Bay of Fires Travels - Your 1 STOP guide to Bay of Fires

Itinerary Overview:

Day 1: Hobart to St Helens (bike and hike)
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The east coast especially the north east, is an untapped wonderland waiting for you to pop by; it's peaceful, it's home to a string of stunning pristine white beaches and very appealing blue bays, and it's the sunniest place in Tasmania.  Head out of Hobart for a while before you begin your east coast exploration.  Take an adrenalin pumping downhill bike ride to sea level and lunch on the coast before a leisurely cycle into St Helens (35km). This afternoon take a relaxing walk along the beaches at Bay of Fires.  
Overnight: St Helens (L)

Day 2: St Helens to Bicheno (bike).
Cycle south down the distractingly scenic coastline enroute to Bicheno, this coastal road is one of Australia’s greatest journey’s and doing it by bike is the best way to experience it (40-75km).  Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Douglas Apsley National Park waterhole.  The crystal clear waters that run through the park are a welcome sight on a hot summer's day. Try rock hopping along the river bank or read your book on the waters edge. 
Overnight: Bicheno (B, L)
 
Day 3: Bicheno to Hobart (bike and hike).
Cycle from Bicheno, or travel slightly more leisurely in the van transfer and regroup in Coles Bay.  The Freycinet peninsula consists of knuckles of granite mountains surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park on the bike or in the van, either way, have your camera ready! Join the group for a walk over to Freycinet National Park and marvel at the superb beach at Wineglass Bay.  Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach and return to Hobart this evening. 
Finish: Hobart (B, L)

Daily Itinerary:

Day 1: Hobart to St Helens (bike and hike)
The east coast especially the north east, is an untapped wonderland waiting for you to pop by; it's peaceful, it's home to a string of stunning pristine white beaches and very appealing blue bays, and it's the sunniest place in Tasmania.  Head out of Hobart for a while before you begin your east coast exploration.  Take an adrenalin pumping downhill bike ride to sea level and lunch on the coast before a leisurely cycle into St Helens (35km). This afternoon take a relaxing walk along the beaches at Bay of Fires.  
Overnight: St Helens (L)

Day 2: St Helens to Bicheno (bike)
Cycle south down the distractingly scenic coastline enroute to Bicheno, this coastal road is one of Australia’s greatest journey’s and doing it by bike is the best way to experience it (40-75km).  Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Douglas Apsley National Park waterhole.  The crystal clear waters that run through the park are a welcome sight on a hot summer's day. Try rock hopping along the river bank or read your book on the waters edge. 
Overnight: Bicheno (B, L)  

 

Day 3: Bicheno to Hobart (bike and hike)
Cycle from Bicheno, or travel slightly more leisurely in the van transfer and regroup in Coles Bay.  The Freycinet peninsula consists of knuckles of granite mountains surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park on the bike or in the van, either way, have your camera ready! Join the group for a walk over to Freycinet National Park and marvel at the superb beach at Wineglass Bay.  Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach and return to Hobart this evening. 
Overnight: Hobart (B, L)

Day 4: Hobart to Tarraleah (kayak and hike)
Up early for a refreshing start to the day on a gentle 2 hour sea kayak tour on the Hobart waterfront.  Travel to Mt Field National Park and take a fabulous walk at Tasmania’s oldest national park, Mt Field.  Travel just over an hour out of the city and into the heart of the rainforest.  
Overnight: Tarraleah (B, L, D)

Day 5: Tarraleah to Tullah (bike)
Check out the town of Strahan this morning and enjoy some time to explore this popular yet wild west coast fishing town.  Try your hand at sandboarding on the massive Henty Dunes, or for an even bigger thrill, try a quad bike tour on the dunes.  Bike ride this afternoon to your finish point of Tullah via some superb prehistoric landscapes around Mt Murchison.  Rugged mountains and towering manferns will make you feel as if you’re riding with the dinosaurs.  Bike ride today is 40-60km.
Overnight: Tullah (B, L)
 
Day 6: Tullah to Cradle Mountain (hike)

Spend the day exploring Cradle Mountain National park and world heritage listed area and get back to one with nature.  There are a huge number of hiking options and trails in this area, and you’ll even get to stay and watch the sunset.   
Overnight: Cradle Mt (B, L)

Day 7: Cradle Mt to Hobart (bike)
Transfer to Mole Creek and cycle to Deloraine on the backroads through rolling rural landscapes and The Great Western Tiers, a long mountain range running alongside you.  
Overnight: Hobart (B, L)

Day 8: Hobart adventures (bike)

Enjoy exploring Salamanca Market today – a fabulous experience that occurs every Saturday in Hobart.  Also today you’ll take part in Hobart’s ultimate adventure – the Mt Wellington Descent downhill bike ride from 1270m at the summit of Mt Wellington, cycling 21km all the way back to sea level.  (no meals)

Prices Price per person for departures:
(inc GST)    Twin share
1 October 2009 - 31 December 2009    EUR 1,338.00
1 January 2010 - 31 March 2010    EUR 1,404.00
1 April 2010 - 1 May 2010    EUR 1,338.00

Single supplement: All accommodation is twin share. Single travellers may be required to share a twin room with someone of the same gender.To guarantee a single room for the duration of the walk a supplementary price of 75% of full fee will apply.This needs to be requested at the time of booking.

Portered walk supplement: For a supplementary cost of $500 per person, we will transport your backpack from to the Forrester Beach Camp for the first night and then on to the Bay of Fires Lodge for the last two nights of your itinerary. All you will need to carry each day is a day pack for your lunch, water bottle, camera and other personal items you want with you.

Nestled in a protected dune swale behind a glorious white sand beach, a separate camp has been designed as a demountable seasonal structure. Twin-share rooms with timber floors, canvas roofs and full kitchen facilities provide perfect seclusion in a setting of unspoiled beauty. Private wash areas and composting toilets provide comfort without harming the environment. We've obtained special permission to operate this camp within the National Park, so close to the beach and yet so private. Here, you can swim or snorkel in the shelter of a natural, rock-ringed 'harbour', enjoy your meals on the outdoor decks or picnic on the beach under the biggest starry night skies.

Set on a hilltop, 40 metres above the pounding of the sea and surrounded by National Park, Bay of Fires Lodge is the only building on 20km of outstanding coastal wilderness. Enjoying views up and down the pristine white sandy beaches in an area of great significance to the Aboriginal community, a truly ecologically-aware building has been gently let into the landscape. Two long timber and glass pavilions allow maximum connection to the landscape with minimum impact on the environment: all building materials - Tasmanian hardwood and plantation pine - were lifted in by helicopter or hand carried to the site, and the lodge is autonomous in providing and managing its existence. Here you will experience true communion with nature in accommodation that combines simplicity of design with comfort and warmth. In the magnificent living area with its large timber deck and open fire, you'll enjoy delicious meals prepared with the freshest local produce, accompanied by fine Tasmanian wines. Solar power provides the lighting, while hot showers and comfortable hotel beds add a touch of luxury at the end of each day's activities.

 

Itinerary:

Day 1
The drive from our walking base near Launceston winds through the scenic and rich pastoral landscapes of Scottsdale and the tin mining town of Derby to the northern end of Mt. William National Park. Here the Bay of Fires walk begins at Boulder Point with views north to the Bass Strait Islands, stepping stones remaining of the land bridge that once connected Tasmania to the mainland. Secluded beaches tucked between sand dunes and off-shore rocks are separated by rocky headlands - the perfect place for shells, birds’ nests and relaxed lunches.

Day 1 walk is approximately 9km, 4 hours. The night is spent at Forester Beach Camp.

Day 2

Travelling south you’ll be amazed at this magnificent coastline of colour and solitude. Elevated views of Mt. William National Park and out to sea are enjoyed from the ridgeline of sand dunes and prime heathlands. We take time to explore the marsupial lawns behind the dunes, a great site to identify local wildlife prints. Lunch is at historic Eddystone Point Lighthouse, and in the afternoon you’ll enjoy the seclusion of superb beaches and coves along the coastline before arriving at the sanctuary of the Bay of Fires Lodge.

Day 2 walk is approximately 14 km, 7 hours.

Day 3
Based at the lodge, the day is yours to relax or set off on yet another adventure paddling the tranquil waters of Ansons River. Discover the delicate ecology of this river system as it winds its way to the mouth of Ansons Bay, a haven for water birds and eagle rays. After lunch, leave the kayaks behind and stroll back to the lodge along the Abbotsbury Peninsula.

Your 3rd night’s accommodation is again at the Bay of Fires Lodge.

Day 4
After a leisurely breakfast, you can explore the beaches and headlands, take a swim, or simply curl up and read a book. Leaving the lodge on foot, you make your way through the fragrant inland heath and peppermint forests to a secluded spot for lunch. Your return trip takes you along the north coast to Bridport and then south through the Tamar wine region and Lilydale before returning to our walkers’ base at Quamby Estate.

Itinerary - East Coast Getaway.
Our escorted East Coast Getaway highlights Tasmania’s scenic east coast from Launceston to Hobart including Freycinet National Park, Orford & Port Arthur.

Day 1 Fri: Arrive Launceston
Transfer from airport to hotel before we head off through Launceston to the Tamar Valley and the Bay of Fires Winery for a wine tasting and tutorial. We’ll also see the Swiss Village of Grindelwald before returning to the hotel for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow passengers.
 Hotel: Mercure Hotel, Launceston. Dinner.

Day 2 Sat: Freycinet National Park.
We stop at Sidling Lookout and Legerwood’s WW1 memorial tree carvings, the old mining town of Derby and then drive through the lush Myrtle Rainforest at Weldborough Pass. Visit St Helens, the largest town on the east coast. Then get your camera ready for the spectacular and breathtaking Freycinet National Park. We’ll take a guided walk to Cape Tourville Lookout that will unveil astonishing views across brilliant blue water, forest and golden beach.
 Hotel: Beachfront at Bicheno. Breakfast & Dinner.

Day 3 Sun: Port Arthur.
En route to our destination of Copping we’ll travel through Swansea, Orford and Sorrell. Then chart a course for Port Arthur along an impressive cliff-lined coast. We’ll cross the 100 year old Denison Canal and the historic once-guarded check-point of Eaglehawk Neck to infamous Port Arthur. Once there, we’ll cruise round the Isle of the Dead, then take a fascinating guided walk of the Historic Site and prison. We’ll head back over the Tasman Peninsula to Hobart. Along the way we’ll feast our eyes on the amazing vistas of Tasman’s Arch, the Devil’s Kitchen and the Blowhole then travel the Sorrell Causeway and cross Pittwater into Hobart.  
Hotel: Wrest Point, Hobart. Breakfast & Dinner.

Day 4 Mon: Depart Hobart.
This morning we’ll transfer you to Hobart Airport for your return flight. Breakfast.