Tasmania: History and Heritage Tour

***fully booked***Claudia Moir, of NZ Travel Brokers is excited to present to you a tailor-made Tasmania tour especially designed for Friends of Te Papa –

the 7 night Uncover Tasmania custom tour: 10 – 17 MARCH 2024

This tour includes some exclusive experiences not open to the general public and expert guides like an historian, a geologist and an ecologist for a deeper insight into Tasmanian landscape, history and heritage.  Come and join us on this amazing one-off adventure limited to 20 participants. Be quick to secure your place.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1 – Sunday, 10 March

HOBART

• Hobart Airport transfers
• Welcome to Hobart, Tasmania’s stunning capital city and one of Australia’s oldest.
• Your private tour guide will meet you near the luggage carousel after your flight lands. They will have a sign with the group name.
• Check in to the centrally located Movenpick hotel.
• Salamanca Story Walk.  Join Peter Lutz, a renowned chef & historian on an exploration of Hobart’s notorious convict heritage of Battery Point & Salamanca.  Expect fascinating stories delivered with insight and passion, as we explore the remarkable lives of craftsman, clergyman, freesettlers, merchants and convicts as they begun to quarry stone, hunt whales and building the foundations of Hobart by convict labour. Admire the architectural treasures of Battery Point overlooking the Derwent river as we wander through the streets and step back in time.

Overnight – Movenpick hotel, Superior rooms.  Meal inclusions – Dinner at Old Wharf Restaurant

Day 2 – Monday, 11 March

MONA | Museum of Old & New Art

• There’s one thing we can guarantee when visiting MONA, you’ll never see another museum like it.  The weird, whacky, wonderful and downright bizarre all call MONA home. Located just up the river from Hobart, Mona’s subterranean architecture showcases the highlights (and lowlights) of David Walsh’s $110m private collection of art and antiquities, as well as hosting a busy exhibitions program.
• Travel in style to MONA with a ticket for the Posh Pit on board MR1 or MR2. x
• Take a seat on a sheep, or lion while you enjoy the included canapes, or tiny foods as MONA prefers to call them, drinks and of course, the incredible views up the Derwent River.
• Take the day to explore the museum and outside art installations.
• As Moorilla Vineyard is onsite, we have included a wine tasting and tasting platter while at MONA.

Overnight – Movenpick Hotel, Superior rooms.  Meals included -Breakfast, wine tasting & tasting platter

Day 3 – Tuesday 12 March

TASMAN PENINSULA

• Hotel collection.  Please ensure you are out the front of your Hobart accommodation for an 8am departure.
• Port Arthur Historic Site with Peter Lutz.  The World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site is on almost everyone’s bucket list when it comes to Tasmania.  Today we will delve deeper into the historic site than the average guest with Peter Lutz joining us to take you through the grueling history of Port Arthur Historic Site.
• Whilst at the historic site, we’ll take the short harbour cruise around Point Puer and the Isle of the Dead.
• Eaglehawk Neck | The Dog Line.  Here at ‘The Dog Line’ Peter Lutz will share the story and history behind this bronze dog sculpture and why this area was such an important part of Port Arthur Historic Site’s history.  Enjoy the views over the stunning peninsula as Peter shares his knowledge.
• Tessellated Pavement.  This geological phenomena is a sight to behold, walk down to the waterfront to get the best view of these tile looking rocks. Don’t forget to take your camera with you, it’s a great place to snap some photos of our world class scenery.
• Richmond Historic Village.  Historic architecture, fine food, vineyards with a view, and a mysterious convict past. There’s something for everyone in Richmond. Wander down the main street perusing the many galleries and antique shops, step back in time at Richmond Gaol or have a tipple at the Tasting House.  Standing on a rise above Richmond Bridge, the oldest in Australia, built by convicts in 1825, St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, built in 1837, is the country’s oldest surviving Catholic church.  Peter will walk with the group through this historic township, pointing out significant buildings and sharing the history of this quaint town.

Overnight – Movenpick hotel, Superior rooms.  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner at Mures Upper Deck an award-winning seafood restaurant

Day 4 – Wednesday 13 March

HEARTLANDS EXPERIENCE

• Please ensure you are out the front of your hotel ready and waiting at 8am for our drive out to Mount Field National Park.  *Please note, sturdy walking shoes and a waterproof jacket are essential for today’s walk through one of Tasmania’s most stunning rainforests.
• Salmon Ponds.  Take a walk back in time amidst the beautiful gardens, historic buildings, hatchery and fish ponds – all set within the original 19th century English style public open space of superb trees, hedges and lawns.If you are lucky while visiting the salmon ponds you may catch a glimpse of our local wild platypus. The Platypus would have to be this planet’s most unusual creature, looking like a Duck, Beaver and Otter all rolled into one.
• Mount Field National Park | Big Tree Hunting.  As the winding road ascends through Mount Field National Park the stunning natural flora transforms, offering a constantly changing view as you climb to higher altitudes. Known as ‘the park for all seasons’, Mount Field is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and home to some of the world’s tallest eucalypt forests, as well as a unique array of alpine vegetation.  Mount Field National Park is one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks and is also one of its most diverse. Spectacular glaciated landscapes compete for attention with cascading waterfalls, including the breathtaking, three-tiered Russell Falls.
• Today we will explore the forests with an ecologist and one of Tasmania’s Big Tree Hunters. Wander through the ancient rainforest as they share their passion and knowledge for Tasmania’s stunning forests. Mount Field is home to some of the tallest flowering trees in the world, here we will try and map a tree.
• Overnight: Curringa Farm, located in Tasmania’s Central Highlands region will be our base for the next two evenings. Tim & Jane Parsons are sixth generation farmers. Their 750 acre farm is home to 3,000 sheep, many different crops and just over 12% of their property is under conservation with beautiful forest areas lining many parts of the farm.

Overnight – Curringa Farm.  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 – Thursday 14 March

HEARTLANDS EXPERIENCE

• 10:00 am Curringa Farm.  To start our day today we’ll join Tim or Jane on a farm tour, they’ll share with you their little slice of paradise.  We’ll enjoy a morning farm tour that includes sheep shearing, working farm dogs, viewing crops in season, forest walk and morning tea with fresh homemade scones with jam & cream.
• Lunch | Quilted Teapot.  The Quilted Teapot will be our lunch stop today. You’ll find the Quilted Teapot within the grounds of St Matthew’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church in Australia. Inside The Quilted Teapot is a colourful patchwork and quilting shop with a quaint café, serving quality Tasmanian coffee, wide selection of teas, delicious light meals & refreshments.
• We have organised for St Matthew’s Church to be opened so we can wander through this exquisite church, built in 1823. Your tour guide will share the story behind the church’s stain-glass windows, made in Germany over 120 years ago. These windows are to this day considered some of the best examples in an Australian church.
• Tasmania’s Most Haunted | Willow Court History Tour.  Explore the Willow Court Historic Site with your knowledgeable tour guide as they take you through some of the site’s iconic buildings and landmarks. Your guide will combine history and mystery to captivate your imagination and lead you through over 190 years of unique Tasmanian stories.
• Derwent Cliffs Walk. To end the day, we’ll stop in the heart of the Derwent Valley, New Norfolk. Here we’ll drive past the oldest continually licensed pub in Australia  and on to our last stop. Following the calm Derwent River, we’ll make our way along the Derwent Cliffs track taking in the stunning views of the Derwent River and sandstone cliffs.
  This is a grade 1 walk, with a steady path with mostly even- surfaces.

Overnight – Curringa Farm. Meals included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 – Friday 15 March

HEARTLANDS EXPERIENCE

• Check out at Curringa Farm.  Please ensure you are ready to depart Curringa Farm at 8.30amthis morning.
• Derwent Estate,  Three generations of the Hanigan family are involved in the management of their historic Mt Nassau property, owned by the family since 1913. Given that over the last 100 years the property has at various times been involved with sheep, cattle, vegetable production, quarrying and the production of lime, the addition of viticulture in ’92 was not surprising.  Since then, Derwent Estate have been leading the way with their delicious award-winning wines. Here we will enjoy a winetasting of 11 of their best wines.  If the weather is in our favour, we will enjoy the wine tastingout on the front lawns. Alternatively, an area will be set up in ‘The Shed’ restaurant for us.
• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.  Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We’re a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. The skills and funds generated through the Sanctuary allow us to proactively address problems in our surrounding environment and communities.  A visit to Bonorong is a chance to come closer than ever to something wild and fragile. You’ll come face to face with animals that became extinct long ago in other parts of Australia — the same animals we’re working hard to protect now.
• Kunanyi | Mt Wellington.  It’s fair to say the city is dominated by Kunanyi / Mount Wellington– stand almost anywhere in Hobart and you’ll see its forested flanks. Few cities can equal Hobart for the natural magnificence of it’s backdrop, with Kunanyi / Mount Wellington towering 1271metres above the city. That’s almost 200 metres taller than the famed Table Mountain in Cape Town.  For Hobartians, “the mountain” is part of daily life: a place to walk, ride mountain bikes, play in the winter snow, and feel the reviving touch of nature, just a half-hour drive from the city centre.  Today we will be joined by Andy who is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to our beautiful Kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Andy will share his knowledge and passion for this fascinating mountain as we explore it’s craggy exterior.
• Drive back to our hotel in Hobart.
• Own arrangements for dinner.

Overnight – Movenpick Hotel, Superior rooms.  Meals included: Breakfast, Wine tasting

Day 7 – Saturday 16 March

SALAMANCA MARKETS

• 8:30 am Salamanca Markets.  Salamanca Market is Tasmania’s most visited tourism attraction and runs each Saturday from 8.30 am to 3 pm, rain, hail or shine.  The market extends the full length of Hobart’s historic Salamanca Place, from the silos end to the top of Davey Street. You will find a huge selection of locally made products and you can meet the makers, the artisans, the designers and producers.  With over 300 stallholders, the market includes fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee, delicious breakfast and lunch options, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products.  The market is one of those special places where you can find plenty of handmade and home-grown produce, mingle with the locals, enjoy the vibrancy and atmosphere, and discover the heart of a creative island.  We recommend visiting the markets first thing in the morning, as one of the largest outdoor markets in Australia, Salamanca markets can be quite busy by mid-morning, with thousands visiting each Saturday.
• Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery | TMAG.  The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is Tasmania’s leading natural and cultural heritage organisation. It is a combined museum, art gallery and herbarium which safeguards the physical evidence of Tasmania’s natural and cultural heritage, and the cultural identity of Tasmanians.  TMAG is Australia’s second-oldest museum and has its origins in the collections of Australia’s oldest scientific society, the Royal Society of Tasmania, established in 1843. The first permanent home of the museum opened on the corner of Argyle and Macquarie streets in 1863 and the museum has gradually expanded from this corner to occupy the entire city block. The TMAG precinct is one of Australia’s most historically significant sites. Included in the precinct is Tasmania’s oldest surviving public building, the 1808-10 Commissariat Store; the Private Secretary’s Cottage, built prior to 1815 and originally adjacent to old Government House; and Tasmania’s first federal building, the 1902 Custom House.
• Cascade Female Factory | The Pride and The Punished.  The Proud and the Punished is a one-woman performance that tells the story of Sarah Mason – a petty criminal sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing a pair of boots.  This tale is brought to life with a 40-minute tour that ties together historical accounts of six different characters at the Female Factory who experienced both tragedy and triumph inside the prison walls. As we are guided around Yard 1 of the Female Factory, visitors are immersed into the hardships of convict life and the strength of character many convict women had to persevere.

Overnight – Movenpick Hotel, Superior rooms.  Meals included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner at “The Glasshouse”, overlooking the Derwent river

Day 8 – Sunday 17 March

• Hobart Airport transfers.  Your private tour guide will transfer you to the airport today. We will arrive 1 hour before your boarding time.

Meals included: Breakfast

Tour Price Includes:

• Your own private local tour guide
• Private transport in a comfortable modern vehicle
• Hobart airport private transfers
• Guided commentary throughout areas visited
• Tour guide accommodation + meal allowance while away from Hobart
• Tours around Tasmania Welcome to Hobart VIP guest gift package
• Salamanca Story Walk with historian
• MONA entry fees + Posh Pit tickets
• Moorilla cellar door wine tasting at MONA
• Port Arthur Historic Site entry fees
• Guided tour with an historian through Port Arthur Historic Site
• Guided tour with renowned historian, Peter Lutz, through Richmond historic village
• Big Tree Hunting tour through Mount Field National Park with ecologist
• 2 x night’s accommodation at award-winning Curringa Farm
• 2 x dinners at Curringa Farm
• 2 x breakfast hampers at Curringa Farm
• Curringa Farm morning farm tour + morning tea
• Willow Court history tour
• Lunch at The Quilted Teapot
• Salmon Ponds entry fees
• Derwent Estate wine tasting
• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary entry fees + private tour
• Guided walk of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington with renowned walking guide
• Cascade Female Factory The Proud & The Punished tour
• 5 nights accommodation at the centrally located new Movenpick Hotel Hobart in a superior room including breakfast
• 3-course Welcome dinner at the “Old Wharf restaurant”
• 2-course dinner at Mures Upper Deck restaurant
• Chef’s selection Farewell dinner at “The Glasshouse”

Price per person: $ 3,750 (twin share) – flights additional (ask Claudia for a quote)

Single supplement: $600 (additionally payable if a single room is preferred. Please note that a single room can only be guaranteed for the 5 nights in Hobart. For the 2 nights at Curringa farm you may need to share a room with another traveler of the same gender).  If you are a solo traveller and don’t want to pay the single supplement, we will try to match you up with another solo traveller.

Price is based on a minimum 16 passengers, maximum 20

A 20% non-refundable deposit ($750) per person is required to secure your space on this tour. Balance payment is required 90 days prior to departure. Deposit is refundable in case that minimum numbers for the tour are not reached.

To book contact:
Claudia Moir – NZ Travel Brokers Mangawhai
ph. 09-4315899, mob. 021-431589, email: [email protected]

Trading as a member of NZ Travel Brokers Ltd, TAANZ Bonded & IATA Accredited, PO Box 842, Palmerston North 4410

Photos below: Russell Falls, Mount Field National Park.  Port Arthur Historic Site.  Inside MONA. Credit: Claudia Moir