Coastal Wilds of Tasmania

Overview

Coral Expeditions’ Tasmania cruises explore Australia’s island state poised at the edge of the world where the Southern and Pacific Oceans collide. Tasmania’s pristine World Heritage wilderness and national parks teem with native wildlife, where rugged mountain ranges meet the sea with soaring coastal cliffs and crescent-shaped beaches carved by the elements. Amidst this pristine, natural backdrop, Tasmania’s intriguing colonial history is underpinned by a compelling convict heritage and historic sites. Follow in the pioneering footsteps of intrepid colonial explorers to far-flung reaches of the island where tales of maritime adventures abound, preserved streetscapes are virtual living museums and world-class artists find inspiration at every turn. Shaped by a climate straddling the Roaring Forties latitudes, the Apple Isle’s verdant valleys and rolling hills are clad in fertile pastures, vineyards and orchards bathed in crisp clean air and warm summer sunshine. Emerging from cellar doors and farm gates are award-winning cheeses, premium wines, craft beers and artisanal spirits inspired by Tasmania’s simple but elegant natural treasures. Cruise to the edge of the world on a Tasmanian expedition cruise that teams wombats with wine, beaches with brie and convict ruins with craft beer in a palate-pleasing adventure cruise into Tasmania’s wild heart.

• Spend two full days exploring wilderness areas of Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour*
• Hike to Wineglass Bay and The Hazards in Freycinet National Park
• Learn about Maria Island’s history as a penal colony
• Visit Port Arthur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Admire dramatic 300m tall coastal cliffs of the Tasman Peninsula
• Taste Tasmania’s fresh farm-gate produce and world-class cool-climate wines at an onboard event
• Spot fur seals, wombats and wallabies in Tasmania’s national parks
• Visit the Wooden Boat Centre and learn about Tasmania’s proud maritime heritage
• Hike the Fluted Cape Track at Bruny Island
• Kayak from the back of the ship at Fortescue Bay

Inclusions

• All excursions with our Expedition Team
• Use of Xplorer, Zodiacs and Kayaks
• Daily lectures and briefings with Guest Lecturers
• All meals, chef-prepared on board
• Captain’s welcome and farewell events, and open bridge access
• Selected wines, selected beers and house spirits, juices, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
• 24-hour coffee and selection of teas
• All entrance fees to National Parks, ports, traditional owner fees and charges imposed by governing authorities
• Tips and gratuities
• Use of all onboard facilities, incl. a reference library
• Expedition diary, along with a photo and video gallery documenting the highlights of your voyage
• Post-cruise transfers
• Wifi Access – Standard speed connectivity enabling email, social image sharing, web browsing and messaging

Itinerary

DEPART HOBART

Arrive at your advised check-in location for boarding at 4:00pm, with time to settle into your stateroom before our 5:00pm departure. Take the time to become acquainted with all the facilities onboard before meeting your fellow travellers, the Captain and crew for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.

D'entrecasteaux Channel & HUON RIVER

The sheltered waters of the Huon River allow us to visit the Wooden Boat Centre at Franklin where Tasmania’s maritime heritage is kept alive through the production of hand-crafted timber boats.

Grandvewe Cheeses is an organic sheep dairy farm  there will be time to learn about the cheesemaking process as well as taste their ‘ewenique’ sheep’s whey vodka at the Cellar Door overlooking D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

PORT DAVEY & BATHURST HARBOUR

On the edge of the world in southwest Tasmania, the landscape here is about as wild as it gets. Raw, craggy-peaked mountains and drowned river valleys.  Wild rivers and rivulets carved by an eternity. Where tannin-rich freshwater sits atop saltwater, tinting the ocean the colour of tea. With no road access, the logical way to explore this wilderness is by small expedition ship.

Sheltered from Roaring Forties winds that buffet this coast is the protected haven of Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. A marine reserve and part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, we spend two whole days (weather permitting) enjoying this rare opportunity to hike, kayak and take in this pristine natural environment. We explore by Xplorer tender vessels and learn about intrepid European explorers and Indigenous Australians, who once walked this land and keep a lookout for the rare and endangered Orange Bellied Parrot amongst other wildlife.

BRUNY ISLAND & ADVENTURE BAY

At Adventure Bay on the east coast of Bruny Island, we walk along the dramatic coastal cliffs of Fluted Cape and hope to see Bennett’s Wallabies which are endemic to Bruny Island. Cruising the base of these near-vertical dolerite cliffs in our Xplorer tender vessels, we take a close look at Penguin Island, which is connected to Fluted Cape at low tide.

Learn about how southern right whales were almost hunted to extinction and Adventure Bay housed four whaling stations before the industry’s decline in the mid-1840s. The ruins can be seen on a walk to Grassy Point.

MARIA ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

Maria Island can be referred to as a Noah’s Ark for native Tasmanian species. The Maria Island National Park provides an ideal sanctuary, and is one of the best places in Australia to observe endemic birdlife as well as wombats, Cape Barren geese, Forester Kangaroos, Bennett’s Wallabies, and pademelons.

Stroll amongst the ruins and beautifully restored buildings of the Darlington convict settlement and take a walk to the striking formations of the Painted Cliffs, where rich iron deposits have stained the sandstone cliffs with coloured streaks of red, purple and orange. With ample time at Maria Island, we also have the opportunity to do the Fossil Cliffs walk and the Reservoir circuit.

FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK AND SCHOUTEN ISLAND

The Freycinet Peninsula is a dramatic headland dominated by a pink-hued granite mountain range called the Hazards. Blessed with picturesque sweeping bays with white sand beaches like famed Wineglass Bay, much of the peninsula is designated as Freycinet National Park.

Take a guided hike along the Isthmus Track and be rewarded with magnificent views from the lookout or swim in the azure waters of Wineglass Bay. Cruising close to Ile des Phoques and Schouten Island, keep an eye out for large colonies of fur seals sunning themselves on the rocks.

Tasman National Park & Fortescue Bay

The Tasman Peninsula is known for its fascinating geological formations like the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, and the soaring 300 metre high dolerite sea cliffs of Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy – the tallest in the southern hemisphere. Watch fur seals hauling out on the rocks, as well as playful dolphins feeding and magnificent albatross soaring amongst the updrafts created by the sea cliffs. We will visit Fortescue Bay, hike sections of the coastal Tasman Trail, take a scenic Xplorer cruise of the rugged coastline and kayak in Canoe Bay.

PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE

One of Australia’s most significant historic places, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur ruins stand sentinel on the Tasman Peninsula south of the narrow isthmus of Eaglehawk Neck. For more than 40 years the Port Arthur penal colony housed British and Australian convicts sentenced to hard labour before its heavy iron doors clanked shut for the last time in 1877.

Today, the Historic Site has over 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes set in 100 acres of landscaped grounds. In the company of Port Arthur’s knowledgeable guides, join a tour of this site.

DAY 11: ARRIVE HOBART

Our Tasmania adventure concludes in Hobart this morning as we bid farewell to new-found friends, the Master and crew, disembarking at 8:00am. A complimentary transfer is provided to CBD hotels, or the airport is included.

Dates/Prices

*Advertised price is per person twin share, pricing correct as of 29 October 2024.