8 Day Tasmania Tour in Circle (TIC8)
Our 8 Day Tasmania in Circle Tour is our most popular offering and a fantastic option for sampling Tasmania in its entirety. This tour offers a diverse selection of our most iconic attractions with fantastic scenery, nature, animals, culture, food, wine, history and more.
Covering approximately 1500km we explore many of Tassie’s premier locations, moving fast enough to provide a thorough overview of the island, yet slow enough to enjoy the sights! Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. This itinerary offers a truly amazing, small group travel experience. Maximum group size of 12 guests. Great option for SOLO travellers!Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation (including 3 nights in 4-star accommodation).
- 7 breakfasts and 6 lunches provided.
- 1 x evening meal provided in Queenstown.
- Bottled water provided on tour.
- FREE wine, cheese, chocolate, oyster & honey tastings.
- Daily afternoon tea, coffee & biscuits stops included FREE.
- All attractions, entry fees and National Parks passes included.
- The only additional expenses incurred are 6 x evening meals and any spending money.
*We reserve the right to alter tour itineraries without notice due to climatic conditions and other circumstances outside our control.
Day 1 - Arrive in Hobart
Your accommodation is booked at the elegant 4-Star Mövenpick Hotel in the heart of Hobart. Check-in anytime from 2pm and explore the wonderful restaurants and shopping, all within a short walking distance.
Day 2 - Hobart to Port Arthur
Head to the summit of Mt Wellington (1270m) boasting spectacular panoramic views in every direction. Next, the historic Female Factory & Cascade Brewery, including many of Australia’s oldest convict-built structures.
Meander through the Coal River Valley, one of Tasmania’s premier wine regions. Continue on to historic Richmond, with its beautiful stone arch Richmond Bridge, built by convicts in 1823. Stop at the boutique Federation Chocolate Factory just outside of Richmond.
Explore the Tasman Peninsula, Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, the infamous Dogline, Tasman’s Arch & Devils Kitchen. Finally, the colourful Port Arthur Lavender Farm before staying overnighting on the cusp of the Port Arthur World Heritage Historic Site.
Day 3 – Port Arthur to Bicheno
Our day begins with a 2.5 hour guided tour around the Port Arthur Historic Site. Explore the original buildings as we learn about the early convicts and their role in Tasmania’s history. Learn about Point Puer (the juvenile boys prison), the Isle of the Dead graveyard and the Port Arthur timber industry while enjoying a scenic harbour cruise to view the site as incoming convicts would have.
Next we leave the Tasman Peninsula for our journey up the east coast of the island. At Raspins Beach we view Maria Island off the coast of Orford before stopping to see the unique convict built Spikey Bridge and the captivating coastline at Spikey Beach over tea, coffee & biscuits. Next is Swansea and the Great Oyster Bay area. Arriving in Bicheno for our evening accommodation we will squeeze in one last feel good activity by spotting the cute little Fairy Penguins arriving ashore in the township.
Day 4 – Bay of Fires & Launceston
Starting with the amazing Blow Hole in Bicheno. Visit the multi-award winning East Coast Nature World wildlife park to see our native animals. Tasmanian Devils, wombats, kangaroos, geese and ducks, it’s a wonderful, interactive morning of patting and hand-feeding.
Take Tassie's most scenic coastal road to the truly stunning Bay of Fires. At Binalong Bay we stroll the white sandy beaches. It’s then onto Launceston, stopping at Lease 65 Oyster Farm & Pyengana. Journey through an ancient Myrtle Rainforest and across the trail of the dragon near Derby.
Coffee break at Legerwood amongst the graceful carved memorial trees, before arriving in Launceston CBD for our evenings lodgings, where there are many city restaurants just minutes away.
Day 5 – Launceston to Cradle Mountain
Launceston, Australia’s 3rd oldest capital city, features the King Bridge, City Park, the heritage-listed Post Office and the Holy Trinity Anglican Church buildings. We’ll also take a 40 minute stroll through the jewel of the city: Cataract Gorge Reserve.
Heading westward into the lush, pastural Meander Valley, we’ll try locally made ice-cream and honey, with 50 flavours on offer at the renowned Melita Honey Farm in Chudleigh, before learning about Tasmania’s oldest and biggest Leatherwood Honey producer R. Stephens Honey in Mole Creek.
Our lunch stop is a hidden gem in the forest at 41º Degrees South Salmon Farm.
A guided tour of the Marakoopa Caves follows, where million year old limestone & crystal formations are home to a natural population of glow worms!
From here we wind our way up to the central highlands plateau where the Cradle Mountain National Park allows some up close wombat & animal spotting at dusk.
We stay the night at the luxurious 4-Star Cradle Mountain Hotel.
Day 6 – Cradle Mountain to Queenstown
We start the day with a full buffet hot and cold banquet breakfast at Cradle Mountain Hotel.
The photographer’s paradise of Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park offers the gorgeous Dove Lake for breathtaking views of Cradle Mountain, a short walk to glacier rock and the Enchanted Walk to see the beautiful cascades and Pencil Pine Waterfall.
We visit pioneer Gustav Weindorfer’s “Waldheim Cottage”, the man who made Cradle Mountain world famous. We’ll spend the morning soaking up this pristine area.
En route to Strahan we pass through the old mining towns of Rosebery and Zeehan, and view the Southern Ocean — a spectacular lookout on the west coast. How far can you see, perhaps Madagascar? This is some of the freshest air on Earth.
In Strahan we visit the old Morrison’s Saw Mill to touch & smell Tassie's most iconic timbers, Huon Pine, Sassafras, Myrtle, Celery Top Pine and more.
The lovely waterfront park or the lookout above Strahan are the perfect spots for the day’s afternoon tea & coffee break.
Our comfortable lodgings for the night are in the infamous wild west township of Queenstown. Dinner is provided by your hosts on this last night of our Tassie tour.
Day 7 – Queenstown to Hobart
Queenstown is an old mining town, rich in minerals and history. From the Iron Blow lookout atop Mt Lyell we’ll view the incredible panorama of the town and its surroundings.
Next, we drive through the rainforests of the World Heritage Franklin - Gordon National Park and take a stroll through moss-covered rainforest to the photogenic Nelson Falls. Then on to Mt Arrowsmith, the geographical centre of Tasmania. Button grass plains, twisted snow-gums, majestic mountains and spectacular lakes are in every direction, displaying a vivid colour palette distinct to Tasmania's plateau.
Lunch is at the Lake St Clair Lodge, looking onto Australia’s deepest freshwater lake and the source of the mighty River Derwent.
Up next, The Wall, an extraordinary art gallery created by artist Greg Duncan. Hidden deep in the forest, it features a hand carved Huon pine mural over 3 metres high and 100 metres long. This intricate work, depicting Tasmania’s flora, fauna and history is a cultural experience like no other.
In the afternoon we visit Tasmania’s Hydro-Electric Power scheme in Tarraleah. This once bustling township was largely abandoned following the completion of our Hydro-electric infrastructure. It’s now a lovely tourist destination and afternoon lookout stop.
Heading east into the Derwent Valley we visit Lake Meadowbank for a coffee break before detouring to Mt Field National Park to visit the spectacular Russell Falls. This gentle 35min return walk will be our last group activity before our final drive along the River Derwent bringing us back to Hobart. Drop off at your nominated CBD Hotel around 6pm.
Day 8 – Departure
This morning marks the conclusion of our touring adventures. Breakfast is included and your package officially concludes with hotel check-out by 10am. We hope you will take home many great memories, photographs, stories and friendships from your tour. We are grateful for the opportunity to host you in Tasmania.
All dates listed for this itinerary are guaranteed departure with a minimum of only 2 guests. Please contact us to check the status of your planned travel date or if you wish to travel outside the dates listed.