AAT Kings is an Australian and New Zealand coach tour operator offering both short and long distance tours. This page covers AAT Kings Tasmania trips as we list them, from a 45-minute distillery visit to a five-day hike.
The listed trips run from $55 to $3275, so there is a lot of ground between them. Below we group them by what they cover, and we point you to the full tour pages for details.
About AAT Kings
The company's roots go back to the 1920s, when the Pyke family began a car hire business in Sydney. In the 1930s they started guided tours to Katoomba and Jenolan Caves. Fourteen-seater coaches arrived in 1935. Bill King started his own safari business out of Melbourne in 1967, and the two strands were later merged to form AAT Kings. Since 1997 it has been owned by The Travel Corporation.
One detail matters for Tasmania. AAT Kings supports conservation of the endangered Tasmanian devil by sponsoring the devil breeding program at Tasmania Zoo. It has adopted two devils and backs the zoo's efforts against devil facial tumour disease.
Tours at a glance
| Tour | Length | From |
|---|---|---|
| Alpaca Farm Tours with Toffeemont | 1h 30m | $55 |
| LARK Distillery Tour | 45 min | $69 |
| Evening Dinner Cruise | 6 hours | $155 |
| Port Arthur shore excursion | 6h 30m | $239 |
| 2 Day Tasmanian Highlights Tour | 2 days | $305 |
| 2 Day Cradle Mountain Tour | 2 days | $445 |
| Mt. Field and the Derwent | 8 to 9 hours | $1040 |
| takayna / Tarkine hiking tour | 5 days | $3275 |
Mountains, rainforest and waterfalls
Mt. Field and the Derwent
The full-day Mt. Field and Derwent day tour takes in Tasmania's most visited wilderness area. You walk through cool temperate rainforest with prehistoric ferns and eucalypts to Russel Falls, then visit a wildlife sanctuary to see native mammals and birds. Transport, morning tea and lunch are handled by your guide. Lunch is either packed or at the on-site Agrarian Kitchen restaurant, which is weekends only. It runs 8 to 9 hours and is listed from $1040.
Cradle Mountain
The 2 day Cradle Mountain tour from Hobart heads into the backcountry with hikes through temperate rainforest, past waterfalls and into alpine terrain. Groups are small, with a maximum of 13. You stay at a lakeside lodge and are back in Hobart by day three. It is listed from $445, accommodation included.
Hobart, Bruny Island and the south-east
The 2 day Tasmanian highlights and Bruny Island tour begins in Hobart with Salamanca Market (Saturdays), the views from Mt Wellington and the colonial village of Richmond. It then moves to Bruny Island for wildlife and local producers. At Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary you can meet kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats and koalas. It is listed from $305.
On the east coast near Orielton, the Toffeemont alpaca farm tour gives you 90 minutes to feed and meet the herd at your own pace, with homemade refreshments and locally made alpaca products. Sessions run at 10am, 1pm or 3pm daily, from $55.
For something indoors, the LARK Distillery tour lasts 45 minutes. You walk through heritage buildings and an active whisky production site and taste three expressions, from $69.
Port Arthur for cruise passengers
The Port Arthur shore excursion from Hobart is built around ship timetables. It collects you from Macquarie Wharf, drives 90 minutes to Port Arthur Historic Site and allows up to two and a half hours with a guide exploring Tasmania's convict past. On the way back, weather and timing permitting, there is a stop at a working lavender farm and an artisan chocolate foundry. You are returned to your ship by mid-afternoon. It runs 6 hours 30 minutes, from $239.
West coast and wilderness
The Evening Dinner Cruise is a six-hour trip aboard Spirit of the Wild, a hybrid-powered vessel on the Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour. Dinners are chef-prepared from local produce, and onboard interpreters explain the region's natural and cultural story. It is listed from $155. If rivers are your main interest, we also have a page on Gordon River cruises.
The most demanding trip is the five-day takayna / Tarkine hiking tour. It starts from Launceston and crosses forests, alpine plateaus and coastal country, with nights in basic bush camps. Groups are small, led by accredited local guides trained in wilderness first aid. The operator holds eco-tourism certification and handles transport, meals and park fees. It is listed from $3275. We would suggest this one only for people who genuinely want bush camping.
Our Tasmania activities section lists other operators if you want to compare, including Gray Line in Hobart. For general trip ideas, visit Discover Tasmania, the official state tourism site. Background on the company is on Wikipedia: AAT Kings.
Frequently asked questions
Which AAT Kings Tasmania tour is the shortest?
The LARK Distillery tour, at 45 minutes, from $69.
Can you do a Cradle Mountain trip from Hobart?
Yes. The two-day tour returns to Hobart by day three, with a lakeside lodge stay, in groups of up to 13, from $445.
Does AAT Kings support Tasmanian wildlife?
It sponsors the Tasmanian devil breeding program at Tasmania Zoo and has adopted two devils.
