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Day 1 - Hobart After your arrival in Hobart, take time to explore Australia's second-oldest capital city. Hobart has the best collection of early Georgian buildings and Salamanca Place being a great example of this architecture displaying the finest row of early merchant warehouses in Australia. Built between 1835 and 1840, the warehouses are now home to quality art and craft galleries, cafes and restaurants. With its many hills and amazing vistas Hobart harbour is said to rival that of Sydney. There are two popular vantage lookout points to see the city of Hobart - Mt Wellington and Mt Nelson are easily accessed from the city and are well worth a visit. Day 2 Hobart - Lake St Claire - Strahan With a population of approximately 5500, the West Coast is celebrated for its tourism, mining and fishing whilst the clean air, mild climate makes the West Coast a fantastic and unique place to be. Journey into the World Heritage area and enter Mt Field National Park, Tasmania's oldest national park. See the spectacular sight of cascading Russell Falls and make a stop at Lake St Clair for a short lakeside walk. Carved out of ice during several glaciations over the last two million years, this is the deepest lake in Australia. The area around the Lake offers a wealth of walks, ranging from leisurely strolls to overnight bushwalks. Continue to the unique township of Queenstown. Open-cut copper mining started here over 100 years ago and continues today. Be fascinated by the unusual pink and grey mountains surrounding Queenstown and its surreal landscapes. Planting by the mining company and natural regrowth of vegetation is changing the look of the extensive open-cut operations. Late evening arrive to Strahan on the shores of Macquarie Harbour. In addition to its tourism industry Strahan is a fishing town, serving as an anchorage for crayfish, abalone and shark fishing fleets. Day 3 Strahan - Gordon River Cruise - Cradle Mountain A visit to Tasmania's west coast would not be complete without a cruise on the famous Gordon River. The fight to save this natural treasure in the early 1980's attracted international attention and support. The ancient, mirror like waters of the river meander down from their source in the Central Highlands through breathtaking World Heritage temperate rainforests and mountain crag to the mouth of Macquarie Harbour. The cruise makes a stop at Heritage Landing for a gentle walk through the ancient rainforest, and then visits the penal colony of Sarah Island, which once housed the most dangerous of the colony's convicts. After the cruise continue to the remote beauty of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage-listed area. Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the wild Cradle Mt -Lake St Clair National Park. The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rainforest and alpine heathlands, buttongrass and stands of colourful deciduous beech provide a range of environments to explore. Icy streams cascading out of rugged mountains, stands of ancient pines mirrored in the still waters of glacial lakes and a wealth of wildlife ensure there is always something to captivate you. The area is one of the most popular natural areas in Tasmania. Explore the Cradle area - take a scenic helicopter flight over this wild and wonderful landscape or take a short walk around the lake. There are numerous boardwalks, easy and accessible of which to obtain some fantastic vistas over the lake and across to the mountains. There is much to see at the Cradle Mountain visitors centre, such as the spectacular displays in the Wilderness Gallery or get close to the amazing Tasmanian devils at Devils @ Cradle, a unique wildlife park. Day 4 - To Launceston Take a leisurely drive through rolling countryside to reach Launceston, northern Tasmania's gracious city. This small compact city is easy to explore. You can walk the elegant streetscapes and through century-old parks, tracing the history from early Colonial and convict times to Georgian and Victorian eras. Within walking distance of the city is Cataract Gorge, with its magnificent vistas and home to more than 70 species of native flora and fauna. The Gorge, as the locals call it, is a rare and unique cliff and canyon formation within the city. Take a cruise into the magical Cataract Gorge and through Launceston's riverfront precinct. Head north past Tamar Island, historic buildings, churches, hotels and significant homesteads. Sample the rich diversity of life as we cruise past quaint riverfront communities, vineyards and farms to the notable Batman Bridge. Why not enjoy a light lunch with Tasmanian cheeses and fruit platters plus local beer and wine tasting - a wonderful way to pass an afternoon!
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