Bruny Island and Derwent Valley Explorer

Depart Hobart’s historical waterfront this morning, as you step aboard your private boat and really let the adventure begin! Cruise down the Derwent River and across to Bruny Island. Take in the wild landscape and breathe in the fresh ocean air. Bruny Island delivers the ultimate Tasmanian wilderness experience.

On arrival, it is time to get the feet in motion and walk out to a spectacular cape on the east coast of Bruny Island. Witness the pristine, yet deserted beaches and embrace the untamed nature. Once you have built up a bit of an appetite, its time to venture into the water and go and shuck some oysters! The turquoise waters will lap gently around you, as you learn all about the famed Bruny Island oysters. Understand how they are farmed and then its your turn to shuck them straight out of the water.

Continuing on, head to camp where you will settle in with a hot shower. Enjoy a sundowner over shared stories from your day, whilst your dinner is being sourced from the local island producers or from the surrounding waters. Enjoy your meal amongst the sounds of the Australian bush, before retiring into your comfortable glamping style accommodation for the evening. (D)

Approx 3-4 hrs walking.

2 nights Glamping

Your morning may begin with a gentle thumping past your tent. While the inquisitive wallaby isn’t your wake-up call, his visit, or the promise of warm croissants might lure you from your crisp sheets. Today’s walk is East Cloudy Head for views of Tasmania’s far south and the wild Southern Ocean. The five-hour (14km) journey begins by walking the length of Cloudy Bay Beach. Windswept and beautiful, the walk then leads you into coastal heath and up toward spectacular views of Bruny Island’s rugged south coast. Back at camp, enjoy time to sit on the deck, walk among the ferns, partake in another lavish shower or simply read a book while your guides prepare the evening meal.

This evening, there is an option to drive back to the neck at sunset for penguin/eastern quoll spotting. (B,L,D)

Approx 5-6hrs walking.

This morning, you can choose a leisurely start or have some time to yourself and explore our 100-acre property and try to spot some of Bruny Island’s 150 species of birds (including all 12 Tasmanian endemics). Once you farewell camp, take a short walk through the ancient Gondwanan rainforest behind Adventure Bay.

To finish your time on Bruny Island in style, Ray Jones at The Jetty Café, will serve a multi-course lunch of Bruny Island produce, as you await the arrival of your private boat on the beach below. There will also be time to explore the gallery showcasing some of Bruny’s 60+ artists.

This afternoon, you will experience an epic 2-hour journey on your boat from the northern tip of Bruny Island, at the mouth of the Derwent Estuary, up the river to New Norfolk, the furthest we can navigate the river in our boat. The cruise up to New Norfolk is full of excitement. Pass under the Tasman Bridge, the industrial zinc worksite and MONA (Museum of Old & New Art), before reaching the Bridgewater bridge, which is raised for us to pass. Beyond the bridge, the river narrows and calms. We pass vineyards, cherry farms and sandstone cliffs before arriving at our destination.

Your accommodation this evening, celebrates two centuries of Tasmanian history (1825) in one of Australia’s oldest historic houses, a private hotel offering modern luxury riverfront accommodation, steeped in stories and defined by gracious hospitality.

Once you are settled in, enjoy a pre-dinner drink and canapés with an exclusive talk on the colonial and Indigenous history centred around The Woodbridge, which is one of the oldest mansions in Australia and has played a pivotal role in Tasmanian history by virtue of its position and its owners.

You will be provided with an e-booklet of the history of The Woodbridge and its role on the river.

You will then be invited to see the convict lockup under The Woodbridge, which now houses the wines which will be paired with your dinner.

Tonight, you will enjoy a selection of premium Derwent Valley wines from highly acclaimed vineyards, all within 30km of The Woodbridge. Some are little known small acreages tended by hand by passionate vignerons, producing hard-to-get award-winning vintages. You will receive a short briefing on each wine, and its relationship to The Woodbridge, making your dining experience even more special. (B,L,D)

2 nights Woodbridge Inn or similar

Today, we will slow the pace a little and visit The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School & Farm for a private class. The Agrarian offers paddock-to-plate cooking experiences in a 19th century schoolhouse. Set on five acres, The Agrarian Kitchen is a working farm and incorporates an extensive vegetable garden, orchard, berry patch and herb garden, all grown using organic principles. Also, in residence are rare-breed Wessex Saddleback and Berkshire pigs, Barnevelder chickens, milking goats, a flock of geese and honeybees. The Agrarian Kitchen grows and uses heirloom varieties of fruit, vegetables and rare breed animals in its cooking classes and also sources ingredients from local farmers, fishermen, gardeners and artisan producers.

Your day begins with everyone in the class donning gumboots and foraging in the garden for the ripest fruit and vegetables. What cannot be harvested from our garden or farm is sourced from local Tasmanian producers.

Once harvesting is complete, you continue in the kitchen preparing and cooking together a seasonal feast. The cooking of dishes is shared amongst the group and although you will not individually cook every single dish on the menu, you are taught the skills and techniques of each dish.

The day will culminate with lunch including Tasmanian wines.

After lunch, you will be transferred back to your accommodation. Take a stroll along the river to walk off the meal you have had. (B,L)

This morning, continue your journey further into the Derwent Valley towards Mt Field National Park, Tasmania’s oldest national park, just a 40 minute drive. Known as ‘the park for all seasons’, Mount Field is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and home to some of the world’s tallest eucalypt forests, as well as a unique array of alpine vegetation. Spectacular glaciated landscapes compete for attention with cascading waterfalls, including the breathtaking, three-tiered Russell Falls – arguably one of the most impressive waterfalls in Tasmania.

Spend the morning in the Mt. Field National Park enjoying a 6km circuit that takes in the three waterfalls: Russell, Horseshoe and Lady Barron. The circuit also gives you a chance to walk among the tallest flowering plants in the world, the Eucalyptus Regnans. These trees can live for hundreds of years and have been known to reach over 100m in height.

After enjoying your time in wilderness, you will visit Meadowbank farm and Vineyard on the banks of the Derwent River. The farm has been run by the Ellis Family since 1976 and produces some of the best wine in Tasmania. You will have the opportunity to tour the farm and vineyard with the owners and enjoy a long table lunch and of course, wine tasting. Following your lunch, you will return to Hobart by road, where your tour ends on arrival. (B,L)