= Journeys Featuring AKP Projects
TAS | West Coast Discovery Drive
 Cradle Mountain Lodge |
|
6 days / 5 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Launceston | 1 |
| Cradle Mountian | 1 |
| Strahan | 2 |
| Hobart | 1 |
DAY 1 LAUNCESTON
Arrive Launceston, collect your rental car and drive to your waterfront accommodation. Later this afternoon you are transferred to a remote dinner location where you will be introduced to your own ‘Bush Chef’ and treated to a Tasmanian game experience. After dinner, go in search of the ‘bandit of the bush’, the Eastern Quoll, noted for its daring raids on local farms. These entertaining bush creatures will delight you, providing a close encounter with nature. Other species you may also encounter are possums, wombats, kangaroos, wallaby, bettong, Tasmania Devil and other species. (D).
Peppers Seaport Hotel, Riverview Suite
DAY 2 LAUNCESTON – CRADLE MOUNTAIN
Drive through Deloraine and Westbury to Cradle Mountain Lake St. Clair National Park. On arrival, head out on a self guided walk around Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and covers 161,000 hectares including Tasmania's highest mountain, 1,617-metre Mt Ossa. The area was declared a national park in 1922 and today is visited by a quarter of all visitors to Tasmania.
A lovely walk for this afternoon is the 6km Dove Lake circuit which takes you right around Dove Lake and beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mountain. The track is boardwalked for much of the way however it is recommended to wear good walking shoes and carry all weather protection even in Summer.
Cradle Mountain Lodge, King Billy Suite
DAY 3 CRADLE MOUNTAIN –STRAHAN
Drive through the lakes district to the former mining town of Tullah. Stop en-route for a walk with views of Montezuma Falls. An easy walk, through rainforest, along the route of the historic North East Dundas Tramway. At 104m, Montezuma Falls are one of the highest waterfalls in Tasmania and the track takes you right to the base of the falls. Continue your discovery drive on to Strahan a historic fishing village with charmingly restored waterfront cottages lining the waterfront. (B).
StrahanVillage, Waterfront Executive
DAY 4 STRAHAN
Today enjoy a guided discovery of the miner history, the Huon piners and the haunting majesty of this rarely explored World Heritage area. Travel by 4WD Hi-Rail vehicle along the West Coast Wilderness railway track through the ancient rainforest, while listening to the inspiring tales of the ‘miners and piners’ from more than 100 years ago. Journey to Kelly Basin and Bird River and walk through the rainforests of the World Heritage area. Enjoy lunch at the historic mining town of Pillinger, and participate in one of the many activities on offer before gliding back along through Macquarie Harbour on a luxury cruise boat to Strahan.(B,L).
StrahanVillage, Waterfront Executive
DAY 5 STRAHAN – HOBART
Continue your travels on to Hobart today, stopping enroute at the southern shores of Lake St. Clair. This afternoon visit Rodney Dunn, former editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller on his farm and Agrarian Kitchen outside the tiny town of Lachlan. Tour the 5-acre farm with Rodney Dunn, including farm animals and 500sqm vegetable garden. Learn of the Agrarian farming philosophies and see the kitchen – a transformed 1887 schoolhouse before afternoon tea in the garden or kitchen. (B).
MONA Pavilions, One Bedroom Pavilion
DAY 6 HOBART – DESIGN YOUR DAY
Awake to views of the Derwent River in Hobart’s newest accommodation. Optional activities include mountain biking, sea kayaking or exploring gardens and Salamanca Place. Return your vehicle at Hobart Airport before your flight home. (B).
Take the time to see all of Tasmania, let us customise it for you by combining the West and East Coast Discovery Drives and concluding your journey back in Launceston.
> Click here to view A&K's East Coast Discovery Drive itinerary
The Agrarian Kitchen
Tasmania’s first hands-on, farm-based cooking school, the Agrarian Kitchen recreates sustainable farming practices pre-dating the industrial revolution. Set on five acres, The Agrarian Kitchen grows and uses heirloom varieties of fruit and vegetables – those that have kept their original traits such as colour, form and yield through open
pollination as opposed to modern farming practices. Rare breed animals are also farmed on site including Wessex saddleback pigs and Barnevelder chickens.
Character Profile
Craig Williams or ‘Bushie’ as he is affectionately known, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Tasmania and an enthusiasm to match. Always having felt at home in the bush, Craig has a keen eye for the fl ora and fauna such an environment encompasses. When exploring with Craig, one can be sure to experience tastes never tried before. His repertoire of bush recipes is extensive. Savour such culinary delights as wallaby burger or rainbow trout marinated in lemon myrtle and ground pepperbush leaf. Your host on Day 01 Craig will treat you to a Bush Feast followed by a nocturnal ‘Quoll Patrol’ in search of this rare native species.
MONA Pavilions – Moorilla Estate
Four incredible new MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) Pavilions were opened in November 2009, three are translucent glass and steel cubes that appear suspended on their apex; the fourth is a diamond-shaped three-storey building enclosed in a silver metallic skin. Choose from one-or-two bedrooms configurations and each self-contained pavilion is completely private. All have access to an enclosed, heated lap-pool, sauna and gymnasium.
Museum and vineyard owner, David Walsh, has personally chosen works from his private collection for each pavilion, including time-based art works. Guests will also have access to their choice of online imagery streamed from the MONA collection once MONA opens. The contemporary design furnishings include Arflex Marenco sofas, Fatboy bean bags, B&B Italia UP1 'doughnut' chairs, Zanotta wire coffee tables, bespoke furniture by some of Tasmania's top furniture designers, and pieces from Walsh's furniture collection. State of the art bathroom fittings include Kaldewei spa baths; a Zucchetti Roca Vythos bath and spa system outdoor spa. Kitchen equipment is by top European manufacturers and guests will find their in-room Moorilla wine collection stored in under-bench, two-temperature zone wine cellars.
The new pavilions were designed by one of Australia's most innovative architects Nonda Katsalidis in association with Antarctica and Fender Katsalidis. Nonda Katsalidis is the MONA architect.
