Trip Essentials (916.39 KB)Explore remote and rarely visited wilderness
Amazing wilderness days with challenges, rewards and remote, dramatic landscapes.
Fly across World Heritage coastlines and mountain ranges to land deep in Southwest Tasmania – explore the wilderness waterways of Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey by sea kayak – paddle through changing landscapes from campsite to campsite – these are the attractions and challenges of our 8-Day Sea Kayaking Expedition.
Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey, in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, offer a combination of sheltered wilderness harbours, rugged ocean coastlines, remote islands and wild rivers. There are no roads and no settlements. Discover spectacular destinations in the best way possible – by water, at paddling pace.
Our guides know this pristine wilderness intimately – all the sheltered bays and open beaches, the peaks and islands, every hidden corner and comfortable campsite. After a spectacular flight to the remote airstrip at Melaleuca, your days will be spent exploring one of Tasmania’s most remote and beautiful coastlines, paddling through perfect reflections in the tannin-stained waters, beneath mountains that rise from the shore and calling in to sandy beaches.
This trip has a flexible itinerary with time for optional short walks or relaxing on the beach. Your nights will be spent in remote and hidden campsites with a treat on the last night at the luxurious Forest Lagoon standing camp. Every night you'll enjoy delicious food with a glass of wine.
Extensive kayaking experience is not necessary, but it is important to have a sound level of fitness, be comfortable with wilderness camping and, most of all, have a sense of adventure.
The adventure begins...
The journey begins at Cambridge Airport near Hobart with a 40-50 minute scenic flight. Our pilot decides whether to fly along the remote beaches of the South Coast, or over the wild Eastern Arthur Ranges before landing on the gravel strip at Melaleuca.
Our first night is spent here, giving us all time to immerse ourselves in the relaxed pace of the Southwest Tasmanian wilderness. After setting up camp we will provide an orientation of the sea kayaks. There will also be time to explore Melaleuca, including the Deny King Museum, Needwonee Aborignal Interpretative Walk, historic tin mining areas and looking out for the endangered Orange-bellied Parrots who breed here over summer.
The first evening your guides will, over a convivial glass of wine, discuss itinerary options for the expedition after careful assessment of the weather conditions. We’re kayaking in a remote wilderness area and there are plenty of options for outstanding paddling destinations.
An example itinerary is available for download at the top right of this page.
The trip package for eight days includes:
- Transfers between Hobart and Cambridge Airport
- Scenic 40-50 minute return flight from Hobart to Melaleuca
- All meals (with an emphasis on fresh Tasmanian produce) and refreshments, a glass of wine each evening
- One night at a permanent standing camp
- Good quality camping equipment specifically selected for wilderness safety and comfort
- Two highly-experienced kayaking guides
- Comfortable and stable double sea kayaks
- All specialist paddling equipment (good-quality paddle, paddling jacket, spray deck, buoyancy vest, duffle bag, and dry-bags)
- National park entry fees
What you need to bring
Click on the “Trip Essentials” button at the top right-hand corner of this page for a full equipment list – but basically, you need similar gear to what you would carry on a bushwalking trip. All camping, kayaking and cooking equipment is provided.
We recommend thermals and fleece clothing as it is light and warm. You will need footwear for kayaking and comfortable shoes for exploring ashore and a change of dry gear for the evening. A waterproof and windproof jacket, sun hat, warm hat and gloves are all essential. You need to be prepared for every kind of weather – it’s part of the special appeal of the region, with changing light, dramatic cloudscapes, brilliant sunshine, moody mists on the water, showers obscuring the mountain summits, the Roaring 40s winds we take our name from and days that are still, calm, cloudless and warm.
And most of all – bring your sense of adventure!
Cost: $4150 per person (2023/24)
Deposit: $400 per person paid at booking
Trip availability is accessible via the 'BOOK NOW" tab below