Celebrate 10 Years with On Board - Win a Port Davey Expedition
To mark ten years of On Board, we’re offering one lucky winner and their guest the chance to experience our signature 4-Night Port Davey Escape.
If you’re new here, welcome. You’ve arrived in southwest Tasmania — a World Heritage-listed wilderness that is remote, wildly changeable, and entirely unscripted.
Here, the rhythm shifts. Weather moves in, plans adapt, and each day is shaped by the place itself. Nothing staged. Nothing guaranteed. That’s the point. Some days are calm. Others roll in wet and wild. Often you’ll get both before lunch.
The air is crisp. The silence runs deep. The land and sea set the pace.
10 Years of Sharing, 10 Years of Stories.
We’re grateful to the expeditioners who have joined us over the past 10 years. Every adventure has shaped how we see this place, and how we continue to share it.
Over the past decade, On Board has quietly established itself as a leader in small-scale, place-led expedition travel. It's been an honour to guide small groups into Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, a place defined by isolation, shifting conditions, and rare access. The anniversary prize reflects this focus: low-impact travel in a region few ever reach.
Alongside the prize, we’re sharing crew moments from 10 years sharing the Southwest. Quiet, unscripted experiences that stay with you long after you leave.
A family shaped by the southwest
Ten years ago, Pieter, diver, skipper, and founder of On Board, began bringing small groups into this remote corner of Tasmania under Tasmanian Boat Charters. His connection to the southwest runs much deeper still, shaped over many seasons spent abalone diving, exploring hidden coves and waterways few ever reach. He never set out to tame it, only to share it, letting the place lead every expedition.
By his side from the beginning, Alice, his daughter, continues the family story. Together, they’ve grown On Board from those early expeditions into the award-winning operation it is today, officially launched in 2016 by then-Premier Will Hodgman. As local lore has it, “He who drinks button grass water will return.”
Still led by the wilderness
Over the last decade, things have grown. The boat, the crew, and the way we operate. Access is now easier, with direct seaplane transfers from Hobart provided by our sister company Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes. But the essence hasn’t changed: small groups, remote access, and letting the place lead.
We care deeply for this place. From monitoring invasive Pacific oysters to carefully managing every drop of water, every provision in and every item of waste out. That approach has seen On Board become proud members of Luxury Lodges of Australia, honoured at the 2023 Australian Tourism Awards, and named in TIME’s World’s Greatest Places for 2026.
The Wilderness Brings the Magic, the Crew Make the Experience
Mischievous grins, quick thinking, and quiet generosity keep everything running.
The crew rescue boats from unexpected situations, spot wildlife at just the right moment, share knowledge like a well-worn map, and guide guests into places few ever reach. There is laughter along the way, and a shared appreciation for just how wild and unpredictable this place can be.
Our guests bring curiosity, awe, and wonder. Together, that is what shapes each On Board expedition.
Enter the Draw to Win a Port Davey Expedition
Your Turn
To celebrate ten years of On Board, we invite you to share a moment of curiosity, awe, or wonder inspired by southwest Tasmania. What draws you to this place? What might you discover here? What would stay with you long after you leave?
How to Enter
Complete your details below and share your response in 100 words or less, describing your imagined moment in Port Davey.
One entry per person. Australian residents only. Entries close 5pm AEST Thursday 16 July 2026. The winner will be announced 22 July 2026 via On Board’s Instagram and Facebook. Follow along for the announcement.
The winning entry will reflect the spirit of southwest Tasmania, its solitude, its scale, and the quiet moments that linger.
By submitting an entry, you agree that On Board may use your submission in marketing and communications materials, including digital and print platforms.
The Prize
One winner and their guest will experience On Board’s 4-Night Port Davey Escape.
Return scenic seaplane flights from Hobart lead to Odalisque III, your purpose-built expedition vessel, for four nights in a World Heritage-listed wilderness. Guided walks, tender excursions, and Tasmanian fare are included throughout.
No roads. No crowds. No signal. Just wind, water, and the everchanging rhythms of southwest Tasmania.
Valued at $23,200
Submit your entry
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