Summary
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Recommended for:
Food & wine | Free Singapore stopover | Natural world | Photography | Self-drive
Experience the freedom of the open road as you explore the untamed landscapes of Tasmania's Western Highlands on this six-day self-drive through some of Australia's most breathtaking national parks, while staying at charming and characterful accommodation along the way.
Begin your self-drive holiday in the pretty riverside town of Launceston - Tasmania's second city - before heading to the untamed forests and craggy peaks of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Continue to Strahan and visit the World Heritage-listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park before finishing in Hobart, Tasmania's vibrant capital.
Day by day itinerary
Days
1-2
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
On arrival in Launceston, collect your hire car and head west to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, whose 161,000 hectares range from rugged mountains and ancient rainforest to alpine moorlands, glacial lakes, forests of beech trees and carpets of wildflowers. Its especially known for its wealth of wildlife and fabulous walking - not least the Overland Track, the country's most acclaimed bushwalk.
Check in for two nights at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, located on the edge of the World Heritage-listed park and widely regarded as one of Australia's most authentic wilderness retreats. Wallabies and wombats can be seen grazing on the lawns or on the wooden boardwalks that connect the guest cabins, the health spa and restaurant are in a league of their own, and activities range from guided walks and mountain biking to horse riding, quad biking and cheese and wine tasting.
You may wish to arrive early and spend some additional nights in Launceston before beginning your tour.
Stay: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (B)
Days
3-4
Strahan
Depart Cradle Mountain and travel to Strahan, a cheery fishing village on Macquarie Harbour. It's a great base from which to explore the World Heritage-listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park - one of the world's most beautiful cool-climate rainforests - and is also the departure point for cruises on the magnificent Gordon River and steam train journeys on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Spend two nights at Ormiston House, a grand federation mansion on the shores of the harbour with five beautifully appointed en suite guest rooms. Other local attractions include Ocean Beach, which at 33km is the longest in Tasmania, Hogarth Falls and the Swan Bay picnic area.
Stay: Ormiston House (B)
Days
5-6
Hobart
A detour well worth taking on the drive to Hobart is to Mt Field National Park, the oldest in Tasmania. The park is known for its towering forests of swamp gums, stringybarks and conifers, and for its series of waterfalls: Lady Barron, Horseshoe and Russell Falls.
Upon reaching Hobart, the first thing people note is often the architecture - the colonial city centre and the fine Georgian buildings that line the waterfront. If you arrive on a Saturday be sure to drop by Salamanca Place to the outdoor market that's held each week among the town's beautifully restored old sandstone buildings.
Spend the night in Hobart at the Henry Jones Art Hotel. Housed in a former jam factory and set right on the waterfront, its rooms feature more than 300 pieces of original Tasmanian artwork, and the talented chef is equally creative when it comes to fine dining. Return your hire care to Hobart airport on day six or maybe choose to extend your stay in Hobart.
Stay: Henry Jones Art Hotel (RO)
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