Itinerary Details
Day 1 Arrive in Hobart
Just along the Hobart waterfront in Tasmania is MACq 01 Hotel, a unique hotel designed to tell the story of Hobart's history. The spirit of Tasmania can be found throughout the hotel from the architecture to the decor. The lounge is inspired by Aboriginal culture, while the reception area is reminiscent of discovery and the early settlement of the area. Continuing to the restaurant, the theme shifts to early industry, such as mining and farming. Finally, the bar showcases several moments that shaped Tasmanian culture. Each guest room in MACq 01 Hotel is designed around a different Tasmanian trait. Expect to see original artwork, neutral tones and rugged textiles. Chic design and casual luxury are the highlights of the rooms, which feature stunning views, private balconies and up-to-date technology.
By design, your luxury waterfront suite breathes space and openness. A private deck invites the outside in and your fireplace is one of only six in the hotel. Amenities include a flat-screen TV, fireplace, wireless speaker, walk-in robe, and a spacious walk-in shower and bath.
Macq 01 Hotel
Day 2 Tasmanian Seafood Seduction
The journey begins among the fishing boats moored at Constitution Dock in the heart of Hobart's vibrant waterfront. You'll be part of a small group of up to 12 guests that's accompanied by an experienced local guide. As the vessel pulls away from the docks, leave city life behind. Settle back, relax and admire the surroundings as you cruise down the Derwent River into the sheltered waters of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel that surrounds Bruny Island. This unspoiled paradise is home to Tasmania's finest seafood. Weaving the way along Bruny Island's coast, guests may help the guide to gather oysters, mussels, sea urchins and abalones from the pristine waters. Pull up a crayfish at the southern tip of the island. Or you can catch a fish before dropping anchor in a calm, secluded bay where you can help your guide skillfully prepare and serve the seafood bounty on board the boat.
Nowhere else in the world is there a journey like this—and you can't get Tasmanian seafood any fresher. The catch is part of an extensive lunch of the finest gourmet produce—abalone, crayfish, oysters, sashimi, sea urchin, salmon and mussels, which are accompanied by local wine, beers, ciders and juices. The guides know these waters intimately. They've grown up in this wilderness environment with its picturesque landscapes and beautiful deserted beaches. Throughout the day, they'll provide an entertaining insight into the surrounding landscapes and animals. Such local knowledge only comes from spending years in and around these clean blue waters.
Macq 01 Hotel
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Bonorong Feeding Frenzy
Bonorong Park was established in 1981 as a sanctuary for injured and orphaned wildlife. Owner, Greg Irons, has had a lifetime passion for animal rehabilitation and releasing animals back into the wild, and he has turned Bonorong into a sanctuary that focuses on education, rehabilitation and the release of native wildlife. The staff at Bonorong is very experienced in interpretation and wildlife husbandry. Enjoy an exclusive, guided feeding tour of the park where visitors engage with the animals in a very special and individual way. During this unforgettable excursion, experiences may include feeding the wombats their breakfast, giving the cockies (cockatoos) their wattle treats, feeding the echidnas as they snuffle around your feet, having a tug of war with a Tassie devil, feeding Bonorong's two special species of quoll, putting in some fresh leaves for the koalas and watching while they snack, hand-feeding the tawny frogmouth to watch him swallow his food whole, throwing lunch to the kookaburra and seeing how well he can catch, and getting up the courage to hold a blue-tongued lizard.
Macq 01 Hotel
Meals: B
Day 4 Off to Freycinet
A private car whisks you off to the Freycinet area, taking approximately three hours.
Jagged pink granite peaks jut from lush green mountains on the Freycinet Peninsula that is enclosed by Wineglass Bay and Hazard Beach. The beautiful Tasmanian coast is highlighted by crystal waters, white beaches, green hills and valleys. Saffire Freycinet is located just where mainland Tasmania meets the untouched peninsula. This gorgeous luxury lodge combines comfort and privacy with the stunning natural world of the Australian coastal area. The streamlined building offers boutique accommodations and ultimate relaxation with just 20 suites. Tasmanian timber furniture is cozy yet stylish; the contemporary design pairs perfectly with the building's modern architecture. Private decks and courtyards ensure that guests will have unrivaled views of the incredible mountain ranges and coastline. Its seaside location means that the finest food and drink is readily available—the climate lends to striking cool-climate wines, and local fishing areas provide endless fresh scallops, deep-sea fish and oysters.
Saffire Freycinet
Meals: B, D
Day 5 Wilderness & Wildlife Cruise
Discover the best of the Freycinet Peninsula onboard the Wildlife & Wilderness Cruise. This half-day experience on Saffire Freycinet's private vessel is the ultimate way to explore the Freycinet National Park, covering most of the Park's wildly beautiful coastline and providing exclusive access to remote locations that can only be accessed from the water. Cruising conditions are usually favorable, so you may see Wineglass Bay from the water, or head out to Schouten Island—an unspoiled gem which is home to a resident colony of Australian fur seals. Each cruise is a new unforgettable adventure.
Step aboard the purpose-built vessel, settle in and enjoy a thrilling journey past everchanging scenery featuring craggy granite sea cliffs and caves, quiet coves fringed by powdery white-sand beaches, remote rocky islands and the vast expanses of Great Oyster Bay framed by rugged mountains towering in the backdrop. The expert guide will point out key features and share their deep knowledge of the area's complex and ancient geological structure, fascinating flora and fauna, and its rich history and culture. This is a journey packed with moments that will take your breath away. The Freycinet Peninsula is a wildlife lover's paradise, and the sights and sounds of nature will leave you in awe.
Saffire Freycinet
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 Saffire Freycinet at Leisure
Included in your Saffire accommodation is a broad range of activities that will offer innovative options for all styles of travelers and moods. These activities last from one to three hours and are your opportunity to engage and connect with this stunning location. From adventure to romance, rejuvenation to exploration, Saffire's activities add greater depth and dimension to your stay.
Tasmanian Devil Experience
This experience offers the rare opportunity to encounter Tasmanian devils in a natural setting, and to participate in the quest to save this endangered species from extinction. Led by a knowledgeable guide, visit Saffire's open-range Tasmanian devil enclosure, where you'll meet some of the resident population of Tasmanian devils and observe them as they feed and interact. Hear the story of the crucial effort to find a cure for Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease, the rare and contagious cancer that is threatening the devil's survival. You'll also have the chance to contribute to Saffire's management and observation of their devil population by participating in a visual health inspection of the devils.
Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm
Slip on a pair of waders and visit a working oyster farm located in a beautiful setting within an internationally significant wetland and ornithological site. Develop an understanding for wetland and marine ecology, plus a taste for prized Pacific oysters.
Freycinet Walks
Freycinet National Park is a must see during your stay. Join an informative guide on a walk to the lookout over Wineglass Bay. Learn about the Peninsula's rich history and acquaint yourself with one of the world's most famous beaches on a two-hour walking adventure. Alternatively, join a guide for an easy two-hour tour, which combines two of the popular shorter walks of the Freycinet Peninsula; the first walk around the Cape Tourville lighthouse, with stunning views of the Tasman and the second walk to Sleepy Bay, where you will descend gently graded steps to the rocky shoreline.
Wine and Vine Adventures
A wine lover's delight! At the local Freycinet Winery, you will learn the art of winemaking and indulge in some fine Tasmanian fare—and some wine tastings of course!
Pelican Bay canoeing and bird-watching
Unwind and absorb the breathtaking beauty of the Swanport estuary on this guided canoeing adventure at the mouth of the internationally significant Moulting Lagoon wetland. Observe the flocks of pelicans and gaze into the crystal clear waters teeming with marine life.
For the Palate
Love your food? Watch, learn and participate as one of Palate's creative and delicious dishes is prepared from start to finish. This is an interactive, must-do activity for lovers of luxury dining. Meet in the Lounge for a mixology masterclass, where we will show you how to muddle, stir and shake up your favorite classic cocktails, as well as share some Saffire exclusive innovations.
For the Active
Venture out on mountain bikes on a specially devised interpretive route, or for those wanting a longer and more technical adventure, book a guide for the much more rugged track from Cape Tourville. Perhaps paddle in the calm and tranquil waters of Muirs Beach wetland, located directly in front of Saffire Freycinet. Sit-on-top kayaks are available to paddle at your leisure behind the windswept sand dunes amongst coastal bush-land. Or you may like to go fishing off the rocky shoreline in front of Saffire. Flathead, flounder, calamari squid and Australian salmon can be caught in Great Oyster Bay. Four fishing rods are available.
Saffire Freycinet
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 Freycinet to Cradle Mountain
Enjoy a leisurely and scenic drive from Freycinet to Cradle Mountain.
Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Meals: D
Day 8 Day of Leisure at Cradle Mountain National Park
Carved by glacial ice more than 20,000 years ago, Cradle Mountain National Park is Tasmania's most beloved wilderness area. Its deep gorges, wild moorlands and glacial lakes are enjoyed by hikers of all abilities. Day walks to Lake St. Clair, Australia's deepest freshwater lake, are popular, but it is the spectacular trek from there to Cradle Mountain that has earned its reputation as a bush-walker's Mecca.
Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Meals: B, D
Day 9 Depart Tasmania
You will be transferred to Launceston Airport.
Meals: B
