Tasmania Extension

After breakfast and check out, we’ll board our transport and venture north along the east coast. Our first stop is the historic town of Richmond, founded in the early 1800s and known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and significant convict-era sites, Richmond has one of the best-preserved collections of Georgian-era buildings in Australia. We’ll visit the Richmond Gaol established in 1825, and Australia’s oldest intact gaol, to gain a deeper insight into Tasmania’s convict history. You will have the opportunity to explore the town with your Tour Leader or on your own. Either way, the things to watch out for are Richmond Bridge – constructed by convicts in 1823, it’s Australia’s oldest stone bridge still in use; St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Australia still in use. In your travels, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the town’s galleries, cafes, and boutique shops, many located in heritage buildings, as well as a model village recreating 1820s Hobart.

After lunch at leisure, we’ll continue to Buckland and visit the historic St John the Baptist Anglican Church, built in the Gothic Revival style with convict labour in 1846, and famous for its beautiful medieval-style stained-glass window, the age and history of which is still widely speculated. Some people claim the window was originally designed for Battle Abbey in England, a church which dates from 1094. The story is that before the famous Battle of Hastings, which was actually fought at Battle, in Sussex, William the Conqueror vowed that if he won he would build an abbey to commemorate his victory. Legend has it that he built the Abbey where the English King Harold II had fallen. The church was pulled down during the Reformation and it is argued that the window subsequently found its way out to Australia. However, some experts believe the window was created in the 14th century, some 300 years after the Battle of Hastings, and others say the window was the work of a London artist and brought to Buckland in 1846 by the then Rector – hence the ongoing debate!

On our way to Bicheno, our resting place for the night, we’ll make a stop at Triabunna, a small, historic coastal town and the main gateway to Maria Island. Established in the early 19th century, it has a rich maritime and colonial history, including its role in the whaling and sealing industries.

Upon arrival in Bicheno, we’ll go directly to our accommodation and check in before gathering together for dinner at a local favourite.

Overnight: Bicheno by the Bay, Bicheno (B, D)

After breakfast and check out, we’ll head to Freycinet National Park to spend the day visiting this magnificent coastal reserve. Jutting out the way it does into the Tasman Sea, the Freycinet Peninsula almost looks as if it is pointing at New Zealand.

We’ll walk up to the saddle in the Hazard, the jagged range of pink and grey granite peaks, to enjoy the view over the pristine beach of Wineglass Bay from the lookout.  Please note: This is an uphill walk that takes roughly 1.5 hours – you’ll need a good level of fitness and mobility, sturdy shoes and a way to carry a water bottle with you. For those who don’t wish to do a strenuous walk, you can enjoy a casual stroll and a coffee along Richardson Beach and Honeymoon Bay, and on to Coles Bay if you feel like it.

We’ll then rest our legs in our private transport while we drive on to the quaint fishing village of St Helens, the largest town on the northeast coast of Tasmania with around 2000 residents. Originally a whaling station, St Helens is often called the “game fishing capital of Tasmania” and is now famous for deep-sea fishing, particularly tuna and marlin.

After checking into our hotel in St Helens you are free to enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight: The Panorama Hotel, St Helens (B)

After breakfast and check-out this morning, we’ll travel north along the coast to the nearby Bay of Fires. Named by the English navigator Tobias Furneaux in 1773 when he saw fires lit by Tasmanian First Nations people burning along the coast, Bay of Fires is an idyllic combination of clean white beaches, clear azure seas and granite rocks splashed in orange lichen.

We’ll enjoy  lunch at leisure here, before completing our journey to Launceston. Upon arrival, we’ll go directly to our hotel, check in and enjoy some down time before re-grouping for a special farewell dinner (including drinks) at the hotel restaurant.

Overnight: Country Club Villas, Launceston (B, D)

This morning after breakfast, we say a fond farewell to Tasmania and our fellow travellers and head off.