Tasmania touring

Sitting 250km south of the Australian main land, Tasmania is an island that occupies a mere 68,000 square kilometres and has a population of just over 500,000 people. It seems small when viewed in relation to Australia’s vast land mass of some 7,600,000 square kilometres, but it is a diminutive treasure that, despite its size, punches well above its weight in any number of categories.

Impossibly beautiful, it is home to some of the most spectacular and diverse landscapes in the southern hemisphere and its reputation for fine food, wine and more recently, locally produced whiskey and gins, is well deserved. It boasts an inordinate number of world class accommodation options, and caters to the cultural and action-oriented tastes with equal enthusiasm. Most importantly though, Tasmania is home to the country’s best driving – bar none. A thrilling succession of roads – a black ribbon of tarmac snaking through mountain passes and past vast lakes, across alpine plains and along valley floors. The very nature of Tassie’s topography and small population makes for a driving destination like nothing else Down Under, and it is the combination of perfect driving roads and wonderful lifestyle attributes that made it the ideal destination for the ultimate Audi driving experience lifestyle drive.

Although international travel remains on hold for the time being, there’s no reason not to get out and enjoy a truly immersive lifestyle driving event, says Audi Australia’s Chief Driving Instructor, Steve Pizzati. 

Combining all of the great things in life into one adrenaline-charged package was the rationale behind designing a bespoke itinerary for Audi enthusiasts to take in the spectacular sights, tastes and experiences of Tassie behind the wheel of some of the brand’s most inspiring models.

“Audi driving experience got back underway this year after the challenges of 2020, and demand for all of our track oriented programs has been stronger than ever,” Pizzati says. 

“But there are plenty of customers who enjoy the high-performance aspects but are also  interested in programs that combine that with a lifestyle orientation.”

“Tasmania offers plenty of the sort of attributes people look for when they think of touring holidays in Europe,” says Steve. “Brilliant roads through unique landscapes, coupled with outstanding accommodation and all of the things that go together to make a truly ‘Audi’ experience.”

“We’ve offered international driving experiences as part of the Audi driving experience for many years now in the form of the Audi Ice driving experience in Seefeld, Austria and the Audi Ice Pro in Sweden,” says Pizzati. “In 2019 we offered a more lifestyle oriented drive through some of the high passes in Germany, Austria and Italy that really struck a chord with Australian customers.”

“With overseas travel still not an option, we felt we could offer an exciting, exclusive driving experience right here in Australia, with the cars, the roads and the accommodation to make it something very special.”

Exploring the riches of Tasmania, driving Audi Sport’s finest is a bucket list item for many couples and of course the perfect antidote to a year’s worth of lockdown and boarder restrictions. 

The Audi Tasmanian Tour will be held in October and November and offer the exhilaration of driving the brand’s elite R and RS models on Australia’a best driving roads. 

From Hobart up into the sublime Tasmanian high country and the famed Cradle Mountain right in the heart of Tasmania, across to the stunning east coast and down to picturesque Freycinet National Park. These are roads that snake their way through mountain passes and ancient forests, following valleys and ridge lines offering rewarding driving and inspiring scenery.

Then back down the island’s east coast to Hobart – three days of touring through ever-changing countryside and vistas, on roads that have inspired motorsport tarmac rallies and attracted the cream of drivers from all over the world.

Of course, in addition to the captivating vistas and roads seemingly created just for this purpose, the entire trip is all executed with Audi’s customary flair. That means enjoying the very best Tasmania has to offer throughout the trip. 

The Audi Tasmanian tour is limited to a total of 10 couples on each of three separate tours. With Steve Pizzati leading the way and members of his outstanding instructor staff acting as sweepers throughout the trip, each group will be split into two groups of five couples with five cars at their disposal – an Audi RS 5 Sportback, RS 6 Avant and RS Q8 SUV, as well two Audi R8 V10 performance modelsº to cycle through over the course of the tour.

This is not a race or a motorsport event, but the opportunity to experience the cream of the Audi Sport stable on superb roads with the experienced Audi driving experience instructors leading the way.

It is set up to allow you to enjoy all of the cars and the drive in complete comfort and safety and of course all of the health protocols that form part of any ADE event will be strictly adhered to for peace of mind.

Indeed as you would expect with Audi, every detail of the trip has been carefully considered to maximise the enjoyment of all participants and ensure everyone has a thoroughly memorable trip.

From quintessentially Tasmanian accommodation to the finest fare in breathtaking surrounds, this is the only way to ‘drive Tassie’. Staying in the award-winning Macq1 in Hobart on arrival, participants then head into the vast Tasmanian interior, overnighting in the mountainous north west wilderness country at the famed Cradle Mountain Lodge or Red Feather Inn* before taking in more absorbing driving roads, on their way across to the easy coast and another night at either Piermont Retreat or Freycinet Lodge*.

Along the way they will stop at stunning locations for lunch and to take in the grandeur of the countryside, and enjoy free time to explore each overnight destination on arrival before enjoying the best food and wine in the south.

The final day will see the groups embark on the last drive leg of their journey, continuing down the east coast back to Hobart before heading home – or perhaps even staying on to explore more of what Australia’s ‘south island’ has to offer.

For participants, everything is taken care of and all you need to do is make your way to Hobart and be to ready to enjoy the experience.

Each of the three Tasmanian Tour programs will be held in October and November 2021, with full details to be announced shortly on the Audi driving experience website.

ºSpecific vehicle models are subject to change without notice.

*Accommodation outside of Hobart varies between the specific waves. See the Audi driving experience website for details.