Bay of Fires

Once we've all met in Launceston, we'll head toward the east coast to Mt William National Park where our adventure begins. It's time to get your walking boots sandy as your trip starts with a beach stroll in the morning at Boulder Point. You’ll be carrying your belongings for the next 4 days in your 50L backpack, so all you'll need to bring is your clothing and toiletries, with the exception on day 3 where you can just take a daypack. The lodge and beach camp are both very well-appointed, and will provide all the food, bedding and everything else you'll need! (though you may need to also carry your packed lunch on a day or two. In clear conditions, the Bass Strait islands of Flinders and Cape Barren are visible to the north. Our hike will continue along the coastline and we'll nestle into a protected beach for lunch, enjoying the company of native birds, rare shells and marine artefacts. From day one your guides will begin unravelling the Bay of Fires tales; its early inhabitants, visiting explorers and how it came to bear its fiery name. After passing Cod Bay, we'll arrive at the Forester Beach Camp in the afternoon, tucked away in secluded dunes. These semi-permanent tents are our home for the night and we can relax on the deck with a local wine, take a dip or explore the dune swale location while your guides prepare delicious Tasmanian fare.

After a hearty breakfast at the camp we'll walk south, absorbing the coastline's bold colours and solitude. Along the ridgelines of sand dunes, views extend across heathlands and out to the ocean - we'll visit marsupial lawns, often encountering quiet native animals and the tracks they leave at nightfall. Today, lunch will be set on a beach sheltered behind the dunes near Eddystone Point Lighthouse and we'll have time to explore the lighthouse and its long-standing story before trekking the far-stretched beaches leading to the celebrated Bay of Fires Lodge. Set on a hilltop, 40 metres above the pounding of the sea and surrounded by National Park, the Bay of Fires Lodge is the only building on 20km of outstanding coastal wilderness. Afternoon tea will be waiting for us, along with spa treatments for those who want to indulge. Pre-bookings are best if you're keen to sink into the outdoor tub or settle in for a luxurious few hours at the spa. In the evening we can venture into the library, cast a line off the beach or have your hosts deliver a cold drop while you dip toes into a foot spa on the back deck. Later we can enjoy dinner, a Tasmanian long-table affair featuring produce from the island matched with fine local beer and wine.

The day is yours to relax and enjoy the serenity of the beautiful location you find yourself in, or choose your own adventure if you wish. Rise early to the native birds accompanying the dawn, waking to the aroma of a hot-cooked breakfast and freshly brewed coffee. If it's a sunny morning, breakfast will be served on the deck, rewarding you with whale spotting and dolphins surfing the waves. Later on you may choose to kayak down Ansons River, experiencing the riparian ecology of this winding waterway. Crossing the bird-rich waters of Ansons Bay and concluding with a stroll over the dunes of Abbotsbury Peninsula back to the lodge. You'll also find incredible optional activities right at the lodge with spa treatments, fishing, snorkelling in the marine nursery, exploring shell coves available or simply enjoying the lodges surrounds. The native wildlife wander out after dark so keep an eye out for wombats, wallabies, Forester kangaroos, possums or even a Tasmanian devil. Don't forget to look up! With no lights for miles around, the stars on a clear night are like nothing you've ever seen.

Following a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, there's plenty of time for a morning swim or final spa treatment before we depart. Today we'll venture through eucalypt forests and coastal heathland, enjoying a forest lunch listening to the sound of native birds, including the endemic green rosella. Upon our return to Entally Lodge, there will be time to raise a glass to the four wonderful days spent together.