 |
|
|
Start- / Endpoint |
Orford / St. Helens |
|
|
|
|
Duration |
8 days, 7 nights (without flight) |
|
|
|
|
Season |
from mid-October to end-April
|
|
|
|
|
Departure dates |
any day of your choice
|
|
|
|
|
Accommodation category |
Price per person |
booking code |
|
|
|
Economy category |
$ 1,650 twin share |
5 c |
|
|
|
Comfort category |
$1,875 twin share |
5 a |
|
|
|
Executive category |
$ 2,350 twin share |
5 b |
|
|
|
Optional |
|
|
|
|
|
bike hire incl. delivery/pick up |
$ 200 |
|
|
|
|
electric bike hire* incl. delivery/pick up |
$ 400 |
|
|
|
|
pannier rental |
$ 25 per pair |
|
|
|
|
daily luggage transport |
$ 500 per booking (all items must fit into one car) |
|
|
|
|
bag transfer from first to last hotel |
$ 45 per item |
|
|
|
|
supplement for one person in a room |
$ 800 / 940 / 1,175 |
|
Economy / Comfort / Executive - category) |
|
|
|
|
 Currency Calculator
|
Accommodation categories
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! But you only pay for what you get.
What we include
> comprehensive route description from door to door, customised to your tour and the hotels you are staying in
> 7 nights pre-booked accommodation in strictly selected premises, comfort and breakfast level depending on category (single rooms available for an additional fee)
> emergency telephone support 24/7
> Available for additional charge: well maintained rental bike with extensive tool kit, lock, pump, and helmet. Panniers are available on request for a small fee.
Not included in tour price
Flight, food and drinks, admission and National Park fees, excursions, personal spending
Tour itinerary
Day 1: Independent Arrival - Orford
This first day is an arrival day (accommodation included, but no transfer). You take the afternoon bus from Hobart city to Orford (free of charge until July 2027). In doing so you will not miss any nice scenery but avoid the worst hills of the east coast route. If your plane`s scheduled arrival time is too late for the bus, we can arrange a night in the charming historic village of Richmond, just 20 minutes by taxi from Hobart Airport. Please ask if required.
Day 2: Orford - day off
We strongly recommend to visit beautiful Maria Island and spent the day there. The entire island is National Park and can only be reached by boat from nearby Triabunna. You can walk over there or hire mountain bikes - our bikes are not suitable for gravel roads.
Day 3: Orford – Swansea:
Today you'll follow the coast road. This section offers the most spectacular ocean views for the entire tour and is quite flat except one short section. You can stop and explore Spiky Bridge (built by convicts), and/or drop into Kate's Berry Farm for a yummy ice-cream. If you are lucky to have a tailwind you will complete your cycling early. Minimum distance to cycle: 59km (36miles)
Day 4, Swansea – Bicheno
Today you need to ride around the Moulting Lagoon and over the relatively harmless Cherry Tree Hill towards the “tourist town” of Bicheno. There are several wineries located along the route, where you can taste their produce (one even has a wooden lookout-tower with spectacular views into the Moulting Lagoon). Minimum distance to cycle: 45km (30miles)
Day 5: Bicheno - Day off
We suggest visiting the famous Freycinet National Park (fees apply) by shuttle bus (fees apply, does not operate on weekends). There you can walk to the stunning Wineglass Bay lookout and return or continue to Wineglass Bay (voted one of the 10 best beaches in the world) and Hazard beach and return via a bush trek. The Wineglass Bay Lookout has been named Best Lookout Point in the 2024 Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards. After dusk, you may join a guided tour to a penguin colony (AU $40, pre-booking recommended).
Day 6: Bicheno – St. Helens:
You continue cycling north on the breathtaking, partly undulating coast road. Just 3km (2m) from Bicheno you can visit the award-winning “Nature World Animal Park” (AU $29), where you can see native animals, including the Tasmanian Devil. Fit riders may opt later to cycle up the steep Elephant Pass and come down the St. Marys Pass. After having enjoyed great coastal views you should stop in the small seaside town of Scamander to look at their fantastic beach (where whales and dolphins are often spotted from); and visit the nearby "Eureka Farm" where you can try their award-winning ice cream and other homemade products. 22 km later you will arrive in St Helens; the “capital” of the east coast (4500 inhabitants). This "Jewel of Tasmania's North-East" was voted "Tassie's Top Tourism Town" in 2020. Minimum distance to cycle: 75km (45miles)
Day 7: St. Helens - Day off
Today you can cycle the the nearby famous Bay of Fires (25 km return) and / or cycle inland to the farming community of Pyengana, where you can visit the local small cheese factory (free samles!), enjoy the treats in their lovely coffee shop and continue to the great St. Columba Waterfalls, Tasmania´s second highest (66km return). You could also check out the new Mountain Bike Trails in St. Helens or hire a kajak and so much more. The town has plenty of tourist attractions and all facilities the traveller’s needs Banks, internet centre, laundry etc
If you are short on time, you could leave out this day, but you would miss a lot.
Day 8: Independent Departure
You leave the rental bike(s) at your hotel.
Your return flight should depart from Launceston. It is much easier, quicker and cheaper to get from St. Helens to Launceston airport than back to Hobart airport. The bus service no 740 from "Calows Coaches" will get you to Launceston City Center (free of charge until July 2027) and via a connection to and Hobart city. It departs at 8:15am Mo-Sa, and at 06.15am Mon-Fri during school terms. The 8.15am bus arrives in Launceston City at approx 10:45 am. For Launceston airport you get off in Perth and use a taxi for the last 8 km, what saves you time and money. By doing this you should be able to catch all flights from 12 noon with the 8.15am bus and all flights from 10am with the 06.15am bus. Launceston is a very small airport - it takes only a few minutes to get through security. A private transfer to Launceston airport can also be arranged for $ 250 for up to 4 people.
For Hobart you have to use the 8.15am bus and change to a "Redline" bus at Epping Forest. You will arrive in Hobart city at around 12.30 pm. From there you take a taxi to the airport (about 40 minutes / free of charge until July 2027. You should be able to catch all flights from 3 pm.
Distance covered: 255 to 385km (160 to 240 miles) depending on options chosen
Notes:
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 variable.
We strongly recommend not to undertake this trip without advice or assistance. Some sections can be very exhausting, you could run out of supplies while off the main roads or just not make it to the next accommodation. In some areas all accommodation can be booked up months in advance and the next available could be up to 50km (30m) away. It can be hard to know which of the really important highlights to select as well so, better let us organise the trip for you!
|
