Arrival into Launceston where you will be met by your tour hosts John Lovett & Claudio Polles. You will be transferred to Launceston.

Overnight  LAUNCESTON

Awake refreshed and enjoy breakfast before you set off to explore scenic Northern Tasmania. We will start our holiday from Launceston in the north, the second most important city of Tasmania. It has a Population of 98,000 and was settled in 1804 by Colonel William Patterson who named it after Launceston in Cornwall (England).
The Cataract Gorge Reserve reaches almost to the middle of the city of Launceston. Walk along a rushing river through a dramatic rocky gorge surrounded by beautiful natural bushland, You'll emerge from the narrow part of the gorge into an elegant Victorian park with mewing peacocks. GRINDELWALD - steeply pitched tiled roofs, chalets with romantic timber balconies, a steepled church, fresh white walls, a village green - this sounds like a Swiss village, it IS a Swiss village, complete with a special chocolate shop and bakery that sells cakes to send you into a swoon.
From Launceston we will visit the west Tamar valley and the picturesque villages along the river; Rosevears, Legana. Gravelly Beach, Beauty Point etc... See a world first Seahorse farm (hippocampus abdominalis). The working farm provides a unique insight into the mystical, intriguing and lovable seahorses from birth.
Enroute to Burnie we pass through the beautiful towns of Devonport, Ulverstone and Penguin. Dinner in a selected restaurant tonight.

Overnight  - BURNIE.

After a leisurely breakfast we will travel from Burnie, passing through Wynyard via its scenic drive, Table Cape with its lookout and lighthouse, then to the secluded Boat Harbour beach and Stanley, a quaint little 1826 fishing village surrounded by the sea.
The historic village of Stanley is nestled at the base of "The Nut", a sheer-sided bluff on Circular Head. A walking track climbs to the summit of The Nut, or take the chairlift, with its spectacular views across Bass Strait beaches and over the town. We visit Highfield House, a historic property completed in 1835, now restored and open to inspection to the public. Dinner of the finest and freshest local produce at one of Claudio's favourite eateries tonight.

Overnight -  BURNIE.

Drive through the rugged west coast, the mining area of Tasmania, visiting Zeehan with its historic mine museum, where in its heyday, Houdini walked a tightrope across the main street and Dame Nellie Melba sang at the Gaiety Theatre, and then to Strahan - important historic village gateway to the Gordon Franklin world heritage national park, 2 million year old rainforest and one of the world's last great wild rivers. We will spend two nights. Dinner tonight at Strahan Village.

Overnight - Strahan Village - STRAHAN,

Enjoy a day on the Gordon River. Follow in the wake of the original West Coast pioneer; on one of the unforgettable cruises up the mighty Gordon River. Your day begins with a journey out to Hell's Gates, aptly named by the convicts. Shipwrecks and great escapes - there is a lifetime of stories to this turbulent entrance. You will then travel across Macquarie Harbour, 200 square kilometres of natural, protected harbour, to the Gordon River. Glide the Gordon River to Heritage Landing where you will disembark to view the magnificent rainforest. The highlight is a 2000-year-old Huon pine - a tree that was growing before Christ was born.

From the Gordon River continue to Sarah Island, the first penal settlement in Tasmania. Discover its convict history and ruins during your stop here.

From Sarah Island return to Strahan to end your world famous cruise. Morning tea and a mouth-watering smorgasbord luncheon are included on board the licensed vessel.

Evening at leisure

Overnight - Strahan Village STRAHAN.

Drive from Strahan to Hobart. Travel through Queenstown with its moon-like landscape. We will drive through the rugged valley of central Tasmania arriving at the beautiful town of New Norfolk and then on to Hobart. Our base for the next three nights will be Hobart Tower. A great dinner tonight.

Overnight - Hobart Tower - HOBART.

Visit Salamanca markets; the 1830's sandstone warehouses are home to galleries, studio's restaurants and cafes. From the colour and bustle of a city market to the treasures waiting to be unearthed in an antique shop, there are plenty of surprises in store. In the fine old Georgian buildings many artists have their working studios, where a whiff of oil paint and turpentine mingles with the scent of newly turned pine. Today we will visit Mount Wellington: from the top you'll see miles up the Derwent Valley, down to the Southern Ocean and across to Port Arthur. The inlets, bays, hills and this beautiful city are spread out in a stunning panorama, explained in detail in the lookout at the summit.

Overnight-Hobart Tower - HOBART.

This morning we will visit the historic town of Richmond, 100 years from the busy city with its fine Georgian architecture and memories of days gone by. In the narrow cells of Richmond Gaol, dusty sunlight gleams on chiselled stone, and Tasmania's convict past seems just a clink of chains away. Take a stroll along the main street - inside yesterday's freestone cottages are the galleries and cafes of today, where you'll discover the glow of watercolours and ceramic glazes, or the warm waft of fresh baked scones. This afternoon we will visit Port Arthur. Overlooking the waters of a quiet bay is Australia's most significant historic site - at Port Arthur, every piece of hand-hewn stone and every thumb-marked brick has a story that echoes days long gone. Here you'll step back one and a half centuries - exploring the dramatic buildings. strolling or picnicking beneath graceful old English trees and cruising the dark waters to the Isle of the Dead, every moment at Port Arthur is a piece of' living history. Your feet tread the same paths the convicts walked - in the silence you might catch an echo of clinking chains and the tap of hammer on stone.

Overnight - Hobart Tower - HOBART.

Travel on the Midlands Highway through. Oatlands, a very pretty colonial town which has more Georgian and early colonial buildings than any other town in Australia. Many of the old cottages are now cafes and restaurants. Ross - 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 I847 and 1853, have been restored and are open to the public. Pontville - in the middle of the 19th century this was a garrison town. where transported convicts built the bridge over the Jordon River. The soldiers and convicts are gone now but the historic buildings remain. We will spend two nights at Bicheno, the gateway to the Freycinet Peninsular.

Overnight - Bicheno Beach Front, BICHENO.

Today we will visit the Freycinet Peninsular. The best-known attraction is Wineglass Bay. Its perfect formation and white sand make it one of the most photographed natural features in the state.

Overnight- BICHENO.

On the last day we will have time to visit Evandale, a lovely Georgian village with well-preserved cottages, houses, churches, inns and old shops. There are good antique galleries and art and craft shops. Departure this afternoon from Launceston airport.

Travelscene on Capri

Suite 52,
Capri Commercial Centre,
Via Roma,
Isle of Capri
Queensland 4217.
Australia

Tel: (07) 5592 3349
Fax: (07) 5592 3416
free call 1800 679 066
sales@tsoncapri.com.au

Lessons  I  Materials  I   Gallery  I  News  I  Bio
Email  I  Newsletter  I  Privacy Policy  I  Links  I  Copyright