EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Tour historic Hobart, explore a picture-postcard rural town built by convicts, visit a gracious country estate and sip the wares at a premier Coal Valley vineyard. Settle in for a multifaceted immersion into the beauty and flavors of Tasmania as your coach heads across the Derwent River via Australia’s oldest bridge en route to the country town of Richmond. Its well-preserved cottages, homes, shops and pub reflect life in an era long since passed, when many area landmarks were built with convict labor. After exploring this charming burg awhile, prepare your palate for a trip into the Coal Valley wine district and a tasting at Puddle Duck Winery or one of the other fine vineyards located here. Wherever you land, expect genial hosts, informative commentary and a sampling of wines selected to showcase the region’s unique terroir. Next on the agenda: a tour of elegant Runnymede house, built in 1840 for one of Tasmania’s first lawyers, Robert Pitcairn. Nestled outside Hobart amidst mature garden grounds, your guided visit includes a fascinating retelling of the house’s history and residents. Back in the city, enjoy a narrated spin highlighting Hobart’s own rich history as your coach works its way back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the sights of historic Hobart and those of its rural surroundings on this scenic and varied tour.
• Cross an ancient bridge over the Derwent to visit picturesque Richmond, considered one of Australia’s most historically important towns.
• Travel into Coal Valley wine country and enjoy an informative tasting at one its award-winning wineries.
• Enjoy a guided tour of elegant Runnymede, an estate home and grounds with deep Tasmanian roots.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Behold the natural beauty of the surrounding area from a unique water perspective while cruising the waters off Hobart. It will be an exhilarating experience as you will cruise on a state-of-the-art Rigid Inflatable Boat, which unlike most RIBs features enclosed cabins with leather seating and expansive windows. There is also abundant space out on deck if you prefer to view the coastline in the fresh sea air. As you travel down the Derwent River and on into Storm Bay, you will see luxurious residences dotting Battery Point and landmarks such as the Iron Pot Lighthouse, which convicts constructed in 1832. The peak looming in the distance is Mount Wellington, which is also known by its Aboriginal name – Kunanyi. Circling the natural reserve of Betsey Island will be another highlight as it is a haven for seabirds such as gulls, cormorants and white-bellied sea eagles, the second-largest bird of prey Down Under.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the island-dotted waters off Hobart in a remarkably modern Rigid Inflatable Boat.
• Observe the landmarks while out on deck or from the comfort of the enclosed cabins.
• See affluent residential areas, a historical lighthouse and Mount Wellington in the distance.
• Look for a variety of seabirds while cruising off Betsey Island, a natural reserve.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy behind-the-scenes tours and tastings at a brewing and a distillery and meet the people that create the artisanal products. At Hobart Brewing Co., you will follow one of the owners on an insider’s tour of the facility to learn how its core beers and seasonal offerings are brewed. The ingredients are locally sourced to ensure their peak freshness. The downtown brewery and taproom is so popular that it has grown to become the largest in Hobart. Your sampling may include beers such as the flagship amber ale and an IPA that is crafted to strike a perfect balance of tropical fruit and pine. The experience at Lark Distillery in Pontville will be just as immersive. After observing the traditional distillery methods, which produce premier whiskies infused with local barley and pure Tasmanian water, you will enjoy a tasting of the spirits. Some are single malts, others are blends and still others are flavored.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meet the founders of Hobart’s most popular brewery and distillery.
• Tour both facilities and discover their unique production processes.
• Enjoy tastings of local beers and spirits that reflect their locally sourced ingredients.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor delectable local oysters and sample Tasmanian wines on this informative half-day excursion to Barilla Bay Oysters. It’s a tour designed to showcase how these succulent bivalves are farmed in this part of the world, and your expert guide at the venue knows all the secrets. Learn how oysters begin life as a tiny grain and grow to full maturity. Discover the important role that tides, weather and the environment play in their development. And see how oysters are packed to ensure their peak freshness when served up in restaurants around Australia and the world. Then, having remained impressively patient all the while, collect your tasty reward: the opportunity to taste a couple oysters and relish their freshness for yourself. Afterward, prepare your palate for a trip into the Coal Valley wine district and a tasting at Puddle Duck Winery or one of the other fine vineyards located here. Wherever you land, expect genial hosts, informative commentary and a sampling of wines selected to showcase the region’s unique terroir. The route back to the pier allows for panoramic Hobart views from Rosny Point Lookout as well as a narrated orientation drive through the city.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a venue on the outskirts of Hobart where delectable oysters are raised, shipped and savored.
• Slurp a delectable farm-fresh Tasmanian oyster or two yourself after a highly informative tour of the Barilla Bay Oysters facility.
• Travel into Coal Valley wine country and enjoy an informative tasting at one its award-winning wineries.
• Enjoy an orientation spin through Hobart with stellar panoramic views from a stop at Rosny Point.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Sample some of the most flavorful foods, award-winning wines and artisanal spirits made in the Coal River Valley, a gorgeous agricultural region north of Hobart. Your culinary immersion will begin at Coaldale Walnuts, a sustainable family-owned farm that produces shelled walnuts and ones that are pickled in vinegar, sugar and spices. Another fascinating tour and tasting awaits you at Killara, a boutique distillery known for its hand-crafted premium spirits. Platters of seasonal produce will be served along with a refreshing gin and tonic that may be made with a triple-juniper apothecary gin. Similarly, at Upland Vineyard, you will tour the historical estate as prelude to the tasting. The winery is acclaimed for its Blanc de Blancs, citrusy Chardonnays and silky Pinot Noirs. The sampling at Tunnel Hill Mushrooms may be the most unusual as the gourmet mushrooms – which range from Lion’s Manes to Shimiji Turkey Tails – are grown in a former railway tunnel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor a variety of tastings at boutique locales in the fertile Coal River Valley.
• Sample spirits such as apothecary gin and wine from a family-owned vineyard.
• Taste unusual products such as pickled walnuts and mushrooms grown in a railway tunnel.
• Gain an understanding of why the valley is considered a paradise for foodies.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Return to Tasmania’s colorful past in historic Richmond, a village largely built by convict labor, then get immersed in colorful nature at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. A brief, scenic drive into the countryside brings you across Australia’s oldest bridge and into the area where Tasmania was first settled. You’ll see the spire of St. John’s Church from Richmond Bridge, just one of the lingering reminders of the devout 19th-century settlers who first brought Christianity to this island. Dating from 1824, well-preserved Richmond village still boasts fine Georgian buildings made of native sandstone, the handiwork of conscripted convict labor. These days, visitors are free to roam the galleries, shops, and cafés now housed in those same venerable structures at will. You, too, will have time to explore at leisure. Don’t forget to bring your favorite camera; this place is outstandingly photogenic. So are the residents of your next stop, Bonorong Sanctuary, where you’ll be invited to get up close to some of the country’s most legendary wildlife. Top on the list is the endangered Tasmanian devil, but wombats, koalas and free-roaming kangaroos round out the roster nicely. Knowledgeable park guides can provide fascinating background on this fascinating and often downright bizarre menagerie.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel by coach into the countryside around Hobart, a region rich in history, flora and fauna.
• Cross a graceful stone bridge built in 1823 to visit one of Tasmania’s earliest-settled villages.
• Browse the cafes, shops and galleries of Richmond, housed in Georgian sandstone buildings dating back to the convict era.
• Enter a world of free-roaming ‘roos, plump wombats and rare Tasmanian devils at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Get up close to a bettong and other native animals unique to Australia.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the diverse sights and stunning topography of Tasmania on this introduction to Hobart, its charismatic capital city. Just like the lucky locals who make their home here, you’ll find yourself captivated by this town’s near-ideal blend of heritage, trendiness and showy scenery. Your orientation drive hits many of Hobart’s most memorable sights, from the restored whaling warehouses of Salamanca Place, now a thriving market district, to the 19th-century mansions and cottages of Battery Point, to landmarks like the Cascade Brewery at the edge of town, crafting superior ales and lagers since 1824. A trip up to the summit of either Mt. Wellington or Mount Nelson promises crisp air and Instagram-worthy photo opps of the city and Tasmania’s coast. Just north of the heart of town, a section known as Queen’s Domain is home to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, recently celebrating the 200th anniversary of its founding. Enjoy some free time here to explore these tranquil, well-manicured grounds at your leisure. The RTBG’s historic plant collections and venerable old-growth trees have earned it recognition as one of Australia’s leading botanical conservancies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Be properly introduced to the natural and manmade attractions that define Tasmania’s capital city.
• See historic Salamanca Place, Battery Point, the Cascade Brewery and other beautiful old building.
•Spend time wandering a riverside botanical garden that rivals the best of Australia and beyond.
• Ascend to the summit of one of Hobart’s iconic mountain peaks for panoramic views of the city and coastline.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, layered clothing.
• Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.