TASMANIAN INDULGENCE 14 DAYS DEP: 11th April 2015 DAY 1: SAT 11 APRIL MERIMBULA – MELBOURNE – SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (-‐) Depart Bega Valley Bega 6:30 am Merimbula 7:00am Pambula 7:10am travelling the Princes Hwy to Melbourne with stops along the way including Bairnsdale for a lunch break (at own expense) to Port Melbourne and to board the Spirit of Tasmania for our overnight cruise across the Bass Strait (dinner on board own expense). Ensure to pack an overnight bag for the Spirit of Tasmania leaving suitcases securely stowed in the Coach. O/N: Spirit of Tasmania DAY 2: SUN 12TH APRIL DEVONPORT – SHEFFIELD – CRADLE MOUNTAIN (D) Disembark after an early breakfast (own expense) and board the coach for the trip on the Holiday Isle. Our first stop is in Sheffield, set in the foothills of the spectacular Great Western Tiers. See 30 plus life like murals that have been painted on the town’s buildings. Later learn about the art of cheese making and taste some delicious produce at the Ashgrove Farm Cheese Factory. Continue onto the House of Anvers for a walk through the shop to learn the history of chocolate making and enjoy a tasting in their designated tasting centre. Afterwards join the road inland passing Mt Barrington on the way to our accommodation. O/N: Cradle Mountain DAY 3: MON 13TH APRIL CRADLE MOUNTAIN – BURNIE – STANLEY (BD) After breakfast we travel into the Cradle Mountain National Park to take in the beauty of Cradle Mountain towering behind Dove Lake. Visit Waldheim Chalet, once home of pioneer Gustav Weindorfer. Leaving this spectacular wilderness, time for a ride into Dove Lake and a stroll on one or more of many walking trails before returning to the chateau and heading to the coastal Bass Highway near Burnie to stop off and see the historic paper making plant at the paper mill display. Continue along the coast passing through small hamlets to the quaint little village of Stanley nestling under the huge rocky outcrop known as The Nut. O/N: Stanley Seaview Inn DAY 4: TUE 14TH APRIL STANLEY – ZEEHAN -‐ STRAHAN (BD) Watch the sunrise over The Nut and Half Moon Bay, whilst enjoying a leisurely breakfast, before taking the short drive to The Nut chairlift. For the energetic a ¾ hour stroll with magnificent views of differing landscapes of both land and sea. Travel to Zeehan to see the unique Pioneer Museum and the heritage-‐style streetscape. Continue south east as we approach historic Strahan, a pretty little port town on Macquarie Harbour. Originally a Huon pine timber milling settlement, its growth was boosted by copper mining from Queenstown and today it is an important fishing village for crayfish, shark and abalone plus commercial salmon. Overnight: Strahan Village DAY 5: WED 15TH APRIL GORDON RIVER CRUISE (BL) This morning board your cruise vessel and enjoy the view as you cruise breathtaking Macquarie Harbour to Hells Gate where the harbour meets the ocean. Travel along the serene Gordon River and visit Heritage Landing for a guided walk through the rainforest amongst trees thousands of years old. Re-‐join your cruise vessel for a sumptuous buffet lunch before continuing with a visit to Sarah Island, where your guide will entertain you with stories of the convicts’ lives on the island as you walk through the settlement ruins. Afterwards visit the Morrison Sawmill for a talk and demonstration on the artefacts made from Huon pine. Tonight is a free evening to dine out in town (own expense). Overnight: As Above DAY 6: THU 16TH APRIL WEST COAST WILDERNESS RAILWAY (BL) Join the famous West Coast Wilderness Railway for a journey through pristine forest and dense wilderness. Take in the spectacular views as you travel 35 kilometres over towering bridges, through hand-‐hewn rock cuttings and beneath canopies of ancient rainforests on board your charmingly restored locomotive (lunch included). Enjoy dinner out this evening (own expense). Overnight: As Above DAY 7: FRI 17TH APRIL QUEENSTOWN – DERWENT BRIDGE – NEW NORFOLK – HOBART (BD) This morning ascend into the lunar landscape of the old copper mining centre of Queenstown and discover its history. View “The Wall in the Wilderness” near Derwent Bridge, an artwork in progress with 100 hand carved Huon pine panels depicting the history of Tasmanian life. Travel to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake and admire the stunning wilderness scenery. Next visit historic New Norfolk where you will see St Matthews, Tasmania’s oldest church and rich agricultural pursuits of hop growing, dairying and horticulture along the Derwent River. End the day in the capital of Hobart for your three night stay. O/N: Riverfront Motel, Hobart DAY 8: SAT 18TH APRIL HOBART SIGHTSEEING (B) After a leisurely breakfast enjoy an orientation tour of the city centre taking in Salamanca Place, Royal Botanic Gardens, Tasman Bridge and Constitution Dock. Admire the beautiful early colonial sandstone buildings created by the unfortunate convict population. Afterwards enjoy the carnival atmosphere of the markets in Salamanca Place then free time for private sightseeing, shopping or just time at leisure. A free evening to dine out this evening (own expense). O/N: As Above DAY 9: SUN 19TH APRIL HOBART – HUON VALLEY (BD) Today enjoy the sights of the capital of Tasmania – see the beautiful Derwent River and marvel at the view of the city from Mt Wellington before travelling to the picturesque Huon Valley to see the panorama of the Valley with apple orchards dotting the countryside. Near the small hamlet of Geeveston time to take in the magnificent tree-‐top walk; over 600 metres with swinging bridges allowing you to discover changing scenery of the forest. Stop off at the quaint little villages of Huonville and Cygnet with time to walk along the foreshore in this wonderful estuary setting. Travel back to Hobart along the scenic coastal road along the D’Entrecasteaux Channel before enjoying a highlight dinner at the Drunken Admiral Restaurant, overlooking the harbour and the Derwent River. O/N: As Above DAY 10: MON 20TH APRIL HOBART – RICHMOND – PORT ARTHUR (BD) This morning cross the Tasman Bridge with our first stop being the Bonorong Wildlife Park to get up close with a Tasmanian devil and many other native animals. Take a step back in time as you visit Richmond, one of Australia’s most charming Georgian villages. Enjoy free time to stroll along the town’s quaint streets and admire its delightful sandstone buildings. Then travel along the Tasman Peninsula to the Port Arthur Historic Site, once the home of up to 12,500 convicts. Visit the Interpretation Gallery and play the Lottery of Life, a unique way to learn about convict life. Join your local guide for a walking tour amongst the buildings and ruins and cruise around the harbour to see the Isle of the Dead. O/N: Fox & Hounds Inn, Port Arthur DAY 11: TUE 21ST APRIL PORT ARTHUR – FREYCINET NAT PARK – BICHENO (BD) Stop at Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen and continue travelling north through beautiful coastal towns. Visit the village of Swansea to see the convict built Spikey Bridge. Prepare yourself for the breathtaking beauty of Freycinet National Park. The dramatic peaks of Hazards welcome you as you enter the park and enjoy spectacular scenery, azure bays and white sandy beaches. The Visitors Centre introduces the natural and cultural heritage of this region through creative displays. A ranger guide joins you for a short walk at Cape Tourville along the boardwalk track around the cliff line to the lighthouse. End the day in the crayfishing village of Bicheno for your overnight stay. O/N: Bicheno DAY 12: WED 22ND APRIL SCOTTSDALE – BRIDPORT – BEACONSFIELD – LAUNCESTON (BD) This morning take a beautiful coastal drive and visit St Helens. Traverse the scenic Weldsborough Pass and drive through the lush Myrtle rainforest. See Legerwood’s WW1 memorial tree carvings, and the townsite of Scottsdale. Continue on to the coastal seaside town of Bridport overlooking Anderson Bay and surrounded by bushland reserves and vineyards. Continue to George Town situated at the head of the Tamar River and part of the beautiful Tamar Valley. See the picturesque York Cove, now a pretty marina, but in the 19th Century was full of tall ships from around the world as traders sailed with the Roaring Forties from Europe across the Indian Ocean. Our next stop is a tour of the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage museum; known for the ill-‐fated Anzac Day in 2006 when a small earthquake caused a rock fall in the Beaconsfield gold mine. Fourteen miners escaped safely, one miner was killed and the remaining two, Todd Russell and Brant Webb, were trapped in a shaft approximately one kilometre underground until finally freed on 9 May. End the day in Launceston and enjoy our last dinner together this evening and reminisce about the events and happenings of the last eleven days. O/N: Launceston DAY 13: THU 23RD APRIL LAUNCESTON -‐ DEVENPORT-‐SIGHTSEEING – SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (B) This morning take the short drive out to Entally House, a beautifully maintained National Trust restoration displaying fine antiques and a feature garden before visiting Cataract Gorge where you can walk through the exotic gardens and ride the chairlift over The Basin discovering the natural beauty of the Gorge. From here we make our way through to Devonport for some final sightseeing before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania for our return journey. Once we board the Spirit time to settle in to our cabin before all getting together to share a drink and many memories of our wonderful “Tassie experience”. O/N: Spirit of Tasmania DAY 14: FRIDAY 24TH APRIL PORT MELBOURNE – HOME After our final evening on the Spirit of Tasmania we reboard the coach for our return transfer home travelling along the Princes Highway with a visit to Lakes Entrance arriving home at approximately 5pm. TOUR COST: $2995.00pp* Twin Share Single Supplement: $3595.00 $300.00 Deposit required at time of booking with full payment required 30 days prior to departure LEGEND: ACCOMMODATION: 3½ to 4 star standard with ensuite (please note Bicheno accommodation cabin style) B-‐Breakfast L-‐Lunch D-‐Dinner TOUR COST INCLUDES: TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: * Daily coach travel * Experienced coach captain/guide * All meals as listed in the itinerary * Overnight Travel on Spirit of Tasmania Day 1 and Day 13 – twin inside cabin * Entries to sights/attractions listed in the itinerary Every effort will be made to operate all travel arrangements as illustrated in the itinerary, however, we reserve the right to alter itineraries (including, but not limited to, accommodation, sightseeing and destinations) due to unforeseen circumstances, places of interest being closed, accommodation being renovated, road and/or other closures due to weather conditions etc, and replace the altered item with a similar alternative, if possible. The information listed in the itinerary is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to