Tour
Total tour distance: 709 miles
Daily tour distance: 60 miles
Difficulty: 70 / 100
Description
Tasmania is the smallest and only island state in Australia. It is wonderful biking country with fabulous beaches and magnificent mountains. We visit four National Parks where we will enjoy a close encounter with unique Australian wildlife. You will experience early colonial history and stay at the very best lodges in the State.
This tour begins and finishes in Hobart, circumnavigating the island in an anticlockwise direction. This tour can also be done in two shorter sections: the East Coast and the West Coast.
DAY 1 HOBART.
Hobart is attractively located beneath Mt Wellington and straddles the Derwent River. There are many fine Georgian buildings in the city.
DAY 2 TRIABUNNA.
A boat trip out to Maria Island, where a wide variety of native animals and birds are to be found, is well worthwhile.
DAY 3+4 FREYCINET.
A beautiful coastal ride with a ferry trip across to Freycinet Peninsula and two nights in magnificent Freycinet Lodge.
DAY 5 ST HELENS.
A very scenic coastal road with no major hills.
DAY 6 SCOTTSDALE.
Passing through impressive stands of eucalyptus and giant ferns, we stay at a comfortable B & B.
DAY 7+8 LAUNCESTON.
A rest day brings an opportunity to visit some local vineyards in the Tamar Valley.
DAY 9 SHEFFIELD.
We cycle on quiet roads to our farm stay hosts.
DAY 10 CRADLE MOUNTAIN.
Take a short walk around Dove Lake through magnificent mountain scenery.
DAY 11 + 12 STRAHAN.
Through the rugged and isolated mountains of the West Coast via Tullah to the attractive coastal village of Strahan. The Gordon River cruise is well worthwhile.
DAY 13 LAKE ST CLAIR.
Our lodge is in Lake St Clair National Park, where you are most likely to see wallabies and much native bird life.
DAY 14 HAMILTON.
We descend past several lakes and mountain ranges to open farming country, and stay in quaint stone cottages in the village of Hamilton.
DAY 15+16 HOBART.
We take a quiet back road through several attractive villages to New Norfolk where there is the option of cycling or taking the van for the last few miles.