Melissa Findley

South Coast Cruise

An intimate expedition cruise along Tasmania’s wild and unseen southern edge

Duration: 4-night
Starts & ends: Hobart
Destination: South coast & southwest Tasmania
Cruise: Hobart to Port Davey & Bathurst Harbour (or reverse)
Fly: Scenic flight from Port Davey to Hobart (or reverse)
Guests: Maximum 12
Vessel: Boutique expedition-cruise catamaran (24m)
SCC MAP Excerpt

Discover a wild place that ex-diver (now On Board's owner) Pieter van der Woude used to call his second home

Explore a beautiful, notoriously exposed stretch of coastline normally reserved for the hardiest of bushwalkers and most fearless of fishermen – skipper Pieter van der Woude included. The southwest coast was for many years Pieter’s ‘office’ as an abalone diver. On our passage, there’s endless opportunity for visits to Pieter’s old haunts, picnics on untracked beaches, hikes to wilderness peaks and soaking up spectacular scenery from a soft lounge.

Why this is the experience of a lifetime:

  • Cruise a wild, dramatic coastline seen by only a handful of lucky people each year
  • Set foot on the remote beaches between rugged South East Cape and South West Cape
  • Encounter the unexpected; each cruise is tailored and unique, the weather shaping the itinerary, daily activities and the evenings’ anchorages
  • Explore the wilderness on tender and shore excursions led by local experts – then retire to the lavish comforts of a floating luxury lodge complete with fine Tasmanian fare and wine

Jimmy Emms

INCLUSIONS:

  • Daily guided walks and tender excursions
  • Tailored itinerary including walking, historic sites, birdwatching, photography, beachcombing...
  • Accommodation onboard boutique-cruiser Odalisque
  • Scenic wilderness flight via seaplane from south west to Hobart (or vice versa)
  • Expert skipper, interpretive guide, host and chef
  • All meals featuring gourmet Tasmanian produce
  • Selection of fine Tasmanian wine and local boutique beer
  • National park entrance fees
  • Use of lifejacket and weatherproof rain poncho for tender excursions

FARES

4-night South Coast Cruise $11,600 $13,100

Fares are per person, based on twin share.

EXPEDITION DATES

Departures on this bi-annual cruise are strictly limited:

  • 8-12 May 2024
  • 2 - 6 December 2024
  • 9 - 13 May 2025

South Coast Cruise Highlights

Encounter Wild Islands

See the wind-battered islands and ragged rocks which stretch along the exposed south coast. Pass Maatsuyker Island, home to Australia’s most southerly lighthouse, and part of a group of islands renowned for rich marine life and wild weather conditions.

Cruise Cape to Cape

Between South East Cape and South West Cape lies an extraordinary coastline woven with hidden bays, rugged mountain ranges and remote stretches of untrodden beaches. It’s a wet and wild kind of beauty here. Swells regularly reach six metres, wind gusts peak at 176km/h and there are 249 rain days/year on average.

Go Beyond the Beyond

Say goodbye to phone reception, roads and civilisation as you know it. Beyond South East Cape lies true wilderness, only experienced by a privileged few. We’ll have the ocean to ourselves, bar the odd fishing vessel and a lonely yacht on the horizon.

On Board's Pieter and Alice van der Woude

Have questions? Get in touch with Pieter & Alice

On Board's expert team are available to chat between 9-5 pm every day

Call now or book a time to chat via video call. Email us anytime and we'll get back to you shortly. We're here to answer your questions.

Call on 0477 100 119

Book a Video Call with Piet or Alice

Email

Floating Luxury Lodge in the Wilderness

Hitting the water in January 2023, Odalisque III is brand new, providing boutique accommodation and an exclusive wilderness experience for just 12 guests. The 24m catamaran features six well-appointed cabins and spacious indoor and outdoor lounge areas with expansive ocean views.

Be Guided by Local Experts

Head into the wilderness with our all-star crew. From the skipper, to the host and the hand-picked expert guides, our talented and passionate team are the heart of this unforgettable experience. Their intimate knowledge of Tasmania will connect people to place. Plus, they’re funny and love to share a story (or three).

Port Davey & the South West

The sequestered Port Davey region of southwest Tasmania is one of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet, with wild rivers, quartzite peaks and extensive waterways

Whilst it’s on the edge of the earth, it is far from the end of the world. There’s an endless possibility of adventures to have, creatures to meet and tales to tell.

Food & Wine

Meals are an indulgent culinary experience made from fresh seasonal Tasmanian produce

Our specialist chefs have been borrowed from some of Hobart’s top restaurants. Expect perfect picnics, freshly-baked cookies pulled from the oven just as hungry hikers return, and flavoursome feasts in what is quite possibly the most remote restaurant in Tasmania.

Choose from a splendid selection of cool climate wines, crisp craft beers and slow-sipping spirits. Drink in hand, sink into a soft lounge and take in the everchanging view. 

Scenic wilderness seaplane flight

Start or finish the special expedition with a 40-minute flight between Hobart and Port Davey. Guests fly on On Board's new dedicated seaplane, a Cessna Caravan, landing on or taking off from Bathurst Harbour right next to expedition vessel Odalisque III.

How would you like to travel with us?

LR Port Davey - Mar18 - (c)Chris Crerar-8566

Groups of Family & Friends

Unlock exclusive experiences with group bookings - and let us help with the organising.

Port Davey Cruise - Couple Walking Beach

Couples

Reconnect with each other through shared adventure and indulgence. Choose to join the group activities or enjoy a little time to yourselves.

Southwest National Park

Solo Travellers

Guests travelling solo are very welcome. There are a few different ways to travel with us.

Port Davey Expedition Map

Map your journey of discovery to or from Tasmania’s secluded south west. The special cruise around the south coast either starts or ends in the Port Davey region. Depending on wind and weather, time and tide, and guest interests, our itinerary may allow for days to explore this safe harbour before taking flight or voyage back to Hobart. From sea cave to mountain top, ocean beach to river gorge, rainforest to button grass plain, here are the highlights of the harbour.

Magic - pure magic

The captain and guide were extremely generous sharing their passion for the land and their knowledge of, well, literally everything we saw. To be invited so intimately into their love of place was an honour. They were engaging, welcoming and simply fun to spend time with. I have not felt so relaxed in many, many years.

Lorna P

Trip Advisor

Join the ranks of the privileged few

For those who like their adventures wild but their beds soft and showers hot, it’s the perfect way to join the ranks of the privileged few to see one of the world’s most magnificent wilderness areas.

Audi Magazine.

Other Ways to Discover the South West

Port Davey Escape Expeditions

Explore a remote and spectacular harbour at the edge of the world. This Wilderness World Heritage-listed area is inaccessible by road and only experienced by a privileged few each year. Over four to six nights, venture into untouched lands of majestic quartzite mountains, mirror-calm waterways and wave-battered coastlines.

Port Davey Photography Expedition

Led by experienced wilderness photographer and guide Peter Marmion, capture the wild seas, reflective waterways, craggy cliffs and scenic sunsets of the south west in magic Autumn light. This annual floating workshop provides panoramic access to every angle of Port Davey’s captivating landscapes.