Walking the Isles of Australia: A Tasmania and Kangaroo Island Adventure

Board your flight for the trip across the Pacific to Sydney, Australia and connect to your domestic flight to Tasmania.

Lose one day crossing the Pacific.

Welcome to the Lands Downunder and the town of Launceston! On arrival, we will be met and transferred to our mountain resort accommodation.

First Stop, prison! No kidding. We'll visit Brickendon Estate, where convicts were assigned to work the land of free settlers in exchange of food and clothing. Brickendon is still owned by the descendants of the original family. Although a working farm, Brickendon offers a view into the life in colonial and pioneering Tasmania. Enjoy a personally guided tour of the Estates and witness the Estate’s outstanding collection of flora ranging from some of the oldest tress in Australia to scented old–fashioned roses.

We'll then travel north toward Tasmania’s alpine region through the rolling green hills of the north where we will take our first walk in the shadows of the craggy peaks of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE listed Cradle Mountain.

Spend the day exploring the Cradle Mountain area. Our expert naturalist guide will introduce you to the many endemic fauna and flora species of the region. We'll choose from a number of different walks and hikes including Dove Lake that are the most suitable the day, weather and trail conditions. Along the way you will observe the birdlife typically involving species such as Forest Ravens, Currawongs and Wedge-tailed Eagles. We'll visit The Wilderness Museum with an amazing presentation of the now extinct (Tasmanian Tiger - Thylacine) and ten rooms of some of the most remarkable wild photography in the world.

This evening we'll visit Devils@Cradle Wildlife Sanctuary to gain insights about the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial and witness the feeding of this unique species. Devils @ Cradle is a unique Tasmanian conservation facility focusing on Tasmania's three carnivorous marsupials. The sanctuary is committed to the long-term conservation of this now vulnerable species. Their team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides will deliver a very passionate presentation.

Today we leave Cradle Mountain and head for Marakoopa Cave and its impressive system of underground streams and the largest display of glow-worms of any accessible cave in Australia.
On route to Tasmania’s stunning East coast with its white sandy beaches and clear azure waters we'll stop at Pyengana Dairy where the Healey family has been producing English-style cheddar cheese for three generations. We'll take a short walk to Columba Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Tasmania and then continue to the internationally acclaimed Bay of Fires, named after the many granite boulders of the region splashed with orange lichen.

Tonight enjoy dinner in St Helen’s famous Blue Shed Restaurant, a family-owned business specializing in local seafood dishes.

Overnight: Bay of Fires Lodge

This morning we walk in the beautiful Bay of Fires Coastal Reserve and discover remote coves hidden by large granite boulders. This afternoon we travel onto the Freycinet Peninsula where we will be greeted by the dramatic peaks of "The Hazards" granite mountain range for a leisurely walk. We'll visit a local oyster farm and learn about the operation of the 150 acres property and then settle in at Freycinet Lodge Freycinet Cabin, our home for the next two nights.

We'll spend the entire day exploring the unsurpassed beauty of the Peninsula’s white beaches and the magical setting of Freycinet National Park. In the morning a local ranger will introduce us to the National Park and its flora and fauna. Our expert guide along with Gene and Jo Ann will lead our walk that will certainly catch more than a glimpse of Wineglass Bay – one of the world’s top ten beaches and truly magical sight.

After a hearty breakfast, we travel down the scenic East Coast route of Tasmania to the rugged Tasman Peninsula route. We'll stop at a vineyard where you will be served lunch while sampling some of the region’s renowned grape varieties. Witness some of the Tasman Peninsula’s unique coastal geological formations before arriving at Port Arthur, one Australia’s most significant convict settlements where you will overnight. Not is in the prison of course, but in the luxury of Stewarts Bay Lodge, one of the finest accommodations on Tasmania's the Tasman Peninsula. Nestled between a beach, a forest, the ocean, a national park and Australia's profound Port Arthur Historic Site, it is our home for the next two nights. In the evening we'll join a ghost tour of Port Arthur and be captivated by the rich storytelling and eerie pathways through darkened ruins and heritage buildings.

Today we take a fascinating walk on the Tasman Peninsula – one of Australia’s prime hiking destinations. Walk to one of the Peninsula’s windswept capes and enjoy awe-inspiring views across the Southern Ocean. We continue on to Hobart and learn about the fascinating history of the colorful harbor city by your guide. This evening enjoys a visit to Hobart’s famous Lark distillery and a sample Tasmania’s fine whiskeys.

Today is a day of walking and hiking options. We'll spend the entire day exploring the area surrounding Mt Wellington, the 4,700' peak (we're not going to summit it). But it does offer a dramatic backdrop to the city and offers spectacular views over southern Tasmania (weather-dependent). Should weather alter our plans here, we'll travel to the Hartz Mountains and go for a hike in this diverse National Park with breath-taking views across Tasmania’s South-western Wilderness. Either way, it will be a day of leisurely walks and casual hikes in one of Australia's most beautiful landscapes.

Tonight enjoy a special farewell dinner at Garagistes, one of Tasmania most celebrated dining venue and be treated to a 5 course menu incorporating produce locally sourced from Tasmanian growers, fishermen and farmers. Tomorrow we head for Kangaroo Island!

After breakfast we board our private transfer to the airport for the short flight to the mainland and Adelaide. We'll be met by our local guide and do a leisurely hour orientation sightsee en-route to our hotel, which is a fantastic business boutique hotel locate in the heart of the city and adjacent to a fantastic Botanic Garden.

The local central markets are a blast to walk but they have pretty unusual hours. So we've timed our "Taste of South Australia" walk so we can walk and people watch for a few hours while they are open.

This evening we'll do a Dinner Tour about Adelaide Home Host Dinner - This includes: nibbles and a two course meal (BBQ, roast dinner, depends on weather and what's seasonal) with South Australian wine.

After breakfast, our charter coach transfers from the heart of Adelaide City to Airport for the short flight to KI.

Much of our experience around the island will be a genuine exploration of the island. We'll go where the wildlife is. At times it may be following a back road to a large herd of kangaroos and sometimes we head to the ocean and seal beach where KI gets in second name, the "Galapagos Downunder," because the huge seals and their babies have no natural fear of humans. Other opportunities will be to head to the hills and scramble through some of the remarkable rock formations or maybe even a fantastic walk through a forest that opens up to the most secluded beautiful beach you have ever witnessed.

Each day begins with a hearty breakfast served with tea, fresh plunger coffee and homemade biscuits. Then we're off to a new adventure. We'll start in the 4WD and move to foot whenever possible and practical. Our knowledgeable and local driver/guide(s) will lead us to the special places that make up this unique place. Lunch on KI is a very special affair indeed. Served al fresco, they are gourmet feasts cooked and served hot by your guides.

KI - Day 1: Arrive KI airport and head straight to Seal Bay and enjoy a walk along the beach amongst the colony of Sea lions. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Rustic Blue Gallery on the way to Grassdale. Here we'll enjoy a 2 - 3 hour easy walk into the spectacular coastline and beaches of Hansen Bay. We'll see Kangaroos and birds along the way while walking along a sandy bush track and along the Eleanor River. Cars will be waiting at the end point and it is possible to enjoy a warm a swim here.

KI - Day 2: The day will start with a drive through the Rocky River headquarters of Flinders Chase National park and out to the start of the West Bay Walk. We'll walk through bushland to West Bay and enjoy the stunning views of the bay and coastline. A 'viewing party' will be enjoyed here with stories that will heighten the senses and increase appreciation for the natural wilderness that surrounds us. Our walk is followed by a BBQ lunch enjoyed within the park before heading to the Iconic spots of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.

KI - Day 3: A later start time on this day will enable everyone to have a little relax time before packing up to depart their accommodation. We then head north along the shackle road and travel along the north coast road to Constitution Hill to take in the stunning views to the east and along the pristine Snellings Beach on to Lathami Conservation Park. Here we'll walk through the droopy Sheoaks trees in search of the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo and other birds and animals.

Afterwards we'll enjoy a picnic lunch set up in a nearby historic shearing shed (not currently a working shed). We're then off to Stokes Bay for the walkthrough a large Limestone cavern to the beach beyond. Again a swim can be enjoyed here if it is warm enough. Our final stop before boarding the evening flight will be 'KIS' Kangaroo Island Spirits for a local spirit tasting utilizing native plants and fruits or just a coffee before heading to the airport for a evening flight to Adelaide.

On arrival back in Adelaide, we transfer to our hotel for the evening. Tonight we enjoy a “farewell” to Australia dinner at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport to connect with our flights home.