On Board Marks 10 years with Port Davey Expedition Giveaway
10 Years Sharing Southwest Tasmania
On Board, a Tasmanian-owned expedition company and member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a four-night Port Davey Escape expedition for two, offering travellers the chance to experience one of Australia’s most remote and protected wilderness regions.
Over the past decade, On Board has quietly established itself as a leader in small-scale, place-led expedition travel. Key milestones include national recognition at the Australian Tourism Awards, membership of Luxury Lodges of Australia, the design and launch of its purpose-built vessel Odalisque III in Hobart using 98 percent Tasmanian materials and suppliers, and the development of direct seaplane access to the expedition vessel into the southwest through acquisition of Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes. The company has also contributed to conservation through citizen science initiatives within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, supported wildlife care partnerships including an exclusive experience with Raptor Refuge, and introduced nearly a thousand guests to the ecological and cultural significance of the region.
Operating in Tasmania’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed southwest, On Board has spent the past decade guiding small groups into Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, a place defined by isolation, shifting conditions, and rare access. The anniversary prize reflects the company’s focus on low-impact, place-led travel in a region few reach.
Founded by diver and skipper Pieter van der Woude, On Board grew from early explorations of the southwest’s hidden waterways into an award-winning, family-led operation, shaped alongside his daughter Alice. Since its official launch in 2016, the company has evolved through experience on the water while remaining grounded in small-group access, local knowledge, and a commitment to letting the environment lead.
“Port Davey has a way of setting the terms,” says Alice van der Woude, Director of Marketing and Experience. “It is not something you arrive and conquer. It reveals itself slowly, and over time it becomes part of you. That is how this began for us as a family, and it is still how we approach every expedition. We are here to share it, not shape it.”
The journey begins in Hobart, lifting off from the waterfront and heading west over the jagged peaks of the Arthur Range and the spire of Federation Peak. Guests glide over ancient forests and winding waterways before descending into a secluded bay along Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, a rare seaplane entry into a landscape without roads, towns, or conventional access, landing directly beside Odalisque III. For many, this passage is an integral part of the experience itself.
Days unfold according to the conditions, with guided walks, tender excursions, and time spent moving through waterways, along remote shores, and beneath quartzite peaks shaped by weather and time. Encounters with wildlife are unscripted: dolphins, seals, and migrating critically endangered orange-bellied parrots move through these waters, while the surrounding landscape holds traces of deep time and Needwonnee and Ninene cultural living history. Each journey is shaped by the environment, with no fixed itinerary beyond the intent to explore deeply, lightly and with care.
“I first came here as a young abalone diver, learning the coastline by feel,” says Pieter van der Woude. “It still asks the same thing of you, to slow down and pay attention.”
To mark the milestone, On Board is offering one winner and their guest its signature four-night Port Davey Escape expedition, including return scenic seaplane flights from Hobart and an all-inclusive stay aboard Odalisque III. The prize sits at the heart of the On Board offering, alongside a shorter two-night Port Davey Highlights expedition and more immersive six-night voyages.
The prize is valued at $23,200 and is valid for travel within three years of the announcement. Entries are open to Australian residents, with participants invited to submit a short response describing their connection to or curiosity about southwest Tasmania. The winning entry will be selected based on its reflection of the spirit of the region and the On Board experience.
Images: Lean Timms
From the On Board Deck: Extra Stories
On Board Marks 10 Years with Global Recognition
On Board was recently named in TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2026, placing Tasmania’s remote southwest on a global stage. The annual list recognises destinations offering new ways to experience the world, with Port Davey noted for its rare access and immersive wilderness. The recognition reflects a decade spent shaping an experience that connects travellers to one of the last truly wild regions on Earth.
Shorter Stays, Same Wilderness
For those with limited time, On Board offers a two-night Port Davey Highlights expedition, capturing the essence of the southwest in a more condensed format. With direct seaplane access from Hobart, guests can step into this remote landscape and return within three days, without compromising the small-group, low-impact approach.
Wilderness First: A Considered Approach
Operating in a remote and sensitive environment requires care. With small groups and a deliberate approach to provisioning, water and waste, On Board works to minimise its footprint while maintaining guest comfort. This extends to biosecurity practices and opportunities for guests to contribute to citizen science initiatives supporting conservation in the region.