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DAY ONE: HOBARTStart the trip right with some good, old fashioned eating. This morning, join a Gourmania walking tour to try the best of Hobart’s cafes, providores and wines, as well as getting a personal history and architecture lesson from a local in the know.

If you’re still hungry pop into the Brooke Street Larder, on the floating Brooke Street Pier (is it a boat, is it a building?) for fresh, local cafe fare, with a side of Tassie bubbles if you’re so inclined. Explore the vendors in the pier – passionate makers and providores sharing their wares.

Delve further into your cultural side at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Wander through the collections learning about our unique plants and animals (be sure to see the actual* Tasmanian tiger on display), the enduring connection with Antarctica and see the work of our talented artists, historical and contemporary.

Check in to your Hobart accommodation for two nights.

You’ll get used to the constant incredible food, but tonight it’s your introduction, so head straight for Franklin, regularly voted one of our best.

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DAY TWO: HOBARTWake up! It’s time to blow the cobwebs out and adventure into the deliciously unpredictable Southern Ocean on a Pennicott Wilderness Journey to Bruny Island. Leaving early from Constitution Dock (or you can self-drive and ferry to the island from Kettering), you’ll find yourself hugging the weather-beaten coast in their awesome open-air boat, viewing abundant marine and bird life and scooting past spectacularly rugged coastline.

Back in Hobart, enjoy a sundowner at one of the many bars that line Salamanca, then head to Shambles Brewery in North Hobart for a beer and sliders kind of night. While you’re there, try a crafty pint at T-Bone Brewing Co nearby.

DAY THREE: HOBART TO PORT ARTHURHey cheeky devil, ready to meet up with a few more of your kind? Head to Taranna’s Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, a one-hour drive from Hobart. If you’re wondering, an Unzoo is the opposite of a regular zoo – you’re invited to step into the animal’s world, rather than watch on from the outside. Join the Devil Tracker tour to monitor local wild devils using remote cameras or wander and discover the rest of the furry crew (like quolls, wallabies, even HAWKS!).

The local drop here is somewhat harder than the craft beers of Hobart. McHenry Distillery use the chilly climate and natural spring water flowing off Mount Arthur to their advantage – they’re ideal conditions for making (and tasting) award-winning single malts.

Drive the coast road to Roaring Beach, where you’ll stand at this outcrop and just make out Antarctica 3000km away. If you’re lucky, residing artist Peter Adams might take you around his property Windgrove, where he fuses nature and art to spectacular effect.

Check into your Port Arthur accommodation.

Tonight you’ll meet the true locals. The spirits roam Port Arthur, where guides lead you through the ruins after dark, sharing stories of the absurd, the sad and the downright scary. Dinner and a good swig of local red at Gabriel’s on the Bay should calm your nerves afterwards.

DAY FOUR: PORT ARTHUR TO COLES BAYIf ever there was a natural playground, Tasmania’s East Coast is it. Deserted white sandy beaches, sweeping views of The Hazards, our beloved pink granite rock formations, more walking tracks and adventure than ever, and of course, incredible food and wine straight from the source. Stop in at Swansea to sample the berry delicious fruit and desserts at Kate’s Berry Farm or try the seafood chowder, packed full of Tasmanian seafood at Saltshaker, overlooking the bay.

Continue to head north toward Coles Bay, where you’ll lay your head tonight. Along these windy roads you’ll find Spring Vale Wines (try their outstanding Pinot Noir and lesser known Gewürztraminer) and Freycinet Vineyard (taste the Radenti sparkling), and a few other small hidden gem vineyards.

Check in to your Coles Bay accommodation for two nights.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite strolling along the local beach, enjoy an al fresco dinner of wood-fired pizza and seafood at Tombolo Freycinet, with a sweeping view of the Hazards.

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DAY FIVE: FREYCINET AND SURROUNDSPaddling, walking, climbing, driving, cycling, tasting – you name it, you can do it today. Join one of Freycinet Adventures half day tours like the Freycinet Paddle to see the sights from the water, or head out on a quad bike, camera-friendly trip to South Friendly Beaches with All4Adventure, where the white sand meets orange-lichen covered rocks against the red granite backdrop of the headlands.

Lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm with freshly shucked oysters, rock lobster, scallops, abalone and mussels. While you’re there, jump on a tour to learn more about how they grow and harvest their haul.

Enjoy local seafood served with a side of views tonight for dinner at The Edge Restaurant.

DAY SIX: FREYCINET TO BICHENOEven though you only cover a short distance today, there’s so much to see. On top of your to do list this morning is a 45 minute walk to drink in the view that is Wineglass Bay. It’s an Instagrammer’s delight and one of our most famous views.

Head toward the seaside village of Bicheno. On your way in to town, take a look at the Bicheno Blowhole and the Rocking Rock (is that a band name or what?!). From September through to April, join a glass bottom boat tour to see the fascinating Governor Island Marine Reserve. It’s also one of the best diving spots in Australia, with kelp-covered reefs and spectacular sponge gardens.

Check in to your Bicheno accommodation.

Sample some wines at The Farm Shed – a place built to share the stories and flavours of local winemakers and then check out the catch of the day at The Lobster Shack.

Little locals come out to play tonight and you’ll have a front row seat with Bicheno Penguin Tours. Each night in Bicheno, up to 600 little penguins emerge from the ocean on their way to the beachside rookery.

DAY SEVEN: BICHENO TO ST HELENSGet your morning started with an ocean swim with the locals of the Bicheno Coffee Club. They meet at Waubs Bay Beach every morning, 6:30am in summer and 7:30am in winter.

After your swim you’ll be hungry, so start your road trip degustation today at Purple Possum Wholefoods and Café in the small village of St Mary’s for homemade scones and herbal tea made with herbs picked straight from the garden on site.

Love craft beer? Call in to Ironhouse Brewery (the area was named Ironhouse after the first house to have an iron roof...ingenious!) to try their range of local brews. And if time permits, check out St Columba Falls, one of Tasmania’s highest waterfalls. If you have any room left, order a country lunch at the Pub in the Paddock, it’s one of the state’s oldest taverns – licensed since 1880.

Check in to your St Helens accommodation.

Mohr and Smith will have you covered for dinner tonight, with a modern Australian menu, great wine and beer list as well as nice comfy lounges to relax in after dinner. Or try Salty Seas for a casual seafood fix of the daily catch.

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DAY EIGHT: ST HELENS TO LAUNCESTONWake up! It’s an early start this morning for the two hour drive to Launceston. When you get there, let Pepperbush Adventures take over. As seventh-generation Tasmanians, inside tips are guaranteed. Your biggest decision today is which tour to jump on – a cool-climate winery jaunt through the Tamar Valley, an alpine walk among the dolerite columns at Ben Lomond National Park, or a relaxing day of trout fishing. When you get to Launceston, take the scenic 15-minute walk up to the Cataract Gorge to stretch your legs before dinner.

Check in to your Launceston accommodation for two nights.

Tonight, pull on your nice threads and head to Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant for outstanding Tasmanian produce, wine and cocktails. Afterwards, pop your head into Tandy’s Alehouse, to take a beer and cider tour of Tasmania without leaving your barstool.

DAY NINE: LAUNCESTON AND SURROUNDSToday you’re in for some adventure! Hollybank Treetops Adventure, just outside Launceston, gets you up in the tree canopy flying along ziplines of up to 400 metres. It’s a more tranquil version of adrenalin sport, where nature and adventure intersect for the three-hour tour.

Hire a bike from Vertigo MTB (they can also help you out with a shuttle bus) at Blue Derby – to ride some of Australia’s best mountain bike trails, attracting mountain bike enthusiasts from far and wide.

You’ll be starving after an active day, so hit up Black Cow Bistro tonight, a steakhouse in an old butcher shop. Then check out a few local haunts like Saint John Craft Beer and Red Brick Road Cider.

DAY TEN: LAUNCESTON TO CRADLE MOUNTAINOn the way to Cradle Mountain, your first detour should be the spectacular Liffey Falls in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area of the Great Western Tiers. Your lungs won’t know what hit them with the piercingly fresh air and aromatic myrtle, sassafras and Leatherwood rainforests. Get up close and personal with the local devils at Trowunna Wildlife Park – they house the world’s largest heritage population of endangered Tasmanian devils. Adjust your eyes at the Mole Creek Caves, with tours through Marakoopa and King Solomons, complete with cute glow worms, then enjoy lunch at Mole Creek Hotel, serving up North West Coast beef and hearty burgers.

Check in to your Cradle Mountain accommodation.

For more devil action, make your way to the Tasmanian devil sanctuary, Devils@Cradle for the daily 5:30pm feed. It’s your feeding time now, with dinner at the Altitude Restaurant – you can even cook your own dinner on a 360°C volcanic stone plate. Alpine, cosy and inside Cradle Mountain Hotel.

DAY ELEVEN: CRADLE MOUNTAIN TO STRAHANYour only decision this morning is how far you’d like to walk. For a short walk, try the Enchanted Walk through Pencil Pine Forest (1.1km) or if you’re looking for a longer stroll, tackle the beautiful Dove Lake Circuit (5.7km), past the picture-perfect boatshed, built in 1940 by the first ranger at Cradle Mountain, Lionell Connell. Alternatively, walk to the bar and sit by the fire. All options are encouraged!

Make your way to the West Coast village of Strahan via Zeehan, an old mining town. The terrain here changes to desolately raw and it feels like a world away. Learn about the mining and railway past at the West Coast Pioneer Museum and enjoy lunch at Pitstop Cafe.

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DAY THIRTEEN: STRAHAN TO HOBARTOn the road back to Hobart, stop and witness the Wall in the Wilderness. The Wall is an ambitious art project by Greg Duncan, which, when completed, will form a 100 metre long carving of Tasmanian highlands history, most of which will be made from our rare Huon Pine.

Along the wilderness road back to Hobart be sure to stop and smell the roses. Dip your toes in the iconic Franklin River or do the Russell Falls trek in Mount Field National Park. ‘Trek’ might be overstating it, but this 20-minute stroll will lead you past stunning Swamp Gums (the tallest flowering plant on Earth) to the most photographed waterfall in Tasmania.

Check in to your Hobart accommodation.

You’re back in the big smoke tonight! Make a beeline for Frank (not to be confused with Franklin, let’s be frank) and enjoy South American share plates on the waterfront.

DAY FOURTEEN: HOBARTRecap your journey this morning by flying above it all with a scenic flight with Par Avion. From 30 minutes to three hours, choose a flight to the South West or East Coast. The shorter Hobart City tour takes in the Tasman Bridge, the Botanical Gardens, Kingston Beach and Blackmans Bay. Then make your way to Cascade Brewery to learn more about beer-making and our famous export then visit the Cascades Female Factory, an institution intended to reform female convicts, and home to thousands of women and children.

Alternatively join a day cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. Try the Tasmanian Seafood Seduction cruise where you’ll pull into seafood hotspots and watch your guide dive for abalone, shuck oysters straight from the stack and gather wild sea urchin and rock lobster from fish farms. All prepared and served fresh on board and washed down with a local wine – an incredible way to end your two weeks on the island.

Check out Ocean Beach,Tasmania’s longest uninterrupted stretch of coastline. It’s a 30-kilometre expanse of sand bordering the Great Southern Ocean from Trial Harbour to Hells Gates. It’s also a playground for local seals and sea lions – especially in the late afternoon.

Check into your Strahan accommodation for the next two nights.

Dinner tonight is at Risby Cove, a little touch of fine dining by the quaint marina. You can also stay here, to make the wander home even easier.

DAY TWELVE: STRAHAN AND SURROUNDSAdventuring is the name of the game today. Hop aboard World Heritage Cruises’ 35-metre catamaran, The Eagle, to soar into Macquarie Harbour, past Hells Gates and the notorious convict prison at Sarah Island. It’s an eco-friendly (not to mention relaxing) way to explore the Gordon River, bordered on each bank by the cold-climate rainforests of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

If you’re short on time, jump on a Gordon River Cruises Afternoon Cruise to see the highlights, or the Convict Explorer, a smaller boat that heads out to Sarah Island.

The best views at sundown are at View 42°. Their huge deck overlooking Strahan is the perfect place to unwind, then head inside for their incredible seafood buffet. It’s a good idea to book ahead.

PLEASE NOTE: Availability of experiences in this itinerary may be subject to opening times, seasonal operation or booking requirements, please call ahead to plan each day.

Photo Credits: All rights reserved Tourism Tasmania and Dale Baldwin, Sean Scott, Alastair Bett, Courtesy of Tasmanian Conservation Park, Frederic Courbet, Rob Burnett, Wai Nang Poon, Courtesy Bicheno’s Glass Bottom Boat,

Scott Sporleder, Joe Shemesh, Courtesy Innkeepers, Peter Aitchison, Michael Walters Photography.

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