Take a trip along the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne
See the colourful huts on Brighton Beach, Melbourne
Soak up the scenery at beautiful Wineglass Bay
Spot wallabies in Narawntapu National Park
Come face to face with the fabled Tasmanian Devil
See wombats in the Tasmanian wilderness
Dive into Melbourne's delicious brunch culture
Explore Cataract Gorge in Tasmania
This 16-day Melbourne and Tasmania holiday combines a Melbourne city break with time exploring Tasmania’s stunning east coast.
Beginning with a city break in Melbourne, you'll have three days to explore this diverse and occasionally eccentric city; ride the tram around the city centre, stroll down the Southbank or head to quirky St. Kilda for some beach fun and delicious food.
Often overlooked, Tasmania is rugged, wild, virtually untouched and it’s an incredibly beautiful place to self-drive. Our itinerary takes you to small, authentic, owner-run properties that give you a real taste of local life and the ‘real’ Tasmania; we promise you won’t be disappointed.
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements; please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Depart the UK from your chosen airport.
You’ll be met on arrival and taken to your accommodation, with three days to discover the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. It’s a great destination to explore on foot or by tram, and there are some excellent walking tours where you’ll pick up on the insider knowledge of a local. We also recommend heading out to the beautiful Yarra Valley for a winery tour, or perhaps taking a day trip along the stunning Great Ocean Road – we can arrange these for you.
You'll be taken to the airport for your flight to Tasmania. When you arrive at Launceston Airport, collect your rental car. Make your way to Beauty Point in northern Tasmania, about an hour's drive from the airport, on the doorstep of the Narawntapu National Park. This area is a haven for wildlife and birdlife, especially during dawn and dusk.
Here you can visit the historic town of Beaconsfield (famous for gold mining); see platypus at Platypus House and enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the northeast.
After breakfast, leave Beauty Point and head back down to Launceston to explore the city and visit Cataract Gorge. Known as the ‘wilderness in the heart of the city’, this is a great location to spot wallabies and Tasmanian Pademelons and take a ride on the longest single-span chairlift in the world (own expense).
Leave Launceston and drive 15 minutes to the historic town of Longford. Spend a night at the Brickendon colonial estate and farm stay which is adjacent to Woolmers Estate, also World Heritage Listed. Both have stunning gardens to explore, and Woolmers has the National Rose Garden. If you’re a history buff, between them, these two properties also house the best-kept convict records in Australia.
A two-hour drive south down the Midlands Highway brings you to one of Tasmania’s most iconic of national parks, the Freycinet Peninsula. Coles Bay is just a short walk from the most photographed of beaches, Wineglass Bay. This stunning peninsula will be your base for two nights.
Stay at Sheoaks on Freycinet, a B&B on Coles Bay. The owners are keen birders who will equip you with binoculars, a birding list and a gourmet picnic lunch for you to explore the Freycinet Peninsula including Wineglass Bay, Friendly Beaches and the Hazards Mountains. We’ve included a Wineglass Bay Cruise along the hidden bays and coves of this most iconic of Tasmanian wilderness landscapes, spotting albatross, sea eagles, dolphin, Australian fur seals and if you are lucky, whales.
Your host, Margaret is an accomplished cook, so dinner (by arrangement), is always a memorable experience and a fitting end to a day’s exploration.
Today, you'll leave Freycinet and drive two and a half hours south along the vineyard and olive grove-lined coastline. Enjoy coastal views and look out for dolphins and whales on your way to the Tasmanian state capital of Hobart. We recommend you make a stop at historic Swansea for cakes and ice cream at Kate’s Berry Farm.
Shortly before you arrive in Hobart, we recommend a stop at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where we’ve included a chance for you to have an up-close and personal meeting with almost all Tasmania’s native animals including Tasmanian devils.
Bonorong is a rehabilitation centre, not a zoo, and all animals are rescued, rehabilitated and released if possible. As a special privilege, Travel Nation clients enjoy an upgrade from general entry to a personal tour (please confirm the arrival time in advance).
In Hobart, you’ll stay in either the waterfront, apartment-style Salamanca Wharf or the historic four-star, Lenna of Hobart - with views over Mt Wellington or Hobart’s harbour. You are a stone’s throw from Salamanca Market, where every Saturday you can buy delicious local produce to enjoy at your leisure in your apartment.
Leave Hobart and drive the ninety-minute journey to the Tasman Peninsula, which is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, Eaglehawk Neck.
The Tasman Peninsula is home to Port Arthur Historic Site, one of Australia’s most feared of penal settlements as well as stunning landscapes and beaches and some of the best bushwalking in Tasmania.
We’ve included entry to the Port Arthur Historic Site and a Harbour Cruise and Guided Tour. You also have the option to add on the After Dark Pass which includes dinner in felon’s Bistro and the legendary Ghost Tour.
During your stay in Hobart, you can also take the included half-day Tasman Island Cruise beside the highest cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere to Tasman Island. You should see fur seal colonies, dolphin, Albatross, short Tailed Shearwaters and from June to November; you’re likely to spot whales as they migrate north.
Enjoy a leisurely drive back to Hobart to drop off your rental car for your flight back to Melbourne. Stop off at Port Arthur en-route if you haven’t already visited.
You will be met on arrival and transferred to your accommodation. This evening why not try out the famous Melbourne Tram Restaurant and watch the city go by as you enjoy a gourmet meal and fine local wines on board the tram? We can arrange this for you.
Spend your last full day in Melbourne; sit back and relax or hit the streets and tick off the parts of the city that you missed on your first visit. Melbourne is a foodie paradise so maybe splurge on your last night at one of its famous restaurants – be sure to book in advance though!
Enjoy a leisurely morning before checking out of your hotel. We will arrange a transfer to take you to the airport for your onward flight.
You could consider adding on a few days in Sydney or heading up to Queensland for a beach and Great Barrier Reef experience – let us know, and we’ll include this in your tailor-made quotation.
Tasmania has four seasons, the warmest being December to March. Average summer temperatures are between 17 and 23 degrees and average winter between 3 and 11 degrees. Rainfall varies dramatically across the island with the west coast having a high rainfall compared to Hobart, which is the second driest city in Australia.
We’re experts in planning tailor-made holidays, so whether you’re looking for a luxury Australia holiday, ideas for a road trip, or multi-stop flights to Australia with stopovers – let us help you with the planning. Our experts can tailor-make precisely the trip you’re looking for - this itinerary is purely a suggestion, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
14 nights in a mixture of locally run B&B style accommodation and 4.5* accommodation, including:
Plus:
