The Great Ocean Road is Australia’s classic self-drive.
Dramatic cliffs, famous sea stacks and a route that has become a rite of passage for many travellers. But Australia is far more than just its headlines.
For this itinerary edit, we head south to Tasmania, an island where the landscapes feel older, wilder and more varied. Paddle through Freycinet’s turquoise bays, walk beneath Cradle Mountain’s jagged peaks and look out for wombats, wallabies and the elusive Tasmanian devil along the way.
It’s still Australia, just a side of the country many travellers miss.
Visit Maria Island
An island off the coast of an island off the coast of Australia? You’ve a greater chance of meeting a kangaroo than another human being on a visit to Maria Island. We recommend you take a four-day guided walk through the wilderness, which is home to rare birds, grazing wombats and historic convict settlements.
It’s a mere 30 minute crossing by boat from Triabunna on the east coast of Tasmania to reach Maria Island. Devoid of motor vehicles, you’ll explore entirely under your own steam.
Roam Freycinet National Park
On your return to Tasmania, head to Freycinet National Park to kayak the turquoise waters of the peninsula, tracing sandy beaches and secluded coves as sea eagles and pelicans soar overhead. Great Oyster Bay is a great location for spotting migrating whales and dolphins.
First reserved as a national park a century ago, Freycinet is the oldest national park in Tasmania, alongside Mount Field. This area, and especially the peninsula, was historically the home of the toorerno-maire-mener clan within the Oyster Bay nation.
Spot Tasmania’s Big Five
After a two and a half hour drive inland, you arrive at Launceston, ready to spend the following day in the company of an expert naturalist. It’s time to look for the island’s ‘big five’: Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, echidnas and platypus.
Set out to find them in their natural habitats, enjoying close encounters with these remarkable creatures and learning more about the conservation work that goes into protecting them.
Explore Cradle Mountain
Drive around two and a half hours into the island’s wild heart, where ancient rainforests and glacial lakes lie beneath the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this is one of the island’s most dramatic landscapes, with well-marked walking trails leading through alpine scenery shaped by ice and weather over millennia.
Walk a section of the famed Overland Track or take the circuit around Dove Lake, breathing in the cool mountain air as you pass button grass plains, still water and weathered woodland.
If you’d like to see Australia better, ask to speak to Australia Specialist Clare Wiggins about our Ultimate Tasmania itinerary using the contact form below.