West Coast Tour

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This is our SELF-GUIDED TOUR through the Wilderness of the West Coast and Highlands

This goes through very dramatic scenery, much of it in World Heritage listed areas and alpine regions. Due to the remoteness the daily distances here 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 Accommodation category Price per person booking code Economy category $2,650 twin share 7 c Comfort category $ 3,250 twin share 7 a Executive category $ 3,775 twin share 7 b Optional bike hire incl. delivery/pick up $ 275 pannier rental $ 25 per pair daily luggage transport not available bag transfer from first to last hotel $ 45 per item supplement for one person in a room $ 1.300 / 1,600 / 1,850 (Economy / Comfort / Executive- category) ALL PRICES are displayed in AUSTRALIAN dollars (AUD) 10 % high season supplement applies for all nights between Dec 24th and Jan 31th 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 circumstances 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, customised to your tour and the hotels you are staying in
> 12 nights pre-booked accommodation, 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 tool kit, 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

Your destination is the quiet historic small town of Evandale, located just 4 km from Launceston airport, a nice place to recover from your flight.
If you have just concluded our Northeast tour you could use this day to visit nearby Lauinceston, Tasmania second largest city (pop. 80,000) or skip this day and continue on day 2.
When you are doing this tour by itself, this first day is an arrival day (accommodation included, but no transfer). It is best best to fly into Launceston Airport and ue a taxi for the 4 km. If booked, your rental bike(s) will be waiting for you at the first accommodation.

Day 2, Evandale – Mole Creek

This route takes you westwards on very flat, narrow country roads with little traffic, via the lovely shopping town of Deloraine, into the village of Mole Creek. Just before your destination you will pass an interesting animal park and there is an option of a 40min return walk to the fascinating Alum Cliffs. Minimum distance to cycle: 98km (60miles)

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 in a cosy "Wilderness cabin" at the former Dam Worker´s settlement "Gowrie Park". Guests of the other categories have to continue further 15 km to the interesting small country town of Sheffield with its many painted murals. Minimum distance to cycle: 46 difficult km (28miles) plus 15 km (9miles) if you stay in Sheffield

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

There is some more climbing to do, including some quite steep sections. You should arrive at the park around lunchtime. In the afternoon you may explore this impressive park. Most visitors do the loop walk around the romantic Dove Lake. Uitlizing the free shuttle bus to and from the beginning of the walking tracks this exploration takes around 3 hours. There are countless possibilities to extend your walk; you can even continue on to Cradle´s summit. Minimum distance to cycle: 25 difficult km (16miles) plus 15 km (9miles) if you have stayed in Sheffield

Day 5, Cradle Mountain National Park - Rosebery

Today's route is quite long and hilly, in particular the last 10km can be quite exhausting, but overall it goes more downhill than up through a wonderful landscape. Minimum distance to cycle: 70km (43miles) OPTION: Stay here for 2 nights to be able to do the 3 hours walk to Montezuma Falls and its famous suspension bridge. Please note, the choice of accommodation is very limited here.

Day 6: Rosebery - Strahan

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

Day 7: Strahan - Day Off

We highly recommend you experience the half-day Gordon-River-Cruise into the untouched Gordon River. In all the years, we have not had a single guest who was not very impressed. In the afternoon after you return at 3 pm and still have time to visit the nearby Ocean Beach, Tasmania´s longest with 33 km of pristine sand.

Day 8: Strahan - Queenstown

This stretch is a highlight for every cyclist, a narrow road winding through dense forest with 273 bends, into the old mining town of Queenstown, unfortunately more uphill than down. The surroundings of this destination make it appear as a lunar landscape; but vegetation is slowly coming back. Alternatively, you can travel on the historic ABT-Wilderness Railway (about $135 per person) through thick rainforest. Minimum distance to cycle: 42km (26m)

Day 9: Queenstown - Derwent Bridge

A quite exhausting but extremely fascinating 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 (55miles) with a lot of climbing

Day 10: Derwent Bridge - Ouse

If you are fit, you could undertake a walk within the nearby Lake St. Clair National Park before you follow the "Wilderness Highway" eastwards. Although it goes much more downhill than up, some of our guests find this section can be exhausting. Minimum distance to cycle: 81km (50miles)

Day 11: Ouse - New Norfolk

Today you arrive back into "civilisation". We strongly suggest an excursion toMount Field National Park to visit famous Russell Falls and the 'tall trees' (the tallest hardwood trees in the world). Tonight you will stay in the small town of New Norfolk. Minimum distance to cycle: 62 km (39miles)

Day 12: New Norfolk - Richmond

The final: Today you are cycling to the small historic town of Richmond, which is closer to Hobart airport than Hobart city. Depending on your arrival time you may can have a stroll through this charming historic village with it´s many old fashion shops, galleries and of course the oldest roadbridge in Australia still in use. Unfortuneatly the roads are not so quiet anymore than the ones in previous days. There is a regular bus service to Hobart city. Minimum distance to cycle: 47 km (29miles)

Day 13: Independent Departure

Leave your rental bikes at the hotel. You can use a taxi to your hotel to get to Hobart Airport (approx 20 minutes).

Minimum distance to cycle: 615 km (372miles)

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!