capital city and is administered by the Launceston City Council, with continuing financial support from the Tasmanian State Government. It enjoys an enviable reputation and national profile for its collections of Australian colonial art, contemporary craft and design, Tasmanian history and natural sciences. One of the special features is the interpretation of one of Tasmania's most intact nineteenth century industrial environments, the Launceston Railway Workshops. The development of the Launceston Railway Workshops is a story of transformation. Stage one was the development of the Tasmanian Conservation Centre, which provided the State with national standard conservation laboratories and workshops. Stage two saw Tasmanian architectural firm Artas team with internationally renowned Australian architect, Andrew Andersons, to develop a new Art Gallery and associated facilities. One-third of the impressive and dominating Stone Building, named after the engineer Edward Stone, is now The Art Gallery: the principal, high-quality exhibition space. The other two-thirds house the Academy of the Arts, a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and TAFE Tasmania. Stage two also involved the development of buildings that now house a range of exhibitions interpreting the history of the workshops. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is Launceston's cultural heartbeat and gateway to Tasmania's history and character. It tells the story of our lives and the time and place in which we live. It draws a map of who we are and where we've been. We hope you enjoy our special journey.

Stay: Olde Tudor Motor Inn, Launceston (2 nights)

Day 2 Launceston & Tamar Valley (BD)

Today you visit the picturesque Tamar Valley. The Tamar River is Australia’s longest navigable tidal estuary, being 76km long with widths that vary from 400 metres to 4km’s. The scenery is a moving postcard; the fertile valley being home to a variety of orchards, berry farms and wineries.
• Batman Bridge. A uniquely shaped bridge crossing the Tamar River, it is named after John Batman who founded the city of Melbourne.
• The Artisan Gallery and Wine Centre, Robigana. Robigana is a 25-minute drive north of Launceston (30 kilometres) in the West Tamar valley. Ceramic artists Rudolf Sibrava and Lisa Boyter established the Gallery in 1989. Rudolf and Lisa also operate their ceramics studio here and visitors can see the artists at work on the premises. The Gallery features the work of Tasmanian and Australian artisans, and includes wood design crafted from rare Tasmanian timbers, fine art, ceramics, glass, and jewellery. The Tamar Valley is one of Tasmania's premier wine-producing areas. The Artisan Gallery and Wine Centre offers visitors a chance to taste and purchase award-winning Tasmanian wines from local boutique vineyards including Three Wishes, Hillwood and Barringwood Park.
• Brady’s Lookout. Matthew Brady was an infamous bushranger and from this vantage point, would spy on unsuspecting victims on the river below. A scenic spot for the photographers.
• Grindelwald. Nestled atop a hill 15 minutes north of Launceston, this village captures the architecture and way of life of Switzerland. Visit the speciality shops, with the Chocolate Shop a favourite.
• Cataract Gorge, Launceston. An expansive reserve minutes from the city centre, your coach will drop you off at Kings Bridge so you can stroll the walk way along the Cataract Gorge to the First Basin. Here the gardens filled with tree rhododendrons, spacious lawns and fern glades. Peacocks add to the colour. Cross the waters of the First Basin on the chairlift (own expense) that has the longest single span in the Southern Hemisphere or walk around the First Basin via the Alexandra Suspension Bridge. Your coach will meet you at the First Basin entrance.

Day 3 Launceston to New Norfolk (BD)

The Heritage Highway, the original coaching route between Launceston and Hobart could tell a thousand stories of convicts, farmers, and bushrangers. As you travel this historic highway you will see many reminders of the bygone era and have time to visit and experience some of the authentic atmosphere of Ross and Oatlands. Stay tonight in New Norfolk, a Historic township just north of Hobart.
• Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company, Evandale. Situated near historic Evandale on the banks of the South Esk River you will find the production and tasting centre of the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company. Using only the finest Tasmanian produce, Julie Barbour and her staff create a widely acclaimed range of sauces, relishes, chutneys and gift packs.
• Ross is a beautiful old town established as a garrison in 1821. It has a fine collection of Georgian cottages and a fascinating sandstone bridge carved by a convict in 1836 - the work earned him his freedom. The remains of the old female factory, a prison for women between 1847 and 1853, have been restored and are open to the public. There are also antique and crafts shops, a wool centre (the town is in the middle of the sheep-farming area) and a toymaker.
• Oatlands. This pretty colonial town has the largest collection of sandstone buildings in Australia, and many of its old cottages are now cafes and restaurants. Lake Dulverton is being restocked with fish from the Oatlands District High School Aquaculture Centre and is a popular fishing spot. The Callington Mill Complex (1837) houses a gift and craft shop that is home to 2,500 collectable dolls. There is also a gallery in town displaying one-off furniture created from recycled Tasmanian timber, as well as glass jewellery and table wares made using kiln forming and sandblasting techniques.
• Richmond. Founded in the early 1800’s, Richmond is a genuine village of slate and cobbles, handmade brick and mellow stone, cottages and manors. Wander streets lined with sandstone buildings that now serve as showplaces for the best of Tasmania's fine art and crafts. There are quaint tearooms serving Devonshire teas, the Bakery is always a popular stop and not to forget and all kinds of delicacies, old fashioned sweets and other delights, while a Georgian mansion offers fine fare. Places of interest not to miss are Australia’s oldest freestone bridge and Australia’s oldest Catholic Church.

Stay: Junction Motel, New Norfolk (3 nights)

Day 4 Salamanca and Hobart City (B HD)

As well as sightseeing and a visit to Hobart’s famous Salamanca Market, today includes some free time to experience the many pleasures Hobart offers. Take time to explore Hobart’s famous waterfront or wander into town to check out the local shopping. Tonight enjoy a bar-b-que dinner in the grounds of Salmon Ponds.
• Mt.Wellington. Overlooking Hobart, the Derwent Valley to the north and Huon Valley to the south is Mt.Wellington. On a clear day you can even see the Tasman Peninsula to the southeast and Maria Island on the east coast. Venture to the summit and see the morning sun shining on the city below for a great photographic opportunity.
• Salamanca Market, Hobart. Enjoy the sights, sounds, flavours, action and colour of Australia’s best outdoor market. Set between graceful plane trees and the mellow sandstone facades of historic warehouses, Hobart’s famous market at Salamanca Place attracts thousands of locals and visitors, every Saturday of the year. They come for the food and music – hot baked spuds, crisp organic vegetables, fresh fruit, the warm aromas of coffee and croissants; busker's singing the blues, stroking a harp or strumming a lively folk song. They come for the bargains – strolling along the hundreds of stalls, meeting friendly people who make or grow what they sell. Salamanca Market highlights fine Tasmanian art & craft – hand-worked glass, innovative design in Tasmanian timbers, stylish clothing, and bold ceramics. Meet world-renowned crafts people selling their creations. Looking for antiques, collectibles, books, curios, trash or treasure? Come and pick up a bargain or two.
• Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart. These gardens were established on slopes beside the River Derwent in 1818. Now in the 13.5 hectare site there are 6500 species and varieties of plants, including the largest public conifer collection in the southern hemisphere. There are more than 400 Tasmanian plant species on display, Peter Cundall's vegie patch, a stunning conservatory and a Japanese garden. Beds of annuals provide a changing display four times a year - in late September the Tasmanian Tulip Festival is held in the gardens. The Arthur Wall, near the main gate, could be internally heated so that exotic trees and plants could be grown for the kitchen garden. Although it's many years since the fires have been lit, the wall retains the suns warmth for days. Now it supports flowering creepers. Near the wall is a traditional herb garden. A new attraction is the sub Antarctic plant house featuring plants from Macquarie Island. Although 330,000 people a year visit the gardens, the impression of peace and solitude, not crowds, is the one that remains with the visitor. At the Botanical Discovery Centre are interactive displays that include information of the rich and diverse Tasmanian flora, including their distribution and how to propagate them.
• Salmon Ponds & Trout Fishing Museum, Plenty. Anglers with an interest in the history of their sport will appreciate the collection showing the changes to fishing equipment over time and the history of angling in Tasmania. The museum is housed in the cottage built for the first superintendent of the Salmon Ponds in 1865. Not a line could be cast for trout until the first brown and rainbow trout in the southern hemisphere were raised here in 1864. They were the base stock of streams and lakes in Australia and New Zealand. Visitors can view fish breeding in all its stages, from fingerlings to full grown brown, rainbow and brook trout and Atlantic salmon.

Day 5 Port Arthur (BD)

On the Tasman Peninsula, the Port Arthur Penal Settlement offers beauty along with its infamous history. Today you will enjoy a guided tour of the site as well as a cruise on the harbour.
• Port Arthur Historic Site. A guided tour will take you around the ruined buildings featuring over 30 buildings including the Asylum, Separate or Model Prison, Penitentiary, Church, Guard Tower, Hospital as well as many cottages. Listen to the guides tell of atrocities to convicts in the attempt to break their spirit, which sent many insane. Read of the petty offences committed resulting in transportation from England. Rumours abound of ghosts, so keep the camera handy just in case.
• Port Arthur Harbour Cruise. The 20 minute harbour cruise offers a unique interpretation including an introduction to the ship building at Port Arthur, the boy’s prison of Point Puer, the Isle of the Dead and a magnificent coastline which remains unmatched.
• Tasman Peninsula Coastal Features. Joined to Tasmania by a narrow isthmus, this peninsula was selected as the site for a penal settlement due to being able to guard it easily. The sheer cliffs, as seen at the Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen, combined with the violent currents shown at the Blow Hole, meant little chance of escape via the sea. Rumours of shark filled waters also discouraged convicts to swim for freedom. Soldiers and fierce mastiff dogs guarded the narrow isthmus. Other attractions to see (time permitting) are the Tessellated Pavement and Doo Town.

Day 6 New Norfolk to Queenstown (BD)

Heading off early today, your destination is Queenstown near Tasmania’s rugged west coast. Follow the mighty Derwent River, and after an invigorating break at Mt. Field National Park, travel north through the historic village of Hamilton. The continuing journey westward is full of surprises, offering glimpses of peaks and lakes as you wind make your way through Tasmania’s pristine wilderness.
• Mt.Field National Park. This is one of Tasmania’s oldest and most loved National Parks. After a short walk through rainforest dotted with huge manferns and some of the tallest trees in the world, see the impressive Russell Falls.
• Lake St.Clair National Park. The southern entry to the Cradle Mountain - Lake St.Clair National Park, visit the interpretation centre as well as look over Australia’s deepest freshwater lake.
• Nelson Falls. With the rainfall extremely high on the West Coast the waterfalls are spectacular and Nelson Falls certainly won’t disappoint. Along the boardwalk to Nelson Falls you will come across interpretation panels highlighting the ancient plants you see along the way, including at least seven species of fern. Among the forest trees you will discover ancient species that once dominated the Australian landmass, but are now confined to the wetter regions of Tasmania and southeast and eastern mainland Australia. Many of the species of these cool temperate forests are only suited to the cool, moist conditions of places such as the Nelson Valley. The species of these rainforests have much in common with the rainforests of New Zealand and South America. Indeed, the ancestors of these plants once flourished on the ancient supercontinent, Gondwana, which comprised today's southern continents. Following the breakup of Gondwana, these species found themselves separated by vast distances. The similarity of the rainforest species of these continents is the legacy of this common origin.

Stay: Silver Hills Motel, Queenstown (2 nights)

Day 7 Gordon River Cruise (BD)

Today is a relaxing one, experiencing one of the west coast’s most popular and spectacular attractions, cruising on the Gordon River.
• World Heritages - Morning Heritage Cruise, Strahan. The vessel departs Strahan and passes through Hell’s Gates, the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, then visits a trout and salmon farm enroute to Sarah Island, Tasmania’s first convict settlement, where a stopover allows for you to explore the history of the ruins. The travel up the Gordon River to Heritage Landing where you can enjoy a short stroll on the boardwalk through rainforest and see 2000 year old Huon Pines.
• Free time to wander the picturesque esplanade of Strahan overlooking the waters of Macquarie Harbour, the second largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere. Experience the Visitors Centre or just sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the tranquility that is Strahan.

Day 8 Queenstown to Launceston (B)

Last day touring! Make your way back to Launceston via the renowned Cradle Mountain area and Sheffield, the town or murals. Arrive back in Launceston in time for a late afternoon departure.
• Cradle Mountain National Park. The northern entrance to the Cradle Mountain - Lake St.Clair National Park, the Department of Parks and Wildlife has an interpretation centre which depicts the flora, fauna and history of the region. Then it is on smaller coaches with an informative guide to transfer to Dove Lake from where on a clear day you can see Cradle Mountain. Breathe the fresh mountain air. A short walk around the shores finds you at the little hut known as ‘the boat house’, and then on your way back down from the lake call into to see Waldheim Hut, the original home for Austrian explorer Gustav Weindorfer who began the movement that eventually led to the region being included in the World Heritage Listing.
• Sheffield. The town of murals. See how talented local artists have used the proud old buildings as their canvases to tell the history of the Kentish District. Arts and crafts are also among the important activities in the area and galleries and studios display high quality hand weaving, leatherwork and pottery.

Tour ends back in Launceston at approximately 3.30pm.


• Legend; B=breakfast, D=dinner, HD=HIGHLIGHT Dinner