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Destinations

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Needwonnee and Ninene people, the Traditional Custodians of the land which On Board visits in Port Davey, Southwest Tasmania, and the Paredarerme people of the Oyster Bay Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land which On Board visits on Tasmania’s East Coast. In sharing elements of their history, heritage and culture we acknowledge their connections to Country.

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Pause to feel the tranquillity of true wilderness. Port Davey, Southwest Tasmania is a natural outpost on the outer rim of Australia; next stop Antarctica. There are no roads, no towns, no phone reception, and most of the time, no humans.

On the lands of the Needwonnee and Ninene people, find evidence of a long and unceded Indigenous occupation on guided walks to significant cultural living sites.

This remote wilderness area is a marine nature reserve and forms part of the Southwest National Park, surrounded by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It’s three times the size of Sydney Harbour and one of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, with wild rivers, quartzite peaks and extensive waterways.

The Port Davey Marine Reserve was created to protect an extraordinary underwater world. In Bathurst Harbour, a very unusual marine environment has been created by a deep layer of dark red-brown, tannin-rich fresh water, which overlies tidal saltwater. The tannins restrict sunlight penetration to the top few metres, limiting the growth of marine plants. In their place live colourful and delicate marine invertebrates, including sea pens. In the clearer marine waters of Port Davey – away from the influence of the freshwater tannins – a more typical Tasmanian underwater world exists. Diverse kelp forests and abundant fish thrive beneath the surging Southern Ocean waves.

Cruise under the 300m dolerite towers of Cape Pillar, the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere.

Of 1,052 sites in the world that are recognised as World Heritage Areas, Tasmania is one of only 35 sites that satisfy both cultural and natural heritage values.

But even more impressively, the area satisfies seven of the ten criteria, including unique human culture and history, wilderness, plants and wildlife, and geology. Only one other site in the world (located in China) equals this number and none exceed it. There’s a lot to explore; Tasmania’s World Heritage Area comprises 1.38 million hectares or about 20 per cent of the entire state.

From December to May, the On Board Port Davey Escape and South Coast Cruise expeditions explore the remote Port Davey region of Southwest Tasmania. Part of the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, it is one of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet, with wild rivers, quartzite peaks and extensive waterways. Itinerary highlights include an adventure boat excursion through the narrow winding waterways lined with Huon pine, hikes to mountain-top vantage points, and picnics on remote beaches.

Tasmania’s East Coast expedition operates from June to November and provides an exclusive sea-level perspective on three of Tasmania’s most dazzling national parks. Discover the pristine white beaches, turquoise waters, and pink granite peaks of the Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay, the beaches and clifftops of World Heritage-listed Maria Island and cruise under the 300m dolerite towers of Cape Pillar, the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere.

Getting there

AIR / LAND TRANSFERS

All of On Board’s multi-day expedition cruises start and end in Tasmania’s capital city, Hobart.

Depending on the expedition type and departure date, the experience may begin with a land transfer, seaplane transfer or voyage on Odalisque III, all of which are provided by On Board.

On their signature Port Davey Escape expedition, air transfers from Hobart to the vessel in Southwest Tasmania are provided. The scenic wilderness flight via seaplane takes approximately 40-50 minutes, departing from Hobart’s waterfront.

OUR LITTLE WHITE BOOK

The Luxury Lodges of Australia brochure has become a treasured and widely recognisable ‘go to’ for Australian experiential luxury, enjoyed both online and in printed form at our lodges. The brochure is available to view or download in eight languages below.