Tasmanian Loop Stage 2 (West)

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival

   For those participating in Stage 2 only, make your way to the Henry Jones Art Hotel before 3:00pm for the welcome orientation briefing.

   The group will bid farewell to some cyclists today and welcome new arrivals for Stage 2. Participants doing both stages are advised to either take it easy on their rest day or explore the area. They can ride up to the top of Mt Wellington, visit Salamanca Place, or explore the Cascade Brewery (Australia’s oldest brewery). If they need more ideas, they can search for "10 best things to do in Hobart" on the internet. It's a great place with plenty to do. Note that MONA is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so participants will have the chance to visit tomorrow if they wish.

   • Hobart Accommodation
   • Breakfast
2. Day 2Hobart to Curringa Farm

   Today you can choose to either spend the day at the world-renowned MONA or begin the ride west.

   Leaving the beautiful port town of Hobart, with Mt Wellington on your left, you will follow the Derwent River dotted with bright spinnakers and gracious buildings as you head to the colonial village of New Norfolk, where morning tea is set up along the route by the crew. The landscape is similar to what you would expect from the English countryside as you follow the river’s lead northwest.

   Eventually, you will leave the river for a good climb and finish the day with a beautiful downhill to the quaint little town of Hamilton for lunch with its authentic cottages lining both sides of the main street. From there it’s just a quick 4km ride to lunch at your overnight at the award-winning farm stay cottages, set in natural bushland overlooking picturesque Lake Meadowbank. For those who spent the day at MONA, the crew will come back to pick you up this afternoon and take you to Curringa Farm.
   

   • 53.4 miles
   • Curringa Farm
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Curringa Farm to Derwent Bridge

   The countryside is stunning, as you pass the dam on the Derwent and cross bridges, over tossing waters, with natural lakes and places to explore. Then it’s up a few hills and through thick forest to Tarraleah hydro station with a magnificent view from the top and it’s quite special to see your route way down there alongside the river.

   You will stop in the high country at Bronte Lagoon to mark the geographical centre of Tasmania and continue to Derwent Bridge for your overnight accommodation. There are plenty of photo opportunities all day today so don’t forget the camera.
   

   • 58.4 miles
   • Lake St Clair Lodge
   • Breakfast and Dinner

   • 

     Lake St Claire Lodge

     Spend a cosy night in eco-friendly cabins on a World Heritage listed area

   • 

     Lake St Claire Lodge

     Spend a cosy night in eco-friendly cabins on a World Heritage listed area

4. Day 4Derwent Bridge to Queenstown

   Surrounded by small mountains and rugged countryside you will ride today through the southern reaches of Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park and then cross the Collingwood & Franklin Rivers. A cuppa at the Franklin then exceptional cycle touring continues through this pristine area before lunch at the picturesque Nelson Falls.

   Cycle around Lake Burbury and note the difference in landscape as the forest environment gives way to the copper mine region offering magnificent views overlooking Queenstown, before the long descent into town. Wow, what a great day.
   

   • 54.1 miles
   • Queenstown accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
5. Day 5Queenstown to Strahan

   An early morning rise will give you time to explore this classic town at daybreak, perhaps a walk along the river before breakfast. You will leave the stark bare hills of this old copper mining town and cycle through undulating thick bush to the beautiful portside town of Strahan where you will take up residence for two days at the NRMA Strahan Village.

   During your time here you will be blown away by the natural beauty and charm of the isolated and naturally stunning West Coast wilderness of Tasmania. This is a place where the rivers, mountains and rainforests of Tasmania's World Heritage wilderness meet, and your accommodation at Strahan Village provides you access to it all.

   The short day on the bike leaves plenty of time to take a boat down Macquarie Harbour and up into the Gordon River, an area made famous by its convict history and the Huon pine that was logged there for boats that still exist today. Tonight if you wish, you can experience the classic live play “The Ship that Never Was” right on the foreshore which is highly recommend for a good laugh.
   

   • 26.1 miles
   • NRMA Strahan Village
   • Breakfast and Dinner

   • 

     RACT Strahan Village

     Stay in some stunning spots throughout the Stages

   • 

     RACT Strahan Village

     Stay in some stunning spots throughout the Stages

6. Day 6Strahan REST DAY

   Get as busy as you like or relax and enjoy an easy day. The Gordon River Cruises are highly recommended with options from $160 for a full day cruise taking in Hells Gates, Heritage Landing and Sarah island. The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a great day out or just take a stroll along the Esplanade immersing yourself in Strahan’s culture and heritage with visits to the museums, galleries and attractions of the historic fishing port, or just kick back at your accommodation and enjoy everything that the NRMA has to offer.
   
   

   • NRMA Strahan Village
   • Breakfast

   • 

     RACT Strahan Village

     Stay in some stunning spots throughout the Stages

   • 

     RACT Strahan Village

     Stay in some stunning spots throughout the Stages

7. Day 7Strahan to Tullah

   Today provides a stunning ride through the bushland skirting the Southern Ocean, as you touch the most westerly point of the tour. Zeehan and Rosebery are both mining towns and cradled in the veins of the wild west, providing a few climbs and some long sweeping descents which you will enjoy before finishing back at the water’s edge on Lake Rosebery in the township of Tullah.

   This day is quite spectacular for the scenery and beauty of Tasmania’s west coast so get into your rhythm, absorb the atmosphere and at the end of the day sit back overlooking the lake with a beer or a great coffee and a famous scone from the cafe (reportedly the best scones on the West Coast if not Australia).
   

   • 55.3 miles
   • Accommodation in Tullah
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Tullah to Cradle Mountain

   Cradle Mountain is 700m (2296ft) higher than Lake Rosebery so you have some climbing to do on a comparatively short day today. Once again though it is through incredibly stunning countryside, allowing you to stop along the way to rest, eat and observe the sights.

   Upon arrival at Cradle Mountain, you will have lunch and then have the opportunity to head to Dove Lake to enjoy the 2-2.5hr walk around Cradle Mountain with its exquisite scenery.
   

   • 33.6 miles
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9. Day 9Cradle Mountain to Devonport

   It should be all downhill as you head from the mountain to the sea. It's going to be a fast ride but with breathtaking scenery on both sides.

   Just east of the wonderfully named rural locality of ‘Nowhere Else’, you will stop for lunch at the intriguing township of Sheffield with its murals of local life adorning the side of almost every available building and structure in town. It’s then a 25km (15.5mi) roll through to Devonport where you will again meet the Bass Strait and the most northern point of Stage 2.
   

   • 55.3 miles
   • Accommodation in Devonport
   • Breakfast and Lunch
10. Day 10Devonport to Deloraine

    You are nearly on the home straight today as you wind southeast roughly following the flow of the Mersey River. It won’t be on a ‘ferry across the Mersey’ but you will certainly enjoy a couple of very pretty river crossings via bridges. Morning tea is in Railton, the ‘Town of Topiary’, with more than 100 imaginative topiary characters found in its main street, as well as a great brewery.

    Unfortunately, it’s probably too early for a drink so you’ll continue through to Deloraine, a delightful riverside town with a historic streetscape classified by the National Trust. You’ll be here by lunchtime so you’ll have plenty of time to explore and find your favourite pick of the town’s excellent bakeries and cafes.
    

    • 36.7 miles
    • Accommodation in Deloraine
    • Breakfast and Dinner
11. Day 11Deloraine to Launceston

    This is it! You are now well and truly out of the forests and wilderness of the west as your final day leads you through expanses of pastoral lands - a patchwork of plots, properties and farms, showing the full spectrum of shades of green.

    Lunch at Evandale will give you a glimpse into the location for the annual Penny Farthing Championships, another example of Tasmania’s strong link to colonial history, then enjoy a smooth downhill cruise to the lowlands of Launceston.

    Tonight you will celebrate with one final dinner at an exclusive Launceston restaurant-just a stone’s throw from the River Tamar where the journey was started three weeks ago. Congratulations to all cyclists whether you joined in Hobart for the journey from south to west to north or completed the full loop.
    

    • 57.2 miles
    • Accommodation in Launceston
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
12. Day 12Launceston - Departure

    The tour officially disbands after breakfast today but feel free to hang around for another night to enjoy a day off - Launceston is a great place to do it.
    

    • Breakfast