Day 1				19th January 2011	
Arrival in Launceston		(D)
Your tour begins! Meet your experienced Tasmanian coach captain in reception at 10.00am and board 
the comfortable coach for a day visiting some of the sights of Launceston.  Situated in the Tamar 
Valley, Launceston is a city of contrasts, blending history and scenery with a reputation for 
quality food and wine.  
•Grindelwald. Nestled atop a hill 15 minutes north of Launceston, this village captures the 
 architecture and way of life of Switzerland. Visit the speciality shops, with the Chocolate Shop a 
 favourite.
•Brady’s Lookout. Matthew Brady was an infamous bushranger and from this vantage point, would spy on
 unsuspecting victims on the river below. A scenic spot for the photographers.
•The Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum, Beaconsfield. The Museum is located within two restored 
 heritage buildings on the site of the 19th century Tasmanian Gold Mine. The rich Tasman reef was 
 discovered here in 1877, and until its closure in 1914, the mine produced gold worth AUD450 million
 in today’s value. The Museum features an extensive collection of mining memorabilia, artifacts and 
 machinery. Explore the Grubb Shaft Mine; see the iron smelter, water wheel and working model of the
 mine's dewatering pump, one of the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. You can also 
 visit the miner's cottage, local store and the old Flowery Gully School. The Grubb Shaft Gold and 
 Heritage Museum is adjacent to the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, which you can see from a viewing 
 platform. This is the site where, in April 2006, a rock fall trapped three miners one kilometre 
 underground. Miner Larry Knight was tragically killed, and the subsequent rescue of Brant Webb and 
 Todd Russell, who remained trapped for 14 days, became known worldwide as the ‘Great Escape’.
•Launceston. Settled by Europeans in March 1806, Launceston is Australia's third oldest city and is 
 home to the largest selection of 19th century buildings in Australia. It is filled with character 
 and charm, has retained many of its old buildings and has a rich and colourful past. Launceston has
 also been home to several firsts such as the first use of anesthetic in the Southern Hemisphere, 
 the first Australian city to have underground sewers and the first Australian city to be lit by 
 hydroelectricity. Explore Launceston and feel its history. 

Stay:  Olde Tudor Motor Inn, Launceston (1 night)

Day 2				20th January 2011
Launceston to scamander		(BD)
Leaving Launceston today you visit some attractions as you make your way through the fertile hills,
towards the sunny east coast.  You will be amazed by the contrasting scenery from fertile hills to 
dense rainforest and finally the stunning coastal views. 
•Cataract Gorge, Launceston. An expansive reserve minutes from the city centre, your coach will drop
 you off at Kings Bridge so you can stroll the walk way along the Cataract Gorge to the First Basin.
 Here the gardens filled with tree rhododendrons, spacious lawns and fern glades. Peacocks add to 
 the colour. Cross the waters of the First Basin on the chairlift (own expense) that has the longest
 single span in the Southern Hemisphere or walk around the First Basin via the Alexandra Suspension
 Bridge. Your coach will meet you at the First Basin entrance.
•Forest EcoCentre, Scottsdale. Unlock the secrets of Tasmania's North East Forests at the Forest 
 EcoCentre , a unique, ecologically sustainable building that is the first of its type in the 
 southern Hemisphere. An elegant 'building within a building' that was designed by award-winning 
 Hobart architect Robert Morris-Nunn, the centre is expected to save 80% in energy costs compared 
 to a conventional building of the same size. 
•Legerwood. Visit the tree sculpting of World War 1 soldiers at Legerwood provided by Northeast 
 chainsaw sculptor Eddie Freeman. The trees were originally planted to honour World War 1 soldiers 
 who came from the area. The trees grew to a dangerous height and needed to be lopped, leaving the 
 Legerwood community to decide how to preserve the memorial of the soldiers. In an innovative 
 solution, Mr Freeman was asked to carve each of the remaining trunks to represent the men they 
 honoured. 
•Weldborough Pass. Travel the Weldborough Pass where you will drive through rainforest abundant with
 myrtle and sassafras. This Pass marks the transition from the farming district surrounding 
 Scottsdale to the coast scenery of the east coast. 

Stay:  Scamander Beach Resort, Scamander (1 night)
 
Day 3			21st January 2011
East coast    		(BD)
Leaving Scamander this morning travel along the picturesque coastline to Swansea keeping an eye out 
for the quirky profile of Spiky Bridge. Then it’s onto Triabunna and Orford where you turn inland 
and head to the township of Richmond before making your way to Bonorong Wildlife Park in the state’s
capital, Hobart.
•Coombend Vineyard. Situated on Tasmania’s fabulous East Coast, Coombend Vineyard was established 
 in 1985. It has been a part of Tamar Ridge Estates since 2005. The original 5 hectares of vineyard
 has now been expanded to 160 hectares. The vines are planted on a gently undulating site 
 overlooking Moulting Lagoon with views to the Hazards and the Freycinet Peninsula - potentially one
 of the most visually stunning and iconic vineyard sites anywhere in Australia. As well as the 
 extensive vineyards Coombend also boasts a plantation of some 4000 olive trees. These are 
 predominantly oil varieties but also include an area of eating olives. Enjoy a wine tasting here.
•Buckland Church, Buckland. In the church of St John the Baptist in Buckland, there is a stained 
 glass window depicting the life of John the Baptist and is said to date from the 14th century.  
 The story is that the window came originally from the Battle Abbey in England.  When Oliver 
 Cromwell was sacking the Abbeys in the 14th century the window was hidden before it could be 
 destroyed.  Two centuries later Lord Robert Cecil, then secretary of state for the colonies, gave 
 it to Dean J.H Fosc, Buckland's Rectory.  It is now set into the East wall of the church.  The 
 church was built in 1846.  The Old Post Office was built at the same time and about the same time 
 as the Old Shop House. There have been 30 Reverends at the Buckland church up to 1994.   
•Richmond. Richmond was proclaimed a town by Lieutenant Governor Sorell in 1824. It played an 
 important role as a convict station and military outpost in the early days of the colony. For much
 of its history it was the main gateway to the east coast and the Tasman Peninsula. You'll get the 
 most out of Richmond by wandering its streets. Artists and craftspeople have been drawn to the town
 for generations, and you’ll find examples of their work in galleries and cafes. See Australia’s 
 oldest freestone bridge, Australia’s oldest Catholic Church as well as many specialty shops that 
 line the narrow streets of this historic village (the lolly shop is a favourite).
•Bonorong Wildlife Conservation Centre. Go Wild @ Bonorong Wildlife Conservation Centre is a 
 wildlife centre located at Brighton, southern Tasmania. You can see Tasmanian devils, spotted 
 quolls, wombats and Forester kangaroos up close. Go Wild @ Bonorong specialises in education, 
 conservation and care of native Tasmanian animals. Established in 1981, the centre was originally 
 a sanctuary for injured Tasmanian wildlife. Today, visitors have the opportunity to view a range 
 of increasingly rare Australian animals and learn from rangers who specialise in wildlife research 
 and conservation.

Stay:  Wrest Point Hotel, Hobart (3 nights)

Day 4 			22nd January 2011
Hobart	 	        (B)
This morning explore the famous Salamanca & Battery Point Precinct as you enjoy some free time to 
shop and explore for yourself what Hobart has to offer. This afternoon visit the Royal Tasmanian 
Botanical Gardens for a walk around these picturesque and beautifully designed gardens. Tonight 
dinner is at your own expense.  You may choose to stay at Wrest Point or experience one of Hobart’s
many fine restaurants.
•Mt.Wellington. Overlooking Hobart, the Derwent Valley to the north and Huon Valley to the south is
 Mt.Wellington. On a clear day you can even see the Tasman Peninsula to the southeast and Maria 
 Island on the east coast. Venture to the summit with the afternoon sun shining on the city below 
 for a great photographic opportunity.
•Battery Point and Salamanca Place, Hobart. Battery Point is Hobart’s village within a city, a 
 charming gathering of quaint colonial cottages and mansions lining pebbled streets. Salamanca Place, 
 once the bustling hub of a thriving port with its solid, multi-storied warehouses, now has a focus 
 of a different kind with the warehouses home to some of the State’s finest galleries.
•Hobart City. Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of 
 Tasmania. Founded in 1803 as a penal colony, it is one of Australia’s oldest cities and the 
 eleventh most populous, with a greater area population of approximately 210,000. The city of the 
 financial and administrative heart of Tasmania, and also serves as the home port for both Australian 
 and French Antarctic operations. The city is located in the state’s south-east on the estuary of 
 the Derwent River and the skyline is dominated by Mount Wellington. Enjoy some free time to explore
 the city or do some shopping.
•Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart. These gardens were established on slopes beside the 
 River Derwent in 1818. Now in the 13.5 hectare site there are 6500 species and varieties of plants,
 including the largest public conifer collection in the southern hemisphere. There are more than 400
 Tasmanian plant species on display, Peter Cundall's vegie patch, a stunning conservatory and a 
 Japanese garden. Beds of annuals provide a changing display four times a year - in late September 
 the Tasmanian Tulip Festival is held in the gardens. The Arthur Wall, near the main gate, could be
 internally heated so that exotic trees and plants could be grown for the kitchen garden. Although 
 it's many years since the fires have been lit, the wall retains the suns warmth for days. Now it 
 supports flowering creepers. Near the wall is a traditional herb garden. A new attraction is the 
 sub Antarctic plant house featuring plants from Macquarie Island. Although 330,000 people a year 
 visit the gardens, the impression of peace and solitude, not crowds, is the one that remains with 
 the visitor. At the Botanical Discovery Centre are interactive displays that include information of
 the rich and diverse Tasmanian flora, including their distribution and how to propagate them.
 
Day 5			23rd January 2011	
Tasman Peninsula	(BD)
After a morning exploring the spectacular coastal formations of the Tasman Peninsula, visit the 
historic penal settlement of Port Arthur. Learn of the atrocities that took place here over 200 
years ago. 
•Port Arthur Historic Site. A guided tour will take you around the ruined buildings featuring over 
 30 buildings including the Asylum, Separate or Model Prison, Penitentiary, Church, Guard Tower, 
 Hospital as well as many cottages. Listen to the guides tell of atrocities to convicts in the 
 attempt to break their spirit, which sent many insane. Read of the petty offences committed 
 resulting in transportation from England. Rumours abound of ghosts, so keep the camera handy just 
 in case.
•Port Arthur Harbour Cruise. The 20 minute harbour cruise offers a unique interpretation including 
 an introduction to the ship building at Port Arthur, the boy’s prison of Point Puer, the Isle of 
 the Dead and a magnificent coastline which remains unmatched.
•Tasman Peninsula Coastal Features. Joined to Tasmania by a narrow isthmus, this peninsula was 
 selected as the site for a penal settlement due to being able to guard it easily. The sheer cliffs,
 as seen at the Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen, combined with the violent currents shown at the 
 Blow Hole, meant little chance of escape via the sea. Rumours of shark filled waters also 
 discouraged convicts to swim for freedom. Soldiers and fierce mastiff dogs guarded the narrow 
 isthmus.

Day 6			24th January 2011
Hobart to queenstown	(BD)
Say goodbye to Hobart, and travel to Queenstown on Tasmania’s rugged west coast, visiting a 
historic township, a National Park and waterfalls on the way.  
•New Norfolk. New Norfolk has one of Australia’s few traditional village squares and is the centre 
 of the hop-growing area. Wander through any of the eight antique specialists where you can find 
 anything from Australian colonial furniture and Georgian silver to Art Deco treasures. New Norfolk’s
 many old buildings, includes one of Australia's oldest inns, the Bush Inn, and Australia's oldest 
 Anglican church - St Matthews (1823).
•Mt.Field National Park. This is one of Tasmania’s oldest and most loved National Parks. After a 
 short walk through rainforest dotted with huge manferns and some of the tallest trees in the world,
 see the impressive Russell Falls. 
•Nelson Falls. With the rainfall extremely high on the West Coast the waterfalls are spectacular.
 
Stay:  Gold Rush Motor Inn, Queenstown (2 nights)

Day 7			25th January 2011
Gordon River		(BLD)
This morning travel to Strahan and board your state of the art catamaran as you cruise across the 
harbour and travel up the famous Gordon River.  Onboard you will enjoy lunch, then upon your return 
to strahan spend some time exploring this quaint fishing village before heading back to Queenstown. 	
•Gordon River Cruise, Strahan. The vessel departs Strahan and passes through Hell’s Gates, the 
 entrance to Macquarie Harbour, then visits a trout and salmon farm enroute to Sarah Island, 
 Tasmania’s first convict settlement, where a stopover allows for you to explore the history of the 
 ruins. The travel up the Gordon River to Heritage Landing where you can enjoy a short walk on 
 through rainforest.

Day 8			26th January 2011
Cradle mouintain	(BD)
Travel to one of Tasmania’s best known icons today, Cradle Mountain National Park. Enjoy a tour to 
Dove Lake, where on a clear day the craggy peak of Cradle Mountain can be seen.
•Cradle Mountain National Park. The northern entrance to the Cradle Mountain - Lake St.Clair 
 National Park, the Department of Parks and Wildlife has an interpretation centre which depicts the 
 flora, fauna and history of the region. Then it is on smaller coaches with an informative guide to 
 transfer to Dove Lake from where on a clear day you can see Cradle Mountain. 
 A short walk around the shores finds you at the little hut known as ‘the boat house’, and then on 
 your way back down from the lake call into to see Waldheim Hut, the original home for Austrian 
 explorer Gustav Weindorfer who began the movement that eventually led to the region being included 
 in the World Heritage Listing.
•Sheffield. The town of murals. See how talented local artists have used the proud old buildings as
 their canvases to tell the history of the Kentish District. Arts and crafts are also among the 
 important activities in the area and galleries and studios display high quality hand weaving, 
 leatherwork and pottery.

Stay:  Quality Inn Gateway, Devonport (1 night)

Day 9			27th January 2011
Devonport to launceston	(B)
Last Day in Tassie! As you make your way back to Launceston today stop at the township of Latrobe 
and spend some time here visiting the many antique shops, a unique shopping and browsing experience
before your last stops at Ashgrove Cheese Farm, the magnificent John Temple Gallery and the 
majestic Entally Estate. Arrive back in Launceston to catch a mid to late afternoon flight out.
•Latrobe. Latrobe presents one of Australia’s finest heritage faces, and with that face comes a 
 host of activities and attractions, where you live the history and love the nature. The town owes 
 its being to the early mining and agriculture and in the mid to late 19th century as a bustling 
 port on the banks of the Mersey River. Much of the past remains in the streetscapes of central 
 Latrobe – 76 heritage listed buildings, 6 of which are on the Register of the National Estate. 
 Enjoy a walk along the Sheehan Walkway which starts in the main street of Latrobe, at 'Teddy 
 Sheehan Memorial', and then follows the old railway line to the River Road junction, at Bell's 
 Parade. Sheehan Walk has a number of plaques detailing the various conflicts of World War II and 
 pays homage to those involved in the Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and Korean conflicts. 
•Ashgrove Cheese Factory, Elizabeth Town. The Ashgrove Cheese Factory is a family owned and run 
 company. Enjoy a tour of the factory and see how award-winning cheeses are made. Sample as you go.
•John Temple Gallery, Westbury. John Temple entered the Australian photography scene in 1996 and is
 steadily developing a reputation as one of Australia's leading panoramic photographers. 
 Although keen on photography since the age of eight, John focused on other pursuits within the 
 tourism industry until he was introduced to panoramic photography in 1996. Inspired by the 
 versatility and depth of the panoramic photograph, John discovered a natural talent for the art. A
 large range of John Temple's work is on display at the main gallery in Westbury Tasmania. A 
 complete range of sizes and images is displayed and a comprehensive range of matt boards and 
 frames are available.
•Entally Estate, Hadspen. Entally Estate is named after a suburb of Calcutta, India, and built in 
 1819 for Thomas Reibey. While he lived there he was reputed to have the most extensive library in 
 the colony. The house contains a magnificent collection of Regency furniture and fine silver. It is
 surrounded by superb gardens and grounds, in which there are a greenhouse, a chapel, a coach house 
 and stables. It seems that Reibey preferred long-lasting substance to short-term style: an article
 in an 1883 newspaper described the house as more designed for comfort than as a model for the 
 exposition of any particular canons of architecture.

Tour ends back in Launceston at approximately 3.30pm. 

Legend
B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner