On Board
Experiences
Explore remote lands with daily guided walks and adventure boat excursions in intimate groups. Expert local guides design bespoke itineraries that immerse guests in the wilderness, from sea cave to mountain top, ocean beach to river gorge, rainforest to buttongrass plain. See what to do when cruising with On Board
Adventures with On Board feature exclusive access to wilderness areas, with daily walks and adventure boat excursions via bespoke itineraries. Expert local guides, who double as walking encyclopedias, ecologists and environmentalists, tailor activities to guest interests.
On Board's signature five-day experience is to Port Davey, a vast, fragile and spectacular harbour in Southwest Tasmania, one of the world’s last places of raw, untamed beauty.
The Tasmanian-owned family-operated experience begins and ends in Hobart with a 40-minute scenic seaplane transfer to the floating lodge in the wilderness. The flight sets the scene for an epic adventure to come with bird’s-eye views over wild green valleys and wave-battered coastlines.
Once in the Southwest National Park, guests spend their days adventuring across the calm, reflective waters of Bathurst Harbour and its surrounding ancient rainforests, buttongrass plains, and quartzite mountain peaks. Beyond Port Davey’s entrance, explore the untracked sands of wild Southern Ocean beaches and the islands that protect the harbour, the last land contact between Tasmania and Antarctica. Along the way, spy rare and endangered wildlife, and learn of Tasmania’s Aboriginal people at a significant cultural living site.
Take an exhilarating ride on the vessel’s tender through the Breaksea /slands’ kelp-lined sea caves with On Board skipper and founder, Tasmanian mariner Pieter van der Woude.
On Board's expeditions are hosted by an all-Tasmanian crew, who show a depth of knowledge and passion for place that is infectious.
Local guides, recognised and respected as Tasmanian leading experts in their chosen fields (from Tasmanian devils to the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot), enrich the experience with extensive knowledge of the landforms, geology, flora, fauna and cultural history. They also double as personal walking encyclopaedias, their tales bringing to life the landscapes, wildlife, and the stories of those who once lived here.
From December to May, the On Board Port Davey Escape and South Coast Cruise expeditions explore the remote Port Davey region of Southwest Tasmania. Hiking enthusiasts can take on iconic walking tracks on the Port Davey Escape Wild Walks expedition and keen photographers can join an annual floating photography workshop on the Port Davey Escape Photography expedition.
On Board’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. On daily excursions, discover the pristine white beaches, turquoise waters, and pink granite peaks of the Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay. Walk the beaches and clifftops of World Heritage-listed Maria Island, a haven for wombats, wallabies, and Tasmanian devils. Cruise under the 300m dolerite towers of Cape Pillar, the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. Anchored in a remote bay, share sundowners, sunsets and nights under the stars with only the occasional passing whale for company.
Exclusive charters are available all year round.
WHAT TO DO WHEN CRUISING WITH ON BOARD
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.