Grand East Coast Explorer 6D5N, Self-Drive

Arrive into Hobart International Airport (HBA) and pick up your hire car to begin your Tasmanian adventure.

First stop is the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre to collect the Tasmania National Parks Pass required for entry to all of the state’s national parks. The money raised from park fees is reinvested and goes directly towards the upkeep of the parks and reserves.

National Parks Pass in hand, spend the rest of the day exploring Hobart at your leisure. Wander the historic lands, alleys and squares of Salamanca Place; inspect the tall ships and pleasure yachts of Sullivans Cove; admire the fascinating works of MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art); and, in the late afternoon, venture up to Mt Wellington for to watch the sunset red, yellow and purple over the city and sea.

You’ll stay the night at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, a 5-star boutique art hotel offering a luxurious, historical and authentic experience.

Remember to BYO lunch for tomorrow’s Maria Island cruise.

Driving information: total driving approx. 1.5hrs
Walking information: Fossil & Painted Cliffs: 8-10km/ | 3-4hrs | Grade 2: Involves hardened formed tracks, short hill sections, cliff edges. Terrain includes beach, coastal, some hills.

Hit the road and head north to the fishing town of Triabunna, where you will embark on an unforgettable day tour to Maria Island. (Tour departs from the Triabunna Information Centre at (9:45am). Located just off the East Coast, the Island is a place where there are no motor vehicles, no shops and no worries.

Enjoy a morning tea or coffee at the ferry marina as your local eco-guide welcomes you to the Island. Once you’ve made the crossing, spend the morning walking to Fossil Cliffs (1.5-hour loop), enjoying the views of Bishop and Clerk and observing the local wildlife in their natural habitat. Then, explore the World Heritage-listed Darlington, and learn the fascinating stories of convicts at the edge of the world. This township is the best-preserved example of convict life in Australia.

Treat yourself to a picnic lunch inside a convict ‘mess hall’, on the penitentiary balcony or another pretty spot along the way. Once your belly is full, spend the rest of the afternoon walking to the vibrant Painted Cliffs (1.5-hours return) and learning about the rich cultural and geological history of the Island. Get up close with the unique patterns of this curious sandstone outcrop.

Upon your return to Triabunna around 5:00pm, head south to Orford, a popular holiday township renowned for its bayside and riverside beauty. Spring Bay is the perfect spot for dinner – there are many beachfront restaurants to choose from. Make sure to try the famous Spring Bay mussels. Unlike most other mussel producers, Spring Bay’s mussels are grown in deep, oceanic, nutrient-rich waters in some of the most precious and pristine seawaters in the world.

You’ll spend the night at Orford’s Sanda House Colonial B&B, the oldest building in Orford, featuring just 4 heritage guestrooms surrounded by beautiful gardens and a 20-tree orchard.

Driving information: total driving approx. 2.5hrs

Head north along the East Coast Wine Trail also known as the Great Eastern Wine Drive. One of Tasmania’s premier wine growing regions, the trail is known for fine cool climate varieties. Meet winemakers and brewers and sample fine wines, beer and stout accompanied by tasting plates of local cheeses and chocolate. Some of the more famous wineries along the route include Freycinet Vineyard, Spring Vale, Milton Vineyard, Gala Estate and the Hazards.

In the late afternoon, arrive into Freycinet National Park, the jewel of Tasmania’s eastern coastline. Take to the water for a relaxed 3-hour guided sea kayak along the coast. Glide beneath pink granite mountains, past beaches, and across water so clear you feel like you can touch the marine life below. As the sun sets, the spectacular evening light will take your breath away.

You’ll stay at Coles Bay in Freycinet Lodge’s Coastal Pavilion. Tucked away amid coastal bush, the Coastal Pavilion offers a superb blend of natural simplicity and ultimate comfort, complete with an outdoor bathtub in which to soak up the ambience.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner at the lodge.

Driving information: total driving approx. 2hrs
Walking information: 11km/7mi | 5hrs | Grade 4: Moderate - Difficult

Departing from Coles Bay, take an included water taxi south to Hazards Beach to the start of the 11-kilometre (7mi) circuit to Freycinet’s most famous attraction: Wineglass Bay.

After a stroll along Hazards Beach, walk up and around the low rocky coastline. The views across Great Oyster Bay are beautiful and a taste of what is yet to come as you begin your walk across the wide isthmus to one of the top ten beaches in the world.

Nestled in the iconic Hazards Range and bordered with pink granite peaks, Wineglass Bay is the most photographed view in the whole of Tasmania. After descending from the lookout to the sugar white sands, take your time, enjoy a picnic, walk on the beach and paddle in the crystal-clear waters. If you’re lucky, you might see White-bellied Sea Eagles that are known for their aerial gymnastics.

When you’re ready, say goodbye to Wineglass Bay and make your way around the final part of the circuit. The water taxi will be waiting to take you back to Coles Bay at a pre-arranged time.

In the afternoon, continue north to the beautiful Bay of Fires, famous for its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and orange lichen-covered granite boulders. Along the way, you may like to stop off at the Bicheno Blowhole, which erupts like a geyser with every surge of the ocean.

You’ll stay the night at Panorama St Helens Nature Resort, an eco-resort with a beautiful panoramic view of Georges Bay.

Driving information: total driving approx. 3hrs
Walking information: Blue Tier Giant: 2.4km/1.5mi | 2hrs | Grade 3: Moderate. Self guided & optional walk.

Departing in the morning from Bingalong Bay Gulch, embark on a 2-hour scenic cruise of the southern half of the beautiful Bay of Fires. As you cruise through crystal-clear waters, expert guides will share with you the culture and history of the Bay, with emphasis on The Gardens, an area famous for its orange lichen-covered boulders and white sandy beaches – a postcard-worthy site! Different times of year bring a diverse range of sea life including Humpback and Southern Right Whales, dolphins, fur seals, pelicans, albatross, pacific gulls, shearwaters and sea eagles.

In the late afternoon, return to St Helens to commence the last leg of your journey to Launceston. Along the way, you’ll pass through the towns of Weldborough and Derby. Weldborough is known for the glorious Weldborough Pass where huge fern trees grow on either side of the road, while Derby was the setting for an epic tin rush that saw thousands of eager miners flock to the area.

Alternatively, you might like to drive via the Blue Tier plateau, an exposed sub-alpine plateau 600-metres above sea level, with a rich mining history and magnificent natural heritage. One of the lesser-known walks in the area is the Blue Tier Giant or ‘Big Tree’ walk. The walk descends through native trees to the majesty of the Blue Tier Giant, the widest living tree in Australia, with a girth measuring 19.4-metres across.

Another optional stop on both routes is the Pyengana Dairy Company, who have been handcrafting traditional cloth matured farmhouse cheddar for over 130 years. Learn about how cheese is crafted, see the cheese makers at work and, of course, sample the dairy delights.

You’ll stay the night at Peppers Silo Launceston, a landmark heritage hotel that was once a grain silo.

All good things must come to an end. Check out at your leisure and head to the airport to commence your onward journey.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.