Media Releases

This summer, visitors to Tasmania, one of the world's best adventure playgrounds, can throw themselves head first into an array of thrilling new outdoor adventure activities. From rafting and kayaking to cycling and more, everyone will find something to get their adrenaline pumping in Tasmania.

Here's just a snippet of the outdoor adventures to be found in Tassie this summer:

BRUNY WILDLIFE ADVENTURE
Bruny Island, off the south-east coast of Tasmania, is fast gaining international recognition for being a place of extreme landscape, stunning beauty, and fascinating wildlife. The new Bruny Island Adventure offers participants an intimate and exciting fully-day overview of the Island. Participants board the luxury catamaran Peppermint Bay II to the northern end of Bruny Island before taking the state-of-the-art coastal exploration vessel Bruny Explorer I to Bruny Island. Participants will gain an in depth understanding of the creatures that live on the island, hear stories about the early Aboriginal Tasmanians who inhabited the coastline and sample the labours of the farmers and fishermen who live with the ebb and flow of this island on the edge of human habitation. With its exquisite Tasmanian food and wine and comfortable seats, the Bruny Wildlife Adventure Experience will offer participants an exhilarating, indulgent and unforgettable journey.

*NEW* BRUNY ISLAND ADVENTURE

• Transport to and from Bruny Island on board the Peppermint Bay II
• Guided tour around the island
• Delicious lunch with beer and wine included
• Shore tour to the award-winning Peppermint Bay
• Departs Hobart daily at 8am and returns at 4.45pm

Runs from 22nd December - 31st May (excluding Christmas Day)
Price: Expedition Seating - Adults $175, children $110 &
Premium Expedition Seating - Adults and Children $225.

For more information or to book call 1300 137 919, email info@hobartcruises.com or visit www.brunywildlifeadventure.com.

ISLAND CYCLE TOURS
Established in 2002, Island Cycle Tours is Tasmania's premier cycle tour operator offering a wide range of tour options for cyclists of all abilities. Island Cycle Adventures have recently introduced two new cycling trips which combine cycling with stunning scenery and gourmet food and wine.

*NEW* MODERATE TRIPS (7 Day East Coast, 7 Day West Coast or 13 Day Entire Tassie)

• Recommended for reasonably fit cyclists
• Cyclists cover 59km - 90 km per day (approximately 4-6 hours)
• 7 day trips: Price includes 6 nights' accommodation (twin or double share with private bathroom), 5 lunches, 6 breakfasts; airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off; National Parks fees; maps and comprehensive trip notes; support van and guide. Bike hire costs ($180 per bike for 7 days) not included.
• 13 day trip: Price includes 12 nights' accommodation (twin or double share with private bathroom); 10 lunches, 12 breakfasts; airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off; National Parks fees; maps and comprehensive trip notes; support van and guide. Bike hire costs ($260 per bike for 13 days) not included.

Departure Dates: 7 day trips (throughout 2009); 13 day trip (January to April 2009)
Price: 7 day trips cost $2325 per person twin share. 13 Day Entire Tassie Tour costs $4315 per person twin share.

*NEW* 10 DAY TASMANIA EPIC (7 March - 16 March 2009)

• For serious road cyclists
• Cyclists cover 1330km in total

Tour starts in Hobart, then heads east to Launceston and ends in Hobart via the West Coast
Price includes nine nights in 3.5 star accommodation (twin or triple share room); 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners; support vehicle and luggage/bike trailer for 10 days; luggage transfers daily; ride jersey; CD of images from the tour; Qualified first aider and bike mechanic. Bike, helmet and associated gear including spares are not included in the package.

Price: $2990 per person twin share.

For more details on Island Cycle Tours and for full itineraries of the above packages, visit www.islandcycletours.com, call +61 3 6228 0126 or email info@islandcycletours.com.

FREYCINET ADVENTURES
The award-winning Freycinet Adventures was established in 1996 by Alison and Simon Stubbs, who had a vision for sharing their love for adventure and Tasmania's stunning wilderness with visitors to the spectacular Freycinet Peninsula. With its highly experienced and dedicated guides, quality equipment, personalized service and fresh Tasmanian produce, Freycinet Adventures' two new packages will reveal to visitors the reason behind it's ranking as the fourth "Thing to try before you die" in Australia (Channel 9).

*NEW* THE HOBART PADDLE

• Two-hour guided sea kayaking experience

Departs daily at 10:30am and 3 hours before sunset
Route: The waters of the Derwent Estuary, following Hobart's shoreline to Battery Point, Salamanca and the bustling docks of the city's waterfront.

Price includes an experienced guide; stable double sea kayaks; a life jacket, warm jacket and spray jacket; and a light snack of Hobart's legendary fish & chips straight from a dockside fish punt.
Price: $65 per person

*NEW* FREYCINET IN A DAY

• Full day (approximately 8 hours) guided sea kayaking experience

Tours run till April 2009
Route: The stunning pink granite cliffs and sandy white beaches of the spectacular Freycinet Peninsula, an Aqua Taxi cruise, and an easy, self-guided 30 minute walk to Wineglass Bay
Includes the history of secluded coves such as Honeymoon Bay and tales of shipwrecked whalers and French explorers
Price includes an experienced guide; stable double sea kayaks; a life jacket, warm jacket and spray jacket; and a light snack and lunch voucher.
Price: $180 per person

For more details on Freycinet Adventures, visit www.freycinetadventures.com.au, call + 61 3 6257 0500 or email info@freycinetadventures.com.au.

WATER BY NATURE (TASMANIA)
Water by Nature (Tasmania) takes visitors along the World Heritage Area surrounding Franklin River, which has been hailed as 'some of the most beautiful, rugged and inaccessible country in the world'. Keeping with their reputation as rafting specialists, Water by Nature's (Tasmania) guides are highly trained in wilderness rafting, camp craft, first aid and environmental interpretation, and also provide visitors with delicious meals prepared with fresh Tasmanian produce throughout the tour. The company has a strong environmental focus and practices the art of minimal impact travel to preserve the Franklin River's delicate ecosystems.

*NEW* - 7 DAY FRANKLIN RIVER TRIP (Late September 2009)

• 7 day water rafting adventure navigating the full length of the spectacular Franklin River

Includes transport to and from Hobart and Franklin River; two experienced guides; two rafts; all rafting equipment; buoyancy aids, helmets, wetsuits and spray jackets; a waterproof dry bag to store personal gear; camping equipment and air mattresses (except sleeping bags); a first aid kit; national park entry fees; and meals (gourmet pizzas cooked with fresh Tasmanian produce) from lunch on Day One to lunch on the final day
Minimum age of participants is 16 years
Participants must have a reasonable level of fitness and feel confident swimming should the rafts capsize.
Price: $2150 per person. Water by Nature (Tasmania) will also offer $100 off any 5, 7 or 10 day tour booked directly with the company in March.

For more details on Water by Nature, visit www.franklinrivertasmania.com, call 1800 111 142 or email contact@franklinrivertasmania.com