Tasmanian East Coast Escape

Explore the east coast of Australia’s beautiful Apple Island with stays in Launceston, Bicheno & Hobart. Your six-day adventure includes a catamaran cruise on Wineglass Bay and the stunning Freycinet Peninsula, and visits to Bridestowe Lavender Estate and historic Port Arthur.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Launceston

Arrive in Launceston, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Tasmania’s charming second city came to the attention of serious foodies all over the globe when it was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2021. The city is blessed with elegant Colonial and Victorian architecture and has one of the best-preserved early cityscapes in Australia. Explore the town on a late afternoon guided tour, before dinner tonight.

Day 2: Launceston, Bridestowe Lavender Estate, Bicheno

After visiting Bridestowe Lavender Estate, traverse Weldborough Pass and admire the views of forested hills and farmland. Then travel to the delightful seaside town of Bicheno, which is set between the Douglas-Apsley and Freycinet national parks. 

Day 3: Bicheno, Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park

After breakfast this morning, you’ll travel south and join your Wineglass Bay Cruise to experience the exquisite beauty of Freycinet Peninsula’s pristine sheer cliffs, sea caves and remote coves on the Schouten Passage II eco-catamaran. With a highly skilled, local skipper learn about the rich natural history, geology, ecosystems and heritage of the region. Enjoy a delicious ploughman’s style lunch of fresh local produce. After your cruise, visit Freycinet National Park Visitor Centre and enjoy a guided tour along Cape Tourville, admiring the stunning coastal scenery before returning to Bicheno.

Day 4: Ross, Richmond, Hobart

Visit the historic towns of Ross and Richmond on your way to Hobart. Later, arrive in Tasmania’s capital for a guided discovery which takes you through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the heritage district of Battery Point.

Day 5: Port Arthur, Hobart

Today, explore the Port Arthur Historic Site, Australia’s most intact, evocative and notorious convict prison, on a guided tour. See the famous sandstone Penitentiary then visit the Convict Church and Separate Prison. You’ll then step aboard a cruise around the Isle of the Dead and hear haunting stories about the convicts who were transported here from across the world and eventually buried at Port Arthur. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at Mures Upper Deck.

Day 6: Depart Hobart

This morning, walk the Salamanca Market and peruse the treasures of Tasmania at more than 300 stalls. Wander through the array of goods from hand-crafted jewellery and carved wooden trinkets to tantalising Tasmanian gin. Afterwards, bid a fond farewell to the Apple Isle. We say goodbye before we transfer you to the airport for your flight.