Tasmania Highlights Of The Heartlands 9D8N, Self-Drive

Driving information: T- Hobart International Airport to Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre: 18km/11mi | 20min
Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre to Rathmore House: 61km/38mi | 1hr

Arrive into Hobart International Airport (HBA) and pick up your hire car to begin your Tasmanian adventure.

First stop is the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre to collect the Tasmania National Parks Pass required for entry to all of the state’s national parks. The money raised from park fees is reinvested and goes directly towards the upkeep of the parks and reserves.

National Parks Pass in hand, journey inland to the Tasmanian Central Highlands and the Derwent Valley. Often referred to by locals as the ‘Valley of Love’, the Derwent is a colourful canvas of rich history, friendly people and rolling hills, often channelling the charisma of a lively French countryside.

You’ll stay the next two nights at Rathmore House, a historic sheep property settled in 1828.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious homecooked meal in the dining room.

Walking information: Tarn Shelf Circuit: 12km/7mi | 7-8hrs | Moderate. Guided Walk

Spend the day exploring Mt Field National Park, Tasmania’s first national park, with its stunning vistas, great walks and abundant wildlife.

Departing from Rathmore House at 8:00am, set out with two local guides along one of the park’s most scenic trails: the Mt Field Tarn Shelf Circuit. Starting from Lake Dobson, this walk provides spectacular views of the Tarn Shelf and its picturesque series of small glacial lakes as well as Lake Newdegate, Lake Webster, Twilight Tarn and the Rodway Range. The tarns are often frozen in winter, making them appear even more magical. Picnic lunch and trail snacks included.

In the evening, return to Rathmore House for another delicious evening meal.

Driving Information:Rathmore House to Pumphouse Point: 117km/73mi | 1hr 35mins
Walking information: Echo Point Walk: 10km/6mi | 3hrs (one way) | Grade 3: Moderate
Shadow Lake Circuit: 11km/7mi | 4-5hrs | Grade: 3: Moderate
Little Hugel Walk: 18km/11mi | 6hrs | Grade 3: Moderate
Mt Rufus Walk: 18km/11mi | 7hrs | Grade 4: Moderate – Difficult
The walks for self guided

Journey west to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Here, you will find Pumphouse Point as well as more than 100-kilometres (62mi) of scenic trails ranging from leisurely strolls to all day adventures. Check into your accommodation, stow your luggage and venture into the wilderness.

Those looking for an enjoyable walk are spoilt for choice with the 10-kilometre (6mi) Echo Point Walk and the 11-kilometre (7mi) Shadow Lake Circuit. Recommended as a one-way walk, with a leisurely 20-minute ferry ride for the return/drop off journey, the Echo Point Walk traverses cool temperate rainforest, rich in many species of plant that are unique to Tasmania. The Shadow Lake Circuit, meanwhile, takes you through rainforest, sub-alpine moorland and highland Eucalyptus forest on the journey to Shadow Lake. Clear weather allows for breathtaking views of Mt Hugel.

Those looking for a more challenging hike should consider the 18-kilometre (11mi) Little Hugel Walk or the 18-kilometre (11mi) Mt Rufus Walk. The first section of the Little Hugel Walk follows the Shadow Lake Circuit, but then splits towards Little Hugel once it reaches the lake. Some challenging boulder hopping will reward you with exceptional views across the lake back to Pumphouse Point. The Mt Rufus Walk, meanwhile, will enchant intrepid hikers with unforgettable views over the western wilderness, including nearby Frenchman’s Cap.

In the evening, treat yourself to a well-deserved share-table dinner.

Driving information:- Pumphouse Point to West Coast Wilderness Railway (Queenstown Station): 91km/57mi | 1hr 30min
Queenstown Station to Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge: 112km/70mi | 1hr 30min

Continue west to Queenstown Station, where you will embark on a half-day heritage steam train journey along the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Departing at 10:00am, the beautifully reconstructed mining train takes you through ancient rainforest that tells the story of rogues and rivals fighting for their share of untold riches. Using the unique power of the Abt Rack and Pinion system, the train climbs one of the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest tracks, demonstrating the ingenuity that turned the West Coast into one of the wealthiest mining regions in the world. Stop at historic stations, traverse the deep chasm of the King River Gorge, and see the places where the pioneers lived and worked to create their incredible legacy. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

You’ll stay the next two nights at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Most Extraordinary Places To Stay.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner in the lodge tavern.

Walking information: - Crater Lake Circuit: 8km/5mi | 3-3.5hrs | Grade 3: Moderate
Dove Lake Circuit: 6km/4mi | 2-3 hours | Grade 2: Easy

Depending on schedule, either Crater Lake or Dove Lake guided walk will be offered. Private guided and longer distance walks can be arranged at additional cost. e.g. Crater Peak, Cradle High Circuit and Cradle Summit hike.

Spend the day walk one of the Cradle Mountain’s best trails: the Crater Lake and Dove Lake with a small group. These trails are two of the best parts of the famous Overland Track, Australia’s premier alpine walk.

First up, Crater Lake. Starting from Ronny Creek, follow your local guide along the boardwalk and over the bridge into dense, wet rainforest. The track climbs up the side of Crater Creek to Crater Falls, the first waterfall on the Overland Track. After admiring the cascades and moss-covered rockpools, continue onto Crater Lake, with its dark waters and steep walls carved by glacial ice. There is an old boathouse at the northern end of the lake that makes for a great photo op.

Break for lunch (own cost) before moving onto one of Tasmania’s 60 Best Walks, the Dove Lake Circuit. Starting from the Dove Lake carpark, this trail follows the circumference of the lake and takes you beneath the craggy spires of the indomitable Cradle Mountain. Along the way, you’ll see an incredible mix of terrains: scrubby button grass gives way to sandy lake beaches, cascading waterfalls and dense rainforests on this loop trail. Dove Lake itself is a rather beautiful scene, especially when the wind is low. Its dark blue colours come from tea tree vegetation leaching into the water to give you an incredibly reflective surface. Get the right angle and you can take a picture of the lake and the snow-capped peaks around it.

In the late afternoon, return to Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge for a delicious 3-course dinner in the Highlands Restaurant.

Driving information: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge to Peppers Silo Launceston (via Mount Roland/Sheffield): 154km/96mi | 2hr 20min

Say farewell to Cradle Mountain and hit the road east towards Launceston.

Break up the journey with a stop in Sheffield, a friendly, quirky rural town where history and art merge to create a streetscape featuring more than 140 murals. The murals trace the history of the area and feature Cradle Mountain pioneer Gustav Weindorfer, Tasmanian Tigers, and pictorial representations of characters and stories of the past. While in the area, you may also wish to explore the foothills of Mount Roland, which stands 1233-metres (4045ft) above sea level.

In the afternoon, arrive into Launceston, one of Australia’s oldest cities. Take the short walk into the city centre and immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural heritage and flourishing food and wine scene. Amid a backdrop of Georgian streetscapes, feast on Tasmanian specialties including freshly shucked oysters, Tasmanian-grown Atlantic Salmon, wild abalone, black truffles and more. The CBD is packed with restaurants to impress even the most seasoned gastronome!

You’ll stay the night at Peppers Silo Launceston, a landmark heritage hotel that was once a grain silo.

Peppers Silo Launceston to Prospect House Private Hotel, Richmond: 175km/109mi | 2hr

Hit the road along the East Coast Wine Trail also known as the Great Eastern Wine Drive. One of Tasmania’s premier wine growing regions, the trail is known for fine cool climate varieties. Meet winemakers and brewers and sample fine wines, beer and stout accompanied by tasting plates of local cheeses and chocolate. Some of the more famous wineries along the route include Freycinet Vineyard, Spring Vale, Milton Vineyard, Gala Estate and the Hazards.

Your destination is Richmond, a picture-perfect Georgian village set in the Coal River Valley wine region. Enjoy afternoon tea at your accommodation – Prospect House Private Hotel – before making use of the hotel’s complimentary bikes to explore the pretty 19th century streets, antique stores and boutique shopping. Make sure to pay a visit to nearby Pooley Wines for an included one-on-one wine tasting. Pooley, and the Coal River Valley in general, are renowned for producing Tasmania’s best Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay and other award-winning premium cool climate wines.

In the evening, treat yourself to a pre-dinner drink and a viewing of Prospect House’s 1830’s convict-built cellar. Then, head into the dining room for a delicious 3-course dinner paired with more of Tasmania’s best wines.

Cap off the day in front of the open fire with a whiskey in hand. That’s a holiday done right!

Prospect House Private Hotel to Morilla Estate/MONA Pavilions, Berridale: 23km/14mi | 25min

Head over to Moorilla Estate for a private tour of Tasmania’s second-oldest vineyard and its state-of-the-art winery. Specialising in boutique cool climate wines, Moorilla shares its location with MONA – Hobart’s infamous Museum of Old and New Art and home to Australia’s largest private and thought-provoking art collection.

Guided by one of Morilla’s resident wine experts, taste wine straight from the tank and learn the secrets behind small batch winemaking. Then, head into the glamourous subterranean tasting room to sample wine from Moorilla’s three distinct series: Praxis, Muse and Cloth Label. You will also receive a complimentary bottle of wine from the Muse series.

After the tour, move into The Source Restaurant for a delicious 2-course lunch with matched wines. Perched atop the MONA site, The Source is a temple to seasonal Tasmanian dining.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the MONA museum at your leisure.

You’ll stay the night at the MONA Pavilions, super flash luxury dens on the River Derwent. Each is named after an influential Australian artist or architect, and features artworks from the MONA collection.

All good things must come to an end. Check out at your leisure and head to the airport to commence your onward journey.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.