Explore wildest Tasmania
Brand new ship – Book by September 30, 2024
The award-winning Australian pioneer in small ship expedition travel, Aurora Expeditions, will launch a new, state of the art expedition ship in late 2025 and to help Australians be amongst the first aboard, Australian small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller, has launched an exclusive fly, stay and sail package on a circumnavigation of Tasmania that offers free flights and savings of A$6360 per couple and A$3950 for solos for bookings made by September 30, 2024.
Aurora Expeditions’ new ship will be called Douglas Mawson, named after the legendary Antarctic explorer, and will sport the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® with enhanced sustainability features as well as a sea-level Zodiac launching platform, a pool and two Jacuzzis on the top deck, expansive observation decks, lounges and a gym, with all staterooms offering ocean views. The ship will also boast the line’s first dedicated solo guest staterooms to meet growing demand from solo travellers.
Douglas Mawson’s maiden voyage in December, 2025, will take adventure seekers on a nine-night, wild-nature themed circumnavigation of Tasmania embracing wild, deserted coastlines, spectacular scenery, rich wildlife and far-flung islands, with Tasmania’s long December daylight hours enhancing the experience.
Cruise Traveller is offering the journey as part of its new 10-night package – ‘Tasmania Temptations’ – which begins on December 1, 2025, with a free flight from Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide to Hobart for a night’s stay in a hotel before guests board Douglas Mawson the next day for the nine-night round-Tasmania expedition which will see the vessel act as a moving, floating base camp from which guests will go ashore regularly to explore on foot wild and pristine regions of Tasmania and its surrounding islands.
From Hobart, the shiny , new Douglas Mawson will chart a course to beautiful Bruny Island, the remote Maatsuyker Islands south of Tasmania – home to Australia’s southern-most lighthouse – and right along Tasmania’s wild west coast to the Hunter and Kent Islands in Bass Strait – places rich in birdlife. The sapphire waters, untouched beaches, rocky peaks and tiny villages of Flinders Island are next on the journey as well as the iridescent-blue waters and pristine white beaches of the Freycinet Peninsula and the fur seal colonies around the Schouten Islands.
Douglas Mawson will continue the circling of Tasmania with a visit to Tasmania’s ‘Noah’s Ark’ – Maria Island – home to an abundance of native wildlife including wallabies, wombats, pademelons and Tasmanian devils. Spectacular Cape Pillar and the historic convict ruins of Port Arthur complete the adventure before guests disembark in Hobart and take a free flight back to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide. Return flights to Hobart from Perth and Brisbane are also available for a surcharge.
Snapshot of inclusions and features – ‘Tasmania Temptations’ package
- 10-night package, starting December 1, 2025
- Free return flight from Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide to Hobart, with surcharge from Perth and Brisbane
- One night in Hobart pre-cruise
- Nine-night round-Tasmania voyage from Hobart, aboard Douglas Mawson
- Onboard beverages with dinner and Zodiac and land excursions are included in the cruise
The fly, stay and sail package is available from A$12,315 per person, twin-share, in an ocean-view Aurora Stateroom – a saving of A$3180 per person. For solos, fares are available in a single, ocean-view Aurora Stateroom from A$15,835 – a saving of A$3950. For the free flights and savings, book by September 30, 2024.