Intrepid Travel: Best of Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain

Welcome to Tasmania or Lutruwita in the language of the Palawa peoples – the Traditional Owners of this land. Your adventure begins in Launceston with an 8 am welcome meeting. Your first stop this morning will be the Tiagarra Museum on Mersey Bluff in Devonport. You’ll watch a Welcome to Country ceremony and then head out on a guided tour of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. See Aboriginal petroglyphs and learn about the importance of this landscape. Travel along part of the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail. Along the way, there will be plenty of scenic stops, and if there’s time, sample some local ciders, chocolates and truffles along the trail. After stopping for lunch in the town of Penguin, continue along the rocky coastline to Stanley. Climb the famous landmark The Nut – an ancient volcanic plug that juts out into the Bass Strait and offers outstanding views from the top – then wander down to the working wharf where some of the freshest seafood in Tasmania comes in each day. Continue to your comfortable accommodation, set in the rural area near Smithton, where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Today's welcome meeting and pick-up will take place at 8 am this morning. It’s very important that you’re on time and checked out already, as you’ll head towards Stanley right after the meeting. Find more details in the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ section of your Essential Trip Information. It’s heavily recommended that you spend a night in Launceston before your trip starts. Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours. Climbing The Nut is a short but steep track to the plateau. There’s also an optional chairlift (closed over winter) for $19 return or $12 one way.

Activities:

• Cradle Coast - Visit to Penguin Village
• Stanley - The Nut
• Cradle Coast - Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail
• Cradle Coast - Mersey Bluff Petroglyphs
• Cradle Coast - Welcome to Country Ceremony
• Cradle Coast - Tiagarra Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

Today, you’ll explore the Tarkine Wilderness area (Takayna in the language of the local Palawa peoples) – home to the largest temperate rainforest in Australia and the second largest in the world. Rich with geological wonders, Aboriginal history and unique creatures with habitats not found anywhere else on earth, you can explore sites like the hidden Trowutta Arch and the Lake Chisholm sinkhole – both examples of fascinating geological change. Along the Tarkine Coast, you’ll also see Marrawah – famous for its big wave surfing – and the desolate Edge of the World which marks the longest stretch of ocean on the planet. From here, there’s no land until Argentina! You’ll head out on a few short walks to explore the sites. Later, return to your rural accommodation near Smithton for the night and look up after sunset (this is a gorgeous spot for stargazing). 

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. Your walking distance will be approximately 2.5 km.

Activities:

• takayna / Tarkine - Trowutta Arch
• takayna / Tarkine - Lake Chisholm Sinkhole
• takayna / Tarkine - Edge of the World

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

Today, you’ll travel to Corinna via Rocky Cape National Park – home to windswept heathlands, sea caves, rock pools and twisted rocks formed over millions of years. Continue to the historic lighthouse at Table Cape and Boat Harbour Beach. Stop by Hellyer Gorge, then walk to see Philosopher Falls near Waratah. Tonight, settle into your accommodation for the night in Corinna’s remote, rural town in a restored miners’ cottage, where you can soak up some phone-free time, as there’s no service out here! Enjoy a group dinner with your fellow travellers and watch the sunset. 

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your walking distance will be approximately 3.9 km or 1 to 2 hours. The walk can be muddy, and there are sections of metal stairs that can be slippery.

Activities:

• Waratah - Philosopher Falls
• Cradle Coast - Rocky Cape National Park
• Cradle Coast - Boat Harbour Beach
• Waratah - Hellyer Gorge

Staying in:

• Cottage (1 night)

You have a free morning this morning to get active. Maybe head out for some optional kayaking or hiking around the Corinna area, exploring the Pieman River and Tarkine Rainforest. After lunch, head to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, where your accommodation for the night sits among the trees. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure, then as the sun begins to set, maybe head out to meet Tasmania’s most emblematic animal – the Tasmanian devil. This optional activity visits a wildlife conservation facility aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. Finish your day with a sunset over Cradle Mountain and listen out for the unmistakable sound of the devils. 

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. There are several short walks available in Cradle Mountain National Park. Your leader will recommend walks based on the weather and suitability for the group. To best enjoy your time at Cradle Mountain please keep in mind that sudden changes in weather may occur at any time in Tasmania. Always carry additional warm clothing, including a waterproof outer layer.

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

After breakfast, hike the scenic Dove Lake Circuit in the Cradle Mountain area. This trail will take you around the lake and beneath the impressive spires of the mountain, passing gorgeous scenery along the way. As the circuit is board-walked most of the way, it’s a fairly easy walk and gives you plenty of time and energy to focus on the surroundings. After, head to a local restaurant in the park for a group lunch – maybe grab a drink and relax by the fire as you wait. Then, drive to Launceston, where you'll spend the night, stopping for optional tastings and shopping opportunities along the way (pick up some delicious, locally grown raspberries or cheese and ice cream). Tonight, you’re free to relax at your accommodation or head out for dinner with your group.

Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours. Your walking distance will be approximately 6 km or 2 to 3 hours.

Activities:

• Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake Circuit walk

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

After breakfast this morning, your trip will come to an end (if you’re staying in Launceston). For those leaving the trip in Hobart, you’ll have breakfast and then hit the road. Arrive at around 10:30 am. There are no further activities planned, so if you’d like to stay in Hobart longer, just speak to your booking agent.

If you’re heading to Hobart, your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.