Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain Walk 6D5N, Fully Guided

- The departure and finish point is Launceston

- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Launceston. The closest airport to Launceston is Launceston Airport (LST), about 13–14 km from the city centre.

- Airport transfers are not included. From Launceston Airport (LST), your best option will be to take a taxi or an Uber directly to the hotel (Leisure Inn Penny Royal, 147 Paterson St, Launceston). It takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranaged at an additional cost, please contact us.

The only certainty about Tasmania weather is that it's unpredictable! Be prepared for warm sunny days in summer, with good chance that things turn cold, wet and windy very quickly! In summer, the average day-time temperature sits around 20 degrees (celcius), falling to around ten degrees at night, while average monthly rainfall is approximately 80-100mm. The region experiences strong westerly winds in the afternoons.

Tasmania's Tarkine and Cradle Mountain regions share a cool temperate climate, though elevation sets them apart. The Tarkine, a low-lying temperate rainforest in the island's northwest, experiences mild conditions year-round. Summer daytime temperatures (December to February) typically range from 17°C to 22°C, while winter days (June to August) sit between 8°C and 13°C, with overnight lows occasionally dropping close to freezing. Its high annual rainfall, often exceeding 2,000 millimetres, keeps humidity high and temperatures moderate. Cradle Mountain, rising above 1,500 metres, is noticeably colder due to its altitude. Summer daytime temperatures generally reach 12°C to 17°C, but nights can fall below 5°C even in the warmer months. In winter, daytime temperatures often stay between 0°C and 6°C, with frequent frosts, sub-zero overnight lows, and regular snowfall on the higher peaks. Both regions are known for rapid weather changes, so conditions can shift markedly within a single day regardless of the season.

This trip is rated 4 out of 5.

The physical rating gives you an idea of how much physical exertion is required on a particular trip. The majority of our itineraries are designed for people with an average level of fitness.

1 out of 5: these trips are a relaxing break. You don't have to worry about doing anything physically demanding unless you want to.

2 out of 5: Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.

3 out of 5: This trip will raise your heart rate. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

4 out of 5: Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it, as most activities will be challenging.

5 out of 5: Our highest physical rating. Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure with plenty of challenges and some extreme conditions. You'll be required to be seriously fit for this trip as difficult activities are included.

Food & Dietary Requirements: All meals are included on this tour. Breakfast comprises of cereal, fruit, yoghurt and toast. Lunch is either picnic while on the road, or a packed lunch taken on the walk, the latter generally a roll, sandwich or wrap with cold meat or tuna, cheese and salads. Dinner is 2 courses chosen from entree, main and dessert. Each day on the track you will enjoy a cake or biscuits for morning tea along with tea or coffee. Before every evening, except the arrival dinner, the guides will prepare a nibbles plate of cheese and biscuits. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know when you book, we are happy to adapt our tasty, nutritious meals to suit a variety of dietary needs. Shopping is limited while on tour so it is important to be upfront about dietary requirements as we may be unable to fill any last minute requests.

Group Leader: All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. We provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Fitness & Preparation: There is no such thing as an 'easy day' on this tour. However, the walk has been designed to make it achievable to those with a reasonable amount of fitness by the fact that you only carry a daypack; and you start with short distances, working your way up to longer days. You will be surprised just how your fitness improves over the seven days. After a few days, people are striding out! A positive mental attitude is most important. If you focus on the scenery, the company and the moment, not on the kilometres, then you find yourself reaching your destination with little problem. If you have done some training prior to the walk you will enjoy it all the more. The best way to prepare physically for the trip is to walk, walk and walk some more - preferably over a variety of terrain. Try to walk frequently. Even walking around your suburb will get you walk-fit. By the start of our tour you should be able to comfortably walk 15km, and try and do a few 20km walks on rough tracks. We know that this type of preparation is difficult to fit into a busy schedule. If you don't have the time to do long walks, we recommend doing regular stair walking sessions. Walking small distances frequently helps a lot as well. For instance, walking 3 - 5km four times a week, and 8km once a week, is a great help. If you're doing short training sessions, make sure you get yourself puffed and sweaty. Otherwise you won't benefit from your efforts. And start walking in the shoes you will wear on the walk now!

Cottages: Your accommodation for Day 2 & 3 is in individually set up cottages. You will be sharing a 2-bedroom cottage with other members of your group. These cottages have 2 individual private rooms, however the bathroom in the cottage will be shared among the 2 rooms. If you have booked a single supplement you will receive your own bedroom, however the bathroom in each cabin is still shared with the other bedroom in that cottage. This is made up by the unique setting deep in Tarkine's wilderness on the banks of the Pieman River.

Lodges: Your accommodation for Days 4 & 5 is in cabins. Each cabin has two bedrooms and one bathroom that is shared among the 2 bedrooms. If you have booked a single supplement you will receive your own bedroom, however the bathroom in each cabin is still shared with the other bedroom in that cabin.

Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.

Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.

A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.

Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.

General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance

Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.

Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.

Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.

Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.

Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.

Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.

Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.

Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.

For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.

Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.