Wilderness, Wine & Luxury Lodges Across 7 Nights
Tasmania rewards the traveller who stays long enough to scratch below the surface. This 7-night itinerary does exactly that. It moves from Hobart’s waterfront – where convict history and contemporary culture sit almost on top of each other – out to the ancient rainforests of the Gordon River, across to the gourmet producers of Bruny Island, and finishes with two nights at Saffire Freycinet, one of Australia’s most celebrated luxury lodges. The pace is deliberate but never rushed.
Accommodation anchors the experience. Five nights at MACq 01 Hotel in a Superior Waterfront Room put your clients right on Hobart’s wharf, within walking distance of Salamanca Place and the city’s restaurant scene. The final two nights at Saffire Freycinet shift the tone entirely – full-board dining, complimentary experiences, and views across to the Hazards mountain range that genuinely stop people mid-sentence. Between those bookends, the itinerary covers a scenic flight to the west coast with a Gordon River cruise, a full day at MONA with Moorilla wines, a private Port Arthur tour, and a Bruny Island food and wilderness day. Private transfers throughout. This is the kind of programme that suits clients who want Tasmania done properly, without compromise.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Seven Days from Wharf to Wilderness
Private Transfer & Check In to MACq 01 Hotel
Clients arrive at Hobart Airport and are met by a private transfer to MACq 01 Hotel, situated directly on Hobart’s main wharf. This is one of Tasmania’s premier luxury hotels – each room tells the story of a Tasmanian character, and the Superior Waterfront Rooms look straight out across the harbour. Breakfast is included throughout the 5-night stay.
The rest of the day is at leisure. The hotel’s location makes it easy to wander. Salamanca Place is right there, Battery Point is a short walk through the colonial streets, and Hobart’s restaurant scene is increasingly hard to ignore. For clients arriving on a Saturday, the Salamanca Market is a genuine highlight.
Trade tip: Most clients fly into Hobart from Melbourne or Sydney – roughly 90 minutes. The private airport transfer is about 20 minutes to the wharf. MACq 01’s storytelling concept makes the hotel itself part of the Tasmanian experience, which is worth mentioning when presenting to clients. It’s not just somewhere to sleep.
Gordon Wild Rivers Explorer – Scenic Flight, Cruise & Lunch
This is the kind of day that justifies the whole trip. A private transfer takes clients to Cambridge Airport for a breathtaking scenic flight across Tasmania’s wild west coast to Strahan. The flight alone is extraordinary – the landscape shifts from farmland to dense, untouched wilderness.
On arrival, clients board a luxury catamaran for a cruise through Macquarie Harbour and along the famous Gordon River. There’s a stop at Heritage Landing to walk through pristine rainforest, including ancient Huon Pines that have been growing for thousands of years. A guided tour of Sarah Island – Tasmania’s notorious penal colony, even harsher than Port Arthur – adds a compelling historical layer. A chef-prepared buffet lunch is served onboard.
The Premier Upper Deck upgrade includes complimentary Tasmanian wines, beers, espresso coffee, premium leather recliners with full-length windows, a private viewing deck, and morning and afternoon tea with canapes. Return private transfer to Cambridge Airport is included.
Trade tip: The Premier Upper Deck is well worth recommending for luxury clients. The difference in experience is significant – it’s essentially a private lounge with open bar. The scenic flight component makes this far more compelling than a road transfer to Strahan, which would eat up most of the day. For agents building luxury itineraries, this day is often the one clients talk about most.
Moorilla Wine Meets MONA Art Day Tour Including Lunch
Wine and art. It works better than it should. The day begins with the high-speed Mona Roma ferry from Hobart’s waterfront – the vessel itself is an experience, complete with onboard bars and the kind of design choices you’d expect from David Walsh’s world. Ferry departs Hobart at 9:15am.
MONA – the Museum of Old and New Art – is Australia’s largest privately-owned gallery and museum. It’s housed in a subterranean space carved into the sandstone cliffs on the banks of the Derwent River. The collection ranges from ancient Egyptian funerary objects to a machine that mimics the human digestive system. It’s provocative, surprising, and unlike any museum your clients will have encountered. Entry is included, and clients explore the galleries at their own pace.
After the art, lunch moves to a one-course meal of seasonal local produce matched with a glass of Moorilla Muse or Praxis Series wine. Then it’s into the vineyard for a guided tour with an expert host – covering Moorilla’s backstory, old and new winemaking techniques, and a tasting of Moorilla and Domaine A wines. The 5pm return ferry brings clients back to Hobart.
Trade tip: MONA polarises people, and that’s part of its appeal. Some clients will spend three hours in the galleries. Others will breeze through and linger over the wine. Either way, it’s a conversation starter. The ferry ride is genuinely enjoyable – don’t undersell it. This day works beautifully as a counterpoint to the wilderness of Day 2.
Port Arthur Historic Site – Private Day Tour
A private guided day tour to the Tasman Peninsula. Port Arthur Historic Site is one of 11 places that make up the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites, and it remains one of the most compelling heritage experiences in the country.
Entry includes an introductory 40-minute guided walking tour, a 25-minute harbour cruise, the Port Arthur Gallery with interactive exhibits, and access to more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens and walking trails. There’s a lot to take in – the scale of the site and the weight of its stories require time, and clients get it.
In the afternoon, the tour continues to the historic village of Richmond in the Coal River Valley. Clients can stroll among the well-preserved colonial architecture and soak up the atmosphere of one of Tasmania’s oldest settlements before returning to Hobart.
Trade tip: The private transfer makes a real difference here compared to coach tours – your clients set the pace. Port Arthur is emotionally affecting as well as historically significant, so the quieter setting of Richmond afterwards provides a nice tonal shift. For clients who visited Sarah Island on Day 2, the contrast between the two convict settlements adds depth to their understanding of Tasmania’s penal history.
Bruny Island Traveller – Full Day Gourmet & Wilderness Tour
A full day from Hobart, departing at 7:45am and returning around 5:30-6:00pm. This is Tasmania’s food story told through the people who make it.
Clients taste their way across Bruny Island, visiting renowned artisan producers on an all-inclusive gourmet wilderness adventure. The day takes in award-winning cheeses and an exclusive cheese and beer experience at Bruny Island Cheese Company, sweet sensations from Bruny Island Chocolate Company and Bruny Island Honey, and freshly shucked oysters from Get Shucked served alongside lunch. The meal itself is at Pennicott’s beachside restaurant with sweeping views of Adventure Bay – we’d recommend the premium Tasmanian fish and chips. Lunch is accompanied by two glasses of Tasmanian wine, beer, cider or juice.
Between the food stops, the scenery does the heavy lifting. Bruny Island’s coastline, bushland, and wildlife corridors make the journey between producers feel like an experience in its own right rather than just a transfer.
Trade tip: This tour appeals to a broad range of clients. Foodies love it obviously, but the combination of producers, scenery, and stories means it works for anyone with curiosity. The pace is relaxed without being slow. For agents building luxury FIT itineraries, the artisan focus and small-group feel align well with the premium positioning of this overall programme.
Bonorong Wildlife, Scenic Transfer & Arrive Saffire Freycinet
After breakfast and hotel checkout, a private transfer takes clients to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s a chance to get close to Tasmanian devils, wombats, quolls, and other native species in a setting that prioritises conservation and education. Lunch is included.
From Bonorong, the drive continues north and east through the Tasmanian midlands to Freycinet National Park and Saffire Freycinet – the highlight of the trip for many clients. Saffire is one of Australia’s most awarded luxury lodges. The architecture frames the Hazards mountain range, and the setting across Coles Bay is the kind of thing that makes people go quiet for a moment.
The Luxury Suite package includes breakfast in Palate restaurant, lunch and dinner with beverages, complimentary minibar and lounge beverages, complimentary experiences, Wi-Fi, and a $100 property credit per suite per stay for spa treatments, signature experiences, or premium beverages. Dinner tonight is included.
Trade tip: Saffire is the culmination of this itinerary and it delivers. The transition from Hobart’s urban energy to Freycinet’s coastal wilderness is dramatic. Bonorong en route breaks up the drive and gives clients a wildlife encounter they’ll remember. Advise clients to arrive with an open afternoon – the complimentary experiences at Saffire start from arrival, and the sunset over the Hazards from the lodge is genuinely special.
Full Day at Saffire Freycinet – Complimentary Experiences
A day with no scheduled transfers and nowhere to be. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included. Saffire’s complimentary range of activities gives clients options for every mood – lasting from one to three hours, they’re designed to connect guests with Freycinet’s natural wonders.
Options range from guided walks through Freycinet National Park to kayaking on the bay, cooking classes, beekeeping experiences, and more. For clients wanting something additional, Saffire offers enhanced signature experiences and spa treatments (using the $100 property credit or at additional cost).
Trade tip: This is the day where the pace of the itinerary really pays off. After six days of touring, a full day at Saffire with no agenda feels earned rather than lazy. The complimentary experiences are genuinely good – they’re not filler. For couples, the romance angle is obvious. For food and wine clients, the culinary programme is a standout. Let clients know about the full range of experiences before they arrive so they can plan their day.
Private Transfer to Hobart Airport
After breakfast at Saffire, a private transfer takes clients back to Hobart Airport for their onward flight. The drive from Freycinet to Hobart takes approximately two and a half hours, passing through the east coast countryside and midlands.
Trade tip: Allow enough time for the transfer – it’s not a quick hop. For agents building broader Australian itineraries, Hobart connects easily to Melbourne and Sydney with multiple daily flights. This 7-night programme works as a standalone luxury Tasmanian holiday or as the premium extension to an east coast itinerary. We can also extend it to include Cradle Mountain or the Tarkine for clients wanting a longer Tasmanian journey. This itinerary and other Tasmanian products can be quoted and booked via our FIT/HELiO booking platform.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Inclusions & Optional Add-Ons
Frequently Asked Questions
