Tasmania East-West Cycle Experience

A group of bikers in the green

Highlights of the green island

Cycling on Tasmania's east coast is one of Australia's truly spectacular coastal journeys. On this extraordinary cycle tour, you'll coast along peninsulas with pristine white beaches, pass quaint colonial villages and challenge your perspective.

Completely different from the rugged mountainous west coast, the east is blessed with a calmer, mild climate with ever-changing terrain and scenery. This East Coast cycling tour takes you through a temperate natural paradise nearly 300 km from north to south.

Tasmania's west coast will make you feel like you’re riding with the dinosaurs through one of the last great temperate wilderness areas on Earth amidst ancient Gondwanan landscapes. Feel empowered by Tasmania’s frontier country, coasting beneath majestic man ferns, up craggy mountains, around glinting glacial tarns and lakes and into the playground of the shy Tasmanian Devil.

The west coast is rugged, mountainous and completely wild, with a temperamental climate and unpredictable weather patterns, throwing down a challenge to those that wish to explore it. Well worth the effort, this constantly changing terrain is a mixture of challenging and frequent hill climbs combined with breathtaking winding downhills and stunning views.

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, 2,000 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.

ITINERARY:

(subject to change without prior notice)

Day 1: Arrive Launceston at your own arrangements

Airport transfers are available between 9:00am and 2:00pm 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 3:00pm 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 2: Launceston to St Helens

Depart your hotel this morning ready to cycle, and travel out of the city as a group. Cycle 15 km through to Whitehills 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: 60 km
Overnight: St Helens (Tidal Waters Resort)

Day 3: 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: 60-75 km
Overnight: Bicheno (Diamond Island Resort)

Day 4: Bicheno to Swansea via Coles Bay and Freycinet NP

An easy cycling day today with a gently undulating 40 km 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: approx. 40 km
Overnight: Swansea (Motel)

Day 5: Swansea to Richmond

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 60 km south along the coastline to another coastal town of Triabunna. Regroup here and transfer to Richmond for your accommodation this evening. Richmond is a particularly well-preserved vibrant tourist town, with many of the sandstone structures still standing. It is home to Australia's oldest bridge still in use, the Richmond Bridge, built in 1823.
Cycling distance: approximately 60km
Overnight: Richmond (Motel)

Day 6: Richmond to Hobart

From Richmond, ride into Hobart over Grass Tree Hill to Risdon Cove - the original first settlement of the city of Hobart. From here, ride over the Bowen Bridge, and along the inner city cycleway leading to your finish in the centre of Hobart. Regroup at the Cenotaph and then celebrate your east coast achievement with a drink at Salamanca Place.
If you have any energy left, join the optional transfer up Hobart's icon Mt. Wellington standing at 1,270 m and overlooking the entire southern area of Tasmania. Ride the bikes back down to sea level on the easiest 21 km of cycling you'll ever do!
Cycling distance: approx. 30 km (plus an optional 21 km down Mt. Wellington)
Overnight: Hobart (Motel)

Day 7: Hobart

Spend the day in Hobart today, the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony, it is Australia's second oldest and eleventh largest city, with a metropolitan population of approximately 202,000. The city is the financial and administrative heart of Tasmania, and also serves as the home port for both Australian and French Antarctic operations.
Perhaps Australia's most stress-free and engaging city, Hobart has a thriving festival scene and a real sense of history. For walking, eating and just soaking in the atmosphere it can't be bettered. Visit Salamanca Place on the waterfront of Hobart, lined with 19th century waterfront warehouses this area once bustled with whalers, soldiers, petty bureaucrats and opportunist businessmen. Now they house cafes, restaurants and studios and bustle with shoppers and visitors
Overnight: Hobart (Motel)

The sign of the times

Day 8: 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 9: 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 60 km
Overnight: Tarraleah (Cottages)

Day 10: 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 6 km downhill along the 99 bends amidst the tree-less lunar landscape hills of the Queenstown.
Regroup in Queenstown and take a transfer the remaining 43 km 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 8:30am for a 10:00am train departure, arriving Strahan at 2:45pm to meet up with group. Additional cost: 99.00 AUD (valid to June 08) and advance bookings essential.
Cycling distance: up to 85 km
Overnight: Strahan (motel)

Even bikers need to rest...

Day 11: 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 80 km (transfers from Tullah)
Overnight: Cradle Mountain (Cabins)

Day 12: 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: approx. 80 km
Overnight: Launceston (Motel)

Day 13: Tour finishes today

Free day to explore Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city with a population of just over 80,000 people. Airport transfers available until 12:00pm.