Coral Expeditions set for record number of sailings in Tasmania this season

The cruises will serve a total 800 passengers who will be presented with opportunities for coastal trekking, golfing and cycling.

Explained Jeff Gillies, commercial director, Coral Expeditions, ‘We continue to experience outstanding demand for expedition cruising in Tasmania with only very limited numbers of bookings available for 2023.

‘Our style of small ship expedition cruising with low numbers and high conservation values is the perfect model for Tasmanian cruise tourism.’

$10 million revenue for region’s economy

According to the commercial director, by the Australian operator homeporting in Hobart for the season and provisioning the ship from local suppliers in Tasmania, it will result in the regional economy gaining close to $10 million this year.

Coral Adventurer

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 – as part of its 60-day ‘Circumnavigation of Australia’ voyage.

Coral Discoverer

Coral Discoverer is currently operating Coral’s first 16-night ‘Tasmania Circumnavigation’ voyage of the season with 70 passengers on board. It is the eighth consecutive year that the ship will homeport in Hobart, for a season that incorporates two 'Tasmania Circumnavigations,' two 'Coastal Wilds' and two 'Coastal Treks' expeditions. Passengers joining the ship’s Tasmania voyages will hear expert talks and commentary by guest lecturers about the heritage and culture of the archipelago and learn about its flora and fauna.

Local f&b that passengers will have the chance to sample include 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.

The ship will remain in Tasmania until late March.

Coastal Treks

Coral has limited availability on its 2023 'Coastal Treks' itineraries and is taking bookings for its 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Highlights include two full days exploring Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour with kayaking, birdwatching, and hiking, plus the chance to explore Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay.

Maria Island will offer opportunities for sighting wombat, wallabies, endemic birds, and other wildlife while the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur will offer insight into criminal history. 

As well as being able to taste fresh Tasmanian produce, wines, and artisanal spirits, passengers will encounter views from the vessel of the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere: the 300-metre-high dolerite columns of the Tasman Peninsula. 

Golf voyages

New themed charter voyages are planned, including a golf voyage bringing passengers to courses on King Island (Cape Wickham & Ocean Dunes), both golf courses at Barnbougle and the two courses in Hobart over the eight-day expedition in February 2023. 

In February, another new charter sees one 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.