OFF-ROAD EXPEDITION AROUND THE ISLAND OF TASMANIA
13 DAYS
26 PEOPLE
3490 EURO
We have long dreamed of spending an adventure trip on an extraordinary Australian island that is simultaneously similar to New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, Patagonia and Crimea!
Once upon a time, during the last great ice age, the island of Tasmania was connected to Australia by a land isthmus. This is how wonderful Australian animals came here: different types of kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, Tasmanian devils, platypuses, echidnas, etc. It was also along this isthmus that the first people came to Tasmania. The nature here has always been unique, and after the Ice Age ended and the sea level rose, the isthmus with Australia disappeared, Tasmania became one of the largest islands of our Planet with a nature very similar to New Zealand and Australia at the same time.
Now Tasmania is separated from Australia by the 240 km wide Bass Strait. Due to its unique geographical location, the air and water on the island are considered the cleanest in the world. In Tasmania, 44% of the territory is covered with rain forests, and national parks occupy 21% of the island’s territory; in the central part, there are lots of low but steep mountains, which is why Tasmania is considered the most mountainous state in Australia.
Winemaking has become extremely popular in Tasmania because the climate and soil here are very suitable. Tasmania is known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling wines. In some parts of the state, growing conditions are favorable for late-ripening varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and even Zinfandel. In addition, Tasmania is famous for its cheeses, honey, seafood, cherries, apples, raspberries, truffles and of course oysters.
Here are some of the most delicious oysters on our Planet. You will be able to try and see all this with your own eyes as part of the Paganels’ large automobile expedition through Tasmania. We have to drive about 1800+ km in our cars; go through several interesting trekking routes; taste the oysters; scallops; the famous Tasmanian rock lobsters; truffles; honey; chocolate; cheeses; raspberries and of course wonderful Tasmanian wines; see and touch unique marsupials: kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, platypuses, etc.
We are already starting to make our plans and prepare for the expedition to Tasmania in March 2025!
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ROUTE
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The price includes accommodation in comfortable hotels and motels along the entire travel route (double accommodation) at 4*, 3* level;
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SUV/Full SUV car rental (automatic transmission);
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fuel;
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entrance tickets to the national Parks, museums and paid natural areas according to the program;
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paid parking;
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visiting all Wildlife Sanctuaries according to the program;
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car insurance;
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services of English-Russian speaking guides from the Paganel Studio team.
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
27.02.2025
Morning arrival at Hobart airport (Tasmania). Please note that there are direct flights to Hobart from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Connect your international flight in such a way that it will be convenient for you to fly direct flights to Tasmania and back.
Also, despite the fact that Tasmania is part of Australia, there are also quarantine restrictions on the import of fruits, meat and dairy products, etc. You cannot import anything. Tasmania has many wonderful farms and shops and has everything or absolutely everything you need. Do not take any of the products with you; you can buy everything on the spot. Independent transfer to the hotel for the first night. Meeting with the expedition Paganel leader, checking into the hotel. At 16.00 drivers go to receive cars. The rest of the trip participants go to explore the city of Hobart.
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, the smallest Australian state, located on a separate island south of the Green Continent. This small city with a population of just over 200 thousand people combines the charm of history, cultural diversity and the untouched luxury of the surrounding nature.
You can start your acquaintance with the historical center - Salamanca Place. The rows of Georgian sandstone shops have been converted into galleries, theatres, restaurants and modern boutiques. There are markets here on Sundays, offering fresh local produce and unrivaled Tasmanian souvenirs to delight anyone. Here you can taste delicious dishes, enjoy a glass of Tasmanian wine or simply drink coffee in one of the many restaurants for which Salamanca is famous. We have already prepared a list of restaurants and cafes where you can try excellent seafood.
In the evening, we gather in the hotel lobby, where we conduct briefings with the drivers and team on the future journey. We discuss plans for the next day. We check points, maps and markers.
Rest.
Day 2
28.02.2025
We wake up not very late. Although those who want to watch the sunrise can get up earlier. Our hotel has beautiful views of Hobart.
We pack things. We go to have breakfast at one of the coastal restaurants in Hobard, where in the morning you can eat delicious seafood and drink coffee. We have a big move today and we have a lot to see. In the morning, we already get dressed for light trekking, just in case we prepare a rain jacket and a hat in case of bright sun. After breakfast, we drop into the supermarket, take ourselves a supply of food and water for the next day - the next morning.
We head north. We start this day right away with Tasmanian animals. The first point of our program is a quite large Wildlife Sanctuary, where they rescue animals whose parents have died.
Here we will see the famous Tasmanian devils up close, we will watch them, and also, we will be able to hand-feed the giant kangaroos that live here freely and comfortably in a large area of the park
Having taken the first hundred beautiful photographs, we head west to Mt. Field National Park, where we first issue entry to all National Parks. Parks of Tasmania, and then after the necessary formalities we go on a trek for 2-3 hours through an incredibly beautiful forest.
Local forests are an amazing sight. You are immediately transported back to the time of the dinosaurs. The forest consists of huge eucalyptus trees and amazing tree ferns.
At any moment, dinosaurs may appear, and pterodactyls will begin to glide in the sky. We listen to the screams in the sky and understand that it is not pterodactyls screaming above our heads, but beautiful white cockatoo parrots.
Our program includes visiting several beautiful waterfalls. Upon returning from the track, we drink coffee, visit the toilet, get into our cars and drive on. After a few kilometers we need to stop at a small raspberry farm. We buy the freshest and most delicious fruits, take a little extra. Next, our path goes through the mountains to Lake St Clair. Here we will stop for a short beautiful walk along the lake, and also have lunch at a local cafe.
We drive another 65 km, park the car and go for a walk through the beautiful forest to the Nelson waterfall.
We admire the waterfall, walk, and then return to the cars and rush to the town of Strahan, where we will spend the night. It is very important to try to get to the hotel before dark because... At night, all kinds of Tasmanian animals crawl out onto the roads: kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, possums, echidnas, etc.
Everyone will try to die under the wheels of your car, and in order not to take a sin on our souls, we will try to arrive at the hotel before complete darkness. We check into a cozy hotel on the shore of a large bay, have dinner and relax.
Day 3
01.03.2025
We wake up not very late. We have breakfast on our own and drink coffee at a local cafe. We are collecting things. We are preparing for light trekking, so we dress as we did on the previous day. We get into the cars. We go to the mountains, to Cradle Mountain National Park.
The journey takes about 2.5 hours with stops for gas and toilet. Upon arrival at the park, we park the cars near the local visitor center. We issue the necessary tickets and permits. We drink coffee and have a light lunch at a local cafe. We do not stop at the hotel, but immediately go on a local shuttle bus deep into the park.
We go for a walk for about 2 hours around Lake Dove along one of the equipped routes, and then in the late afternoon we gather in a special place where we will watch the wombats, which begin to crawl out of their burrows and actively feed a couple of hours before sunset.
At the same time, there can be up to two to three dozen wombats around you, who are absolutely not afraid of people, but are busy only with their own business.
At the appointed time, we return by shuttle bus to the visitor center, go to check-in at the hotel, where we will spend the next couple of nights. In the evening, we gather in a restaurant for a joint dinner and a “Paganel Meeting Evening”, presenting expedition personalized T-shirts and badges.
Rest.
Day 4
02.03.2025
We wake up. We have breakfast at the hotel. We do not pack anything, but take with us only trekking clothes and shoes, water, cameras and a good mood.
We arrive at the visitor center, where we park the cars, and, as on the previous day, we take a shuttle bus to the place indicated by the expedition leaders, from where we have a long 5-6 hour trek to a beautiful observation point.
It offers beautiful views of the Cradle Mountains, Dove Lake and the surrounding peaks of the national park. It can be very windy and cold at the point, so do not forget to take a windbreaker with you.
Then we go down to Lake Dove and return to the place where we observed the wombats the day before. The second opportunity to see these incredibly beautiful and cute bears in their natural habitat, and not in a zoo.
In the evening we return to the hotel. We have independent dinner in one of the hotel restaurants or you can eat wherever you wish. Rest.
Day 5
03.03.2025
We get up early. We have breakfast at the hotel. We drink coffee. We collect our things and pack into the jeeps. We say goodbye to the beautiful Cradle Mountain National Park and head north. Today we have a lot of interesting things to do, so we need to try to keep up with everything.
After about an hour and a half of travel, we arrive at a private rhododendron garden, where we walk for about an hour and a half.
This place is very beautiful and the most important thing is that we can very likely see platypuses there. The most incredible and strange creatures of our little Planet. In addition to platypuses, which live in local ponds, you can also find wallabies and echidnas.
After a walk through a beautiful park, having received a dozen other incredibly beautiful photographs, we go to another beautiful place located nearby on the Emu River. We also walk here and look for the platypuses that live in these places, as the posters and signs remind us of it.
Next, our path goes to the north-west of the island to the small but very beautiful and ancient town of Stanley.
On the way we stop for a snack and coffee in the town of Wynyard. However, we do not stay there for long, but try to arrive before 16.00 in the city of Stanley, where we park at a small chairlift, after which we climb a local landmark - the Nut table mountain.
Here we have a walk of about 40 minutes around the mountain, with very beautiful views all around. We take many photos, take our time, admire and enjoy life.
After walking around, we go down to the cars and go to check into the hotel. Before checking into the hotel, we reserve a seat at a local famous restaurant known for its “rock lobsters”.
Then we explore the cute and beautiful town. We have dinner, and as soon as it gets dark, we take flashlights with red light and go to a special place where we will watch how the smallest penguins on our planet emerge from the water to spend the night.
There are several such places in Stanley and it is almost guaranteed that we will see these tiny waterfowl. Overnight at a hotel in Stanley.
Day 6
04.03.2025
Today we have a big, eventful and very tasty day. Today we will be driving along the road to the east of the island and testing out many tasty things, not forgetting to visit various interesting and beautiful places.
In the morning, we leave early to first stop for breakfast in a beautiful village on the shores of Okeane. There you can have breakfast in a cafe located near a beautiful bay with snow-white sand.
Then we walk around the neighborhood for about 30 minutes, return to the parking lot and set off for our route today. The drive is about an hour and a half to the city of Davenport. Here we will visit a beautiful lighthouse and take a couple of photos with this striped object.
From there we will drop into one of the city's large supermarkets to replenish our supplies of water, fruit and food for the coming days. Then, we go for the first testing to the House of Anvers chocolate factory.
Here, of course, we will try different types of chocolate, drink coffee or tea, and take various treats with us on the road. Then the drive takes about 25 minutes, and we find ourselves at a large factory for the production of cheese and various dairy products. We taste and buy all sorts of delicious things for the road)
Another 20 minutes of travel and we get to the Truffle Farm. We try different products with truffles, take something for ourselves for home preparations. Here you can try ice cream with local truffles, honey with truffles, buy simply dried truffles, etc.
A new drive takes about 5 minutes, and we find ourselves at a farm that produces honey. More precisely, a store sells all kinds of products related to honey produced by a local farm. There is a very large selection of honey for testing and of course, we will take another jar home with us.
Then, we drive west and stop at a farm where groundnuts are grown. Here you can buy local products and try delicious local Hazelnut. Another hour of travel and we arrive in the city of Launceston. Check-in to a hotel in the city center. Optionally, you can still have time to visit the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania (they are open until 16.00) and where a huge number of cars and motorcycles belonging to local collectors are presented.
We also recommend visiting the historical theme park Penny Royal Adventures (also open until 16.00).
There you can eat, walk and take beautiful pictures. The location was chosen close to the entrance to Launceston's most visited attraction - Cataract Gorge, where we will go the next morning.
The local picturesque restaurant Alida Restaurant and Wine Bar is open from the evening until the last visitor.
Therefore, we can have dinner there and then return to the hotel to rest.
Day 7
05.03.2025
This day is no less eventful for us than the previous one. We wake up. We have breakfast ourselves. We prepare clothes and shoes for trekking. We load into the cars and drive out so that by 9 am we will be at the parking lot at the chairlift to Cataract Gorge. We take the cable car to the opposite side of the gorge, where we walk for about an hour or two. The park has a large selection of trails, beautiful viewing platforms and an amazingly beautiful forest in which kangaroos and wallabies jump.
We return from our walk and take the mountain road, which sometimes becomes dirt, to the east of the island. The beautiful east coast awaits us. The first transfer takes about 1 hour. We will go to a lavender farm, where we will continue to test local products. This is no ordinary lavender farm, this is Bridestowe Farm, which is the largest lavender plantation in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the flowering season has already passed, we can still walk around the area a little and try all sorts of delicious things.
The on-farm shop has a great list of lavender-themed items, from a basic organza pouch filled with dried lavender flowers to a variety of gourmet lavender treats (try lavender flower honey or jams) to delicious spa products. There is a café where you can enjoy delicious coffee or freshly prepared food using seasonal ingredients.
Then we continue moving east and after an hour and a half, we arrive at the Derby Tunnel. In this beautiful mountainous area, tin was once mined, now after mining there is a tunnel through which we will take a walk.
We park the cars. We head down the hill from the car park and set off along a path through the magical Tasmanian forest we love, on a circular route counter-clockwise. The tunnel is about 300 meters long, it is one-way and is popular with cyclists, so we take flashlights and move carefully.
We eventually reach the road and then return to the cars, completing the circle.
Driving about an hour to a new location for our next test of Pyengana Dairy Company - one of the oldest Tasmanian cheese factories. They have been handcrafting traditional cloth-aged farmhouse cheddar here for over 130 years. Of course, we need to try it urgently)
For lunch we go to the nearby old pub, Pub In The Paddock, which has been licensed and in continuous operation since 1880. The place is considered a cult place and we will, of course, visit it.
After lunch there is a short drive of about 10 minutes. We park the cars and then walk to the beautiful St Columba Falls. After a short 40-minute walk, we return to the cars and drive to the small town of St. Helens, where we will spend the night.
We have dinner at one of the wonderful seafood restaurants on the shore.
Having had dinner we relax after a busy day.
Day 8
06.03.2025
Today we can get some sleep and not get up too early. Our day is dedicated to the beauty of the east coast of the island. We have breakfast on our own, load the cars, and drive to the first point in one of the bays with snow-white sand in the north of the coast. There we walk, relax, and organize a small picnic with pre-purchased cheeses, fruits and wine.
There is a very unusual terrain here, bright rocks and clear turquoise water. The bravest ones can take a swim. This will be the northernmost point on the east coast of Tasmania where we will visit.
Then we move to the beautiful Bay of Fires. There we will show you a couple of amazing and beautiful places where you want to sit quietly alone with amazingly clean and beautiful nature.
We also make an introductory visit to Binalong Bay, and from there, having previously checked the opening hours; we rush off for a snack - testing at a well-known oyster farm in these places. We have not tested anything yet today, so we continue our Tasmanian traditions. If for some reason we cannot get to this farm, then in 1.5 hours we will arrive in the town of Bicheno. This is where we spend the night. We check into the hotel. This town is home to Tasmania's most famous Lobster Snack Tasmania. There is everything you need for culinary happiness rock lobsters, the freshest oysters, mussels, scallops, squid, shrimp, etc...
We check into the hotel. Free time. Rest.
Day 9
07.03.2025
Today is a new, wonderful day. We wake up early enough. We have breakfast ourselves. We take trekking shoes and clothes, as well as cameras and our best mood. We rush to a very interesting wildlife park located nearby to communicate with the amazing Tasmanian marsupial animals.
An hour before the opening of this Wildlife Sanctuary, we arrive for a private visit to the park with just our group.
First, we hand-feed 50 giant kangaroos, while taking hundreds of touching photographs.
Next, we get acquainted with albino wallabies, marsupial echidnas, opossums, cockatoos, ostriches, white peacocks and other inhabitants of the park.
After the park opens to other visitors, we take part in feeding the Tasmanian devils.
Satisfied and happy, we return to our cars, and then drive about an hour to Freycinet National Park. Leaving the cars in a special parking lot, we take backpacks with water and cameras, and go on a trek to Wineglass Bay, one of the most beautiful places in Tasmania.
This park has many trek options to choose from, ranging from 2.5 hours to 5 hours. For every taste and level of physical fitness. The trail is replete with observation platforms, cozy benches for relaxation and is simply very picturesque in itself.
Having reached Wineglass Bay, we recommend not rushing anywhere, but simply sitting on the snow-white beach, which, due to its beauty and unusualness, is included in the world’s top ten beaches in the world.
Here you can also observe the life of sea coastal creatures, for example, very unusual starfish.
In the afternoon, we return from the tracks. We load into our cars and if we have time before 16.00, we will stop at the excellent Devils Corner Cellar Door winery, where we can taste local excellent wines (why would we do without testing today), and at the same time have lunch in the restaurant at the winery.
Next, a half-hour drive to the town of Swansea. Here we will stop for the night in one of the local motels. Shower. Dinner. Relax after a busy day.
Day 10
08.03.2025
We wake up in a calm mode. We are not in much of a hurry today. We have a calm breakfast. We load into our cars. We are leaving towards Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula, where we will spend the next couple of days. The journey takes about 2.5 hours with stops at all sorts of beautiful places. After 2.5 hours, we will reach a very unusual mobile coffee shop, which operates almost every day at the observation deck near the road.
They make great coffee here, with a great view of Pirates Bay. It is rightfully considered one of the best coffee shops in Tasmania. They come here in the morning, park their trailer and delight everyone with aromatic coffee.
Next, we go down the road to the famous beautiful place Tessellated Pavement or Mosaic Pavement.
This is a geological miracle, about which there is even a large article on Wikipedia. We walk there for about 30 minutes. We return to the cars and drive to the Eaglehawk Isthmus, which separates the Tasman Peninsula from the rest of the island. The isthmus is about 400 meters long and less than 30 meters wide at its narrowest point.
At the time of the beginning of British expansion, several prison and convict establishments were located on the Tasman Peninsula. The only place through which it was possible to escape to the “Mainland” from the Tasman Peninsula was this Isthmus of Eaglehawk. In the narrowest part, prison guards placed posts with hungry dogs tied to them, which prevented prisoners from escaping at night. We will tell you about this in detail at the place that is now called the “Dog Line”.
Then, we visit the Tasman Peninsula and the Tasman National Park of the same name. We go for a walk at various beautiful viewing points of the park, stop at the second largest lavender farm in Tasmania, and in the afternoon, we get to Port Arthur. We check into a motel for 2 nights. We have lunch on our own, and then go to a beautiful place called Maingon Bay Lookout and Remarkable Cave. We will take a walk into the cave itself and if the tide allows, we will go down to the water.
In the remaining time before sunset, we will walk along the Mount Brown Track to meet the evening in a beautiful place overlooking the basalt pillars of the Cape Raoul rocks.
In the evening, we return to the hotel. Self-catering dinner. Rest.
Day 11
09.03.2025
This day is free for us. You can devote it to two main things that are studied in this area of Tasmania.
For example, visit the historical UNESCO World Heritage Site - Port Arthur hard labour.
The city was named after the governor of Van Diemen's Land (as Tasmania was originally called), Baronet George Arthur. The first settlement appeared in 1830. From 1833 to 1877, a penal colony operated near Port Arthur, with some of the most difficult conditions among similar institutions of that time.
After the closure of hard labor, Port Arthur became a popular tourist attraction. On July 31, 2010, the historic part of Port Arthur was included in the list of Australian Convict Settlements by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Those who interested can visit this site on their own.
The second option is to go on a full-day trek to Cape Raoul. There are very beautiful places there that are noted in all guidebooks to Tasmania.
The trek to the very last viewpoint takes about 5-7 hours. There are closer observation points and a shorter route to them; lovers of nature and mountain trekking will be happy to take a walk in such beautiful and wild places.
At the end of an eventful day, we return to the hotel. Self-catering dinner. Rest.
Day 12
10.03.2025
We will spend this final day of our trip driving to Hobart with stops at several of Tasmania's best wineries. We will test again, but this time only wine.
Tasmania was one of the first regions of Australia to be planted with grapevines, and even provided cuttings for the first vineyards in Victoria and South Australia. The state was home to some of the earliest wines to attract attention outside the county.
Tasmania produces complex sparkling wine, aromatic Pinot Noir, exquisite salty Chardonnay, and delicate Riesling wine. For decades, world-famous companies specializing in wine, as well as small corporations, have been interested in the island.
Recently, due to climate change, interest in Tasmania has increased even more. 20 years ago, the area where grapes grew covered 500 hectares. Now the territory covers 2100 hectares. The development of wine production is not without difficulties. However, one thing is for sure - and that is that Tasmanian wine has never been as excellent as it is now.
Tasmania now enjoys a global reputation as a leading producer of premium wines, earning high praise from both wine judges and critics.
According to the plan, we visit 3-4 wineries; the drivers buy themselves a bottle and another for the evening. The wineries have excellent restaurants with a large selection of fish and meat dishes. We will have lunch there. In the afternoon, we arrive in Hobart.
We check into the hotel. In the evening, we gather at one of the city's restaurants for a farewell dinner together. We exchange impressions, photographs, and make plans for the future.
Return to the hotel. Rest.
Day 13
11.03.2025
If you want to spend your last morning in Tasmania in an unforgettable and beautiful place and if the weather is favorable, then, before dawn we recommend going to Mount Wellington to watch the sunrise there.
If it is a good morning, the view of Hobart and the surrounding area will be very impressive.
The rest have breakfast in one of the city cafes. They pack their things and check out at the hotel. We say goodbye to each other, goodbye to the expedition leaders and Tasmania. Drivers drive cars to the airport. The expedition is over.
Flight home...
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for organizing a trip – air tickets and travel documents for other modes of transportation, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. – are made by us in advance, long before the trip, the prepayment or payment for the trip is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
Please note that this itinerary is tentative. The weather always has the last word. The itinerary is designed to allow sufficient time at the end of the Expedition in case of any weather-related delays. If necessary, the captain can change the expedition route depending on external conditions!
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