Tour overview
Tasmania is an island roughly the size of West Virginia or Switzerland, located 240 km off the south-east corner of mainland Australia. Next stop south is Antarctica, 2000 km away. Encircled by the Southern Ocean, Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, Tasmanians breathe the world's cleanest air and rejoice in pure water and fertile soils - our wine and food are acclaimed around the world.

Tasmania is a land of dramatic coastlines, rugged mountains, tall forests and sparkling highland lakes. Over a third of the state is reserved in a network of National Parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, a refuge and habitat for rare plants and animals, including survivors of the ancient southern super continent, Gondwana.

This tour includes 10 days of superb cycling along Tasmania's mild east coast, then up the rugged and stunning beautiful west coast to finish the loop back in Launceston. Included half way through the tour is a free day in Hobart, Tasmania's capital city, to recharge your batteries.

Daily itinerary in brief

Day 1: Arrive Launceston, optional ride to Tamar Valley (20-50km). Meet the group at welcome drinks this evening.
Day 2: Launceston to St Helens (60-90km)
Day 3: St Helens to Bicheno (76km)
Day 4: Bicheno to Coles Bay (40km, hike to Wineglass Bay)
Day 5: Swansea to Hobart (60km cycling, and time at Port Arthur Historic Site)
Day 6: Hobart and surrounds including Mt Wellington Descent (70km)
Day 7: Rest day to explore Hobart
Day 8: Hobart to Hamilton (60-80km)
Day 9: Hamilton to Tarraleah (60km)
Day 10: Tarraleah to Strahan(85km)
Day 11: Strahan to Cradle Mountain (80km plus afternoon hiking)
Day 12: Cradle Mountain to Launceston (80km)
Day 13: Depart Launceston

Average daily cycling distance: 75km

Price includes: 12 nights accommodation in comfortable accommodation (twin or double share with private bathroom); 10 lunches, 12 breakfasts; airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off; National Parks fees; maps and comprehensive trip notes; support van and guide.

Prices: $4315 per person twin/double share (two people traveling together); $840 additional single supplement
Above prices are in Australian dollars. Convert to your preferred currency.

Bike Hire: We are happy for you to bring your own bike, although road touring bikes including: 21 gear, front suspension, front handlebar bag, flat pedals (toe clips available, or bring your own pedals and shoes) and helmet and available for hire.
Price: $260 per bike (for 13 days)

Departures: This tour departs on the following dates on a Saturday in 2009: 3 January, 31 January, 14 February, 14 March, 11 April

Tours depart from: Launceston and finish in Launceston.

Availability: Enquire about availability of this tour.

Itinerary notes: Download the trip itinerary including all the above details here.

Day One: Arrive Launceston
At your own arrangements or airport transfers are available between 2pm and 5pm should you require a pick-up and assistance checking in at the hotel. Meet in the lobby for a tour briefing, introductions and bike preparation at 6.00pm for approximately 1 hour.

Spend the day in Launceston today, like most Tasmanian towns it is easy to explore and nature is right nearby; Launceston Gorge, with its Victorian parklands, complete with peacocks, has steep, rugged cliffs and wild areas that attract climbers. It is within easy walking distance of the city centre. The city is compact and its pretty, colourful Victorian and Edwardian homes line the hillsides along the river banks. With a population of around 68,000 the city has a strong sense of identity, and has one of the best regional galleries in Australia - the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk, along with art and craft galleries and quality restaurants.
Overnight: Launceston (motel)

Day Two: Launceston to St Helens
Depart your hotel this morning ready to cycle, and travel out of the city as a group. Cycle 15km through to Relbia through farming land and a newly developed wine region, then head to Evandale for a morning coffee and break. A classified historic town, many of Evandale's buildings remain largely in original condition. It is famous for a popular Sunday market, and as host to the annual World Penny Farthing bicycle Championships.

From Evandale continue south along a quiet backroad to Nile and through to Conara. Take a van transfer the remainder of the trail to St Helens and your accommodation for the evening. Later this afternoon, take a transfer to explore the Bay of Fires Conservation Area and enjoy a stretch of the legs on the beach.
Cycling distance: 60km
Overnight: St Helens (Tidal Waters Resort)

Day Three: St Helens to Bicheno
Either start today's ride from St Helens and travel along the coast to Bicheno. Or take a transfer to St Mary's and begin the day by enjoying a spectacular downhill ride along the Elephant Pass to the coast.

Hug the coast south to the fishing village of Bicheno. This is the flattest riding of the entire trip, so enjoy the leisurely day, with views most of the day over the Tasman Sea as you pedal along the stunning coastline dotted with pristine white sandy beaches. End the day at Bicheno, a small seaside town, primarily a fishing port and a beach resort.
Cycling distance: approximately 75km
Overnight: Bicheno (self-contained apartments)

Day Four: Bicheno to Swansea via Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park
An easy cycling day today with a gently undulating 40km ride to Coles Bay from Bicheno along the Freycinet Peninsula road. Regroup in Coles Bay and enjoy stretching your legs on a group walk to famed Wineglass Bay, voted by several travel authorities as one of the world's ten best beaches.

Freycinet National Park is one of Tasmania's oldest national parks, founded in 1916, and it features stunning red and pink granite formations and a series of jagged granite peaks in a line, called "The Hazards." Spend the afternoon enjoying the park, then transfer to your accommodation in Swansea this evening.
Cycling distance: approximately 40km
Overnight: Swansea (heritage accommodation)

Day Five: Swansea to Port Arthur then Hobart
The town of Swansea is located in the centre of Tasmania's east coast, on the northwest shore of Great Oyster Bay and overlooking Freycinet National Park. From here you will cycle 60km south along the coastline to another coastal town of Triabunna. Regroup here and transfer to Port Arthur Historic Site for some time exploring the historic site this afternoon.

Enjoy a boat cruise at Port Arthur, then
Cycling distance: approximately 60km
Overnight: Hobart (city hotel)

Day Six: Hobart and surrounds, back to Hobart
Cycle alongside the River Derwent today towards Kingston. From here head to the summit of Mt Wellington - a rather challenging ascent for those that are keen. The rest of the group will take the van transfer to the summit, and meet you there! Hobart's icon Mt Wellington stands at 1270m and overlooks the entire southern area of Tasmania. Ride the bikes back down to sea level on the easiest 21km of cycling you'll ever do!

Cycling distance: approximately 30km (plus an additional optional 21km down Mt Wellington). We will offer a farewell dinner tonight in one of Hobart's fine restaurants to sample some local produce, and debrief after a fantastic cycle tour of Tasmania's East Coast.
Overnight: Hobart (city hotel)

Day Seven: Rest Day
Enjoy the chance to explore Hobart on foot. Hobart is Tasmania's cosmopolitan capital city with a population of just over 200,000 people. For those that can't get enough of the bike - take a ride out to the historic town of Richmond - 30km one way. This is a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours and after a leisurely coffee, strolling through the streets, and admiring the boutiqes, historic houses and galleries, ride back to Hobart again in your own good time.

Day Eight: Hobart to Hamilton
Depart your hotel this morning ready to cycle, and travel out of the city as a group. Cycle to the Cenotaph and then out of town via the purpose- built innercity cycleway and through to New Norfolk. From here, continue cycling north through Bushy Park finishing in Hamilton for the evening.

Hamilton is an unspoilt and charming town on the highway, providing cyclists an opportunity to experience what the villages of southern Tasmania were like in the 1830s and 1840s. The appeal of Hamilton, which is a truly charming and unspoilt village, is based on its peacefulness and its outstanding range of historic accommodation built by convict sandstone. It also has an excellent fishing and aquatic area at Lake Meadowbank.

A special side trip to one of Tasmania's most loved parks for a short walk at Mt Field National Park and photogenic Russell Falls is available this afternoon.
Cycling distance: approximately 80km
Overnight: Hamilton (cottages)

Day Nine: Hamilton to Tarraleah
Continue along the main road north from Hamilton to the hydro town of Tarraleah. Cycling is on the main road linking these two towns, with Ouse being the only town along the way. The road today heads gradually uphill as you ride through the Central Highlands district. Travelling further inland, the landscape becomes increasingly wild as the road crosses the river where power stations harness the energy of falling water.

In the lake country a myriad of lakes, all teeming with trout, sparkle across the plateau. The scenery is peaceful and quiet with the only sounds that of your breathing and your tyres on the road.
Cycling distance: up to 60km
Overnight: Tarraleah (cottages)

Day Ten: Tarraleah to Strahan
Start cycling from Tarraleah this morning with a quite hilly beginning, heading west along the same winding highway as yesterday. Optionally you can take a transfer to Derwent Bridge and settle into some flat cycling along the plateau from the start. Enjoy a thrilling downhill from Mt Arrowsmith, then an undulating ride with a predominant descent to cross man-made Lake Burbury.

Continue around the lake and through to the old mining towns of Linda and Gormanston before your last ascent of the day to the top of the hill with views overlooking Queenstown. Finish with a 6km downhill along the 99 bends amidst the tree-less lunar landscape hills of the Queenstown.

Regroup in Queenstown and take a transfer the remaining 43km hilly kilometers to the coastal town of Strahan.

Optionally, you can take the day off cycling and board the scenic railway from Queenstown to Strahan, your guide can offer transfers to Queenstown departing the hotel at 8.00am for a 10am train departure, arriving Strahan at 2.45pm to meet up with the group. Additional cost: $99 (valid to June 08) and advance bookings essential.
Cycling distance: up to 85km
Overnight: Strahan (motel)

Day Eleven: Strahan to Cradle Mountain
Head out of Strahan this morning north along the road towards Zeehan We recommend riding into Zeehan for a rest stop and look at this historic town at one stage Tasmania's fourth largest, before returning to the main road and then heading along the highway south towards Queenstown then on the backroad alongside Lake Plimsoll. This road takes you up and over Mt Murchison, finishing with a fun downhill all the way to rejoin the highway, then a short ride takes you to Tullah. Head into the village centre (turn left) and regroup there.

Transfer the remaining distance to Cradle Mountain. Spend some time this afternoon exploring the trails around Cradle Mountain, one of the favourite features in the Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National park and is surrounded by stands of native deciduous beech (wonderfully colourful in autumn), rainforest, alpine heathlands and buttongrass. Icy streams cascade down the mountainsides, and ancient pines are reflected in the still glacial lakes. There are plenty of walk options from 10 minutes to several hours, all offering fantastic rainforest and mountain scenes.
Cycling distance: approximately 80km (transfers from Tullah)
Overnight: Cradle Mountain (Cabins)

Day Twelve: Cradle Mountain to Launceston.
Start the day with a transfer out of Cradle Mountain to Deloraine. Deloraine is a charming, historically interesting and attractive town located on the banks of the Meander River.

Your final day of cycling is a lovely relatively flat easy day amidst fields of poppies, sheep and cows, and passing through several quiet rural towns leading into the city of Launceston. From Deloraine we follow the old highway through the towns of Exton, Hagley, Carrick and Hadspen.

Regroup in Westbury, a lovely English town full of beautiful old buildings. The old highway takes us through to Prospect, and all the way to the door of your accommodation in Launceston tonight.
Cycling distance: approximately 80km
Overnight: Launceston (motel)

Day Thirteen: Tour finishes today
Enjoy the chance to experience more of Launceston, and having a break from the bike. Airport transfers available until 12.00pm. Happy travels and congratulations!

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