Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Australia Tasmania Wilderness Traverse Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in Tasmania & Top Mount Wellington
On arrival, please make your own way to your accommodation in Hobart and get started on your adventure. If you have arrived in the morning, breathe in the coastal air with a stroll along the nearby harbor. Gather with the group and guide for a delicious lunch and full briefing on the adventure ahead. Mount Wellington (kunyani in the indigenous Palawa language) is the magnificent backdrop to coastal Hobart, and your afternoon destination. Drive to the 4,170-foot summit where you'll be treated to striking panoramic views. Returning to sea level, you'll have free time to relax before meeting up for a welcome dinner at a local harbor-side restaurant.
Accommodation: The Old Woolstore
(D)
Day 2 Explore the Sights, Flavors & Sounds of Salamanca Market
2-hour private van transfer
A Saturday ritual in Hobart, over 300 stalls offer a bounty of goods from local growers, artisans, distillers, bakers, makers, artists, and collectors at this pulsing market. Whether you plan to shop or observe the hustle and bustle, there are plenty of samples, snacks, and conversations to enjoy. Of architectural interest, the street is lined with old sandstone warehouses. The other side opens to the grassy edges of the promenade along the waterfront. Choose your own lunch from the many options on offer, and rejoin your guides for an afternoon drive down the Tasman Peninsula, pausing to get a close-up look at two of the island's lesser-known geological marvels. Explore a photogenic flat-stone surface naturally fractured into geometric shapes, called tessellated pavement and peer into the depths of Devil's Kitchen, a trench carved over centuries by pounding surf. Arrive in Port Arthur with time to relax before dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Stewart’s Bay Lodge
(B, D)
Day 3 Hike into Tasman National Park & Visit Port Arthur Historic Site
1.5-hour private van transfer
4-5 hours/6 miles of hiking with 656' of elevation gain/loss
Wake up full of anticipation for your first hike into the greater ecosystem of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian Wilderness. Today you will follow a track lauded as one of Tasmania's Great Short Walks, part of the multi-day Three Capes Track, which is in turn one of the Great Walks of Australia. Traverse forest and grasslands, descending stone steps and rising to the Cape Hauy headlands where columnar dolorite forms sheer cliffs that plunge into the ocean and sea stacks rise from the waters. In the afternoon, visit the site of an Australian penal settlement, one of many established by the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries. Together, the Australian Convict Sites are commemorated on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Explore the evocative remnants of over 30 buildings at Port Arthur, scattered over 100 acres on a solemn grassy bluff above the sea cliffs. Gather for dinner and take in the sunset this evening.
Accommodation: Stewart’s Bay Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Enjoy a Wildlife Cruise along the Tasman Peninsula
3.5-hour private van transfer
4 hours/.5-mile walk, plus 3- hour cruise
See a different side of the Tasman National Park today with an exciting cruise below towering sea cliffs, including Cape Pillar, the tallest in the southern hemisphere. Abundant birdlife circles overhead or perches among the rocks while seals swim and surface offshore. Watch for them as you pass rugged archways, shadowy sea caves, and amazing rock formations. Waterfalls plunge from the cliffs into the sea and you pass below Cape Hauy, which you saw from above the day before. Disembark and begin your journey to the Freycinet Peninsula, passing through coastal islands to one side and the looming Hazards range on the other. The evening is free to settle into your accommodation before dinner.
Accommodation: BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike to Sensational Wineglass Bay & Along the Hazards Range
30-minute private van transfer
5-6 hours/7 miles of hiking with 625' of elevation gain
Get ready for a full day immersed in the diverse ecosystems of the Freycinet National Park. Begin your adventure with a short climb to a lookout for breathtaking views across twin sapphire bays lined with white sand, and the peninsula beyond. Descend the 1,000 steps to idyllic Wineglass Bay, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Spend a moment sitting on glittering sand looking out at the sea, relishing this spellbinding natural wonder. The trail takes you through dense eucalyptus forest across the narrow isthmus, emerging at another lovely beach at Hazards Bay. Cross the sands and dip back into a shady grove, hiking up to rosy, pink granite sea cliffs. There are more outstanding views across Great Oyster Bay as you skirt the Hazards range. Time permitting, dive into crystal waters for a quick swim at Honeymoon Bay before heading back to your home base for a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Kayak an Exquisite Bay at Freycinet National Park
1.5-hour private van transfer
3 hours/1.5 miles of kayaking
The protected cove of Great Oyster Bay is ideal for kayaking. Pushing off from another gorgeous beach, get out on cerulean waters and paddle your way along the shoreline, always keeping an eye out for wildlife above and below you, such as white-bellied sea eagles, seals, and fish. The rocky domes of the Hazards range are a picture-postcard backdrop. As you paddle, your guides share their knowledge about the park's natural and cultural history. Alternatively, spend your time beachcombing and sunbathing on the sandy shore. After your adventure, head to Devil's Corner Winery for a private tasting of wines crafted in the cool, sea-kissed landscapes below the Hazards. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas and fresh seafood on the sunny deck with breathtaking views across Great Oyster Bay.
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Travel to Iconic Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
5-hour private van transfer
2-3 hours/3-7 miles of hiking with 590' elevation gain
Rise early to get on the road, eager to reach legendary Cradle Mountain and its irresistible parklands. Departing the dreamy east coast beaches, travel today into the lush interior of the island, with stops in typical towns along the way. Arriving in the afternoon, step out among the tufted grasses and rocky slopes, getting a glimpse of Cradle Mountain itself as you follow a boardwalk all the way to Ronny Creek, an area known as prime wombat habitat. As dusk falls, these endearing creatures bustle along the banks, offering thrilling close-up encounters. Discuss tomorrow's adventure over a tasty Tassie dinner.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Hike Glorious Cradle Mountain Trails
5-7 hours/3-4 miles of hiking with 246-1,115' of elevation gain
Lace up your boots for a full day of hiking in the park. Deep in the center of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site, the landscape is dominated by Cradle Mountain's stony peaks. Below, the terrain tumbles from glistening glacial lakes and cool alpine forest into verdant river valleys and mossy rainforests. Today's hike will be chosen based on the interests of the group. One option is Marions Lookout, starting at the trailhead for the multi-day Overland Route at Ronny Creek. From here, climb through rainforest greenery along a burbling creek where you come to a misty cascading waterfall. Continue into rugged alpine scenery, stopping at Crater Lake, actually a glacial lake encircled by craggy cliffs. It's a steep climb to Marions Lookout (4,000') where you are rewarded with outstanding views of the impressive lake and magnificent Cradle Mountain Summit. Return to your accommodation for a well-earned dinner.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Meet Tasmanian Devils & Kangaroos
3-hour private van transfer
A special wildlife experience awaits you today! Depart Cradle Mountain for a destination at the forefront of conservation and education, Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary. Seventy acres flourish with native Tasmanian flora and fauna including kangaroos and birdlife. Get behind the scenes with a private tour, learning about breeding programs that contribute to the survival of endangered species and getting to see the protected habitats used to care for native wildlife. You'll share a moment with a friendly wombat and meet a Tasmanian devil. Moving on to an urban environment, arrive in historic Launceston, at the confluence of three rivers. Take an optional stroll in Cataract Gorge, then take your own time to explore the vibrant city and choose your spot for dinner—your guide will provide you with recommendations.
Accommodation: Peppers Silo Launceston
(B, L)
Day 10 Fly to Remote Flinders Island & Hike to Castle Rock
30-minute air transfer, 2-hour private van transfer
2 hours/1.5 miles of hiking
Your next adventure begins with a short flight over Bass Strait, landing on Flinders Island, a wild place sculpted by the winds, sea, and sand with granite peaks and lush rain forest to discover. Head out on your first hike, a spectacular route along the dramatic boulder-strewn coastline finishing at Castle Rock, a 3-story high granite monolith perched on a sandy point. Afterwards, explore the Furneaux Museum, where you'll learn about sealers and shipwrecks, pioneers and muttonbirds, and the pivotal points this island played in the history of Tasmania's Aboriginal people. Drive north to Leeka and your private seaside eco-camp, beautifully sited to take in top-notch landscape by day and southern hemisphere stars at night.
Accommodation: Flinders Island Exclusive Eco-Comfort Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 11 Climb to the Top of Mount Killiecrankie
40-minute private van transfer
5-7 hours/6.5 miles of hiking with 820' of elevation gain and moderate exposure
Awake to the sounds of nature and the smells of a hot breakfast. After fueling up for the day, set off on a sandy track, passing through low scrubland and beach grass. As you crest this prominent peak (1,037'), take your time to look in all directions, each angle as enchanting as the next, with vistas spreading across the coast, interior farms, and offshore islands. Descend along Diamond Gully Trail (named for local topaz, called "Killiecrankie diamonds"), checking out fantastic rock formations and local birdlife en route to Stacky's Bight, where you'll stop for lunch at an impressive sea-carved stone archway, and perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim. Continue along the coast, rock-hopping your way to The Docks—a marvelous display of age-old granite outcrops, coppery with orange lichen. A short walk takes you to the waiting vehicle and back to camp for some time to reflect before a tasty guide-prepared dinner.
Accommodation: Flinders Island Exclusive Eco-Comfort Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 12 Summit Mount Strzelecki for Incredible Views
1.5-hour private van transfer
5-6 hours/4 miles of hiking with 2,295' of elevation gain/loss
Reaching the highest point on Flinders Island before the afternoon clouds envelop the peak means an early morning start. Transfer to Strzelecki National Park's wild beauty where you start the climb, navigating the track through native gum trees and she-oaks, with a chance to spy a wombat, wallaby, or echidna in the bush. Cross wildflower heath and climb through cloud forest dotted with ferns, hiking straight up to the peak at 2,480 feet. The views are astonishing. On a clear day you can see as far as the mainland coast, as well as the outer Furneaux islands and the rocky ridges of Flinders. After enjoying your lunch on the granite massif, make your way down to sea level where a rejuvenating swim at Fotheringate Bay awaits. Spend your final night in nature's splendor.
(B, L, D)
Day 13 Walk Serene Trouser’s Point & Return to Launceston
2.5-hour private van transfer, 30-minute air transfer
2 hours/3 miles of hiking with minimal elevation gain
Make the most of your last day in this special place few have discovered. Head back into Strzelecki National Park to picture-perfect Trouser Point, known for its unrivaled beauty. Azure waves lap at white sand and granite mountains rise sharply from the shore. Stroll a coastal trail taking in views of Mount Strzelecki and Bass Strait islands. Wander down to the water's edge to feel the sand beneath your feet and the water pool around your ankles. With your memories in hand, board your flight to the mainland, where you'll head to House of Arras Winery, an award-winning maker of sparkling wines. The terroir of Tasmania's cool climate and rich soils come to life during a tasting. Time permitting, see if you can peep a platypus along the vineyard's boardwalk trail. In Launceston, sit down for a celebratory meal with your group and guides to reminisce about your adventures together.
Accommodation: Peppers Silo Launceston
(B, L, D)
Day 14 Depart Tasmania
15-minute private van transfer
Your unforgettable Tassie adventure comes to a close today. You will be transferred to the airport for your homeward bound flights.
Accommodation: Peppers Silo Launceston
(B)
