Record summer season for Coral Expeditions in Tasmania. Circumnavigations, Coastal Treks, Golf and Cycling create new demand for expedition cruises
Coral Expeditions, Australia’s pioneering cruise line, is sailing towards its biggest expedition season in Tasmania announcing a record 12 voyages between January and March carrying more than 800 guests during the summer of 2023.
The season launched with Coral Adventurer making a series of stops in the Apple Isle – including Stanley, historic Hobart, Bruny Island, Maria Island and Flinders Island – on her iconic 60-day Circumnavigation of Australia voyage. Coral Discoverer is currently on expedition with 70 guests on the season’s first 16-night Tasmania Circumnavigation and enjoying wonderful weather and experiences.
Coral Expeditions is also working for the first time with international partners to bring new themed charter voyages which are the perfect fit for Tasmania’s tourism strategy of experiential high-end visitors. This includes a special charter for golfers visiting courses on King Island (Cape Wickham & Ocean Dunes), both golf courses at Barnbougle and the two courses in Hobart over the 8-day expedition in February 2023. Another new charter sees a US-based travel company hosting a group of cyclists undertaking daily self-paced rides in Adventure Bay, Port Arthur, Coles Bay, Bell Bay, Devonport, Burnie, and Stanley over 10 days, also in February 2023.
Coral Expeditions is unique in the cruise industry in having a vessel based in Hobart for an entire season. For the eighth consecutive year, Coral Discoverer will set up her home port in Hobart for a season that incorporates two Tasmania Circumnavigations, two Coastal Wilds and two Coastal Treks expeditions during the season. She will stay in Tasmania from 1st January to late March.
On her Tasmanian expeditions, guests will be treated to expert talks and commentary by guest lecturers about the heritage and culture as well as regional flora and fauna interpretation while enjoying local Tasmanian Smoked Salmon, Fresh Natural Bruny Island Oysters, Tasmanian Blue Eye Trevally, Cape Grim Eye Fillet, Tasmanian Lamb Rack, Hobart Brewing IPA Battered Local Flathead Fillets and Tasmanian Cheeses.
Coral Expeditions Commercial Director Jeff Gillies says the summer of 2023 marks the eighth season in Tasmania for the company.
“We continue to experience outstanding demand for expedition cruising in Tasmania with only very limited numbers of bookings available for 2023,” he says.
“Our style of small ship expedition cruising with low numbers and high conservation values is the perfect model for Tasmanian cruise tourism. As an Australian operator we are homeported in Hobart for the season and we have always provisioned the ship from local suppliers in Tasmania. We will generate economic benefit of close to $10 million for the regional economy this year.”
Coral Expeditions still has limited availability on the Coastal Treks departures for 2023 and are open for bookings on both the 2024 and 2025 seasons now.
Highlights of Tasmanian Coastal Expeditions include:
● Spend two full days exploring Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, with kayaking, birdwatching, and hiking revealing the secrets of this stunning wilderness
● Explore the beautiful Freycinet National Park: stroll the sweeping white sand of Wineglass Bay and hike to the lookout for a spectacular view
● Visit the Noah’s Ark of Tasmania, Maria Island, and spot wombat, wallabies, endemic birds, and other wildlife
● Enjoy a behind the scenes tour at World Heritage-listed Port Arthur to gain a deep insight into the convict history
● From the sea, have a breath-taking view of the 300-metre-high dolerite columns of the Tasman Peninsula, the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere
● Taste Tasmania’s remarkable fresh produce, cool-climate wines, and artisanal spirits.
