Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before you travel with us. If your question isn't here, ask us directly. We answer personally.
About Unlock Tasmania
We're a private touring company working exclusively in Tasmania. Every journey we design is built around one group of travellers, shaped by their interests, their pace and their appetite for the unexpected. We are not a tour operator with a fleet and a timetable. We're a small team of passionate Tasmanians who know this island intimately.
Why only Tasmania?
Because depth beats breadth, and because Tasmania rewards it.
This is an island you can cross in a day, with a population smaller than most capital cities. That scale is the whole advantage. The chef, the winemaker, the shack owner at the end of the road, the host who knows where the wildlife will be at dusk. We know these people personally, not through a booking system. On a bigger map, that isn't possible.
Operators who cover the whole country are working through networks. We're working through friendships.
Who hosts your journeys?
You’ll notice we call them hosts, not guides. So, what’s the difference?
A guide shows you Tasmania. A host lets you experience it. Knowledge is a given. What’s harder to find is someone who knows the place, knows the people and, just as importantly, knows how to read a group.
Someone who knows when to share a story and when to leave you to enjoy the view. When to linger over a great conversation at a cellar door. When to change the plan at 11am because the weather has turned and there’s something better to do instead.
Your host lives here. They know the roads, the seasons, the little detours and the places you won’t find in a guidebook. They have their own favourite oysters, know which cellar doors are worth stopping at and have plenty of opinions about where to find the best coffee along the way.
Most of all, they’re good company. Because the best days in Tasmania aren’t just about where you go. They’re about who you spend them with..
Designing your journey
Do you have set itineraries?
We have starting points, journeys we know work well.
None of them are fixed. They're a way to begin the conversation. Where you actually travel is shaped by what you tell us, then reshaped on the day if the weather or your mood suggests something better.
How long should I spend in Tasmania?
More than most people plan for.
Tasmania looks small on the map. It doesn't drive that way. Roads wind, distances take longer than the numbers suggest and the best places are rarely the quick ones.
As a rough guide,
A week covers one region well, usually Hobart and the south, or the east coast
Ten days or more lets you reach the west, the far north-west and the parts of the island most visitors never see
Two weeks is just long enough to leave you wanting more.
We'd always rather you saw less of Tasmania properly than all of it briefly. If your dates are tight, we'll help you make the most of it.
What kinds of experiences do you arrange?
Food and drink is a strength here, because Tasmania's is world-class and small enough that we know the people making it. Cool-climate wine, single malt whisky, oysters pulled from the water, cheese and produce from growers who'll happily talk your ear off.
Beyond the table: wilderness immersion at every level of effort, from a gentle hour to a serious day. Intimate wildlife experiences that go far beyond the average zoo. Contemporary art and the particular strangeness of Hobart's cultural scene. Remote coastlines. Islands off an island.
Adventurous souls can rest assured that we know the trails, helicopter pilots, mountain bikers and more that will satisfy your adrenalin fix.
And then there are the things we can't advertise, because these are our secrets!
When is the best time to visit?
There's no wrong season, but there are real trade-offs.
Summer (December to February) brings long days, the warmest weather and the most people. Book well ahead.
Autumn (March to May) is our quiet favourite. Settled weather, thinner crowds and the fagus, Australia's only native deciduous tree, turning gold in the highlands
Winter (June to August) - The Off Season. Arguably the best time to visit because it’s cold, dramatic and atmospheric. There are fewer travellers, more fire and food and light that is extraordinary.
Spring (September to November) is changeable and green, with wildflowers and newborn wildlife.
Tasmanian weather does not respect the calendar. We plan for four seasons in a day because that's routinely what happens.
How far ahead should I book?
Earlier than you'd think, particularly for December through February.
Tasmania's best accommodation and its most interesting experiences are small by nature, which means they fill. Some of what we arrange depends on a single person's availability. Six months ahead for peak season is sensible.
We've worked miracles at shorter notice and we’re happy to try for you as well.
Can you fit into a broader Australian trip?
Yes. We handle the Tasmanian portion and coordinate with whoever is managing the rest, whether that's your advisor, a mainland DMC, or you.
We don't operate outside Tasmania and we won't pretend otherwise. What we will do is make the Tasmanian leg the part you remember.
Practical matters
What's included?
A knowledgeable Tasmanian host for the duration of your booking
Private vehicle and all touring transport expenses
Reserved access, private openings and experiences arranged on your behalf
All national parks passes
All inclusions as specified on each tour listing
Pick-up and drop-off to your hotel
Every proposal sets out inclusions and exclusions in full before you commit. No surprises later.
Can you accommodate mobility or accessibility needs?
Yes, with honest conversation upfront.
Much of what makes Tasmania remarkable is reachable by anyone. Some of it involves uneven ground, boats, or real walking. Tell us what you need and we'll design around it. We'll also be straight with you about anything that won't work and look for options that will.
What about dietary requirements?
Handled carefully and without fuss. Allergies, intolerances, religious requirements, preferences. This information is collected in your booking request. Please give us as much detail as possible.
Tasmania's producers are small operations, which cuts both ways. It means real flexibility and real care. It also means we need notice, because a two-person kitchen can't improvise on the day. Tell us early and it will be seamless.
How large can a group be?
Tour group types range from 1 person private travel to 10 person private groups.
We do welcome travel industry representatives contacting us for larger group enquiries. Larger bus options and incentive groups categorised by size, activity level and specialised themes can be catered for upon request.
Do you take families?
Yes, children under 5 travel free but are required to be fed and cared for by you during the journey. There is no inclusion for the costs to feed children under 5. Baby seats can be requested but are not guaranteed and attract a surcharge of A$100 per day.
Booking and policies
How do I book?
Get in touch by email, phone, or the form on this site. Tell us roughly when you're coming, how long you have and what you're drawn to. Someone from our team will call you. We'd rather have a conversation than exchange forms, because the useful details tend to emerge during friendly conversations.
From there we'll send a proposal with a detailed itinerary and full costs.
What's your cancellation policy?
If a booking is cancelled by us, you will receive a full refund.
Bookings cancelled by you outside of 14 days of a tour’s departure date will receive a full refund.
Bookings cancelled by you within 14 days of a tour’s departure but outside of 72 hours of a tour’s departure will receive a 50% refund.
No refund is available within 72 hours of a tour’s departure.
*Tasmania's weather is not in itself a reason to cancel. In extreme conditions we will make the call, and safety always comes first. Guests are advised to dress appropriately for a range of weather conditions as Tasmania’s weather can change rapidly.
Where circumstances change beyond your control, we'll always work with you to find a fair outcome.
What about deposits and payment?
If booking direct an invoice for the full payment via bank transfer will be emailed to you and is required to secure your booking.
If booking through an agent or hotel your contact will provide advice on payment structures.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend it and we consider it essential. It’s best to be covered just in case.
Do you work with travel advisors and DMCs?
Yes. Please contact us to discuss this further.
We understand what's expected: reliable communication, proposals that arrive when promised and hosts who reflect well on the person who recommended us.
We also work with luxury hotels, travel advisors and DMCs who need Tasmania handled properly.
Still have questions?
Ask us. We answer personally.