Meet Your Tasmania Tour Guides

I was previously retired but found myself with itchy feet and wanting to undertake another challenge. With this venture, I was able to align my passions of travel and business. I really don’t consider this work; for me, this is my hobby—it took an early retirement to discover my dream job!

The Overland Track with my brother John a few years back comes to mind. This is Australia’s premier multi-day trek, and it’s incredible. We completed the trek south-north in the winter when snow was everywhere, also adding on an extra few days to tackle side trips up Barns Bluff & the Labyrinth. My favourite memory was spending a night on the summit of Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak at 1610m. It was amazing.

The Gordon River Boat Cruise also comes to mind for sure. I have a soft spot for the west coast with its history and remoteness. I never really get tired of the Gordon River or the entire World Heritage area.

I believe Tasmania is the best state in Australia for travel. We don’t need to cover large distances, which gives us more time for sight-seeing. You can get an incredibly diverse experience on our tours; the East Coast is totally different from the remote west—they almost feel like different countries. And the weather down here is fantastic—late twilights and much more pleasant temperatures in the summer months. 

We have recently decided to expand our itineraries to offer longer and more comprehensive tours of the island with 8 and 13-day tour offerings. These tours are designed for those who prefer to spend slightly longer, moving at a more leisurely pace. Most importantly, they allow time to include some of Tasmania’s most iconic day trips, which simply cannot be worked into a shorter 4-6 day tour itinerary. 

We have also recently purchased a brand new Yutong 23-seat coach bus, which I am very excited about. It will be fantastic for our guests to travel in more comfort and with more space.

Definitely not. Our tours are designed to suit people of all ages and physical abilities. We cover many great walks on tour (several from Tasmania’s official 60 Great Short Walks list) but they are handpicked to be relatively flat, well-pathed, shorter than about 25 minutes, and very scenic.

I prefer to work with smaller groups because it allows me time to get to know guests individually. This is as much fun for us as it is for our guest, so I prefer smaller, more intimate groups.

I love the gourmet food stops, particularly tasting freshly chucked oysters.The Wilderness Railway is spectacular, and The Wall in the Wilderness art gallery in Derwent Bridge is a national treasure. It has been a real honour for me to watch that place develop from nothing over the last 12 years. Choosing favourites is extremely hard for me!

These days she probably joins in once a year, preferring to spend more time with the grand children :) She is keen to come on board for some of these longer, new itineraries, as she enjoys the slightly more leisurely pace.

Never! Every week is different faces, different weather, and different experiences. Now that I have been joined in business by my son Morgan, we can offer more variety in itineraries, which keeps me on my toes and constantly interested.

Nothing! For me, this job is a real passion, and I don’t consider it stressful or difficult in any way. The beautiful island of Tasmania does most of the work for me :) I simply try to bring into focus its best features.

In recent years, my wife and I have been travelling quite a lot. I’ve circled the world many times on business as a younger man but am now enjoying visiting places purely as a tourist. We recently visited Iceland together and took a self-driving tour through Norway and eastern Europe. We have visited both the Arctic and Antarctic ice shelves, which were truly mesmerising. A few years back I undertook several trekking adventures to the Mt Kilimanjaro summit in Africa and Everest base camp in Nepal, though I wasn’t able to convince my wife to join me on those :) We’ve actually just returned from a month in Greece, so ongoing travel experiences, learning, and adventure are an important part of my life.

Tour guiding for me is the perfect role, as it’s a great mix of travelling and meeting new people in a relaxed, outdoor environment. It is a real privilege guiding our guests around Tasmania, and I feel pride in showcasing the best this great little island has to offer. I never get tired of the job because every week is new faces and new personalities for me to connect with. I also love the changing seasons we have in Tassie. Unlike many places on mainland Australia, Tasmania has four genuine seasons, so the landscape and colours are changing every week. Usually our guests are all in a great mood because they’re on holidays!

Robert is great to work with :) We enjoy similar interests in travel and chatting with new people, and we both very much enjoy driving! He has done an amazing job flying solo for the last 5 years, but we both agree it is more fun with 2 people, sharing the experiences.

Tasmania is a hidden gem in my view, although people are definitely starting to catch on in recent years. Being a small island, it’s great for travel, as guests can have a diverse experience in a short time frame due to fewer distances that need to be covered. For example, 6 days in Queensland will be only enough time to see a very tiny part of it. 6 Days in Tasmania, however, can give a great overview and sample of much of the island. In that time we can see Hobart, the East Coast, the central highland areas, and even parts of the remote and mountainous west. It makes for more time spent at the attractions and less time in commute.

Actually, the more time I spend here, the longer my list seems to grow! Some adventures that come immediately to mind though are: The Frenchman's Cap Trek—I have twice prepared for this but been foiled by terrible weather. The South-west Cape Trek, a helicopter ride over the Sout-west World Heritage area, kayaking in the Bass Straight, the Overland Track in winter, another camping trip through the Tarkine, taking my wife to Cradle Mountain in the winter snows, the Wineglass Bay cruise, rafting on the Franklin River, and finally seeing in person the bioluminescence.

The food scene down here is incredible. The produce is fresh, high quality, and often produced by small, family-owned businesses putting plenty of love into their work. We endeavour to sample many of the gourmet foods and drinks on our tours around the island. If you like things like cheese, chocolate, jams, relishes & chutney, wine, whisky, oysters, seafood, fresh fruits, home-grown vegetables, ice cream & yoghurt, then you will love the food scene in Tasmania. We also have two great festivals highlighting the best of our local produce: Taste of Tasmania in the Summer and Dark MoFo festival in the winter.

Gee, that’s hard to pick… I love the midsummer time when the days are long and the extended twilights are amazing. Outdoor dining with a beautiful 9pm sunset really is something I look forward to every year. I also love the colours of autumn though. We are lucky to have the best displays of deciduous trees anywhere in Australia by far, and to see the spectrum of colours during autumn is incredible. It's tough to completely forget about the freshness of springtime though, I particularly love seeing my favourite flower in bloom: the Tasmanian waratah.

Two come to mind. I absolutely love the occasional treat of seeing a platypus foraging in the wild. There are many places around the island I sometimes spot them. It's always unexpected and really puts a smile on my face. The other animal encounter I love is the wombats around Cradle Mountain. I love their lazy, relaxed, and unselfconscious attitude. They stroll around munching away at grass like we aren’t even there :)

The kookaburra and the blue fairy wren.

I could write a book about the places I love most in Tasmania. If I had to pick one I’d say the Cradle Mountain & central highlands area. It is an absolute dream for those interested in photography, trekking, or just beautiful, fresh, pristine wilderness. The East Coast is also incredible but for me the Central Highlands are the most unique as there are very few places if any in Australia that boast similar terrain and vegetation. 

I love Tasmania and love introducing it to new people who haven't seen it before. I feel like tourism is the intersection of all my previous experiences in food, wine, and travel. I was a professional chef for many years and managed a small hotel in Hobart, but I love to travel, so working at Fun Tassie Tours allowed me to get outdoors and enjoy the island with visitors.

First up, Hobart. It’s been my home for nearly five years. You can’t find a big town/small city quite like it. If you drive 20 minutes in any direction, you’re in the country. But there's still plenty going on in the city. I worked in the food and wine industry for a long time, so I know good produce when I see it and Hobart has it in spades. The best part is you are so close to the producers. You know them by name and can talk directly to them about what’s good right now.

I grew up as a bit of a beach bum in Queensland, so I also love the white sands of Tassie. Freycinet, Wineglass Bay, or Bay of Fires are stunning, but a few lesser known spots like Coningham Beach (30 minutes from Hobart), or Murphys Beach in Bridport. If I had to leave the city, I could see settling in Strahan for the natural beauty or in Evandale for the heritage architecture.

Wake up on a Sunday and head to Farm Gate market on Bathurst Street for great coffee and your choice of breakfast. You can get anything there, from doughnuts and wallaby burritos to congee and martabak. Then jump on the ferry to MONA for a lovely river ride and wander around one of the most unusual buildings you'll ever see. Stop for a drink at Faro, then grab a burger outside at Dubsy's. Head back to the Hobart waterfront and grab an ice cream at Van Diemen's Land Creamery. Take a nice stroll around the harbour. Pick from the many restaurants along Salamanca for dinner or make your way to North Hobart and select a dining destination along the Elizabeth Street strip. Then take your full belly home for a cuppa around the fire. 

I have family connections. My parents met at the old Hobart High. My grandparents lived in Tasmania for years. My grandmother was a sixth- generation Tasmanian. I never lived here until five years ago (I lived in Sydney and Brisbane), but I spent a bit of time here as a kid and loved the natural beauty and laid-back vibes of the state. My wife and I met in Washington, DC, where we lived for 20 years. As our daughter got older, we decided to find a better place to raise a family and after being away from Australia for so long, it felt like the right time to come back. So in 2019, we packed up our lives, which included our then six-year old daughter and 12-year old yellow labradoor and moved to Mount Nelson. We've never regretted it for a minute. We love it here.

It's a bit controversial, but I would say winter. After living on the east coast of the U.S., I'm a bit of a sucker for snow. And I have the wardrobe for cold weather. So, waking up and seeing snow on Mt. Wellington/kunanyi is a delight. I love the crisp, fresh air, and a warm fire with a stew bubbling on the stove. Pubs in town are a nice respite from the elements, many with roaring fires, warm beverages, and amble local spirits for imbibing. That said, when traveling or camping, summer is preferable. 

In my younger years, I travelled and worked all around Australia and then I came here and nothing compares to Tasmania’s amazing natural beauty, fantastic food, and friendly locals.

I have often said I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. Having done many different jobs in my life from being a tradesman, personal carer, taxi driver, small business operator, to name a few, I have now found the perfect way to combine my love of Tasmania, meeting new people, and driving.

My life partner is an 8th generation Tasmanian whom I met in Queensland. She was wanting to come back to be with her family and I have always wanted to live here so it was an easy decision.

The food is the best I have ever experienced. There is so much wonderful local produce to be found everywhere you go.

The thing I like most is that we get four distinct seasons, sometimes all in one day. In summer the days are long. Sitting on the deck with a 9pm sunset is easy to enjoy. Each season has its benefits with spring and autumn being great times to go hiking. In winter, to see snow on the mountain while driving across the Derwent Bridge is a real treat.

The ocean is calling, so I would have to say the East Coast. It’s visually spectacular, from the boat trip along the coast near Port Arthur through to Swansea and the Bay of Fires.

To have a great time, learn something new about this great little state on each day, and take some fantastic memories home.

There are so many different places to choose from but for me it’s ‘The Wall’ at Derwent Bridge. Greg has built an amazing artistic depiction of the history of Tassie using Huon Pine. He has no official degree in art but has taken a passion and turned it into something that cannot be described without a viewing.

That’s an easy question. NO. I don’t even like going away for a weekend. This island home is the only place for me now and forever.

I love tour guiding in Tasmania because it allows me to share the island's incredible natural beauty, rich history, and unique wildlife with visitors from around the world. Tasmania’s landscapes, from rugged mountains to pristine beaches, are breathtaking, and I love showing hidden gems that many might not discover on their own. I also enjoy meeting people from diverse backgrounds and creating memorable experiences for them while educating them about Tasmania’s culture, environment, and conservation efforts. Every tour is a new adventure, and the connection I feel with both nature and people makes it deeply rewarding.

The part of Tasmania that I love most changes year to year, right now I am enjoying St Helens and Weldbourgh in the north east. In a short distance there are beautiful beaches and rainforest. Surf and fishing to forest walks to waterfalls. Just phenomenal.

Cradle Mountain and Maria Island are great places to visit, to see the wildlife and natural beauty on display. I have a love for rivers also, so any time spent on a river is a bonus for me. If I can share that with others at the same time it will be a happy day.

While Houn Pine, Leatherwood and the Waratah’s are great, my favourite is the Tasmanian Pepperbush, a versatile native shrub that’s both visually striking and highly useful. Also often overlooked by people coming to Tasmania.

One unforgettable experience I’ve had while guiding was during a rafting trip on the Franklin River. We had set up camp for the night, surrounded by the stunning wilderness, when a family of quolls appeared, curious and unafraid. They explored the edges of our camp, darting between the shadows and the glow of our campfire. Watching these rare, spotted creatures in their natural habitat was mesmerizing, and sharing this magical moment with my guests made it even more special. It was a true reminder of the raw, untamed beauty of Tasmania’s wild places.

Autumn as the weather is mild and comfortable, perfect for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes. The changing foliage adds stunning shades of red, orange, and gold, especially in places like the Derwent Valley and Cradle Mountain. It's also quieter than the peak summer season, so you can enjoy the serenity of nature without the crowds.

MONA and Maria Island are great for everybody and I consider it important that everybody considers these. After that it becomes a little more specific to peoples taste... so microbrewers, vineyards and distillers are all over the island now and are worth a look. Try a drive down to Cockle Creek, the most southern point in Australia you can drive to and spend some time on its beautiful beaches. Just be ready that it might look like a topical beach, but the water is never that war

I started as a whitewater guide and other guiding followed shortly after. I found it very rewarding to share what Tasmania has to offer with guests. Working as a guide also lets me have experiences while out working, rather than working and chasing those experiences in my time off.

I would most like my guests to leave Fun Tassie Tours with a deep appreciation for Tasmania’s natural beauty, unique culture, and rich history. My hope is that they feel inspired by the breathtaking landscapes, from rugged mountains to pristine beaches, and gain a sense of connection with the island’s remarkable wildlife and ecosystems.

Beyond the sights, I want them to remember the stories, the warm hospitality, and the sense of adventure they experienced during the tour. Whether it's tasting local produce, learning about Tasmania’s heritage, or simply soaking in the tranquillity, I want every guest to leave with unforgettable memories and a desire to return one day. Most importantly, I hope they carry with them an understanding of the importance of preserving and respecting this incredible place for future generations.

Jacques Cousteau's statement comes to mind often.

"People protect what they love, but they only love what they know, and they only know what they are taught."

Hmm... very hard to pick however, I love an early start with something fun, followed with good food and wine. So I will go with something I have done once it was fantastic... Raft North West Bay River which is a beautiful grade 3 river. Lunch at Home Hill winery. Before or after a wine tasting of course. Some cheese tasting at Granvewe then, outdoor dining in warm weather at Blue Eye Seafood for dinner.

I believe we all have a need to explore whether exploring ourselves, the world around us, or areas of interest and knowledge. Travel is a wonderful way to satisfy the need to explore and in my opinion, essential to ensure a balanced, content, and happy life. Fun Tassie Tours enables people to come together and satisfy that need by exploring the amazing island of Tasmania. All of the tour guides are dedicated and passionate about Tasmanian history and showcasing our world class food, wine, produce, and natural areas. We aim to provide people with a quality experience of Tasmania. Fun Tassie Tours will take care of all the logistics so you can completely relax and focus on all the features of your journey.

I am a curious person by nature and have spent 30 years intrigued by world history and the relationship between humans and the natural environment, its impact on us, and how we shape it in contemporary times. 

My curiosity has extended into the fields of history, philosophy, aquaculture, environmentalism, horticulture, and permaculture. Combined with interests in traditional bush foods and sharing knowledge, being a guide in Tasmania a perfect fit for me.

Cradle Mountain and walking to Crater Lake just before winter with light dustings of snow on the peaks is a favourite. The rugged West Coast with jagged rocky shores and alpine heathlands. The Northern Bass Straight beaches are another highlight for me. Cataract Gorge, just 5 minutes from where I live in Launceston, is also something I never take for granted. It’s truly a special place and a must-see in Northern Tasmania.

Honestly, there are too many places to list. I like to immerse myself in the places I visit and spend weeks or multiple visits looking in every nook and cranny. If I could choose, camping around the fire and surviving off the land would be my preferred way to explore, as this means I get to live more closely to nature, allowing me to readjust my own perspectives and explore within as well.

Robert and Morgan are genuinely good people that are dedicated to ensuring the best possible experience for every guest they host, this treatment extends to their employees. Consequently, I too want to provide the best experience possible for our guests by delivering a quality service and adding extra little places and experiences not on the listed itinerary to further enhance the journey of travellers.

My tours will focus on the journey through the history of Tasmania, from its geological, aboriginal, and convict past through to its industrious development and the modern realities of contemporary Tasmanian life. I am passionate about Tasmania’s unique flora and fauna and will share my always developing knowledge of bush foods, diverse landscapes, and ecosystems found on the island.

I would like to inspire feelings of appreciation, awe, and gratefulness regarding Tasmania’s natural landscape, biodiversity, industry, and unique history. I also think that travellers may not expect to experience how quickly relationships can form over the trip and extend into the future. 

To have a great time - full stop! You may only be here for a short time with us, but our goal is that you will carry fond memories of your travels for a lifetime!

Two part question really. I took several years off from my marketing and sales career to look at this great country and find perhaps a new career. Heard a radio interview in 2014 with TasTafe lecturer - Alex Hale - while on a boat trip to Maria Island and thought this was just the right job for me. I love travelling, talking to people, history, nature, food, wine, and beaches. This seems to fit all my loves, so I applied and completed the course in 2015. Why Tasmania? Well I've been visiting Tasmania since 1980, so it seemed a natural fit and a good excuse to move here full time.

It is smaller obviously, but everything is closer and more easily seen. The weather can literally have four seasons in one morning! You can drive from sunny East Coast beaches to snowy mountains in one day and it's less populated and easier to get around most places. You can relax and have whatever you wish, from busy city shopping in Hobart or Launceston to wilderness camping all within hours of each other. 

The easy answer for me is just about anywhere in Tasmania would be my favourite part! But to pick just one, I would have to say Maria Island. It packs everything that is great about holidaying in Tasmania in one compact spot... History with the old convict station, nature with its abundant wildlife and National Park status and adventure with its bushwalking, climbing, mountain biking and camping. Only downside is no winery :)

I started in 1980 as a twenty year old solo walking The Overland Track in Cradle Mountain. I kept coming back every second year to find something new and adventurous... Walking South Coast Track, Bay of Fires, Walls Of Jerusalem, cycling in central & eastern Tassie, Wineglass Bay, kayaking Bathurst Harbour, etc. As I got older, I would do a week of adventure things then a week of trying different B&Bs, wineries & food, etc. I'm always learning about new things in Tasmania and find it so much fun showcasing these to our guests. After all, the best way to learn about new places and things in Tasmania is to experience them!

I have to love their itineraries. They are fun not only for the guests but also for me! If you want a real taste of Tasmania then this is the ideal tour. Such variety of food, location, history, and so on. Every day and every stop offers something new and also something of interest.

If I was coming to Tasmania for the first time ever, then this would be a great way to start my Tassie experience. Plus, both Robert & Morgan are very professional in what they do and love what they do as well! They are very knowledgable about the state they love and I think the guests absorb that enthusiasm from them. Hopefully I can do the same!

Cradle Mountain would have to be star of the show for me and for many of our guests. The iconic Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake are beautiful in any weather and that is what you can get there. Also the Bay of Fires and its pristine beaches & orange lichen covered rocks are quite magical. If we are really lucky, there are one or two places where we might just see the shy and very elusive platypus.

The beautiful Pencil Pine and Huon Pine trees are my favourite. Their ancient beauty gives one a wonderful sense of perspective. Also the bark of the Eucalyptus Snow Gums in the snow looks very magical.

That depends what you like! But some of my favourite iconic ones include Cradle Mountain, Russell Falls, Queenstown, and just about any wildlife, of which there is plenty.

A real taste of everything that is great about holidaying in Tasmania! Iconic Tasmanian mountain scapes, beaches, sometimes snow, sunshine, waterfalls, wineries, great eateries, great tastes like fresh oysters, lovely restaurants, ice cream, cheese, honey, and so on. History, wombats, devils, penguins, magic views, and really cool towns.

The change seasons... Autumn with its fantastic colours & mild weather and spring with the end of winter and the new buds on the oak trees at Port Arthur.

Hopefully, you will seeing a huge variety of all the Tasmanian native animals. Wombats, devils, platypus, penguins, pademelons, wallabies, sea eagles, abundant birdlife from LGB's (little grey birds), to the brilliantly coloured flame robins and blue fairy wrens. We usually tick through quite a long list of animals spotted in the wild each week.

Well, one can't go past MONA (the Museum of Modern and New Art - quirky art also). This iconic museum/gallery/restaurant/winery/brewery is an experience not to be missed. It's a place you can easily spend a day admiring an amazing variety of art styles, some you might even like!