Best of Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain
Best of Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain
Best of Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain
6 Days Starting and ending in Launceston
Visiting: Launceston / Cradle Coast / Stanley / Smithton, Tarkine Wilderness / Smithton, Rocky Cape National Park / Waratah / Corinna, Corinna / Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain / Launceston, Launceston (or Hobart)
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PZKT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
On this six-day exploration of rugged Tasmania, you’ll head to takayna/Tarkine – the greatest expanse of cool temperate rainforest in the country (and the second largest expanse in the world), and Cradle Mountain National Park – home to the impressive Cradle Mountain and numerous hiking, walking and wildlife-spotting opportunities. Travel along the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail, sampling fresh raspberries, cheese, ice cream and brews along the way, and explore Rocky Cape National Park, Narawntapu National Park, Mersey Bluff, The Nut, Corinna, Philosopher Falls and the Pieman River. Drive, walk and eat your way through gorgeous scenery, Indigenous culture and local delights – what a way to spend a week!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Launceston / Cradle Coast / Stanley / Smithton
Location: Launceston / Cradle Coast / Stanley / Smithton
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to Tasmania or Lutruwita in the language of the Palawa peoples – the Traditional Owners of this land. Your adventure begins in Launceston with an 8 am welcome meeting. Your first stop this morning will be the Tiagarra Museum on Mersey Bluff in Devonport. You’ll watch a Welcome to Country ceremony and then head out on a guided tour of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. See Aboriginal petroglyphs and learn about the importance of this landscape. Travel along part of the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail. Along the way, there will be plenty of scenic stops, and if there’s time, sample some local ciders, chocolates and truffles along the trail. After stopping for lunch in the town of Penguin, continue along the rocky coastline to Stanley. Climb the famous landmark The Nut – an ancient volcanic plug that juts out into the Bass Strait and offers outstanding views from the top – then wander down to the working wharf where some of the freshest seafood in Tasmania comes in each day. Continue to your comfortable accommodation, set in the rural area near Smithton, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Tarkine Wilderness / Smithton
Location: Tarkine Wilderness / Smithton
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, you’ll explore the Tarkine Wilderness area (Takayna in the language of the local Palawa peoples) – home to the largest temperate rainforest in Australia and the second largest in the world. Rich with geological wonders, Aboriginal history and unique creatures with habitats not found anywhere else on earth, you can explore sites like the hidden Trowutta Arch and the Lake Chisholm sinkhole – both examples of fascinating geological change. Along the Tarkine Coast, you’ll also see Marrawah – famous for its big wave surfing – and the desolate Edge of the World which marks the longest stretch of ocean on the planet. From here, there’s no land until Argentina! You’ll head out on a few short walks to explore the sites. Later, return to your rural accommodation near Smithton for the night and look up after sunset (this is a gorgeous spot for stargazing). 
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Rocky Cape National Park / Waratah / Corinna
Location: Rocky Cape National Park / Waratah / Corinna
Accommodation: Cottage
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Today, you’ll travel to Corinna via Rocky Cape National Park – home to windswept heathlands, sea caves, rock pools and twisted rocks formed over millions of years. Continue to the historic lighthouse at Table Cape and Boat Harbour Beach. Stop by Hellyer Gorge, then walk to see Philosopher Falls near Waratah. Tonight, settle into your accommodation for the night in Corinna’s remote, rural town in a restored miners’ cottage, where you can soak up some phone-free time, as there’s no service out here! Enjoy a group dinner with your fellow travellers and watch the sunset. 
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Corinna / Cradle Mountain
Location: Corinna / Cradle Mountain
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
You have a free morning this morning to get active. Maybe head out for some optional kayaking or hiking around the Corinna area, exploring the Pieman River and Tarkine Rainforest. After lunch, head to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, where your accommodation for the night sits among the trees. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure, then as the sun begins to set, maybe head out to meet Tasmania’s most emblematic animal – the Tasmanian devil. This optional activity visits a wildlife conservation facility aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. Finish your day with a sunset over Cradle Mountain and listen out for the unmistakable sound of the devils. 
Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Cradle Mountain / Launceston
Location: Cradle Mountain / Launceston
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, hike the scenic Dove Lake Circuit in the Cradle Mountain area. This trail will take you around the lake and beneath the impressive spires of the mountain, passing gorgeous scenery along the way. As the circuit is board-walked most of the way, it’s a fairly easy walk and gives you plenty of time and energy to focus on the surroundings. After, head to a local restaurant in the park for a group lunch – maybe grab a drink and relax by the fire as you wait. Then, drive to Launceston, where you'll spend the night, stopping for optional tastings and shopping opportunities along the way (pick up some delicious, locally grown raspberries or cheese and ice cream). Tonight, you’re free to relax at your accommodation or head out for dinner with your group.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Launceston (Or Hobart)
Location: Launceston (or Hobart)
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning, your trip will come to an end (if you’re staying in Launceston). For those leaving the trip in Hobart, you’ll have breakfast and then hit the road. Arrive at around 10:30 am. There are no further activities planned, so if you’d like to stay in Hobart longer, just speak to your booking agent.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (4 nights), Cottage (1 night) -
North West Coast - Visit to Penguin Village
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North Coast - Narawntapu National Park
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Stanley - The Nut
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North Coast - Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail
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Mersey Bluff - Petroglyphs
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takayna / Tarkine - Trowutta Arch
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takayna / Tarkine - Lake Chisholm Sinkhole
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takayna / Tarkine - Edge of the World
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Waratah - Philosopher Falls
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North West Coast - Rocky Cape National Park
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Insurance
Transport
- LONG TRAVELLING DAYS
- Tasmania is bigger than it appears. To make the most of your time this trip involves some long travelling days. Please see the daily itinerary for more information.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- START & END TIMES
- The trip starts in Launceston with a Welcome Meeting at 8 am on Day 1 at our joining point hotel. The trip finishes either in Launceston on Day 6 at our finish point hotel from where you are free to depart at any time, or alternatively, continue to Hobart in the morning of Day 6 where the trip finishes on arrival around 10:30 am. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request in either Launceston or Hobart.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.
- LONG TRAVEL DAYS
- Tasmania is bigger than it appears. To make the most of your time this trip involves some long travel days. Please see the daily itinerary for more information.
- PHYSICAL RATING
- This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with good fitness and mobility. This is the best way to experience Tasmania, so please make sure you bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.
- ITINERARY VARIATIONS
- For operational reasons some departures throughout the year may operate in the opposite direction, however all experiences and destinations continue to be included.
Mode of Transport
- Private Vehicle
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with good fitness and mobility. Several leader-led walks are included on a daily basis, allowing you to get among nature. This is the best way to experience Tasmania, so please make sure you bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. Most walks are relatively short and easy although there are some more challenging options. However, joining a walk is always up to you.
Temperatures can fluctuate in Tasmania. It's important to prepare – pack suitable clothing for hot, cold, dry and wet weather, just in case.
This trip forms part of a longer combination tour. If you would like to explore more of Tasmania with us, consider booking our Best of Tasmania (trip code PZKVC) trip. See our website for details.
For operational reasons some departures throughout the year may operate in the opposite direction, with all experiences and destinations continuing to be included. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions