This diverse and culturally-rich tour follows the story of the famous Huon Pine, from river to rainforest,  and how the forest, landscapes, culture, and farming have made the Huon Valley what it is today. 

Description: 

Surrounding lush hills of temperate rainforest first fuelled the passion of pioneers whose skills survive today in the Huon Valley’s centuries-old ship-building traditions. Wooden boats built here today use scarce remnants of 2,000 year-old Huon Pine. Famous for being lightweight, durable and craft-worthy, “Piners” would risk life and limb to navigate the most inaccessible stretches of river for this valuable timber resource.

You will meet the owners and crafts-people who build and sail traditional wooden boats made from Huon Pine and enjoy a calm-water sail on a traditional masted wooden sailing vessel.

You’ll taste cider produced and exported by a local family who are descendants of Franklin’s earliest settler and at lunch you will savour cider over a meal of fresh local produce.

After lunch, you’ll travel upriver to the airwalk at Tahune. Situated on the banks of one of Tasmania’s last truly wild and powerful rivers, you’ll witness huge flood-wrenched Huon Pine logs washed high above the waterline. Here you can drink in the romantic aspect of the Huon and Picton rivers up close, take a guided walk to a rare living stand of Huon Pines, and experience dramatic views from the elevated treetop walk and swinging bridge.

These surrounding hills feed the Huon River’s sparkling, tannin-stained waters and are the source of the Huon Pine, lovingly crafted by Franklin’s boat-building artisans. 

Your self-drive itinerary (includes in bold)

CHOOSE EITHER

0900-1030  Calm water morning sail incl. morning tea

   OR

1800-1930  Twilight sail

NOTE - we will ask you to specify this when you make your booking reservation.

   PLUS

1030  Drive to Franklin

1115  Cider tasting and early lunch

1230  Depart for Geeveston Visitor Centre

1245  Explore visitor centre & museum

1315  Depart for airwalk at Tahune

1400  Entry to the Tahune Airwalk

1430  Free self-guided Huon Pine walk (optional).

1600  Scenic drive to Hobart