14 Night Grand Explorer

This is the 14 Night Grand Explorer Tour, our most extensive, all-encompassing tour. Remember, you can refer to our regional guides for ideas on what to do and see in a region to extend your itinerary further. This 15 day, 14 night itinerary will provide you with the best example of how to experience Tasmania. It assumes commencement in Launceston; however can be tailored to begin at any location.

Arrive in Launceston. From the airport, travel north on the B41 and then the A1 to the city. From the Spirit of Tasmania, head south from Devonport on the A1 or the B72 and follow the signs directing to Launceston.

Launceston has many exciting things to see and do, however your first stop should be the stunning Cataract Gorge. The Cataract Gorge Reserve is a beautiful nature reserve and unique feature of Launceston, with many picturesque walks, the famous suspension bridge, a café and restaurant, and the longest single-span chairlift in the southern hemisphere.

Launceston hosts a range of activities, notable attractions include:

City Park and the Macaque Monkey enclosure
Tamar River Cruises
Boag’s Brewery Centre
Royal Automobile Museum
Queen Victoria Museum – also hosts activities for children
Tailrace Centre – a play area for children
Launceston Aquatic Centre

The Tasmanian Prestige Leisure Tours offers a variety of tours from Launceston, exploring food, wine and the popular areas in the region.

Complete your first day with a treat by dining at one of the city’s wonderful restaurants, both in the city centre and the Seaport.

Travel north of Launceston on the A7, stopping at the Tamar Island Wetlands Walk and Grindelwald Swiss Village. Further afield, the Exeter Bakery is an excellent stop for a coffee and a treat, before heading on to Beaconsfield, known for the local mining and the Beaconsfield Mining and Heritage Centre. Further north is Beauty Point, home of Seahorse World and Platypus House, and the nearby Narawntapu National Park.

Head north on the eastern side of the Tamar River, and discover the township of Low Head, home of the Low Head Pilot Station and the Low Head Penguin Tours. Historic Georgetown is also well worth as visit. If you are a connoisseur of wines, you must try a Valleybrook Wine tour of the Tamar Valley and/or Piper’s Brook wine regions to visit some of Tasmania’s most celebrated wineries.

Return to Launceston via the B83, joining the B81.

Travel north-east from Launceston along the B81 to Hollybank Treetops Adventure and fly through the treetops or experience the forest from the ground on a Segway Tour. Continue on the B81 to Lilydale Falls. Further north-east on the B81, stop at the Bridestowe Lavender Farm (best visited in the summer), before heading to Scottsdale. Call in at the Visitor Information Centre that features interesting displays as well as a restaurant for lunch.

Continue on A3 east to St Helens. Along the way, take the short but interesting walk at Cuckoo Falls, visit the Derby Tin Mine & Museum, the Weldborough Hotel, Pyengana Cheese Factory, Pub in the Paddock and St Columba Falls. Once in St Helens, travel north on the C850 to Binalong Bay and the world-famous Bay of Fires. This stunning beach and surrounding area offers amazing photo opportunities as well as bird watching, fishing, swimming and surfing.

Visit Bicheno via the A3 and spend the rest of the day exploring this beautiful seaside town. Bicheno is home to the Sea Life Centre, which offers 180-degree views of the ocean. Whilst in Bicheno, visit the Rocking Rock and the blowhole, or try an All4 Terrain Tours/Freycinet or a Bicheno Penguin Tour.

Today, head along on the A3 to Freycinet National Park, via Coles Bay Road. Freycinet is the east coast’s most popular location, with the famous pink Hazards, wonderful bushwalks and the Wineglass Bay, all found on the peninsula. The extremely popular Wineglass Bay Cruise is a great was to explore the Wineglass Bay, only alternatively accessible by a 3km bushwalk. A National Parks Pass is needed for entry into the Freycinet National Park.

Follow the A1 south to Swansea, one of the oldest towns on the east coast. Explore Morris’ Store, the Community Centre history room and historical display, the fully restored Bark Mill, and the convict-built Spikey Bridge. A short drive south of Swansea is Kate’s Berry Farm, which has seasonal berry picking and a great little gift shop.

Continue down the A3 to Orford for the night. Please contact TasVillas Group for East Coast options.

Travel northward for 7 minutes in the A3 to Triabunna, the departure point of the ferry to Maria Island.

Maria Island has something for everyone – historic ruins, sweeping bays, rugged cliffs and mountains, and remarkable wildlife. The ferry departs morning and afternoon, with plenty to keep you occupied in between. Once on the island you will discover a place where there are no motor vehicles, no shops and no worries. Finish your day exploring the quaint town of Orford. Orford boasts many pristine and picturesque beaches – including Raspins, Millingons, Spring and Rheban beaches. Close by are also the 9-hole Orford Golf Course and the Darlington Vineyard.

If time allows, you may want to head inland to Campbell Town, known as the ‘heart of Tasmania’. There are many cafés for lunch or a snack, and the park area is a great place for a picnic. Among the attractions is one of Australia’s oldest bridges – the Original Bridge (1822), and the Elizabeth Campbell Wetlands area. Lining the streets of Campbell Town is the Convict Brick Trail. Engraved in each brick are authentic profiles of convicts transported to Australia, their crime and sentence.

As you travel southward on the A1, you enter the Heritage Highway. Keep an eye out for the steel plated handcrafted sculptures depicting scenes from the areas colonial history.

South of Campbell Town is the historic town of Ross. Worth a visit are the Female Convict Station, Ross Bakery, the Tasmanian Wool Centre and the Ross Village Toymaker- a craft shop featuring all handmade toys.

Continue south on the A1 to Oatlands. The town contains Australia’s largest collection of Georgian sandstone architecture, many of which are now craft shops and galleries. Visit the Callington Mill Distillery, the convict-built courthouse and try one of the many interesting walking tours of the town. Travel south on the A1, and then veer left on the B31 along Richmond Road, to Richmond.

Richmond, is one of Tasmania’s must-see towns, notable for its historic significance to Australia. Stop at Richmond Bridge, which was completed in 1825 and is Australia’s oldest known large stone arch bridge. Also, in Richmond visit Australia’s oldest gaol and the oldest remaining Catholic Church. The Richmond Maze & Tearooms have exciting mazes for the children to enjoy, and Zoodoo Wildlife Park is an exciting hands-on wildlife park.

Travel east from Richmond on the C351, connecting to the A3, and then head south in to Sorell. From Sorell, turn east on the A9 to the Tasman Peninsula. Visit the unique wonders of this corner of the state, making sure not to miss seeing the Remarkable Cave, Devil’s Kitchen, the Blowhole and the Tessellated Pavement.

Visit Port Arthur and allow yourself the remainder of the day to visit the iconic Port Arthur Historic Site, Australia’s largest convict heritage site.

Before heading to your accommodation for the night, try the Port Arthur Ghost Tour, one of Tasmania’s best ghost tour experiences.

From the Tasman Peninsula, travel north on the A9 to Sorell, and then along the A3 west to Hobart.

Hobart is Tasmania’s capital city and the second oldest city in Australia. Start your morning by looking around Hobart’s popular Salamanca Place, where you will find studios and shops displaying a great variety of Tasmanian art and crafts. The famous Salamanca Markets is a must do on a Saturday morning.

Explore the city of Hobart, perhaps experiencing one of the following activities:

Hobart Paddle
Hobart Historic Walking Tour
St David’s Cathedral
St David’s Park
Maritime Museum of Hobart
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Putter’s Adventure Golf
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Eaglehawk Hangliding.
Moorilla Estate & MONA (Museum of Old & New Art)

A short drive from the city centre is Australia’s first Shot Tower, one of only three Shot Towers still existing in Australia. A half hours’ drive from the city is the summit of Mount Wellington, with stunning panoramic views of the city.

Take the A1 north, then turn west on the A10 through New Norfolk. Continue west on the B62 past the Salmon Ponds to Bushy Park.

Bushy Park is a quaint town full of old houses, deciduous trees and hop fields. The Text Kiln is worth a look, with quotations inscribed on its walls dating back to 1867. Visit the waterwheel at Oust House, which used to generate electricity to dry the hops.

From Bushy Park, head west along the B61 to the Mt Field National Park. Mt Field National Park is accessed by one of two visitor sections. The first is at Westerway – north of Bushy Park on the B62, and includes the famous Russell Falls and stunning walk through the majestic fern forests. The second visitor section is at Lake Dobson and includes day walks and skiing areas.

From Bushy Park, on the B61 is Maydena, which has the Maydena Adventure Hub, for great day trekking tours around the south west. Just past Maydena, towards Lake Pedder, are the Florentine Valley and the Styxz Valley tall tree reserves, where some of the tallest hardwood trees on earth can be found.

Further west on the B61 is Strathgordon, the furthest point to drive in the south west wilderness area, where Lake Gordon and Lake Pedder draw visitors with giant trout fishing and boating. Near Strathgordon is the Visitor Centre at the Gordon Dam, the site of Australia’s longest vertical abseil. Try the Creepy Crawly walk, along Scott’s Peak Rd, a wonderful rainforest walk.

Travel back on the B61, returning to New Norfolk, and the follow the A10 back to Hobart.

Follow the A6 south past Kingston to begin your day tour of the Huon Valley region. The Huon Valley has a splendid array of fruitful orchards, quaint towns and wild landscapes.
Begin in Kingston, where the Australia’s Antarctic Headquarters houses historical and contemporary exhibits of Antarctic activities. Red Tag Trout Tours and the Tinderbox Vineyard are close by.

You can opt for one of the following options for your day:

Margate – Bruny Island – Cygnet
Travel south on the B68 to Margate, and visit the Margate Train for a bite to eat and a look around the unique train carriage shops. Continue south to Kettering. Catch the Bruny Island ferry, which departs frequently.

Bruny Island is abundant in wildlife, from fur seals, fairy penguins and the white wallaby, to many species of birds. Experience Bruny Island by water with an eco-cruise, which showcases the stunning coastline of the island. Indulge in quality desserts at the Bruny Island Berry Farm or visit Hiba, a factory outlet for Bruny Island fudge. Bruny Island is home to Bruny Island Vineyards, Australia’s southern-most vineyard. Visit the Cape Bruny Lighthouse and the Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration.

Return to Kettering and continue south on the B68 to Woodbridge. From here, either travel west on Cygnet Road, which becomes Woodbridge Road, then turn right and head north on the B68 to Cygnet. Alternatively, if time allows, continue south on the B68 to Birches Bay. Birches Bay offers the Grandview Vineyard and Grandvewe Farm Cheesery. From here, follow the B68 to Cygnet.

Cygnet is best known for the Cygnet Folk Festival (January) and the Cygnet Regatta (March). Just south of Cygnet is Lymington, where you will find the Tassie Blue Blueberries and Tru-Blu Berries berry farms.

Travel north on the B69 to Huonville, then continue south on the A6 to Port Huon.

Huonville – Franklin – Geeveston – Hastings Caves
From Kingston, travel west on the A6, stopping in at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed and Homehill Vineyard, before heading to the Huon Valley’s largest town, Huonville where you can join a thrilling Huon Jet Boat Ride. The Taste of the Huon (March) is one of the state’s most popular regional events.

Continuing down the A6 to Franklin, visit the Wooden Boat Centre. Travel further south to Geeveston and experience the Tahune Forest Airwalk- a must do in this region. In Geeveston, also visit the Southern Design Centre and try the picturesque Arve Forest Drive.

Stop in at Dover, south of Geeveston on the A6, this quaint, fishing village is home to Esperance Adventures.

Journey further south on the A6, then make a turn right on Hastings Caves Road. Visit the popular Thermal Springs in the area before taking a tour down to the spectacular Hastings Caves. In this area, you will also find the Hastings Forest Drive picnic area and the nearby duck hole lake walk and Adamson’s falls.

Return to the A6 and travel north to Port Huon.

Today head off early, travelling north on the A6 to Hobart, then turning west the A10 to New Norfolk. New Norfolk is the southern starting point for the Rivers Run touring route, which comprises the best tourist spots on the journey from Hobart and Strahan.

Head north on the A10 to Hamilton that, along with its neighbours Ouse and Gretna, offers wonderful pastoral landscapes. The town’s St Mary’s Church (1848) has headstones dating back to early settlement.

Further north are the towns of Tarraleah and Bronte Park, both gateways to the Central Highland’s and noted for their fishing and bushwalking. In Bronte Park, visit the historic single men’s huts for a great example of the harsh living conditions of the past.

Further north on the A10 is the Derwent Estuary, a great spot for trout fishing, and the Greg Duncan’s Wall in the Wilderness with amazing woodcarvings depicting the history of the area.

Lake St Clair lies at the south end of the Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair National Park and is part of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area. This lake is surrounded by protected forests with the beauty of snow-capped peaks. There are a variety of walks in the area, trout fishing, and a cruise of Lake St Clair.

Return to the A10 highway and travel through Queenstown, then head west on the B24 to Strahan.

This morning, walk down to Strahan’s main strip and explore the number of boutique shops and craft centres, including the Cove Gallery, Wilderness Woodworks and Strahan Woodworks. Enjoy a live performance of ‘The Ship That Never Was’, the dramatic and hilarious true story of the Great Escape from Sarah Island, or head down to the Strahan Wharf where you can opt for a World Heritage or Gordon River Cruise. For the more adventurous, try the Gordon River Paddle. Nearby, take a walk out to Hogarth Falls, an easy 50 minute walk, and the Teepookana Plateau for a brilliant view of the huon pines.

From Strahan, journey 40 minutes inland on the B24 to Queenstown, the largest town in the west coast region. The town is known for its unique landscape, transformed by the mining and logging of the past. Visit the Old Corner Store, famous Gravel Football Ground, Bradshaw’s Sawmill and the Miners Siding displays. Try a Mt Lyell Mine Tour to visit a working underground mine. Visit the ‘Iron’s Blow’ (between Queenstown and Gormanston) for a spectacular view of the old copper mine. From the summit of Mt Owen, view the wonderful Lake Burbury and surrounding area.

Return to Strahan via the B24.

Begin the morning with a breathtaking journey aboard the Wilderness West Coast Railway to explore the rugged wilderness of the World Heritage Area.

On your return, head north on the B27, turning left on the C249 to Zeehan. Here, visit the West Coast Pioneer’s Memorial Museum. Return east to the C249 joining the B27, and then continue on to the A10. Take a left on the A10 north through Rosebery, heading north straight through to Yolla. At Yolla, take a left on the B26 and continue north to Wynyard. From Wynyard, embark on one of the following options:

Wynyard – Northeast including Tarkine Forest Reserve
Travel east on the A2 past Smithton to the Tarkine Forest Adventures where you can enjoy the exciting slide down to the forest floor and the many walks through the beautiful Forest Reserve.

Head further west on the A2 and turn left onto the C214 to Arthur River or return east on the A2 and turn right on the B21 to Stanley, for your night’s accommodation.

Wynyard – North Coast including Table Cape and Burnie
Head north of Wynyard on the C234 to visit the spectacular views at Table Cape, its lighthouse and tulip farm. Return to Wynyard and then continue east on the A2 through to Burnie.

From Burnie, head east on the A1 past Ulverstone, turning right at Turner’s Beach on the B19. Travel south into Forth, then turn right onto the C132.Travel south on the C132 for just over an hour, before reaching the Cradle Mountain National Park area.

Park your vehicle at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to pick up your entrance pass (if you have not already purchased a Tasmanian National Parks Holiday Pass) and purchase your shuttle bus ticket, before heading to Cradle Mountain, a unique mountain scape and Tasmania’s most well-known mountain. Dove Lake sits at the base of the mountain, giving the area picturesque beauty and great opportunities for bushwalks and kayaking.

Travel north on C132, turning right onto the C136 into Sheffield. If travelling with children, turn left from the C136 onto C140 and take the time to stop off at Promised Land to visit the largest maze complex in the world at Tasmazia. From here, continue north to Sheffield. Sheffield is known as ‘the town of murals’ and is a quaint town rich with antique and craft shops.

Turn off from the Main Street of Sheffield onto the C136 to your accommodation.

Take the B14 east from Sheffield and stop in Railton- the ‘town of topiary’, to see its various displays of topiary sculptures along the main road.

Head north on the B13 to Latrobe, the home of the Axeman’s Hall of Fame, the Cherry Shed and the Platypus Interpretation Centre. Visit Reliquare, a fun shop for all ages. The Court House Museum tells the story of Latrobe, and Sherwood Hall is believed to be the oldest house in Latrobe, built 1848-1850. Just outside of Latrobe is the Anvers Fudge Factory, a must-visit for sweet lovers.

Nearby, the Warrawee Forest Reserve and Myrtle Hole sit on the banks of the Mersey River. Here, there is a 5km walking track and two parkland areas with barbeque facilities and ponds stocked with trout. The area is rich with history such as the power generation site (first of its type in the area), the old shale works including mine shafts, remnants of the shale bridge across the Mersey River, and the town’s old pump station.

Travel south from Latrobe on the A1 towards Launceston. Stop in at the Ashgrove Cheesefarm for a sample of fine Tasmanian cheese, before heading into Elizabeth Town. At Elizabeth Town, you are spoilt for choice for a lunch stop – either at the extremely popular ETC Bakery or the delicious Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm & Restaurant.

Continue south to Deloraine, a quaint little town that holds the popular Deloraine Craft Fair in November each year. Detour west of Deloraine on the B12 to Mole Creek. Take a tour of the Marakoopa or King Solomon Caves where you can observe the underground rivers, great cathedrals and glow worms. Here are also the Trowunna Wildlife Park and the Chudleigh Honey Farm.

Return to Deloraine, then continue on the A1 through Westbury and on in to Launceston.

For your final Day, explore Launceston prior to your departure.

For driving times, please visit our Travelling to Tasmania page.