West Coast Tour

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This is our SELF-GUIDED TOUR through the wilderness of the West coast and highlands

It goes through very dramatic scenery, much of it in World Heritage listed areas and alpine regions. Due to the remoteness the daily distances are longer and the terrain is mostly hilly with some long ascents. There is a good chance of bad weather, especially rain. This tour is only suitable for really fit cyclists.

Prices, Terms & Itinerary

Start- / Endpoint Launceston / Hobart Duration 13 days, 12 nights (without flight) Season from mid November to mid March Start date any day of your choice see Hobart restrictions Accommodation category Price per person booking code Hostel / Budget category $980 twin share 7 d Economy category $1,580 twin share 7 c Comfort category $2,300 twin share 7 a Optional bike hire incl. delivery/pick up $ 200 pannier rental $ 25 per pair daily luggage transport not possible bag transfer from first to last hotel $ 35 per item supplement for one person in a room $ 330 / 750 / 1,050 (Hostel-Budget / Economy / Comfort - category) ALL PRICES are displayed in AUSTRALIAN dollars (AUD) 7.5 % high season supplement applies for all nights between Dec 20th and Jan 15th On booking you agree to our Terms & Conditions

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Accommodation categories

Hostel/Budget:You will stay in a dorm where available, otherwise in basic hotels/motels (supplement applies here for single travelllers). Always shared facilities.
Economy: Nothing fancy, but good value for money, mostly with shower/toilet.
Comfort: Comfortable feel-well properties, all rooms with shower/toilet (few exceptions) and good breakfast.
Executive: Usually the best available accommodation in the given area, some with spa.
Please note: your chosen category will be substituted when not available!

Hobart restrictions (for the higher accommodation categories)

- Please avoid one night stays on weekends
- Under all cuircumstances avoid one week before and 4 day after new year.
If you cannot avoid the periods mentioned above you may have to accept a lower hotel quality and / or a surcharge.

What we include

> comprehensive route description from door to door, customized to your tour and the hotels you are staying in
> 12 nights prebooked accommodation, comfort and breakfast level depending on category (single rooms available for an additional fee)
> emergency telephone support 24/7
> Extra: Well serviced rental bike with toolkit, lock, pump, helmet (panniers on request for a small fee)

Not included in tour price

Flight, food and drinks, admissions, National Park fees, excursions, personal spending

Tour itinerary

Day 1, Arrival -Evandale OR day off

The first day is an arrival day. The historic small town of Evandale is located just 3km from Launceston airport, a nice place to recover from the flight.
If you have concluded our North-east tour then you can have a rest day to explore the nearby city of Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city (pop. 80,000). If you are not interested in cities we can take this rest day out.

Day 2, Evandale – Mole Creek

The route takes you westwards on very flat, narrow country roads with little traffic, via the lovely shopping town of Doleraine, to the village of Mole Creek. You will pass the interesting honey farm in Cluddah (more than 50 types of honey with free tasting), an interesting animal park and a 40min return walk to the fascinating Alum Cliffs. Minimum distance to cycle: 98km (60m)

Day 3, Mole Creek - Cradle Mountain Nationalpark

Today there is a lot of climbing until you get into "high country". You'll be rewarded by breathtaking scenery. The final ascent to the Cradle Mountain National Park features some extremely steep sections. If this is too much for you may stay in Gowrie Park (only budget / economy category) and continue the last 24 km tomorrow. This way you can also visit the nice little town of Sheffield with its many murals. Minimum distance to cycle: 71 km (43 m)

Day 4, Cradle Mountain Nationalpark:

You can spend all day for exploring this impressive park. A níce short walk (2 hours) is the loop around romantic Dove Lake. You can even continue to the summit.

Day 5, Cradle Mountain National Park - Rosebery

Today's route is quite long and hilly, but goes more downhill than up through a wonderful landscape. The last 10km, however are really exhausting. Minimum distance to cycle: 70km (43m) OPTION: Stay here for 2 nights to be able to do the 3 hours to the Montezuma Falls and its suspension bridge.

Day 6, Rosebery - Strahan

At around lunch time you will have reached the little town of Zeehan, where there is a great heritage museum. It's quite hilly, but the last 40km are almost completely flat with a constant downhill. Minimum distance to cycle: 75km (58m)

Day 7 Strahan - day off

You can take a half-day Gordon-River-Cruise into the untouched Gordon River. On the afternoon you can visit nearby Ocean beach, with 33 km Tasmania´s longest. Or just have a rest day.

Day 8, Strahan - Queenstown

This stretch is a highlight for every cyclist, a narrow road winding through dense forest with 273 bends, to the old mining town of Queenstown, unfortunately more uphill than downhill. The surroudings of the destination look like a lunar landscape. Alternatively you can use the historic ABT-Wilderness Railway (costs about $115). Minimum distance to cycle: 42km (26m)

Day 9, Queenstown - Derwent Bridge

A quite exhausting but extremely pleasant section through World Heritage area with many opportunities for fantastic short walks. Your destination is the 3-houses settlement of Derwent Bridge. Minimum distance to cycle: 88km (55m)

Day 10, Derwent Bridge - Ouse

In the morning you can undertake a walk in the nearby Lake St.Clair National Park and later you'll follow the "Wildway" highway eastwards, more downhill than uphill. Minimum distance to cycle: 81km (50m)

Day 11, Ouse - New Norfolk

Today takes you back to civilisation. We strongly suggest an excursion to the Mount Field National Park and visit famous Russell Falls and the 'tall trees' (the tallest hardwood trees in the world). You will stay in the small city of New Norfolk. 62 km (39m)

Day 12. New Norfolk - Hobart

Its only 28km to your hotel in Hobart. For the last 12 km you can use a new bike trek, what was once a railway line. On the afternoon you got plenty of time to explore Tasmania´s capital. Minimum distance to cycle: 28 km (17m)

Day 13, independent departure

Minimum distance to cycle: 615 km (372m)

Note:
All distances are approximate only and may vary. The cycling distances depend on your personal level of fitness, weather conditions, chosen options on that day, and other variables.
We strongly recommend not undertaking this trip without advice and assistance. Some distances can be absolutely exhausting, you could run out of supplies while off the main roads or just not be able to make it to the next accommodation. In some areas accommodation can be booked up months in advance and the next available could be up to 50km (30m) away. It can also be difficult to know which are the really important highlights so, let us organise your trip for you!