Tasmania certainly makes a dramatic first impression, especially the dizzying diversity of landscapes within Cradle Mountain National Park. Hike through an ancient world of jagged peaks, dramatic lakes and thick forests on a 4-day walking adventure. The unusual wildlife here is just as fascinating – let your local leader introduce you to unique plants, discover nocturnal animals during a nighttime tour, come face to face with the iconic Tasmanian devil at a conservation facility then round off your journey with a trip down the Cradle to Coast tasting trail. This isolated island is bound to enchant you.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Launceston - Cradle Mountain
Welcome to Tasmania! A land of dazzling peaks, shady forests and picturesque lakes, there are few better destinations for hiking. Your adventure kicks off in Launceston, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers at 9am, then it’s time to hit the road for a scenic drive to Sheffield. This quirky little town is known for its painted murals which you’ll have some time to admire as you stop in and pick up some lunch. Carry on to the spectacular Cradle Mountain National Park. Settle in to your accommodation then head out to discover the beauty of the park on foot. Starting from the beautiful Dove Lake at the foot of Cradle Mountain, follow a 6km circuit along the base of the mountain and through rainforest, passing by the King Billy Pine Forest, the Pencil falls and plenty of Tasmania’s unique plant life. After your walk, perhaps get to know your group over dinner at your accommodation. Once the sun has gone down, head out into the night for a guided wildlife spotting tour. Your expert local guide will help to find fascinating nocturnal creatures like wombats, pademelons, wallabies, quolls and of course, Tasmanian devils.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 Night)
- Cradle Mountain - Night Wildlife Spotting Tour
- Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake Walk
- Sheffield - Sheffield Murals
Lace up your boots for another day of hiking through the awe-inspiring landscapes of Cradle Mountain National Park. Depending on conditions, there are two hikes available to you today. The Lake Lilla track begins at Ronny Creek, a popular for spot for wombats to hang out, and detours to the picturesque Wombat Pool and the dramatic Crater Lake. If you’re feeling really active, you’ll also have the chance to climb up to Marion’s Lookout for one of the best views in the park. Your second option is an amazing trek to the Twisted Lakes and Lake Rodway, passing through ever-changing scenery – you’re going to want to have your camera out for this one! Whichever trek you take, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot and enjoy some time to take in your wild surroundings. After your trek, return to your accommodation via shuttle bus and rest up for an exciting day tomorrow.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 Night)
- Cradle Mountain - Packed Lunch
- Cradle Mountain - Lake Lilla Track or Twisted Lakes and Lake Rodway
- Breakfast
- Lunch
This morning you may like to head to the delightful little town of Rosebery and set out on a walk to the incredible Montezuma Falls, taking around three hours. Follow the path of a former tramway through lush rainforest before arriving at the base of the falls and a suspension bridge strung across the forest below. Named after an Aztec emperor, you’ll soon see that this impressive waterfall lives up to its moniker. For lunch today, perhaps stop in at a local cafe or pub to recharge your batteries. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, then as the sun begins to set, head out to meet Tasmania’s most emblematic animal, the Tasmanian devil. Pay a visit to a wildlife conservation facility aimed at protecting these endangered creatures. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. Finish with drinks around a campfire as the sun sets over Cradle Mountain and listen out for the unmistakable sound of the devils.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 Night)
- Cradle Mountain - Devils @ Cradle Sunset Tour
- Rosebery - Montezuma Falls Walk
- Breakfast
- Lunch
After breakfast, stretch your legs with a final walk in the area, then say goodbye to Cradle Mountain and pull onto one of the world’s most delicious roads – the famous Cradle to Coast tasting trail. This celebrated stretch of road is home to artisanal producers of Tasmania’s tastiest treats. Make several stops along the way – offering up everything from honey to wine, this journey is sure to be a trip for your tastebuds. Arrive back to Launceston in the mid-afternoon, at which point your adventure will come to an end.
Included Activities
- Cralde Mountain - Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail
- Breakfast
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Terms and Conditions
-- JOINING POINT -- Mercure Hotel Launceston 3 Brisbane St Launceston AUSTRALIA -- PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION -- While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip. We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager. You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time. For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/ In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the number below: Intrepid's Local Operator: +61 406 382 597 -- ITINERARY DISCLAIMER -- ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. -- FEEDBACK -- Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travellers like you. Share your experience with us at: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback/ -- FOOD AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS -- DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: On most days, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included. Your leader will prepare most of the meals whilst on tour. Our tours are activity and participation based. During your travels with us you will have the opportunity to assist with daily activities such as setting up camp, helping prepare meals and clearing dishes. None of this is difficult however many hands make light work and any assistance provided to crew is always much appreciated. Most people agree that this type of activity helps you feel like less of a tourist and more of an explorer. All food for this trip is purchased and packed prior to your group leaving on day one. After we’ve left town it can be very difficult to source special dietary requests. Travellers with special dietary requirements or food allergies are required to advise us at the time of booking. You may be asked to pay for any additional food if you have not advised us of any special dietary requirements. Due to the often remote nature of our trips, food is basic but plentiful and delicious. We can provide easily available substitutes, please bring your own staples (nuts, bars, snacks) if you require a diet differing from the following. Vegetarian Gluten Free Dairy Free (soy available ) Pork Free Please don’t hesitate to contact u if you have any specific dietary concerns. * Religious dietary requirements and specifically prepared/sourced produce are generally unable to be catered for on these trips. -- ACCOMMODATION -- Hotel (3 Nights) -- TRANSPORT -- Private Vehicle -- PACKING -- LUGGAGE LIMIT Please keep your luggage size and weight to a minimum. One small soft-sided bag plus a day pack (no more than 15 kg in total per person) is essential due to limited space for luggage in our vehicles. We recommend against bringing hard/externally framed suitcases as they are difficult to store in the vehicle and can damage equipment and other travellers' belongings. You will have to be prepared for all weather extremes. You will be walking at alpine altitudes. We suggest that you take all of the items on the below list. Packing List: Lightweight Long Sleeved Shirt [for sun protection] Walking Shorts Lightweight walking trousers Long Sleeved Thermal Tops – mid to heavy weight [Merino Wool] T Shirts Down Jacket [ long sleeve best option] Mid-weight to heavy Fleece Pullover Pairs of Socks [min] Pairs of Underwear [min] Waterproof Jacket, raincoat with hood. Your raincoat needs to be thoroughly waterproof and made of a gore-tex material or similar Footwear Walking Boots – Ankle High – not shoes [leather is more durable] Additional Sunhat with brim & Beanie Sunglasses Drink Bottles and/or Camelback System [no less than 2 litres] Sunscreen, Lip Balm & Insect Repellent Optional Trekking Poles WATER BOTTLE Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your leader will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, if it is you can simply refill with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day. -- CLIMATE AND SEASONAL INFORMATION -- Tasmania will no doubt give us everything it has to offer. You need to be prepared for hot weather as well as cold and wet (maybe even on the same day). It is unpredictable especially in the alpine regions. Tasmania has four distinct seasons with the warmest months being December to March. The average maximum daily summer temperatures are between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius and winter daily temperatures sit between 3 and 11 degrees Celsius. Even in the peak of the Australian summer, Tasmania, being the most southerly point of the country, is subject to cold and wet weather from Antarctica. It can get very cold, particularly at higher elevations such as Cradle Mountain. Tasmania sits on a latitude of approximately 40 degrees south, which sometimes means the wind chill from the 'roaring 40's' can make the days very cold! Daily weather conditions in Tasmania can change very quickly from sunshine to rain. We suggest that you come prepared for all extremes, some light clothing for the sunshine and something a little more protective for the colder and possibly wet days. -- GROUP LEADER -- All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. -- SAFETY -- Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines -- A COUPLE OF RULES -- Everyone has the right to feel safe when they travel. We don’t tolerate any form of violence (verbal or physical) or sexual harassment, either between customers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. Sexual relationships between a tour leader and a customer are strictly forbidden. Use or possession of illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. If you choose to consume alcohol while travelling, we encourage responsible drinking and expect that you’ll abide by the local laws regarding alcohol consumption. The sex tourism industry is known to exploit vulnerable people and have negative consequences on communities, including undermining the development of sustainable tourism. For this reason, patronising sex workers will not be tolerated on our trips. By travelling with us you are agreeing to adhere to these rules. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our Responsible Travel Guidelines. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any traveller or staff member participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a group leader, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. If you feel that someone is behaving inappropriately while travelling with us, please inform your tour leader or local guide immediately. Alternatively, contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in the Problems and Emergency Contact section of this Essential Trip Information. For additional Conditions of Carriage regarding COVID-19, see here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/conditions-carriage -- TRAVELLING IN A GROUP -- As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. SOLO TRAVELLERS This is the beauty of our style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per your passport or the information we have in our booking system, so if you identify differently from the gender marker on your passport, please let us know in advance. We also have an optional single supplement available on most trips for travellers who prefer to have their own room. Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour. Pre-trip and post-trip accommodation booked through us will be on a single room basis. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on an open gender, multi-share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Essential Trip Information. -- TRAVEL INSURANCE -- Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. Travellers who reside within the European Union or Switzerland receive basic international health insurance, so travel insurance is not mandatory under European Union Law. However, as this does not cover situations such as emergency rescues, private health care, or repatriation to their home country, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. European Union or Swiss travellers who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services