Cruise Description

Explore the best of Tasmania’s natural coastal wonders as well as the island state’s wonderful food and wine on an expedition itinerary on board Le Jacques-Cartier, plus celebrate New Year in Hobart.

Starting in culture hub and Australia’s second oldest city, Hobart, your itinerary will commence on Maria Island where you will learn about the local wildlife sanctuaries as well as its rich whaling and penal settlement history with your team of onboard expedition experts.

Next on your itinerary, the Tasman Peninsula will reveal its spectacular culminating dolerite spires rising from the sea, and you may get a chance to spot the region’s varied marine life including Australian fur seals and dolphins from our fleet of zodiac.

You will then sail towards the tip of Cape Melville, in the far north of Tasmania. Your ship will call at Stanley Island, declared a National Park in 1939. From there, you will have the chance to discover the gigantic Yindayin rock shelter often called “the Ship rock shelter”, known for its rock art depicting ships of different nationalities, painted in white and ochre on the red sandstone wall.

After calling at King Island, known for its gastronomic delights, its crystal-clear waters and its ecosystem, you will continue your culinary discoveries in the heart of the Tamar Valley, renowned for its wines and gourmet products. Next, in the shelter of the Freycinet Peninsula, Promise Bay and its stunning white-sand beach promise an enchanting interlude.

Your ship will then spend two days in Hobart to enjoy the finish line of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the New Year festivities, as well as Australia’s biggest and longest running food and wine festival, Taste of Tasmania.

The wildlife encounters described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.