In May 2021 our Tin Dragon Cottages team hosted two small-group tours for Horizon Guides. Each group–14 and 8, respectively– was fully accommodated at Tin Dragon Cottages for the final three days of their Tasmanian bushwalking tour.
Horizon Guides: Mt Field to Blue Tier
During their ten-day Tasmanian tour guests explored ancient Gondwanan rainforest, wild beaches and unique geology. They also learnt about Tasmanian natural, convict and Chinese-mining history.
The tour group itinerary included Mt Field National Park, Lake Pedder, Port Arthur, Cape Raoul, Richmond, Oatlands, Bay of Fires, Blue Tier, Pyengana, Derby, Branxholm and Evandale.
About Horizon Guides
Teresa has extensive experience in guiding tours in Australia and overseas. So in 2007 Teresa set up Horizon Guides as a specialised bushwalking guide service. Because she is passionate about natural history, she provides experiences connecting guests to places and each other!
Tour Group Itinerary in North East Tasmania
Tour Group Day-1: Bay of Fires Walk
Guests wandered freely along the Bay of Fires beaches exploring boulders and rock pools. In fact it was so sunny and warm that some of the guests enjoyed a sneaky little dip in the water!
After returning to St Helens, they visited the History Room. Here they viewed relics and stories of the bygone mining era and learnt about the Trail of the Tin Dragon.
That afternoon the tour group arrived at Tin Dragon Cottages. Before their evening meal in The Barn, guests were free to explore the tin-mining sculpture walk and read Henry Ah Ping’s story.
Tour Group Day 2: Blue Tiers Walks
After breakfast in The Barn, the tour group piled on to their mini bus to drive up to the Blue Tiers. Then after strolling around the delightful Goblin Forest Walk, the group completed the more demanding loop walks to the summit of Mt Poimena and Mt Michael.
Group Tour Day 3: Big Trees and Waterfalls
The group’s final day included a gentle wind down with short walks to beautiful places. They visited the remarkable Blue Tier Giant – a massive ancient swamp gum upwards of 60m tall with a hollowed out base and a girth at chest height of 19.2m. It is the widest tree in Australia and a truly awesome living ‘presence’. The hand built track that lead the tour group to the tree sidles unobtrusively through the forest making for a very special journey.
Next up, they sampled the award-winning cheeses at the Pyengana Dairy and Café. Then before driving back to Tin Dragon Cottages they strolled out to the 90m tall St Columba Falls in the headwaters of the George River.
Their final evening was spent enjoying the fabulous menu at a local Branxholm restaurant– Casa Pinocchio (first tour group) and The Imperial Hotel (second tour group).
Tin Dragon Cottages Fully Caters!
Although early rising is not one of my favourite activities, Graham and I were up each day before 06:00. The coffee machine was steaming and the bacon was crispy for guests to arrive by 07:00. We provided a (very) full breakfast, including bacon, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, potato rosti, toast, breakfast cereals, juices, fruits, fresh yoghurt and, of course, espresso coffee. On the final morning the breakfast menu included spelt pancakes with cream and blueberries!
Guests collected their packed lunches before they left the Barn each morning. Their lunch boxes included, a sandwich, fresh fruit, a sweet (e.g. chocolate) and a dried fruit and nut mix. Of course thermoses were filled with boiling water and ingredients for a hot cuppa were available, too.
Each evening a buffet-style two-course meal was served in The Barn. The menu included Fabulous Italian meals from Casa Pinocchio as well as old-fashioned roast with all the trimmings and a curry feast prepared in-house.
