Day 1:
Arrive Hobart Airport, pick up mid-size automatic ranted car. Includes insurance and fees and taxes. Drive into Hobart. If Saturday, the Salamanca Market will be in full swing. Afternoon drive up Mount Wellington for views over all of southern Tasmania.
Standard Accommodation: Hobart – Old Woolstore or similar
Superior Accommodation: Hobart – Henry Jones Art Hotel or similar
Day 2:
Head southeast to the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur. See the amazing (yes, truly amazing) sea cliffs at Eaglehawk Neck then drive to Port Arthur to get the full story on the convict history of Australia, and particularly Tasmania’s part in it. Drive back to Hobart.
Standard Accommodation: Hobart – Old Woolstore or similar
Superior Accommodation: Hobart – Henry Jones Art Hotel or similar
Day 3:
Take the ferry from Brooke St. Pier in Salamanca Place up the Derwent River to MONA – The Museum of New and Old Art. The Museum is spectacular: stay for lunch before catching the ferry back to Salamanca Place. In the afternoon, take in the Derwent Valley and visit Mt. Field National Park with the stunning Russell Falls and towering trees.
Standard Accommodation: Hobart – Old Woolstore or similar
Superior Accommodation: Hobart – Henry Jones Art Hotel or similar
Day 4:
Head to the east coast and drive north to Freycinet through the villages of Orford and Swansea. Stop at Spiky Bridge, Kate’s Berry Farm and Freycinet Vineyard on the way for some history and local produce.
Standard Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge - one room cabin or similar, includes breakfast
Superior Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge – premier cabin or similar, includes breakfast
Day 5:
Take the Wineglass Bay Nature Cruise from Coles Bay to visit one of the world's best beaches and enjoy the sealife. During the afternoon visit the Freycinet Marine Farm and then climb the trail to the lookout to gather fantastic view over the Wineglass Bay.
Standard Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge - one room cabin or similar, includes breakfast
Superior Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge – premier cabin or similar, includes breakfast
Day 6:
Drive to Bicheno and northwards. Cut over the Elephant Pass (stop at the pancake shop at the top of the pass) and then through St. Marys and the Fingal Valley to join the Heritage Highway. Visit historic Clarendon House, Brickendon Farm and the village of Evandale. Drive through bush and farmlands to Cradle Valley via Deloraine and Cradle Mountain. Stop at the Honey Factory at Mole Creek.
Standard Accommodation: Cradle Mountain: Cradle Mountain Hotel or similar
Superior Accommodation: Cradle Mountain: Cradle Mountain Lodge or similar – includes breakfast
Day 7:
Explore the many walks at Cradle Mountain. Then drive to Sheffield and on to Elizabeth Town with a stop at the Ashgrove Cheese outlet. Continue to Launceston via the West Bank of the Tamar River.
Standard Accommodation: Launceston – Penny Royal Hotel or similar
Superior Accommodation: Launceston – Mantra Charles or similar
Day 8:
Visit Cataract Gorge and downtown Launceston before heading to the airport for the flight home.
Drop off rental car at Launceston Airport. Depart Launceston.
