Tasmania Grand Circle 10D9N, 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.

Driving information: total driving approx. 4.5hrs

Hit the road for one of Australia’s most scenic drives from Hobart to Strahan via the Lyell Highway. Part of the Great Circle Route, this journey will take you through the heart of Tasmania.

Departing from Hobart, take a deep breath of fresh air as the city fades into the rear vision mirror. The first town of interest is New Norfolk. Established in 1807 by farming families from Norfolk Island, this charming country town has a rich hop-growing history and, to this day, produces most of the hops for Australian breweries. It would be rude not to stop for a pint!

Continue on through the Derwent Valley and the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Look on in wonder as the landscape turns rugged, the rivers wild, and the mountain peaks dramatic and imposing. Along the Lyell Highway, well-marked trails provide easy access to the famous Franklin River. The Franklin Nature Trail is an ideal stopover for a toilet break and picnic, while the rainforest stroll to Donaghys Hill and the nature trail to the majestic Nelson Falls both feature on Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.

Next, follow the road through the State Forests to Queenstown, where woodcutting and smelter fumes (causing acid rains) have resulted in a landscape not unlike the Moon. They are tough in Queenstown – the local football ground is not grass, it’s gravel! Venture up Spion Kop Lookout for spectacular views of the surrounding area.

At the end of the day, arrive into Strahan, the only town on Tasmania’s forbidding West Coast. Nestled on the shores of the massive Macquarie Harbour, Strahan was once home to a notorious prison, Sarah Island, a powerful reminder of the brutal treatment of Tasmania’s convicts. These days, however, the town is an iconic travel destination with eateries serving up delicious local produce and shops selling artisan wares.

You’ll stay the night at Franklin Manor, boutique bed and breakfast heritage house originally built for Strahan’s Harbour Master in 1896.

Driving information: total driving approx. 2hrs

At 8:30am, set off aboard the Spirit of the Wild for an award-winning scenic cruise on the Gordon River. As you navigate the tranquil waters in search of the famous reflections, dedicated guides will take you through the history of this remarkable place, while local actors will introduce you to historic figures including Captain James Kelly, Lady Jane Franklin and more. Stop off at Sarah Island and Heritage Landing for guided tours and photo opportunities; and enjoy a chef-prepared buffet lunch with complimentary Tasmanian red, white and sparkling wines as well as beers, juices, tea and espresso coffee. You will also receive morning tea, afternoon tea and canapes.

Back on land around 2:30pm, hit the road and head north to Tasmania’s ‘Silver City’, Zeehan. Hidden in a valley of rugged hills and rainforest, Zeehan was established in the late 1800s after silver, tin and lead discoveries sparked the largest mining boom in the West. Today, Zeehan's Main Street is lined with grand old buildings like the Gaiety Theatre, supposedly visited by Dame Nellie Melba, beautifully restored and still entertaining locals and visitors.

Continue on to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. With ancient rainforests and alpine heaths, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair is home to the world-famous Overland Track and, of course, the iconic Cradle Mountain.

You’ll stay the next two nights at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Most Extraordinary Places To Stay.

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

Walking information: - Crater Lake Circuit: 8km/5mi | 3-3.5hrs | Grade 3: Moderate
Dove Lake Circuit: 6km/4mi | 2-3 hours | Grade 2: Easy

Depending on schedule, either Crater Lake or Dove Lake private guided walk will be offered. Private guided longer distance / more challenging walks can be arranged at additional cost. e.g. Crater Peak, Cradle High Circuit and Cradle Summit hike.

Spend the day walk one of the Cradle Mountain’s best trails: the Crater Lake and Dove Lake with your private guide. These trails are two of the best in Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park.

First up, Crater Lake. Starting from Ronny Creek, follow your local guide along the boardwalk and over the bridge into dense, wet rainforest. The track climbs up the side of Crater Creek to Crater Falls, the first waterfall on the Overland Track. After admiring the cascades and moss-covered rockpools, continue onto Crater Lake, with its dark waters and steep walls carved by glacial ice. There is an old boathouse at the northern end of the lake that makes for a great photo op.

Break for packed picnic lunch before moving onto one of Tasmania’s 60 Best Walks, the Dove Lake Circuit. Starting from the Dove Lake carpark, this trail follows the circumference of the lake and takes you beneath the craggy spires of the indomitable Cradle Mountain. Along the way, you’ll see an incredible mix of terrains: scrubby button grass gives way to sandy lake beaches, cascading waterfalls and dense rainforests on this loop trail. Dove Lake itself is a rather beautiful scene, especially when the wind is low. Its dark blue colours come from tea tree vegetation leaching into the water to give you an incredibly reflective surface. Get the right angle and you can take a picture of the lake and the snow-capped peaks around it.

In the late afternoon, return to Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge for a delicious 3-course dinner in the Highlands Restaurant.

Driving information: total driving time approx. 2.5hrs

Say farewell to Cradle Mountain and hit the road east towards Launceston.

Break up the journey with a stop in Sheffield, a friendly, quirky rural town where history and art merge to create a streetscape featuring more than 140 murals. The murals trace the history of the area and feature Cradle Mountain pioneer Gustav Weindorfer, Tasmanian Tigers, and pictorial representations of characters and stories of the past. While in the area, you may also wish to explore the foothills of Mount Roland, which stands 1233-metres (4045ft) above sea level.

In the afternoon, arrive into Launceston, one of Australia’s oldest cities. Take the short walk into the city centre and immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural heritage and flourishing food and wine scene. Amid a backdrop of Georgian streetscapes, feast on Tasmanian specialties including freshly shucked oysters, Tasmanian-grown Atlantic Salmon, wild abalone, black truffles and more. The CBD is packed with restaurants to impress even the most seasoned gastronome!

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

Driving information: total driving time approx. 3hrs

Hit the road north east to Scottsdale, a town rich is agricultural and forestry history. Here, you will find a number of beautiful heritage buildings including St Barnabas Church, the Old Post Office and Anabel’s of Scottsdale, with its garden full of camellias, rhododendrons and wisteria.

Continue onto Binalong Bay, where you will embark on a 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.

Back on dry land, the small bayside town of St Helens is the perfect place for lunch. Head into one of the local cafés or restaurants to sample fresh crayfish, flounder and scallops (own cost).

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 time approx. 2hrs

Hit the road south, passing through the towns of Scamander and St Marys before stopping at the famous Mt Elephant Pancakes, one of the most charming old-world restaurants this side of Europe (own cost). Alternatively, take the coastal road through Falmouth and Chain of Lagoons, where you can pull over by the side of the road to take in the view. Whatever route you decide, be sure to stop at the Bicheno Blowhole, where water explodes into the sky with every surge of the ocean.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to Friendly Beaches, where the trail is listed as one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. A 10-metre-long boardwalk takes you to an overlook behind the beach and to steps that lead down onto the sand. The friendly beach has a gradual, tapered pitch down to the water, making it a nice surface for a long beach walk.

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 the 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 the next two nights 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.

Walking information: - Wineglass Bay: 11km/7mi | 5hrs | Grade 4: Moderate - Hard . Self guided walk with return water taxi provided for the trail transfers.

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

Driving information: total driving time approx. 2.5hrs

Hit the road 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.

Your destination is Richmond, a picture-perfect Georgian village set in the Coal River Valley wine region. Enjoy afternoon tea at your accommodation – Prospect House Private Hotel – before making use of the hotel’s complimentary bikes to explore the pretty 19th century streets, antique stores and boutique shopping. Make sure to pay a visit to nearby Pooley Wines for an included one-on-one wine tasting. Pooley, and the Coal River Valley in general, are renowned for producing Tasmania’s best Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay and other award-winning premium cool climate wines.

In the evening, treat yourself to a pre-dinner drink and a viewing of Prospect House’s 1830’s convict-built cellar. Then, head into the dining room for a delicious 3-course dinner paired with more of Tasmania’s best wines.

Cap off the day in front of the open fire with a whiskey in hand. That’s a holiday done right!

Cap off an incredible holiday with a stop at Sullivans Cove Distillery, where you may choose to take part in an in-depth tour of the whisky making facilities and process led by one of the experienced cellar door team members (own cost). During the tour, you will have the opportunity to taste “the world’s best single malt”, as judged by the World Whiskies Awards in 2014.

When you’re ready, continue onto the Hobart Airport to commence your onward journey.

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