Tasmania

Tasmania - Down under down under

January 25 to February 7, 2010

SORRY - THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT

The recent trip was awesome and I plan to return to Tasmania in January 2012, to focus on the mammals of this unique island. Please contact me if you would like to be put on a client list, see our checklists from the previous trip, or want further information.

Our tour starts in Hobart, in the southeastern end of the island.  We’ll spend a day in Mt. Field National Park, visiting varying altitudes in this national park, enjoying the walk to the Russell Falls, and wandering amidst the alpine wildflowers. Good opportunities for Echidnas and wallabies today along the road verges. We’ll enjoy a variety of alpine plants including several Richea, Ewartias, and Tasmanian Celmisias, and birds, and spectacular mountain scenery. We have a second full-day excursion from Hobart to Bruny Island, home to most of the endemic birds of Tasmania.

In Lake St Clair National Park, in the central highlands, we take a walk through black peppermint forest on the shores of the lake. Later we drive through the pass between the Cradle Mountain region and the Franklin-Gordon River National Park.  We continue to Strahan on the shores of the Macquarie Harbour. We take a day cruise on this beautiful harbour and enter the Gordon River World Heritage Area. Mid afternoon, we drive on to Cradle Valley, and Cradle Mountain National Park. Good opportunities for Echidnas today along the road verge. Stay Cradle Valley two nights.

We spend a day in Lake Dove and vicinity.  Great hikes to Crater Lake and Cradle Mountain depart from this area. We’ll have an evening excursion for Wombats, Pademelons, Bennett’s Wallabies, and possibly Quolls; and an optional excursion for Tasmanian Devils.

We have another morning for further exploring Cradle Valley before we head northwest to stay night in Stanley.  We go out for an evening excursion near Stanley to view returning Fairy Penguins and for Platypus.

There will be time this morning to discover the wonderful craft galleries in the village of Stanley, or to take a short chairlift ride to the top of The Nut, the spectacular promontory overlooking the village. Turning back eastward, we follow the northern coastline to Devonport. Turning south to follow the Mersey River the day’s journey includes the historic towns of Latrobe and Doleraine, before arriving in the Tamar Valley.  Here lies Launceston, Tasmania’s second city, where we spend one night.

On our morning excursion to Ben Lomond National Park we use the skifield access road to reach a high elevated plateau at 1500m.  we make the most of magnificent scenery and unsurpassed alpine flora, not to mention the mobs of kangaroos that graze on the summit region. Later we continue east to the fascinating and scenic Freycinet National Park.  We stay on the Freycinet Peninsula for two nights.

We’ll enjoy the delightful surroundings of our oceanside lodge by Coles Bay, then walk to Wineglass Bay. Granite outcrops, rugged peaks, crystal clear water, stunning orchids, wonderfully barked local eucalypt trees and Oyster Bay Pines all combine to make this a superb locality from which to learn much more about the coastal natural heritage.

On return to Hobart we visit the Huon Valley. This valley and the nearby Hartz Mountains are the foci of our last day.  The canopy walkway at Tahune enables greater insight to be gained into the myrtle and sassafras forest, while the productive heartland with its picturesque orchards provides a delightful contrast.

From Hobart we fly back to Melbourne.  We take a day excursion to the west of Melbourne to view a wide range of Victorian wildlife (including Grey Kangaroo, Emu, and a wonderful array of water loving birds) in the Serendip Sanctuary, seek out Koala, and gain a real insight into natural values of the greater Melbourne region. Flights home depart from Melbourne.

 Tour length 14 days, not including international flight times.

Tour cost, based on double occupancy:   $5,200 US
Single supplement $850.00

Includes flight from Hobart to Melbourne.
Flights from US/UK to Tasmania not included