Let Us Create Your Journey in Tasmania
At Australia and Beyond Holidays (AABH) Tasmania is one of our favourite destinations. For many Australians its a new destination and they are exploring this Island of diverse experiences and natural beauty for the first time. We have a great range of Journeys to suit all interests and age groups. Our range includes, driving holidays, hiking holidays, Golf Holidays, short break escapes, small group journeys and of course we can create an individual experience as a “hand made” package.
Winter 2023
Embrace Tasmania in Winter
Rug up and join us at winter events ranging from celebrations of voice and theatre to whisky and darker spirits.
Top mid-year festivals and events:
Dark Mofo, Hobart, June
Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival, July
Tasmanian Whisky Week, August
Junction Arts Festival, Launceston, September
Maria Island Walk
The beauty of Maria Island really speaks for itself
Maria Island is blessed with an abundance of beautiful scenery, and the views are ever changing on The Maria Island Walk. You’ll be walking through tall, ancient forests, along pristine untouched beaches and possibly climbing one of the mountain peaks: Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk. Along the way you’ll see the incredible Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs and a wide variety of natural Tasmanian flora.
Come on this Iconic walk. Spend two nights in Hobart before the walk exploring the city and doing the Bruny Island cruise before maybe and then. We collect you in Hobart and take you to our city base where you’ll meet the guides, other guests, collect your light packs and be given a briefing. Then the adventure begins exploring the magnificence of Maria island, staying in our exclusive wilderness camps and enjoying candlelit gourmet dinners at night under the stars.
The pack free walk option is an additional service available on nominated and some private group departures for a rate of $200 per person. We operate pack free walks when all guests on the walk have requested the porter service, subject to availability.
It’s the perfect option for guests who cannot carry their backpack. Leave your suitcase at our office and bring only what you need for your time on Maria Island.
We will transfer your gear between each nights’ accommodation, so you only carry your lunch, water, jacket and camera. On a normal walk, our guests carry their belongings in a 50 litre pack which can weigh between 6-8kg whereas on a pack-free walk, our guests carry a day pack which can weigh between 1-2kg.
Day 1 – The first steps…
You arrive at the historic coastal town of Triabunna. Our boat will take you to Maria Island through the sparkling waters of Mercury Passage to the isthmus of Maria Island. You will set foot on a pristine, untouched beach, exactly as explorers did years earlier. Here you enjoy lunch overlooking the crystal azure waters of Shoal Bay before taking a walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. That afternoon explore the trail through the tall eucalypt forest down to the spectacular Haunted Bay.
Distance: 8 kms
That evening, after a fine Tasmanian gourmet dinner, stroll along the beach at sunset
with a glass of wine, delighting in the day you’ve had and excited by what lies ahead.
About Our Maria Island Walk Operator
We are the only walk on Maria Island to be selected as one of the exclusive Great Walks groups.
To be selected, everything has to be outstanding: the scenic beauty of the walk, the elegant and exclusive accommodation, the candlelit dining and the experience and personality of the guides. Not surprisingly it’s the only walk on the island to be officially listed as one of the Great Walks of Tasmania and Australia.
Having completed over 1300 walks over 18 seasons and received 8 National Tourism Awards, The Maria Island Walk is recognised as one of Australia’s outstanding experiences. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Day 2 – Five fabulous beaches
Wake up to the busy chattering of the wattle birds and, from the comfort of your bed, watch the morning sun sparkle through the forest. This is one of the truly great guided walks of Australia! After a delicious breakfast, it’s time to start your journey along five beautiful beaches. Watch dolphins play in the surf and sea eagles soaring overhead as you walk past the carpet of exotic shells lining the water’s edge. By late afternoon you arrive at White Gums camp for a refreshing swim. After the perfect day, you can relax with your fellow walkers, before enjoying a candlelit dinner of the finest Tasmanian food and wine.
Distance: 13 kms
Can it get any better than this? Day 3 awaits.
Day 3 – Into the heart, up to the heights
Today our Tasmanian Walking Guides will take you inland to the heart of the Island to discover the rich greens of the grand forests. You’ll wander through the world’s largest stand of giant Tasmanian blue gums and can choose to climb the peaks of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk. It’s a 700 metres climb through rare “cloud” rain forests. As you can imagine, the views are simply breathtaking. That evening you arrive at Tasmanian’s fascinating World Heritage listed settlement of Darlington where you’ll stay at the elegant colonial Bernacchi House and enjoy a final night banquet with fine wine and conversation.
Distance: 9-17 kms
Another day that’s given you plenty to dream about.
Day 4 – The Fabulous Top End
The final day begins with a delicious breakfast followed by a walk around the northern tip of Maria Island. The walk takes you through a variety of spectacular woodlands and forests with rare endemic birds, wallabies and wombats on show. You continue on to the dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay and then head down to the remarkable fossils at Fossil Cliffs. Arriving back at Darlington we enjoy a celebratory farewell lunch before boarding the boat to go back to the mainland Tasmania and Hobart taking with you incredible memories and stories of an amazing four days, walking in Tasmania, spent in a very special place.
Distance: 4 kms
Memories, stories and new friends that will last a lifetime.
Accommodation
After a day of walking, you will relax in comfortable, elegant accommodation. The first two nights are in beautiful wilderness camps and the last night we stay in the historic Bernacchi House in the UNESCO world heritage listed settlement of Darlington. Our accommodation is provided exclusively for our guests and allows you to feel completely immersed in the wilderness and history of Maria Island
Wilderness Glamping
This isn’t camping as you know it. Our African safari style wilderness camps are located only moments from stunning beaches, tucked away in the beautiful surrounding forest. They are specially designed to have a small environmental footprint with bush showers and clean composting toilets. You’ll fall asleep in a comfortable bed in your own bush cabin to the sound of waves gently lapping nearby and wake to the sound of birds in the forest.
A beautiful experience on its own.
Iconic Must do Cruising in Tasmania
The Pennicott wilderness cruises are a must do in Tasmania and can be incorporated into most of our Tasmanian Journeys.
Iron Pot Cruises
Iron Pot Cruises is a 2½ hour cruise exploring the renowned waterways that influence Hobart’s lifestyle. Visit Australia’s oldest lighthouse, circumnavigate Betsey Island and discover the city’s rich maritime past.
Travel aboard one of our brand new vessels in a small group of up to 12 passengers. The spacious enclosed cabin contains comfortable leather seats. Large awning windows provide a great view and allow you to immerse yourself in the surroundings.
Cruising down the Derwent River you’ll pass historic Battery Point, now one of Tasmania’s premium residential addresses. You’ll see well-known landmarks like the iconic Wrest Point Casino and the Shot Tower. Further south, you’ll truly appreciate the scale of Mount Wellington as it towers over the city.
Arrive at the Iron Pot, Australia’s oldest lighthouse, and be immersed in the fascinating history as your guide shares stories of Hobart’s early settlement.
Wineglass Bay from the water
Wineglass Bay Cruises is a 4½ hour cruise of the waterways surrounding Freycinet National Park from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay on Tasmania’s East Coast.
Cruise the spectacular coastline of Freycinet National Park from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay. Be enthralled by the stunning granite coastline, including the dramatic pink peaks of the Hazards range.
Discover a coast dotted with sparkling white sand beaches, including Cooks and Bryans beaches, only accessible by water or a full day bushwalk. Explore the inner passage of remote Schouten Island, home to little penguins and short tailed shearwaters, before heading into the Tasman Sea towards Wineglass Bay. Look out for various hidden sea caves, blowholes and waterfalls amongst the sheer granite cliffs.
Take in the sheer beauty of Wineglass Bay from the rarely seen perspective of the water, a shimmering crescent of white sand fringes spilling into glass turquoise waters.
Bruny Island Cruise
Bruny Island Cruises is an award-winning 3 Hour Wilderness Cruise exploring the rugged coastline of Bruny Island in southern Tasmania.
Cruise alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, beneath towering crags and drift up close to listen to the awesome ‘Breathing Rock’. Enter deep sea caves, pass through the narrow gap between the coast and ‘The Monument’ and feel the power of nature at the point where the Tasman Sea meets the might of the Southern Ocean.
Join in the search for the abundant coastal wildlife such as seals, dolphins, migrating whales and sea birds. The highly trained interpretive guides love what they do – they work hard to ensure that the experience is fun, enjoyable, entertaining and informative.The custom-built yellow boats are ideal for viewing the spectacular coastline and wildlife of Bruny Island. Each vessel holds a maximum of 43 guests. Covered open-air tiered seating means an excellent all-round view and connection with the environment.
