Day 1 - Saturday, January 29th, 2028 Hobart, cycling 14mi/1570’
Welcome to Tassie. Settle into the Old Woolstore Hotel in central Hobart where the tour starts with a bike fitting at 11:00am. After our bikes are set up, enjoy a scenic coastal ride exploring the back roads of Hobart. We'll ride along Sandy Bay, then up to a beautiful lookout overlooking the city. Our route continues over Mount Nelson with scenic views of the harbor. In the late afternoon, join your guides and fellow riders for a tour orientation and briefing over welcome cocktails. We’ll cap off the first day with a celebratory traditional Tasmanian dinner. (D) (meals: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
DAY 2- Jan 20 Hobart - Curringa Farm, cycling 57mi/4970’
You’ll ride from the urban waterfront along the Derwent River with kunanyi/Mount Wellington dominating the skyline. As we ascend quiet winding roads, the rolling farmland gives way to lush temperate rainforest, fern-filled gullies, and towering eucalyptus trees. The summit offers panoramic views of Collins Cap before descending into the quiet, hidden green valley of Molesworth. At New Norfolk, one of Australia’s oldest towns, visit the Bush Inn (Australia’s oldest pub) and enjoy coffee and a tour of The Agrarian Kitchen. Continuing to the heart of the picturesque Derwent Valley, you’ll ride by rows of tall trellis hop growing systems and historic Oast hop drying houses. The landscape opens up into broad acre farming with fields of poppies and cabbages. Our route finishes at Curringa Farms, the award-winning agritourism property, a working sheep farm with views over Lake Meadowbank. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Jan 21 Bothwell–Miena, cycling 38mi/3587’
From the historic Scottish town of Bothwell, cycle north through rolling farmland with open paddocks and sheep grazing. As we climb, the landscape shifts to dry sclerophyll forest and native bushland. You’ll visit the Steppes Stones, a circle of sculptures depicting the harsh life of the highlands. Continuing along the plateau, we ride into sub-alpine moorland and "cider gum" forests. Our final stretch brings you into the settlement of Miena where we’ll stay at the Thousand Lakes Lodge on the shores of the vast Great Lake. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Jan 22 Liawenee - Deloraine, cycling 34mi/1760’
Cycling along Great Lake through the rolling, rocky plains of the Central Plateau, we stop to visit the Pencil Pines, an ancient, nearly extinct local species. Then drop off the edge of the plateau, descending into the Golden Valley on a road cut into the side of the mountain, offering dizzying views of Quambe Bluff and the Meander Valley filled with tall eucalyptus forest and lush pastures. Watch out for wallabies and wombats who thrive in this region. We arrive in Deloraine, a historic arts-and-crafts town with a beautiful river setting, where you can walk the Great Western Tiers Sculpture Trail. (B)
Day 5 - Jan 23 Deloraine - Sheffield, cycling 42mi/3436’
Our route heads west through undulating roads along the lush, green pastures of the Meander Valley. Flanked by the Great Western Tiers you’ll ride by a patchwork of fields, hawthorn hedges, and cattle grazing. At Chudleigh, the "Village of Roses,"visit the Melita Honey Farm. Climbing out of the river valley, the views back towards the Western Tiers are magnificent. Cresting the range, you’ll be surrounded by a eucalypt forest as you enter the locality of Paradise. The name is fitting for the scenery, dominated by the towering peak of Mount Roland. The ride through Paradise offers some of the most photographed road cycling views in Tasmania. Arriving in Sheffield, view the world-famous 140 murals painted on the walls of buildings throughout the town, depicting local history and pioneers. Our accommodations (for two nights) at Manna Hill Farm are a ‘little heaven on earth’. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Jan 24 Sheffield, rest day or trek up Cradle Mountain
The summit hike up Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania's most famous and rewarding challenges. Beginning at Dove Lake, the track winds past the iconic boatshed and through the "Ballroom Forest," a cool temperate rainforest with ancient myrtles and mossy floors. The track climbs steeply to Marion’s Lookout for a commanding view of Dove Lake and Crater Lake nestled in the glacial bowls below. Traversing a flat, exposed alpine plateau, get ready for the final ascent, part of which is a boulder scramble. From the summit, you’ll have 360-degree views of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area including Barn Bluff, Mount Ossa (Tasmania's highest peak) and a labyrinth of lakes and tarns shimmering in the valleys below. (B, D)
Day 7 - Jan 25 Sheffield - Ghost Lake, cycling 25mi/1600’
Cycling on rural roads from the foothills of Mount Roland, you’ll pass through green farmland and forest before detouring onto a pastoral route through the Mersey River valley to Latrobe, a historic river port town known as the "Platypus Capital of the World”. Spot one of the flat-billed creatures in the river by the Warrawee Reserve. Our route ends at Ghost Rock, Tasmania’s premier cellar door and eatery with sweeping views over their vineyards out to Bass Strait. Here, enjoy a farm to table gourmet lunch and local wine tasting. (B, L)
Day 8 - Jan 26 Launceston - Derby, cycling 43mi/3900’
We ride out on Tasmania's most famous road climbs, a steady, winding ascent through dense wet eucalypt forest and fern glades. Near the top, the Sideling Lookout offers spectacular views back towards Launceston and the Tamar Valley. What goes up must come down. The exhilarating descent off the Sideling twists through the forest before flattening out into agricultural plains full of rich red soil, poppy fields, and dairy farms. After lunch at Scottsdale, we’ll be shuttled to the crest of Billycock Hill for panoramic views before descending into a thick temperate rainforest filled with myrtle trees. Finally arriving at the bustling mountain bike mecca of Derby, you’ll recuperate from your Sideling climb at the Floating Sauna Lake Derby, Australia’s only floating wood-fired sauna. Heat up in the sauna, then jump in the lake outside - repeat for an hour. (B,L)
Day 9 - Jan 27 Derby - Bay of Fires, cycling 49mi/3950’
Leaving Derby, our route heads east up Weldborough Pass, rising through ancient cool temperate rainforest. Surrounded by massive myrtle-beech trees, tree ferns, and mossy banks, it feels prehistoric. Cresting the pass, you are rewarded with a thrilling descent into the Pyengana Valley. The view shifts dramatically from enclosed rainforest to wide, open pastoral valleys with lush green dairy pastures and herds of cattle. The road flattens and vegetation becomes drier coastal scrub as we get closer to the coastal working fishing port of St Helens. Our last dramatic stretch is along Binalong Bay (The start of the Bay of Fires) to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches: crystal clear turquoise water, pure white sand, and the iconic orange lichen-covered granite boulders. Our accommodation is the relaxed, stylish communal Bush Retreat. (B,L,D)
Day 10- Jan 28 St Helen’s - Bicheno - Freycinet, cycling 49mi/2950’
We cycle south along the wide sandy beach and river mouth coast to Scamander. Our route then turns inland to St Marys Pass, a beautiful climb through a dense forest canopy filled with ferns. At the top of the range stands St Marys, an eclectic, artsy town. Our winding descent via Elephant Pass returns you to the coast with sweeping ocean views, rocky headlands, and long beaches. Van transfer from Bicheno to Freycinet with views of The Hazards: pink granite mountains rise dramatically straight out of the sea, signaling your arrival at Freycinet National Park and Lodge where we’ll stay for our final two nights (B,D)
Day 11 - Feb 8 Freycinet National Park, trekking 8 miles
(optional 2 mile extension up Mount Amos)
Today we head to Freycinet National Park for a world class trek up to Wine Glass Bay and around Hazards Beach. From the Wineglass Lookout, you’ll be treated to a high-vantage view of the curvaceous, turquoise bay framed by the pink granite peaks of The Hazards. One thousand steps takes us down to the white quartz sand beaches surrounded by towering granite mountains. Watch for Wallabies common in the area as well as echidnas, sea eagles, and dolphins off the coast. Afterwards, jump in the bus to tour the Cape Tourville Lighthouse. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Wednesday, Feb 9, 2028 Freycinet, departure
Sadly, this morning we pack and say farewell to our Tassie friends with a Aboriginal inspired closing ceremony. Departure by bus with dropoff at either HBA airport or the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart. (B)
LOGISTICS
The tour will begin on January 29th at 11:00am with a bike fitting at the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart. The tour ends on the morning of February 9th with a group coach transfer from Freycinet with drop offs available at either Hobart airport (HBA) or the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart. It is recommended that you arrive in Tasmania a day or more in advance to allow time to explore Hobart and adjust to the time change. A 10% group discount rate for pre-tour rooms is available at the Old Woolstore Hotel. From the airport to downtown, you can take The SkyBus Hobart Express bus (which has room for large bike boxes, $16), Uber rideshare ($25) or a taxi ($30). There are direct flights from HBA to Auckland (AKL), Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) where you can find direct flights back to the USA. A visa is required to enter Australia. U.S. andother passport holders visiting for tourism or business (under 90 days) can apply for a digital Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) via the Australian ETA app before traveling
COST & ADMINISTRATION
The tour cost is $5,900 per person based on a currency exchange rate of $1 USD equals 1.42 AUD. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment. The actual Commercial Operators charge is AUD $8,000 per person. Also included in tour cost is the BAC payment processing fee of 3% plus currency contingencies. At the end of the tour, riders will receive a refund of any remaining money in the budget. Tour deposit on booking is $1500 USD with the final payment of $4,400 USD due on October 29, 2027. Operator requires a minimum of nine participants for the ride. The cost excludes flights, meals or activities not mentioned in the itinerary, beverages other than breakfast, trailside or happy hour, guide team gratuities (at participant discretion but a standard range: $100-$150 USD) and travel cancellation, interruption and delay insurance (highly recommended).
LODGING, MEALS and AMENITIES
Accommodation is on a double room basis, with private facilities in comfortable ensuite accommodations. Included in the tour price are 11 hotel nights, 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 happy hours and 8 dinners catered to all dietary requirements, as well as snacks, water and electrolyte powder available in the van while riding. Vegetarians and pescetarians are very commonplace in Tasmania and can be easily accommodated. Guests will receive a washing bag and washing service every other night so pack lightly! Also included is a Musette day pack, bidon water bottle and socks. Activities and entrance fees are included for the Floating Sauna in Derby as well as to the National Parks, museums and tours as listed on the itinerary
WEATHER
January is the peak of the Tasmanian summer and statistically the warmest and driest time of year, but the weather is famously changeable. The average days range from 60-75° and nights 53-60* though lower in Alpine areas. While January is the drying month on the east coast, the west coast is temperate rainforest with showers common year-round. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers and should be prepared to ride regardless of weather. You will have daylight until 8:45pm and high UV levels as the air is clean and the ozone layer thinner.
