6 nights Moorilla Estate, Cradle Mountain and Calstock, Self drive
7 days / 6 nights
Begins Launceston / Ends Hobart or vice versa

• Moorilla Estate is dedicated to the enjoyment of life and the stylish accommodation is private, indulgent, luxurious and relaxing.

• The awesome beauty of Cradle Mountain surrounds you – mirrored in the lakes, towering in the rugged mountain peaks and captured in the ancient forests.

• A taste of the wild west coast – cruise the Gordon River, take a helicopter or seaplane flight over the wilderness, jet boat, hike, enjoy spectacular ocean beaches.
  

• From vineyards to historic towns and gourmet restaurants through caves and spectacular mountain ranges – the area around Calstock offers a huge variety of pleasures.
  

• Calstock is a pleasure within itself – country house accommodation at its best
  
  

Day 1 - Hobart, Moorilla Estate, 2 nights

On arrival in Hobart collect your hire car for the short drive south and your 2 night stay at Moorilla Estate. Moorilla’s luxury chalets have glorious panoramic views across the Derwent River, they are fully self-contained and have been built with privacy, indulgence, relaxation and comfort in mind. Each has king sized beds & glass bathrooms with luxurious spa baths for two.

Be sure to allow time to enjoy the Estate, Hobart’s vineyard in the city and established by wine pioneer Claudio Alcorso in 1958. This was the first vineyard to make major plantings of pinot noir grapes, now Tasmania’s most successful red-wine grape. The cellar door and wonderfully sited restaurant are open every day. Sales, tastings, cheese platters and winery tours are available. Moorilla also boasts a world-class Museum of Antiquities.

Day 2 - Discover Hobart & the south east

A day to enjoy Hobart, a city that blends heritage, scenery and vibrant culture around its location on the Derwent River. Take a harbour cruise, or drive to the summit of Mt Nelson or Mt Wellington, and immediately understand the maritime focus - Hobart’s suburbs hug the Derwent River, city buildings cluster around the docks and the estuary broadens into Storm Bay and the distant sea.

Twenty-five kilometres and 100 years from the city is the historic town of Richmond, wander the narrow cells of the old gaol and feel Tasmania’s convict past. Close by are the neat vineyards and wineries of the Coal River Valley, home of superb cool-climate wines

From the historic town of Richmond cross the narrow isthmus to Port Arthur’s Historic Site and travel a route that is steeped in convict history and rich in natural beauty. The Tasman Peninsula is a place of breathtaking seascapes, some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world, and wild ocean views. The road passes through rolling farmlands and little villages, past vineyards, artists’ studios and sweeping bays.

Day 3 - To Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain Lodge, 2 nights

Departing Hobart travel via the wilderness of the west coast to Cradle Mountain. Leave early so that you will have time for a boat cruise or a scenic flight or perhaps take the historic 35 km railway of tight curves and spectacular bridges that clambers through rugged wilderness, dense rainforest and steep gorges between Queenstown and Strahan.

Stay 2 nights at Cradle Mountain Lodge - a unique wilderness retreat on the edge of the World Heritage Listed Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair National Park. This is a superb escape with breathtaking scenery, cosy cabins, magnificent meals and days filled with nature’s pleasures.

Day 4 - To Cradle Mountain

Spend the day hiking this World Heritage landscape of peaks, lakes, rainforests and moorland – there are tracks to the top of the mountain (an eight-hour return walk) or there are over 20 guided walking tracks around the lodge and Dove Lake ranging from 20 minutes to 9 hours.

Wallabies, wombats and possums are frequently seen as they criss-cross the timber boardwalks and walking trails through out the resort. There are also pademelons and Bennett's wallabies in the area. At night the nocturnal animals that inhabit the park - the Tasmanian devil and possums - come to the Lodge to be fed.

Day 5 - Calstock Country House, 2 nights

As the drive today is not a long one you may like to take a northern route through scenic agricultural hinterland, visit the town of murals at Sheffield, wonder at the dominance of Mt Roland and enjoy the heritage streetscape in Latrobe. Stay 2 nights at Calstock.

Calstock, set in a private park overlooking Deloraine, is a grand, National Trust listed mansion in Georgian style and was built by a prosperous gentleman farmer of the colonial era. While still part of a working farm, the house has been beautifully restored in gracious period style. Each of the spacious upstairs bedrooms has a unique colour scheme and decor. Downstairs an elegant hallway leads into a spacious drawing room with marble fireplace; a dining room, a library-TV room and breakfast room.

Your French born hosts - Ginette and Remi Bancal serve breakfast (on the verandah in summer) and by arrangement imaginative dinners based on organic local produce. A former sommelier Remi prides himself on his wine cellar.

Day 6 - A day of pleasure to suit your tastes

Deloraine is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Great Western Tiers; the towns charming buildings from the 1830s and 1840s now house galleries, restaurants and studios.

The Great Western Tiers is an ancient landscape of limestone caves and timeless valleys of farming villages first settled in the early 1800s. It is a protected World Heritage Area featuring a chain of mountains that holds more than 3,000 lakes. The area is popular for its walks, waterfalls, historic homes, gardens, artists and craftspeople.

Day 7 - Departure

If your flight leaves late today you may like to spend some time touring the Tamar Valley’s wine route. As well as the many picturesque vineyards that produce Tasmania’s famous cool-climate wines, you’ll discover enchanting seahorses at Beauty Point, and the historic pilot station at Low Head that offers tall ship cruises around the Tamar River mouth.

Return your hire car to Launceston Airport in time for your departure flight.

 

Options & Upgrades

• Extend by a day and circle back to Hobart – taking the Heritage Highway south

• Up-grade your car to a luxury vehicle

• Nature lovers should extend and visit Bruny Island, either self-drive or hosted

• Up-grade to a Spa Cabin or Suite or a King Billy Suite at Cradle Mountain