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Global Adrenaline's "Tasmania Explorer"
tour is designed to provide an in-depth perspective on Sydney, Australia's
worldly metropolis, juxtaposed with a sojourn in the "wilds of Tasmania,"
Australia's remote island state. We will begin our tour in Sydney, recovering
from any residual jetlag as we explore this spectacular city. One day
will be devoted to climbing the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge, cruising
the harbor and exploring all that this beautiful city has to offer. We
will then jumpstart our adventure with a day of dolphin spotting and four
wheel driving on the dunes of the New South Wales coast before flying
on to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania.
Upon our arrival in Hobart, we will tour the
colonial city before traveling up Tasmania's east coast to Freycinet National
Park. In Freycinet, we will sea kayak in Coles Bay, and hike, rock climb
and abseil in Freycinet National Park. From Freycinet, we will travel
on to Cradle Mountain, where we will spend six days hiking the famous
Overland Track. Our tour will conclude in Launceston.
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No experience is required to take part in our
Australian adventure trips. A good level of fitness,
.jpg) |
| Group atop Mount Amos, Freycinet National Park.
(Tasmania, Australia) |
however, is recommended so that you'll be able
to fully enjoy all of the exciting activities planned for you! In order
to enjoy the trekking portion of this trip, you should be fit enough to
carry a medium-sized backpack (with personal belongings and clothing)
over mountain tracks for 9-13 miles (15-20 kilometers), entailing approximately
6-8 hours of walking per day. If you are not a regular walker, we strongly
recommend that you begin taking daily walks 6 to 8 weeks ahead of our
departure date, gradually increasing the distance that you cover. Hill
walking is advisable in your preparation.
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The following is a day-by-day description of this
tour:
After our arrival in Sydney, the remainder of
the day will be yours to spend at your leisure, settling in,
.jpg) |
| Sydney Opera House. (Sydney, Australia) |
recovering from any jetlag, and beginning your
explorations. We will overnight in Sydney, the first of our three nights
in this amazing metropolis.
In the morning, the group will embark on the "Bridge
Climb" of Sydney's famous Harbor Bridge. After the climb, we will
take a lunch cruise around Sydney Harbor, giving us a feel for the city's
spectacular setting as we enjoy the afternoon sun. Once again, we will
overnight in Sydney.
We will begin the day with an excursion to Port
Stephens. Our first stop will be the stunning Stockton Beach Sand Dunes.
This stretch of the coastline contains some of the largest and oldest
sand dunes remaining on Australia's eastern coast. We will join a 4WD
tour of the dunes, followed by lunch and a dolphin-spotting cruise. In
the afternoon, we will explore the area on foot - and go for a quick swim
in the refreshing waters - before returning to Sydney for our last night
there.
We will fly to Hobart, where we will begin our
Tasmanian adventure with a tour of this fascinating
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| Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. (Sydney, Australia) |
capital city. Hobart, Australia's second oldest
and southernmost capital city, has retained much of its rich colonial
heritage, including beautiful Georgian buildings and a picturesque harbor
lorded over by beautiful vistas of Mount Wellington. Hobart has a very
relaxed atmosphere, perhaps attributable to its small population of approximately
125,000 people. Hobart is not like any other Australian capital city;
in many ways, it resembles an English port town more than it does the
modern cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We will overnight in
Hobart.
In the morning, we will drive to Port Arthur where
we will tour one of Australia's most famous convict settlements. After
a few hours spent in the settlement, we will travel on to Bicheno Wildlife
Park, where we will overnight.
We will spend a whole day sea kayaking in Freycinet
National Park, returning to Bicheno for the evening. The park, set on
the Freycinet Peninsula, is an ideal location for adventure activities
.jpg) |
| Wombat. (Tasmania, Australia) |
amongst the spectacular granite peaks and pristine
wilderness coastlines of Tasmania's magnificent eastern coast. We will
spend the day exploring this picturesque shoreline and the offshore islands
of Coles Bay, while absorbing the rich natural and cultural heritage of
the area. After relaxing at lunch on a secluded beach, we will have time
for a refreshing swim or snorkel.
In the morning, we will hike to the top of Mount
Amos, where we will enjoy, along with our lunch, a fantastic view out
over the turquoise waters of world-renowned Wineglass Bay, with its beautiful
and secluded white sand beaches. Along the Mount Amos trail can sometimes
be seen several typical species of Australian wildlife, such as the Tasmanian
devil, the wallaby, the potaroo and the koala. In the afternoon, we will
continue on to Launceston, where we will spend the night.
The first day of our six-day Cradle Mountain trek
begins with a drive from Launceston through the
.jpg) |
| Port Arthur. (Tasmania, Australia) |
historic countryside of Deloraine and Sheffield.
The walk begins at the romantic Waldheim Chalet in Cradle Valley, where
we will likely be greeted by inquisitive wallabies. From Cradle Valley,
we will climb onto the alpine plateau where we will enjoy spectacular
views of Dove and Crater Lakes. Lunch will be served below the spires
of Cradle Mountain or at Fury Gorge. Our afternoon walk will continue
along the rim of the glacial cirque before it threads its way down through
Waterfall Valley. The night will be spent at Barn Bluff Hut, which nestles
beneath majestic Cradle Mountain. This day includes approximately 7 miles
(11 kilometers) of hiking spread out over approximately 5 hours.
Crossing the sedgeland moors, today's trail will
take us past many glacial tarns. We generally
.jpg) |
| Canoeing with Cradle Mountain in the background. (Tasmania, Australia) |
reach the shores of Lake Windermere in time for
lunch. In the afternoon, we will enjoy spectacular views of the Lemonthyme
Forests from the Forth Valley lookout. The Pine Forest Moor Hut, where
we will spend the night, is located on the edge of the forest. This day
includes approximately 8 miles (12 kilometers) of hiking spread out over
approximately 6 hours.
The walk follows the historic Innes Track sheltered
below Mount Pelion West, mainly through rainforest. We will make a stop
at Frog Flats, at the headwaters of the Forth River. The final section
of the day's walk will take us on to the Pelion Plains, where tonight's
camp, the Pelion Hut, is located. This day includes approximately 6 miles
(10 kilometers) of hiking spread out over approximately 4 hours.
As we head out on today's trail, we will be able
to enjoy spectacular views of the southwest wilderness from Pelion Gap.
The gap is the best place to begin an ascent of Mount Ossa, Tasmania's
highest peak. Our afternoon's walk will take us to Kia Ora Hut, below
Cathedral Mountain. This day includes approximately 5.5 miles (9 kilometers)
of hiking spread out over approximately 4 hours. The Mount Ossa climb
would add approximately 3-4 hours of hiking time to the day's itinerary.
We will begin the day with a visit to the beautiful
'leatherwood garden' at the historic Du Cane Hut. The early afternoon
hours will find us meandering along the Mersey River, visiting the spectacular
waterfalls at D'Alton, Fergusson and Hartnett Falls. Our evening destination,
the hut at Windy
.jpg) |
| Blowhole near Bicheno. (Tasmania, Australia) |
Ridge, is reached through magical myrtle forests.
This day includes approximately 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) of hiking spread
out over approximately 4 hours.
The northern shores of Lake St. Clair are reached
through fragrant eucalyptus forests. From the forest's edge, we will embark
on an 11-mile (17 kilometer) excursion by boat along the shores of Tasmania's
deepest and most spectacular lake. Leaving the Overland Track behind us
as we cross the waters of this beautiful lake, we will bring our Cradle
Mountain trek to a fitting and memorable conclusion. The return trip to
Launceston, where we will again overnight, will take us through the trout
fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers
to the pastoral landscapes of Cressy and Longford. This day includes approximately
5.5 miles (9 kilometers) of hiking spread out over approximately 3 hours.
Depart for home.
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