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 amazing 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 Economy category $ 1,670 twin share 7 c Comfort category $ 2,560 twin share 7 a Executive category $ 2,990 twin share 7 b Optional bike hire incl. delivery/pick up $ 213 pannier rental $ 25 per pair daily luggage transport not available bag transfer from first to last hotel $ 35 per item supplement for one person in a room $ 830 / 1,280 / 1,490 (Economy / Comfort / Excutive- 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

Economy: Nothing fancy, but good value for money, usually with shower/toilet.
Comfort: Comfortable feel-well properties, all rooms with shower/toilet and good breakfasts.
Executive: Usually the best accommodation available in the given area, some even with spa.

Under all cuircumstances you should avoid our capital Hobart between Christmas and Jan 5th.
If you cannot avoid this period you may have to accept a lower hotel quality and / or a surcharge.

What we include

> A 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
> Available for addional charge: well maintained 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, luggage transport, 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 4 km from Launceston airport, a nice place to recover from the flight.
If you have just concluded our North-east tour you can have a rest day to explore the nearby city of Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city (pop. 80,000).

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 - Gowrie Park (Sheffield)

Today you are climbing up to "high country". You'll be rewarded by breathtaking scenery. Guests of our economy category are staying at the former damworker-settlement Gowrie Park in a cosy "Wilderness cabin", guests of the other categories have to continue 15 km to the interesting smallcountry town of Sheffield with its many murals. Minimum distance to cycle: 46 difficult km (28m) plus 15 km (9m) if you stay in Sheffield

Day 4, Gowrie Park (Sheffield) – Cradle Mountain NP

The final ascent to the Cradle Mountain National Park features some quite steep sections. You will arrive around lunchtime and can exploring this impressive park on the afternoon. Most visitors do the loop walk around the romantic Dove Lake. Including the free shuttle bus to and from the beginning of the walking treks this takes around 3 hours. There are countless possibilities to extend your walk, you can even continue to the summit. Minimum distance to cycle: 25 difficult km (16m) plus maybe 15 km (9m) if you stayed in Sheffield

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 walk 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

We highly recommand you go onto the half-day Gordon-River-Cruise into the untouched Gordon River. We have not had any guest so far who was not impressed. On the afternoon you can visit nearby Ocean beach, with 33 km Tasmania´s longest.

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 $135). Minimum distance to cycle: 42km (26m)

Day 9, Queenstown - Derwent Bridge

A quite exhausting but extremely interesting 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) with a lot of climbing

Day 10, Derwent Bridge - Ouse

When you are fit you can undertake a walk in the nearby Lake St.Clair National Park before you'll follow the "Wildway" highway eastwards. Although it goes much more more downhill than uphill some of our guests find this day quite difficult. Minimum distance to cycle: 81km (50m)

Day 11, Ouse - New Norfolk

Today you arrive 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. You could drive through the city on a double decker hop on / hop off bus. If the weather is fine and you are up to the challenge, you could on the afternoon cycle up to the top of Mt. Wellington (1,270m), from where there are absolutely spectacular views. Or you visit the “museum of old and new art” (MONA), which soon became a major tourist attraction. You can get there on a bike path or with a regular ferry from the harbour. Minimum distance to cycle: 28 km (17m)

Day 13, independent departure

You leave the rental bikes at a hotel. The airport can be reached with one of the many shuttle busses or by taxi. Driving time is 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

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!