Northeast / East Coast Tour

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This is our SUPPORTED GROUP-TOUR through the green North-east and along the breathtaking sunny East coast.

The North-east with its temperate rainforests is a "hidden treasure" with only few tourists but many places to discover.
The East coast is the 'classic' tourist route with more or less flat roads and endless empty white beaches in a mild climate. You will also visit Freycinet national park and Port Arthur.
Fitness level is not an issue because you can use our support vehicle whenever you like.

Prices, Terms & Itinerary

Departure- / Endpoint Launceston / Hobart Duration 11 days, 10 nights (without flight) Tour dates On demand only - any day of your choice bike hire (optional) $ 220 support vehicle, tour guide included Accommodation category Price per person Conditions Hostel / Budget category $2,280 sharing Displayed prices Economy category $3,030 twin share are valid if your group Comfort category $3,833 twin share has 6 participants. Executive category $4,475 twin share Details see below single supplement (one person per room) $ 470* / 895 / 1,120 / 1,380 (Hostel / Economy / Comfort / Executive category) * = for places without a hostel ALL PRICES are displayed in AUSTRALIAN dollars (AUD) On booking you agree to our Terms & Conditions

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Accommodation categories - Details here

Hostel: You share your bedroom with others, usually dorm, 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!

Itinerary

Above itinerary is just a suggestion. We can adjust it to your wishes and to match your flights.

Prices

Displayed prices are valid if the group, who booked the tour, has 6 participants. If there are more, the price per person will be lower, if there are lewer participants, the price per person will be higher. To increase the number of participants we can try to fill up with participants outside your group. The outside participants will never pay less than the displayed 6-person price.

What we include

> Road book containing all details of the tour
>10 nights in double/twin bed rooms with breakfast, comfort level depending on booked category. Note: Some breakfasts are to be prepared by the participants.
> picnic style lunches, unlimited snacks and drinks (incl. alcoholic beverages) from tour bus until arrival.
> person, luggage and bicycle transport during the tour
> national park entry fees and other admission mentionend in the itinerary
> knowledgeable tourguide (driver), fully insured minibus (with air-conditioning) and purpose-built trailer
> minimum 2, maximum 12 guests.
> Extra: well serviced rental bike with helmet, repair service included

What we do NOT include

Flights, airport transfers, evening meals and drinks, additional excursions and coffee stops, personal spending, trips not mentioned in the itinerary

Tour itinerary

Day 1, Arrival

We will pick you up from Launceston airport or your accommodation in Launceston city between 12 noon and 4 pm and will bring you to your accommodation in the nearby historic quiet village of Evandale. After check in we´ll meet for a briefing, bike adjustment and a short test-drive of the rental bikes. Later we can have dinner together (not included). If you do arrive not much later than 10.30 am at Launceston airport we could skip the night in Evandale and start cycling straight away. Pick up from Launceston city is not possible in this case.

Day 2, Evandale - Scottsdale

You will start on the bike. The first km are downhill and flat before the first “test hill” appears. Later you can cycle through the outskirts of Launceston. We will bring you up to the lonely and beautiful Tasman Highway later, which winds its way up through a picturesque, hilly countryside. From here you can ride again. After our lunch at the romantic Myrthle recreation ground there is a long but not too steep climb on a narrow windy road through dense rainforest. Only a few of our guests prefer to use our support vehicle. The reward for the climb is a breath-taking view from the “Sideling” lookout. After a steep descent and a last hilly section you finally arrive at the district town of Scottsdale. TOTAL 82 km (51 miles). On average our guests do cycle 46 km (35 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 36 km (16 miles).

Day 3: Scottsdale - Pyengana

An adventure packed day: For the first 26 km you may choose to use the “North East trail", a disused railway trek converted to a rough bike trail. We will visit the Legerwood carvings, which were done by chainsaw, followed by a beautiful cycling through farmland. We may bypass Derby on a beautiful back road. After lunch at a reserve in Pioneer (+18 km) or in a pub in Winnaleah you will wind your way up on a narrow and winding road through dense forest to the settlement of Weldborough. It becomes steeper from there.
The highlight of the day is a spectacular 10 km downhill ride!! A beer-drinking pig await´s us at the basic accommodation; the heritage listed “Pub in the Paddock” in a spectacular location.TOTAL 84 km (51 miles). On average our guests do cycle 59 km (37 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 25 km (16 miles).

Day 4: Pyengana - St. Helens

In the morning we will drive you to the famous St. Columba Falls (Tasmania´s second highest), which we will reach after a small, but spectacular rainforest walk. After our return you can taste the products of the local cheese factory and their coffee shop and their yummy homemade products. Back on the bike it´s more downhill than uphill to St Helens, the “capital of the east coast” (4,500 inhabitants). We will arrive on time for our lunch and will give you the afternoon off to enable you to visit the nearby Bay of Fires (+ 22km). TOTAL 46 km (29 miles). On average our guests do cycle 29 km (18 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 17 km (11 miles).

Day 5, day off

Today you can relax and do your personal shopping. Shops, banks and public internet connection are available. You could also visit the local "History room" or the private "Maritime museum".
You should not forget to visit the nearby beautiful Bay of Fires, if you have not done so yesterday. You can also explore the other side of the Georges Bay where you find the Peron dunes with its endless beaches and the "St. Helens light" from where you have a spectacular 360 degree view. There is also a winery close by where you can do some tastings. The tour guide has a day off, lunch is on you today.

Day 6, St. Helens - Bicheno

Today you will cycle down the beautiful and mostly flat East coast, passing spectacular beaches along the way. At first, we will drive you out of town using our support vehicle as the road is very narrow and there is a small hill to climb. At Scamander, we may be able to visit the Eureka Farm with its award-winning ice-cream. Shortly after that we will arrive at the coast road where you can enjoy the spectacular costal scenery. Later we will have our lunch at a reserve near the breath-taking "Lagoons beach". Just before our destination Bicheno you can visit the award-winning “Nature World Animal Park”, where you can at 3.30 pm watch the feeding of Tasmanian devils and maybe even pet one. The entrance fee is included in the tour price! TOTAL 77 km (48 miles). On average our guests do cycle 60 km (37 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 17 km (11 miles).

Day 7, Bicheno - Swansea

In the morning you will cycle the 39 mostly flat km by yourself to the popular Freycinet National Park, where you can walk to the lookout to the world-famous Wineglass Bay, rated as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world (approx. 1½ hours return). For many guests this is a highlight of the tour. The guide will have lunch prepared lunch at a reserve in Coles Bay (4 hilly km from the park) which you can enjoy after your return.
After lunch, we will drive you out of the peninsula and then continues on the highway over the Cherry Tree hill to the destination town. Along the route you can visit the “Pondering Frog” where they serve yummy homemade ice cream and / or you have taste some fine wines at the “Devils corner winery”. If you have energy left we can drop you off at the summit and you cycle the remaining 24 pleasant km to the destination hotel in Swansea. TOTAL 108 km (67 miles). On average our guests do cycle 60km (37 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 48 km (30 miles).

Day 8, Swansea - Eaglehawk Neck (Tasman Peninsula)

The ride on this coast road is an absolute pleasure, not uncommon that guests are screaming for fun. After about 30 km the road turns away from the coast. We may do a short detour to Tribunna to see the cute harbour. Just after Orford we are having our lunch at the lovely Spring beach, where you can have a walk afterwards. Then we will pack up for a 2 hours long bus transfer. If time allows we can make a small detour to Richmond where we´ll give you some time to explore this lovely historic small town. TOTAL 169 km (106 miles). On average our guests do cycle 62km (39 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 107 km (67 miles).

Day 9, day off

In the morning you have the choice of either visiting the historic penal settlement of Port Arthur, now world heritage status, or to do a cruise on a boat along one of Australia´s most beautiful coastlines (both extras). In the afternoon we offer a round tour by bus where you will see the impressive natural wonders like the Remarkable Cave, Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Blowhole. You may also have a stroll on beautiful White Beach. Cycling: 0 km; Support vehicle 93 km (56 miles).

Day 10, Eaglehawk Neck - Hobart

At first, we will bring you up a big hill, then you can cycle out of this peninsula. From Dunally our route runs on a back road along the coast with beautiful views. It is very nice but contains some hilly sections and a short part, about 2 km, still has a gravel surface (usually in good condition). In Dodges Ferry you can have a last beach walk before we drive you to the nearby lunch point. There is no cycling after lunch anymore as we hit the main road. We will bring you straight into Hobart via the famous Tasman Bridge. TOTAL 69 km (43 miles). On average our guests do cycle 38km (23 miles) and use our support vehicle for the remaining 31km (19miles).

Day 11, Departure or day off

We are happy to book additional nights(s) for you in the same hotel. For those who are leaving us today we can on request book a taxi to the airport.
If you stay on you can enjoy the open-to-the-world atmosphere of Tasmania's capital and it´s people or visit the oldest brewery in Australia, do the mini-cruise to Peppermint Bay, enjoy the view from the top of Mount Wellington or visit MONA (museum for old and new art), which quickly became a tourist magnet.

About 450 km per bike / 600 km per support vehicle. All distances are approximate and may vary.

Please note: the displayed cycling distances are the average of all previous tours and do vary a lot from tour to tour, depending on your personal fitness level, wind direction and other weather conditions, chosen options on that day, and other variables.