Day 1 (L,D) MELBOURNE, WYNYARD, CRADLE MOUNTAIN, STRAHAN

A great chance to fly “low and slow” in the restored Air Nostalgia DC3.

Passengers are either met at their metropolitan home/hotel for transfer to Essendon Airport, or provide their own transport to the airport.  Free parking is available.

We depart from Essendon Airport at 8:00 a.m. and fly to the Tasmanian coastal township of Wynyard.  Lunch follows a short tour to Table Cape, with its stunning coast line.  We continue our flight with great views of  Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake (cloud permitting) on route to Strahan.  A short journey to nearby Zeehan to visit the West Coast Pioneers Museum, a most interesting museum of this mining area.  We return to Strahan and our home for two nights, the Strahan Village Hilltop.  Enjoy picturesque views from harbour view rooms and a smorgasbord dinner high above Macquarie harbour.

Day 2 (B,L,D) ABT RAILWAY, “THE SHIP THAT NEVER WAS”

Following a hearty breakfast we board the ABT West Coast Wilderness Railway, a highlight of our trip, for the journey from Queenstown to Strahan.  In former days the rack and pinion railway was used to ship copper from Queenstown to the coast at Strahan.  A spectacular journey through one of the world’s most rugged wilderness areas, crossing 40 bridges and climbing 800 metres on the 35 km journey.  We travel in the comfort plus Premium Carriage, stopping at stations along the way.  Enjoy refreshments, delightful local produce lunch and premium Tasmanian wines as well as stunning scenery as our train takes us through an absolute wilderness of deep gullies and high mountains, using a rack and pinion system to climb the steep ascents.  This spectacular journey ends in Queenstown.  A photographer’s delight!  We return to Strahan by coach.  Later in the day, a short but most enjoyable  theatrical delight,  “The Ship That Never Was” prior to dinner together.

Day 3 (B,L) GORDON RIVER CRUISE, MELBOURNE

Another highlight today as we join the Lady Jane Franklin II for a delightful cruise on Macquarie Harbour.  Best seats on the boat as we travel Premium Class on the Captain’s Deck.  Included in our cruise is Hells Gates, the narrow harbour entrance, commercial salmon farms, the amazing Gordon River, noted for picturesque reflections, a rainforest walk through ancient forests (see a 2,000 year old tree) and a visit to Sarah Island, a notorious convict settlement.  Refreshments and lunch as we cruise.  Following the cruise we reboard our DC3 aircraft for the return journey to Melbourne.  Enjoy refreshments and complimentary bar service as we fly, arriving at Essendon Airport at approximately 7:00 p.m.  So concludes a very special short break air holiday to the beautiful Tasmanian Wilderness area.