Waterfront Hobart
Stay in a hotel filled with contemporary art, explore Hobart’s lively harbour, galleries and markets and and dine on seafood from nearby waters.
Tasmania may be Australia’s smallest state, but it holds some of its grandest landscapes, most diverse habitats and remarkable wildlife. This two-week journey reveals its wild beauty alongside its creative, culinary and cultural heart.
From the charming city of Hobart, travel through landscapes shaped by ancient ice ages — from uninhabited Maria Island and the sweeping Bay of Fires to eucalyptus forests, cool rainforests and the glacial lakes of Cradle Mountain National Park. Encounter endemic species found nowhere else on Earth — Tasmanian devils, quolls, pademelons, wombats and wallabies — and enjoy exceptional local produce, fine wines and characterful hospitality.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Maria Island Walk
Embark on a four-day guided walk through an island wilderness, home to rare birds, grazing wombats and historic convict settlements.
Freycinet Peninsula
Kayak the turquoise waters of the Freycinet Peninsula, tracing secluded coves and sandy beaches as pelicans and sea eagles glide overhead.
A Tasmanian Safari
Spot wombats, pademelons, wallabies, platypus and Tasmanian devils on land, and watch for dolphins, seals and seabirds along the coast.
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Day 1
Hobart
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Days 2-3
Hobart
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Day 4
Hobart - Maria Island
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Days 5-6
Maria Island
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Day 7
Maria Island - Triabunna - Freycinet National Park
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Days 8-9
Freycinet National Park
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Day 10
Freycinet - Launceston
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Day 11
Launceston
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Day 12
Launceston - Cradle Mountain
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Day 13
Cradle Mountain
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Day 14
Cradle Mountain - Launceston
Day 1
Hobart
Arrive in Hobart and settle into your waterfront hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic Salamanca district or take a stroll along the harbour, framed by the slopes of Mount Wellington.
Days 2-3
Hobart
Spend two days discovering Tasmania’s capital, known for its lively food scene, creative energy and colonial architecture. Visit MONA, one of the world’s most provocative modern art museums, and browse the Salamanca Market. Venture up Mount Wellington for sweeping views or take a boat out to Bruny Island to sample oysters, abalone and local whisky.
Day 4
Hobart - Maria Island
Travel by road for around 90 minutes to Triabunna and board the boat for a 30 minute crossing to Maria Island. Devoid of motor vehicles, this wildlife haven offers pristine beaches and a rare sense of tranquillity. Begin your guided four-day walk through eucalyptus woodland and along windswept coastal cliffs, staying overnight in simple forest camps.
Days 5-6
Maria Island
Over the next two days continue your walk, crossing open plains and quiet coves where wombats graze and wallabies bound across your path. Learn about the island’s convict past, enjoy Tasmanian wines with freshly prepared dinners, and fall asleep to the sounds of the bush. Keep watch for dolphins offshore and sea eagles overhead.
Day 7
Maria Island - Triabunna - Freycinet National Park
After a final mornings walk to Darlington, via the dramatic fossil cliffs, pause for lunch before the 30 minute return ferry to the mainland. Travel north overland for around two hours to Freycinet National Park. Spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps sampling fresh oysters or simply admiring the view towards the Hazards mountains.
Days 8-9
Freycinet National Park
Explore Freycinet’s granite peaks, white-sand beaches and turquoise coves. Paddle by kayak along sheltered waters spotting pelicans and sea eagles. Take a guided walk to Wineglass Bay or try beekeeping and seafood foraging with local experts.
Day 10
Freycinet - Launceston
Journey inland for around two and a half hours, passing farmlands and vineyards to Launceston, Tasmania’s second city. Pause for a tasting at a cool-climate winery before arriving at your hotel near Cataract Gorge.
Day 11
Launceston
Spend the day in the company of expert naturalists seeking Tasmania’s “big five”: devils, wombats, kangaroos, echidnas and platypus. Learn about conservation efforts and enjoy a bush-tucker lunch prepared by a local chef.
Day 12
Launceston - Cradle Mountain
Drive around two and a half hours into the island’s wild heart, where ancient rainforests and glacial lakes sit against a dramatic backdrop of Cradle Mountains jagged peaks. Walk a section of the famed Overland Track or circle Dove Lake in the cool mountain air.
Day 13
Cradle Mountain
Spend another day exploring this beautiful alpine landscape.
Day 14
Cradle Mountain - Launceston
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before returning to Launceston for your onward flights.
More Details
Marsupials and Monotremes
Tasmania's Big Five
Tasmania’s landscapes shelter some of the most unique wildlife on Earth. Spend a day with expert guides seeking the island’s “big five” — Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, echidnas and platypus. Learn about conservation work that protects these remarkable species and enjoy close encounters in their natural habitats. Between sightings, share a bush-tucker lunch cooked by a local bush chef and sample native ingredients foraged from the surrounding wilderness. This is a day of connection — to nature, to place and to Tasmania’s wild spirit.
Pedestrians Only Please
Maria Island Walk - October to April
Devoid of any motor vehicles there is more chance of bumping into a kangaroo than another human on Maria Island. During a gentle four day walk traverse sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and woodland before bedding down for the night in simple but comfortable forest camps. Indulge in delicious meals using fresh, local produce and fine Tasmanian wines, learn about the fascinating convict history of the island and spot some of the resident wildlife. From potoroos to possums, dolphins and fur seals, plus bird life from sea eagles to the rare forty-spotted pardalote. Tasmanian devils, recently reintroduced, are also often seen at night.
Distinctive Architecture, Pelicans and Oysters
Freycinet Peninsula
Freycinet Peninsula is a National Park and home to the internationally acclaimed Wineglass Bay. Spend two nights at the luxurious Saffire soaking up the stunning landscapes of granite mountains, sandy beaches and sapphire blue waters. Overlooking Great Oyster Bay, where migrating whales and dolphins can often be spotted, Saffire has access to wonderful fresh seafood and a range of lovely activities are on offer during a stay here. Kayak through wetlands amidst flocks of pelican, learn the art of beekeeping and don waders to harvest and shuck fresh oysters.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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Maria Island is an important cultural site encompassing both Aboriginal and convict history. Aboriginal presence on the island dates back over 35,000 years, evidenced by artefacts and archaeological discoveries, though current findings are believed to represent only a fraction of the total Aboriginal heritage present. Tourism to Maria Island supports the preservation of this cultural legacy and funds further research into its earliest inhabitants.
A leader in sustainable fishing practices, Tasmania’s seafood industry implements tightly controlled quotas and licenses, ecosystem-based fishery management, and gear regulations designed to reduce bycatch. Sustainable fishing is essential for preserving Tasmania’s rich marine ecosystems and to ensure the long-term viability of fish stocks.
Tasmania’s most iconic species, the Tasmanian Devil, is unfortunately endangered, with population trends indicating a continued decrease in numbers. In response, the Tasmanian government funds the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, an initiative with a vision for an enduring and ecologically functional wild population. The program includes projects such as monitoring the spread of the fatal Devil Facial Tumour Disease and identifying roadkill hotspots, all in an effort to prevent further population decline.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
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A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From £8,995 Per person
When to travel
Tasmania has a temperate climate so there are generally no extremes of temperature. From October to December springtime begins, as do many of the walks, this is a very pretty time to visit. From January to March expect mild summer weather throughout the island and even into April and May as autumn arrives it can be a lovely time to visit with the leaves beginning to fall but the evenings are much cooler and the walks stop operating. June to September is cold and wet.
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