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Day 1 : Launceston (D)
On arrival at Launceston airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Please book flights to arrive by 1.30pm. This afternoon meet your Outback Discovery crew and fellow travellers and join them for a tour of Launceston. This is a city of elegant 19th century architecture and the surrounding countryside is Tasmania's premier wine-growing region. Launceston was founded on the junction of the Tamar, North Esk and South Esk Rivers and it is known as Tasmania's 'Garden City'. We will visit Cataract Gorge where you can enjoy a ride on the world's longest single span chairlift or a walk over the historic King George Bridge. This evening enjoy a welcome drink and dinner.
Overnight Stay: Launceston
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Day 2 : Launceston – Smithton (B,L,D)
Our first stop on our journey around this beautiful island state will be at the Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary where you will have the opportunity to interact with native Tasmanian wildlife including Tasmanian devils and wombats. We then continue on to Sheffield, famous for its spectacular street murals. We travel through orchard country to the port town of Devonport and along a stretch of stunning coastline for lunch at the pretty town of Penguin. Our route then takes us to Boat Harbour Beach, a charming hillside village known for its fine white-sand beach. As we drive west along the coast and approach the historic town of Stanley you'll see 'The Nut', a huge flat-topped circular headland that dominates the town. You can take a chairlift ride own expense to the top for wonderful views up and down the coast. Tonight we stay in the heart of a vegetable growing and dairy area at Smithton.
Overnight Stay: Smithton
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Day 3 : Smithton – Cradle Mountain (B,L,D)
The historic grazing property of Woolnorth is the site of Tasmania's largest wind farm. Feel the strength of the winds that power the turbines on this morning's tour. We then visit Cape Grim and the Rocky Cape Lighthouse for great views of this rugged coast before having lunch in Wynyard. At Hellyer Gorge you can take an easy stroll along the riverbank where moss covered rocks and large tree ferns are shaded by huge forest trees.
Two Night Stay: Cradle Mountain
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Day 4 : Cradle Mountain (B,L,D)
A special day begins with a guided tour of the World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park. In 1911 Austrian born naturalist Gustaf Weindorfer bought land and built a chalet to attract people who wanted to trek at Cradle Mountain. Nestled among the myrtles and King Billy pines at Cradle Valley, the rebuilt Waldheim Chalet takes you back to the time when the Weindorfers first offered their renowned hospitality to guests. You will also spend time exploring Dove Lake. Later there's free time to take another walk from your lodge. You may be lucky enough to see a platypus in the pools of Pencil Pine Creek or a wombat feeding in the bush. We'll host a wine and cheese tasting before dinner, so you can sample some of the excellent local produce. After dinner there will be an informative slide presentation about Cradle Mountain, its flora and fauna.
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Day 5 : Cradle Mountain – Strahan (B,L,D)
Today we travel through wilderness areas dotted with lakes that have been dammed to power hydro electricity stations. We will cross Lake Pieman at Reece Dam, a favourite spot for trout fishermen. At the historic town of Zeehan we will visit the museum where you'll learn about the history of the region's mining industry which began to boom around 1882 when silver-lead deposits were found. The Museum's displays of pioneering memorabilia include some of the best mineral samples in the world. On to Queenstown to board the reconstructed Wilderness Railway which was built despite treacherous weather and difficult terrain to forge a link between the mining town of Queenstown and the port of Strahan. At the end of the line the train arrives at the pretty little town of Strahan on Macquarie Harbour.
Two Night Stay: Strahan
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Day 6 : Strahan (B,L,D)
Macquarie Harbour is the gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. This morning board your luxury cruise vessel to cross the harbour to Hells Gate where the harbour flows into the sea. The cruise will continue along the wide lower reaches of the Gordon River to Heritage Landing where you'll walk through the ancient rainforest beneath trees thousands of years old. From here it's a visit to Sarah Island where a guide will escort you around the remains of this harsh penal island whilst reciting stories of survival. This evening you will enjoy the comic re-enactment of a true story of escape from Sarah Island aboard 'The Ship That Never Was'.
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Day 7 : Strahan – Hobart (B,L,D)
Today we make our way back to Queenstown before driving across barren slopes damaged by the many years of mining. We'll visit the deepest lake in Australia, Lake St Clair and then continue past several hydro electricity stations. At Curringa Farm you will see a sheep being shorn, farm dogs working a mob of sheep and learn about best practice landcare and farming techniques. Then you'll enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch. There's a chance to walk off lunch at Russell Falls where the track to the picturesque falls is framed by stunning tall tree ferns. Set on the River Derwent, Hobart is very much a city of the sea with views of the Derwent estuary appearing around every corner. There'll be an orientation tour after we arrive in the city.
Two Night Stay: Hobart
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Day 8 : Hobart (B,L,D)
The Huon Valley is set amongst pristine waterways and wilderness. Arts, craft and heritage; apple blossom and vineyards; farmers, foresters and fishermen capture the essence of the Tasmanian countryside. Close by is the Tahune Airwalk where you'll have a unique view of the lush forest canopy. Lunch will be at Huonville before making our way back to Hobart via the towns of Cygnet and Snug. Late this afternoon we'll take the long winding road to the top of Mt Wellington for a spectacular view over Hobart weather conditions permitting.
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Day 9 : Hobart – Port Arthur (B,L,D)
This morning we visit one of Australia's oldest towns. The quaint village of Richmond has the country's oldest Catholic Church and sandstone bridge in Australia as well as craft shops, galleries and antique shops. On the road to Port Arthur we will visit three natural formations carved by the sea ' the Blowhole, Tasman Arch and Devil's Kitchen. The penal settlement of Port Arthur began as a timber station and in 1857 became a convict penitentiary. Just 20 years later, the last convict left Port Arthur. Today, your guide will show you the well-preserved ruins built with convict labour, impressive architecture and chilling prison facilities. You'll cruise around the Isle of the Dead.
Overnight Stay: Port Arthur
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Day 10 : Port Arthur – St Helens (B,L,D)
Our route today takes us north along Tasmania's east coast. Travelling through Orford, Triabunna and Little Swanport we'll start to see the high peaks of the Freycinet Peninsula across Great Oyster Bay. We'll stop at the convict built Spiky Bridge before entering the Freycinet Peninsula. We'll walk to Wineglass Bay lookout in Freycinet National Park to admire the clear blue sea and the circle of white sand fringing the bay. On to the fishing village of Bicheno and St Helens, the largest town on the east coast.
Overnight Stay: St Helens
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Day 11 : St Helens – Launceston (B,L,D)
Leaving St Helens, we take the back tracks along the Bay of Fires and through Mount William National Park. In the Tamar Valley we'll have lunch in the early European settlement of George Town before visiting the lighthouse and old colonial buildings at Low Head. We cross the Tamar River via the modernistic Batman Bridge and drive to Beaconsfield for a tour of the Grubb Shaft Mining Museum. Continuing through the Tamar's wine growing areas, we return to Launceston.
Overnight Stay: Launceston
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Day 12 : Launceston (B,L)
This morning we'll drive to Woolmers Estate, a 19th century rural settlement. The Estate has outstanding cultural significance because it represents continuous ownership by a single family over six generations, from the time the land was first settled in 1817 to the death of the last heir in 1994. The National Rose Garden of Australia is also at Woolmers, and a stroll through the gardens is highly recommended. We'll then stop in the historic town of Ross, after which you'll be transferred to the airport for your homebound flight. Please book your flights to depart from 3.00pm onwards. *Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
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