TASMANIA 79Maria IslandSWANSEAThis charming seaside town is a holidaydestination for many Tasmanians. Its greatfishing and relaxed coastal lifestyle combinedwith dramatic views over Great Oyster Bay tothe Hazards mountains and Freycinet Peninsulaare understandable attractions. However, thebiggest pull is its ideal touring location. It is justan hour north to Freycinet National Park with allits activities and half an hour south to catch theMaria Island National Park ferry, makingSwansea a perfect base to explore the east coasthighlights without needing to repack your bags. Piermont Retreat, SwanseaThe setting for Piermont Retreat is just breathtakingand is a real Audley 'find'. On 20 hectares of serenebeach frontage sit snug cottages made of local stoneand rammed earth. Using local timber and Kashmirislate they are built 'bio-sustainably' and blend intothe native bush gardens. The views across OysterBay include Freycinet National Park and theHazards mountain range. As well as providing bed &breakfast accommodation, Piermont's location, justtwo kilometres from Swansea, means it is a perfectbase from which to explore Freycinet National Parkin one direction and Maria Island National Park inthe other. Nine Mile Beach and Coles Bay are righton the doorstep as well.WILDTASMANIAExplore Tasmania in depth and discover a wealth ofdiverse scenery, fascinating wildlife and undiscoveredwild places. Including the balmy east coast's Bay ofFires, Maria Island and Freycinet National Parks aswell as the wilderness regions of the Franklin-Gordonrivers and the majesty of Cradle Mountain NationalPark, this trip touches on all of the state's real gems.The trip features a two night cruise into the utterwilderness of the enormous west coast WorldHeritage Area and a wildlife extravaganza on theMaria Island gourmet walk which will delight walkersof moderate fitness.Day 1:Arrive in Launceston and drive toBinalong Bay in the scenic northeast. Day 2:Day exploring the Bay of Fires.Day 3:Drive south to Freycinet National Park. Day 4:Day exploring Freycinet National Park,kayaking to secluded coves.Day 5:Start the four day Maria Islandguided walk. Day 6:Day two of the Maria Island guided walkspotting the abundant wildlife.Day 7:Day three of the Maria Island walk.Day 8:Final day of the Maria Island walkfollowed by a drive to Richmond. Day 9:Guided tour of historic Richmond and thepenal colony of Port Arthur.Day 10:Cruise from Hobart to visit kelp forests,salmon farms and wildlife reserves beforemooring for lunch at Peppermint Bay.Day 11:Drive to Strahan and board your twonight World Heritage Cruise.Day 12:Cruising the Gordon River WorldHeritage Area and Hell's Gate.Day 13:Cruise to Sarah Island and then drive toCradle Mountain National Park.Day 14:Take a scenic flight over Dove Lake andCradle Mountain.Day 15:Drive to Devonport and board the 'Spiritof Tasmania' overnight ferry to Victoria.tailor-made travelAll our travel arrangements are on a private,individual basis to offer you complete freedom ofchoice. The itineraries and accommodation optionsthroughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made tosuit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please callour Australia specialists on 01869 276 345 todiscuss your individual requirements.MARIA ISLANDNATIONAL PARKMaria Island National Park offers the mostamazing diversity of geography, flora and faunaexperiences to be found anywhere in Tasmania.There are pristine white sand beaches borderedby granite boulders covered in startling redlichen and dramatic mountains with denseforests that vary from tall eucalyptus to alpinescrub as the altitude changes. There is a strongcolonial history with buildings from the 19thcentury varying from penal settlement to theghost town of Darlington that was once hometo hundreds. Aboriginal campsites can still befound on the shoreline and fossil cliffs revealsecrets of life from millions of years past.Arguably the highlight though is the stunningamount of native wildlife including wallabies,wombats, cockatoos and penguins which can allbe found within easy walking distance of theshores. The island can be visited for day trips byferry or enjoyed at length on a guided three-daywalk (see page 81).Piermont RetreatWineglass Bay

80WILDLIFE & NATUREIN TASMANIATasmania's landscape varies dramatically withinits small area. Parts of the north and the centralhighway are reminiscent of middle England withits gently undulating arable lands. However,with much of the island designated a WorldHeritage Area, it is the wild scenery with itsoften unique flora and fauna that really standsout. The mountainous inland glacial landscapesinclude Cradle Mountain and the Walls ofJerusalem National Parks while the Mount FieldNational Park is home to beautiful alpinescenery and eucalypt forests. The west coastconsists of steep, jagged cliffs and absolutewilderness as it receives the full fury of thesouthern oceans, whipped up over vastexpanses of seas by the 'roaring forties' winds,resulting in many ships foundering on wickedrocks. The east coast consists of mile after mileof white sand beaches, broken up by graniteheadlands, sheathed in orange lichen. Thesouthwest of Tasmania is well known for its wildrivers. The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers NationalPark is home to two that thread for 75 milesthrough largely unexplored, pristine forestwilderness and is the last remaining bastion ofHuon pine, once highly valued for its shipbuilding qualities. The wildlife in Tasmania isdiverse and abundant, so you are likely to comeacross wombats, eastern grey and Bennett'swallabies, echidnas, Tasmanian Devils, quolls,parakeets, platypus, penguins and an array ofbirdlife. In order to really experience the wildlife,you are advised to get off the beaten track withone of the guided tours available. We haveselected four of the very best that will allow youto experience the wilderness in comfort.Franklin-Gordon RiversWorld Heritage CruiseSheer size and almost total isolation have kept theFranklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park virtuallyinaccessible to all but the hardiest of bushwalkersand kayakers. With more than one million hectaresof rugged mountains, wild rivers and one of theworld's last great temperate rainforests, it is hometo some of the oldest plants and rarest creatures inthe world. The luxury small ship 'Discovery' allowsjust 24 guests a magical experience visiting theremote river valleys and majestic gorges of thisWorld Heritage Park in comfort on a three daycruise that takes you, from Strahan (page 76),across Macquarie Harbour and 20 kilometresupstream into the heart of the wilderness. Includedare twilight walks through copses of Huon pine,kayaking near platypus, exploring the old penalcolony of Sarah Island and cruising out of HellsGate. Gourmet dining adds a further dimension tothis very special experience.Franklin-Gordon riverBay of FiresHeritage Cruise