Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of vehicle will I be travelling in?

We operate small group Active Day Tours using Toyota Commuter & Toyota Coaster vehicles.  These seat maximum passengers of 13 or 20 respectively.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children under 8 years are not permitted to travel, this includes infants (babies)
Our tours are designed as full active days of fast paced travel, we are also at times exposed to the outdoor conditions of the day.  Tours are suitable for adults and older children with travel/outdoor experience.
Participants aged 8 – 15 years on the day of travel, travel at child prices.

Do I need to pay for my trip in full at the time of booking?

Yes, full payment is required at the time of booking.

How do I book?

Via our website – this is the recommended way to make a booking with us.  You will have live availability and our full hotel pick up list.  This ensures that all of your details are entered by you and confirmed by you, we receive this matching information directly when you make a booking on our website.  You will also receive your order confirmation and payment receipt direct to your email.

Call our reservations team – You can book over the phone with one of our Reservation specialists.  Our team is available Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm.  03 6231 5390

Email our team – If you have any questions or you are unable to book on your preferred date you can contact us via email at bookings@tourstas.com.au

Arriving in Tasmania

All tours depart either Hobart or Launceston.  We recommend arriving in Tasmania the day before you are due to start your tour.  Travelling from Hobart or Launceston airport to your city accommodation is very easy.

Arriving into Hobart OR Launceston Airport – All flight arrivals to Hobart & Launceston Airport are met by taxis and the Airport Shuttle Bus. The drive time is around 20 minutes from each airport to their central city areas.

Hobart Airport Shuttle – https://www.skybus.com.au/hobart-express
Launceston Airport Shuttle  –  www.airporterlaunceston.com.au
Taxi Combined – Phone: 13 22 27 or 13 10 08 – www.taxicombined.com.au

Where to stay for tour pick ups?

When booking via our website you will be see a hotel pick up list during the booking process. We offer hotel pick ups from select hotels only.  We do not offer a pick up from residential addresses i.e. Airbnb accommodation.

If your hotel is not available please get in touch and we can direct you to the best location.

Our General Meet Up Point is (Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre, 20 Davey Street, Hobart or Hotel Grand Chancellor, 29 Cameron Street, Launceston). 

Bookings via third-party websites will not always have access to the full pick up list which you see on our own site, in this case we will meet you at our General Meet Point.

Hotels that are popular with our guests included in pick up rounds:

Hobart:
Ibis Styles Hotel
Travelodge Hotel
Best Western Hotel
RACV Apartment Hotel
Hadley’s Orient Hotel
Hotel Grand Chancellor
Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel

Launceston:
Arthouse Hostel
Best Western Plus
Leisure Inn Penny Royal Hotel & Apartments
Hotel Grand Chancellor
Mantra Charles Hotel Launceston
Mercure Hotel Launceston

What time do tour pick-ups commence?

Our Maria Island tour day departs Hobart at 6.45am. The Bruny Island tour day departs Hobart at 7.00am. All other tours depart either Hobart or Launceston at 7.30am. Our first pick up is normally 30mins prior to departure time. Your pick up time will be confirmed at the time of booking depending on your hotel location. Call  03 6231 5390 if the tour bus has not arrived within 5 minutes of your pick up time, our staff can give you an updated ETA and ensure your tour with us runs smoothly.

Can I bring luggage on board the tour day?

Please only bring hand luggage/day pack on tour, otherwise we won’t all fit!

We do not travel with luggage onboard the day tour vehicles.  We expect that each traveler will have a day pack only to store your daily essentials such as drinks, snacks, warm jacket etc. while on tour for the day.  No other luggage is able to be carried on our day tours.  If you are moving hotels or have onwards travels you will need to ensure this is stored for the day at your hotel/accommodation prior to boarding the tour bus.  If you attend a tour with luggage without consultation with our Reservations Team prior to travel, you may be refused entry to the tour vehicle. Please contact our team in advance of your tour to discuss options.

When you are travelling on tour days that are Hobart to Launceston or Launceston to Hobart, we do expect you will have luggage on this day!

We anticipate you will have 1 x large piece of luggage / backpack to store for the day, + you will have your hand luggage/day pack for the tour day. If you have more than this, please let our team know so we can accommodate this bookings@tourstas.com.au

BIG 3 Tasmania Tour – DAY 2 ONLY
Hobart to Launceston via Wineglass Bay day tour
Launceston to Hobart via Wineglass Bay day tour

Airport Drop Off?

We do not offer airport drop off on our tour days. Most tours arrive back to Hobart / Launceston around 5.30 – 6.00pm, returning to the same location as your pick up. If you have an onward flight that evening, we would recommend ensuring it leaves 8.00pm onwards.

Is food and drink included in the tour?

We do not supply lunch, snacks or beverages on our tours but we do stop along the way for you to purchase food to suit your budget and taste.  This is usually a Bakery style stop in a regional town along the way to the main destination for the day.  You will then be able to enjoy a lunch break during the tour day, usually somewhere scenic and suitable for a rest stop.   You are also welcome of course to bring along your own packed lunch to enjoy on the day.  If you have special dietary requirements it may be better to bring your own prepared lunch /snacks. Please bring a large water bottle for the day.

Do I need to reconfirm my tour?

We recommend you reconfirm your tour date and pick-up location details directly with us. It is always a good idea to check we all share the same information.  Please email us and we can check your details and provide you an email confirmation for your records: bookings@tourstas.com.au

What should I bring with me on tour?

• A day pack
• A refillable water bottle
• Closed, sturdy shoes for walking (runners, sneakers, hiking boots)
• Sensible clothes for outdoor conditions (warm layers are a great idea!)
• A warerproof jacket, just in case!
• A sunhat and a beanie
• A sense of adventure!
• Optional: swimmers and a towel, there is an opportunity for a refreshing dip on our Wineglass Bay, Bruny Island and Maria Island tour days, also you can swim at the Hastings Cave thermal swimming pool.

(Please note that Tasmanian weather can famously change very quickly so we highly recommend bringing along a few warmer layers even on a summer day!)

How fit do I need to be?

We recommend a good level of general fitness and mobility to get the most out of our tours. There are always easier and more challenging options in our itineraries, and you can always choose to sit out a walk if you’re not feeling up to it on the day.

We operate Active Day Tours  and the BIG 3 Tasmania tour.  We visit Tasmania’s National Parks and undertake at least one of the Great Short Walks of Tasmania on each of our tours.  These walks range from 30 mins return to longer, more strenuous walks of 2-3 hours.  You will need a level of fitness and mobility to enjoy these walks and to enjoy your day out with us.  Your walks will be fully guided by our expert Tour Guides on clearly marked and well graded tracks with an interpretation emphasis on the natural environment and your surroundings.

A small number of optional extended walks are available on some tours under the instruction of our Tour Guides.  They will best determine the conditions on the day and appropriateness of the walk to the guest’s fitness level and hiking experience. To review options available to you please talk to your guide directly early on your tour day or contact our reservations team.

We ask that all participants respect the timeframes of our tours and the experience of fellow passengers so walking deadlines are essential to meet.

What are the weather conditions like in Tasmania?

The weather in Tasmania is famously varied, with four distinct seasons (sometimes all occurring in one day!)

The east coast is the dry, sunny, warm side of the island. Annual rainfall in the east is 600mm – less than half the annual rainfall in Sydney. Daily maximum temperatures in summer (December to February) are between +20 to +30 degrees celsius. In winter (June to August) daily maximums are between +12 to +18 degrees celsius.

The west coast is mountains, rainforest and untouched wilderness. Annual rainfall in the west is 2000mm, helping to create the stunning wilderness of Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair & Mount Field National Parks. Daily maximum temperatures in summer are between +18 to +25 degrees Celsius. In winter the mountains look spectacular with snow on top and daily maximums are between +5 to +15 degrees Celsius.

If you want to check out the weather forecast before travel head to www.weatherzone.com.au and put the destination into the search facility and it can show you the 7 day forecast ahead clearly.

Child Rates?

Children aged 0-7 years are not permitted to travel.

Child rates are applicable to 8 – 15 years (at the time of travel)

What is Tours Tasmania’s Cancellation Policy?

You must advise our Reservations team via email if you wish to cancel your tour booking, or change your travel date. Please email us at bookings@tourstas.com.au.  The time stamp on the email will define the cancellation time and the fees/charges that apply.

The following fees apply:

A full refund applies if you cancel 48 hours or more in advance of your tour. Unfortunately we’re unable to issue a refund if you cancel within 48 hours of departure. No shows, missed pick ups, late arrivals all fall within the 48 hour or less no refund timeline.

Requests to change tour departure dates are subject to the above cancellation policy.  A request to change your tour date within 48 hours of tour departure, will be subject to the above cancellation policy, amendment to this is at management discretion.

If you are late to your tour pick up, or you are not waiting in the agreed pick up location as held by Tours Tasmania, you will be classed as a no show and subject to the above cancellation policy.

The cancellation policy will stand regardless of cancellation reason.  We recommend you have travel insurance to protect yourself against last minute illness and travel disruptions, we will incur no liability for any disruptions to your travel plans.

Are there any Booking Conditions I should be aware of?

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Although every effort is made, Tours Tasmania shall not be liable for any illness, injury, damages, loss or delay that may occur due to factors beyond our control. We highly recommend all passengers have travel insurance coverage, to cover any potential losses due to travel disruptions. Please see our cancellation policy.

TOURS PRICES AND ITINERARY: Tours Tasmania retains the right to alter itineraries, fares and may cancel tours in unforeseen circumstances. When conditions create a change of itinerary whilst on tour, we utilise our local knowledge and alternate itinerary plans, we do not offer refunds in these cases.  If the tour fails to depart Hobart/Launceston passengers will be refunded in full.   All our tour prices are in Australian dollars.

LOST PROPERTY: Wallets and Passports left onboard vehicles will be returned in the most efficient manner possible based on the individual circumstances. Items that are found onboard vehicles during the cleaning process will go directly to charity.