Frequently Asked Questions

Inclusions vary from cruise to cruise, but generally On Board’s expedition cruises include the following: 

• Daily guided walks, tender cruises and shore excursions
• Tailored itinerary including walking, historic sites, birdwatching, photography, beachcombing...
• Intimate wilderness experience and accommodation onboard boutique-cruiser Odalisque III
• All meals featuring gourmet Tasmanian produce
• Tasmanian wine, craft beer, small-batch spirits and non-alcoholic beverages
• National Park entrance fees
• Use of weatherproof rain poncho and expedition bag
• Return scenic seaplane flights from Hobart to the south west or return transfer between Hobart and the east coast

Please check the relevant Expedition Fact Sheet for specific information.

On Board’s expedition cruises don’t run to a set itinerary. Rather, we tailor each experience to suit guests’ interests, guided by the weather. The experience can be as active or as relaxing as you like – there are plenty of opportunities to go ashore for walking, beachcombing and birdwatching, or you may prefer to choose a soft lounge, sip a boutique Tasmanian beer and take in the wilderness scenery from a soft lounge aboard Odalisque III.

We ask about your interests and fitness before you're even on the seaplane, and the crew shapes each day from there — tide, weather, what you actually want to do. A birdwatcher and a hiker on the same trip can end up having quite different days.

The onboard expert wilderness guide, who knows everything there is to know about the history, plants and wildlife of the area, will plan your daily tender and shore excursions. The next day’s adventures are often the topic of conversation around the dinner table the night before.

If you wish to cancel your booking, you must notify On Board in writing. Depending on the date of cancellation, the following will apply:

1. More than 90 days prior to departure, the deposit paid is non-refundable but is transferable to another departure within 18 months of original departure dates.
2. Between 60-90 days prior to departure, you will be charged 50% of the full trip cost with the balance refunded to you.
3. Less than 60 days prior to departure, no refund is available.

For more information on cancellation by guest or cancellation by On Board, see our Terms and Conditions.

There is limited phone reception in Tasmania’s coastal waters, with reception patchy at best. 

There's no mobile coverage in Port Davey — think of it as an invitation to properly switch off. Odalisque III does have guest internet, best used in the privacy of your cabin. In an emergency, family can reach you via our Hobart team on 0477 100 119.

Each guest may bring up to 12kg of personal luggage in a soft duffel-style bag, weighed at check-in. Essentials include sturdy hiking boots, wet-weather layers, a raincoat, and comfortable clothing for life onboard. On Board can lend you a weatherproof expedition bag if you don't have your own — just let us know. The bag is approximately 48 centimetres long with a diameter of 34 centimetres and a capacity of 45 litres.

For the complete packing list, see our Expedition Fact Sheet or ask our team directly.

Any luggage which exceeds the 12kg per person allowance can be stored with our Hobart team, with all bags weighed upon check-in.

At Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes, 2 Franklin Wharf — a short walk from Salamanca Place and central Hobart. Flights depart between 8:30am and 11:30am; we'll confirm your exact time before you travel. Have breakfast before you arrive, as cafés disappear once you're airborne for the southwest.

A 40-minute scenic flight aboard a 10-seater Cessna Caravan, operated by our partner Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes. You'll land in Bathurst Harbour, right alongside Odalisque III. Weather permitting, flights may route inland one way via Federation Peak, returning along the Southwest Cape — giving you two perspectives on the wilderness below.

Port Davey is true wilderness, and the weather calls the shots. Flights won't depart in poor visibility or extreme conditions. Delays are uncommon, but if weather does cause a change, we'll work with our flight provider to get you away on the next safe window. We recommend allowing a buffer day either side of your expedition, particularly if you have onward travel booked.

Seaplane capacity is limited, so we ask each guest's approximate body weight alongside luggage weight to calculate the aircraft's weight and balance safely. This is standard practice for light aircraft travel, and we're always discreet about it.

Yes, and we'd recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. For a remote wilderness trip like this, check your policy covers:

• Cancellation and delay, including weather-related flight delays
• Adventure or moderate activity cover, for hiking and small-boat excursions
• Light aircraft and seaplane travel
• Remote area medical evacuation
• Baggage and personal effects

On Board isn't an insurance provider, so we're not able to recommend a specific policy — just compare a few options against the points above before you book.

The waters that Odalisque cruises in are generally quite calm, as they’re mostly protected from the swells of the Southern Ocean. This is particularly the case on the Port Davey Escape expedition cruises, which operate within the safe harbour of Port Davey. 

Only a short period of any expedition will be in open sea, therefore for the majority of the experiences guests will find the conditions generally fine. On Board also designs its itineraries and routes with the comfort of guests in mind. We do recommend that passengers who have a history of travel sickness or are concerned to bring their own sea sickness medication as a precaution.

Whatever you've got. Walks in our itineraries run anywhere from fifteen minutes to six hours, and the crew will tell you exactly what's involved before you set off — steepness, ground underfoot, how long you'll be out. If a walk isn't for you, there's always something else on offer instead: cruising in the tenders, birdwatching, beach picnics. Someone from the crew is with you on every excursion, so you're never working it out alone.

You don't need to carry a heavy pack on any of the walks or excursions, but we do encourage you to put a camera, water bottle and warm layer in a small day pack.

Let us know about any mobility considerations before you arrive, and we'll shape the days around it.

We recommend taking a pair of lightweight and sturdy hiking boots, as some of the walking tracks can be muddy, rutted or overgrown.

You’ll also need to take a second pair of shoes for wearing when on the vessel. Trust us, you’ll be wanting something dry and clean to put on. We recommend a shoe that’s comfortable and easy to get on and off eg. Sneakers or ‘boat shoes’.

A full list of what to pack can be found in the Expedition Fact Sheet. (Found on the relevant cruise page.)

While not essential, if you are a keen walker who prefers to use walking poles, we recommend bringing them as some tracks can be rooty and uneven.

You’ll need to bring comfortable activewear suitable for a range of activities – from hiking to cruising in the tender – appropriate for the range of weather conditions we’ll be exposed to – from hot, sunny and still to cold, windy and wet. For more information, please take a look at the Expedition Fact Sheet

Guests may like to change out of the day’s expedition attire into something fresh for dinner, but we like to keep it casual and relaxed onboard. There is no dress code for dining.

Odalisque III offers seven cabins across two categories, each with a queen bed and private ensuite:

• Southwest Suites (upper deck) — 10 sqm including ensuite
• Coastal Cabins (main deck) — a little more compact, with large windows

With a maximum of 12 guests, the vessel stays intimate throughout. See our Vessels page for full details.

Evenings are informal and shaped by the group — dinners around a shared table, storytelling, deep dives on topics that interest you, or a browse through our onboard interpretive library of books, shells and animal-track casts. Port Davey sits within a dark sky sanctuary, so stargazing is a highlight, with the occasional aurora. Crew will keep your blinds up on request for front-row views of sunrise, sunset and the stars — there's no one around to see in.

Yes — just let us know at the time of booking. We're also happy to hear about strong dislikes so our chef can plan the menu accordingly.

Guests aged 7 and over are welcome on scheduled overnight expeditions, with full fare applying and no dedicated child-minding facilities onboard. Multi-generational groups and younger children are welcome on exclusive charters. Let us know your group's makeup when booking so we can advise on the best fit.

Odalisque III is based in Port Davey from January to May each year. From June to December, On Board runs East Coast Expeditions and is available for private charter and floating events. See our Departure Dates for upcoming availability.

Fares start from $5,800 per person, all-inclusive. Exact pricing depends on trip length, season and cabin category — see our Departure Dates for current rates, or speak with our team for a quote tailored to your dates.

Most guests book around 8 months ahead of a scheduled expedition, as availability across our small number of departures is limited. If you're planning a private charter, we're glad to talk through timing and options directly.

Our crew are Tasmanian, many with a personal connection to the southwest and a genuine passion for sharing it. Guides bring deep local knowledge of the landscape, wildlife and history, and get to know your group over the course of the trip — itineraries are adjusted day to day based on tide, time, weather and what you're each up for.

Guests travelling solo are warmly welcomed, with the solo supplement waived on eligible departures. Find out more here.

Tipping isn't part of Australian hospitality culture, so it's not expected. If you'd like to show appreciation, we encourage a donation to one of the conservation causes we support instead — just ask our crew for details.

Odalisque III carries no permanent infrastructure into Port Davey — everything that comes in with us goes out with us. Onboard, we collect rainwater and work to minimise waste, and guests can take part in citizen science projects during their stay, including monitoring for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, of which fewer than 100 adult birds remain in the wild.

Yes. Odalisque III was built in Tasmania using 98% local materials, down to details like the Huon pine dining table and crockery made by a local potter. Onboard, food and wine come from Tasmanian producers, and we currently work with around 150 local businesses across the operation.

Odalisque III is a non-smoking vessel, operating amidst some of the freshest air in the world. If you need to smoke, the back deck is fine — please just be mindful of other guests around you.

Bigger usually means less room to move — fixed itineraries, larger groups, fewer chances to change plans around the tide or a pod of dolphins that's decided to stick around the tender. We cap every voyage at twelve guests. It means the itinerary can actually bend, and it means you'll know the names of everyone looking after you by the second day.

Really family-run. Pieter founded On Board after being called back to Port Davey again and again — he was an abalone diver before that, and he's spent fifty years reading these waters. Alice looks after the guest side. The crew — skippers, guides, chef, host — live in Tasmania and know this coastline properly, not from a manual.