Tasmania – A Privately Guided Australian Tour Itineray

When you touch down in Australia you will be met at the airport by Your Private Driver/Guide.

Our guides have been with us for a long time and are seasoned professionals. Our aim is to give ‘you’ our guests a memorable experience of Australia and its stunning scenery. With years of experience in tourism in Australia, we guarantee that you will receive a first-class service!

The best part about our guides is that they are local and chances are they have their go-to destinations that only locals know about. Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, a favourite local pub, or a fantastic attraction that most tourists overlook, our guides can help recommend authentic experiences that you may not discover on your own.

Welcome to Hobart, the capital of the Apple Isle!

Nestled amongst the foothills of Mt Wellington, Hobart is a harbour town with heritage charm and a modern lifestyle. From the bustling waterfront of Salamanca Place to the historic houses of quaint Battery Point, Hobart is a gorgeous place to wander and get lost in.

Take a bus to the summit of Mount Wellington for panoramic views over the city, or board a ferry at Brooke Street Pier and sail upstream to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

You won't be short of delicious dining options this evening: Hobart has fast become one of Australia's top gourmet hotspots, thanks to its amazing local produce.

Take an early start from Hobart and head to the Tasman Peninsula, home to Australia’s highest sea cliffs. Enjoy panoramic views from Pirates Bay Lookout and the short but spectacular Waterfall Bay Clifftop Track.

Meet the Tasmanian Devils

Next stop is the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo to witness the startling sight of Tasmanian Devils feeding (table manners are not their strongpoint). Hand-feed the native wallabies and walk amongst the local fauna and flora in the charming “Unzoo” setting.

Port Arthur: The Inescapable Prison

Just a short drive down the road, we enter the Port Arthur Historic Site. Enjoy a Harbour Cruise around the Isle of the Dead, and discover the grim history of the early Australian Penal system, accompanied by Port Arthur's expert guides. As you tour the prison buildings you'll understand the isolation experienced by the convicts in this “inescapable prison”.

Return to Hobart via historic Richmond Village, where you can walk across Australia’s oldest bridge still in use — reported to be haunted!

Last but not least, stop for a fabulous view across Hobart from a local lookout. A picturesque way to return to the city.

Today you will travel to Strahan, a harbour town on the shores of the massive Macquarie Harbour. Welcome to Tasmania's wild west: escaped convicts from nearby Sarah Island prison sometimes asked to return to jail after struggling to survive in this rugged and remote landscape.

Today Strahan is on the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage Area, home to one of the few temperate rainforests that remain on the planet.

Suggested Activity: Bonnet Island Cruise

This evening, wildlife lovers have a chance to meet some of Tasmania's feathered friends in their natural habitat. Take a cruise to Bonnet Island at sunset and go ashore to witness the colonies of Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters as they return to their burrows each night. This intimate encounter is one to be remembered!

Approximate Distance: 301 km | 187 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours 19 mins

Accommodation: Strahan - 1 Night

Witness the breathtaking scenery and tranquillity of this World Heritage-listed wilderness on a premium Gordon River Cruise.

Gordon River Cruise

Your cruise begins by passing through notorious Hell's Gate and across Macquarie Harbour to the Gordon River. Stop for a taste of delicious fresh fish at a local salmon farm on the way.

Disembarking at Heritage Landing, you'll take a guided walk through the temperate rainforest on elevated boardwalks that thread their way between the magnificent rainforest species.

Explore the ruins of Sarah Island's dreaded penal colony and return to Strahan to continue your Tasmanian Road Trip. Drive north to Cradle Mountain, the home of the famous Overland Track.

Approximate Distance: 139 km | 86 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 50 mins

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain - 2 nights

Cradle Mountain National Park is arguably one of the prettiest National Parks in Australia. With alpine wilderness, abundant native wildlife and a huge variety of walking trails to choose from you'll love exploring this peaceful haven.

The gentle Dove Lake Circuit takes around 2 hours with amazing mountain views. Or you try the climb to Marion’s Lookout if you feel energetic. It's ridiculously steep but the lake & mountain views from the top are a worthy reward.

If hiking isn't your thing, there are endless ways to explore the area: try a scenic flight, horse treks, canyoning adventure or a wildlife spotting walk to name but a few!

Tasmania's second city is your next port of call. One of Australia's oldest cities, charm-filled Launceston is a boutique riverside town with Colonial and Victorian heritage buildings in abundance.

Explore Launceston

Located at the head of the picturesque Tamar Valley, Launceston's beautiful attractions include the spectacular Cataract Gorge Reserve and beautiful parks & gardens.

Settle in with a stroll along the waterfront, perhaps head out to the Tamar Valley region for a taste of Tasmania’s fine wines or take a short walk to the wild and beautiful Cataract Gorge, just 15 minutes from town.

Approximate Distance: 141 km | 88 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 55 mins

Accommodation: Launceston - 1 Night

Journey to the East Coast today in search of pristine white beaches in the beautiful Bay of Fires. The region gained its name in 1773 when Captain Tobias Furneaux spotted an abundance of Aboriginal fires along the shore, but it's also appropriate for the flame-coloured, orange lichen striped across the rocks.

Crowned as one of the hottest travel destinations in the world by Lonely Planet, the Bay stretches for 50km: you're guaranteed to find your own secluded piece of paradise here.

Tonight you will stay in a charming beachside bush retreat just 2km from the village of Binalong Bay, at the gateway to the southern end of the Bay of Fires.

Approximate Distance: 190 km | 118 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 44 mins

Accommodation: Bay of Fires - 1 Night

When you've had your fill of basking on white sandy beaches and relaxing in the Bay of Fires, make your way along the coast to Freycinet National Park.

Freycinet National Park

If you thought Tasmania couldn't get any more beautiful, Freycinet will prove you wrong. Against a backdrop of pink granite mountains, you'll discover secluded bays, pristine waters, white sandy beaches, local wildlife and incredible walking trails.

Wineglass Bay is the jewel in Freycinet's crown. Nestled at the foot of the forest-covered mountains, you'll see a crescent of white sand bordering the emerald waters of the bay. Admire it from the Wineglass Bay lookout point or grab a picnic and hike down to one of the most beautiful beaches you have ever seen (2.5hrs return).

Suggested Activity: Bicheno Penguin Tour (30 mins from Freycinet)

At night begins to fall, see Little Blue Penguins return to their burrows on a twilight guided penguin tour. This is a rare and thrilling chance to get very close to the world's smallest penguins in a private rookery. Watch as they emerge from the ocean after a hard day of fishing and head home for the night

Approximate Distance: 146 km | 91 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 21 mins

Accommodation: Freycinet National Park - 2 Nights

A 3 hour Freycinet Sea Kayak Tour lets you experience the stunning National Park from a new perspective.

On this relaxed guided tour of the Freycinet coastline, you’ll glide beneath pink mountains, past pristine beaches and across waters so clear you feel you can touch the marine life below. Discover Freycinet’s abundant wildlife as you weave along the coastline. While you paddle, your local guides will share little known stories of the area. Refreshments are provided halfway through the tour - you'll pause at a secluded sandy beach for a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a tasty snack.

Make your way back to Hobart to return your rental car and enjoy the city at your own pace.

Explore the city centre, visit the historic Cascade Brewery for lunch and a tasting paddle at the foot of Mount Wellington, stroll the charming old streets of Battery Point or catch up on any highlights you didn't fit in on Day One.

Sampling a drop of native Tasmanian whiskey is recommended: in 2014 it won the Best Single Malt In The World, which had never been awarded outside of Scotland or Japan!

Approximate Distance: 197 km | 122 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 42 mins

Accommodation: Hobart - 2 Nights

Explore spectacular landscapes and gourmet local produce on a delicious day trip to Bruny Island.

Bruny Island

With stunning clifftop views, plentiful native wildlife and some of the best gourmet produce in the country, Bruny is utterly enchanting. This odd-shaped isle - it looks like two islands joined by a long thin strip in the middle - makes for a brilliant day out.

Day Tour of Bruny Island

See Bruny Island with a local guide who will show you the very best of what the island has to offer.

You'll visit the home of Bruny Island's cheese, oysters, fudge, berries, wine and whisky to savour their produce and hear the stories behind the harvest. At every stop you can sit back, relax and enjoy a fully inclusive experience.

Throughout the day you'll see incredible scenery. Take a stroll and leave your footprints in the sand of a deserted beach. The light bush of the northern island gives way to the dense rainforest of the south - this pristine wilderness is home to diverse wildlife including rare white wallabies.

Say farewell to Hobart today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 12 Day Complete Tasmania Self Drive vacation and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.