A new cruise that will give visitors the chance to explore the rugged coastline of the Tasman Peninsula will be launched by Tasmanian tourism operator Pennicott just days before Christmas.
From December 21, Cape Raoul Cruises will join the company’s award-winning tourism offerings.
“It is so special to witness the sheer magnitude of the 170-million-year-old dolerite cliffs of Cape Raoul, rising over 250 metres high and of course, the cheeky Australian fur seals that lounge at its base,” Managing Director Robert Pennicott said.
“We are privileged to be showcasing the beautiful coastal landscape of south-eastern Tasmania, sharing parts of Tasmania that people never get to see.”
The 90-minute cruise will depart from the Port Arthur jetty and take in the white sands of Safety Cove, the tall dunes of Crescent Bay, Mt Brown and the towering columnar cliffs of Cape Raoul.
The vessel used for the cruises, the Port Arthur Explorer, is a $2.2 million investment built locally by Alufab.
The international award-winning tourism operator received a $900,000 grant from the Tasmanian Government’s 2022 Tourism Innovation Fund towards the boat build.
“Supporting the organisation’s strong environmental philosophy, the boat has been designed to optimise fuel efficiency using the latest technology to handle rugged coastal conditions with low emission output,” Pennicott said.
The company expects to attract 20,000 visitors annually and create 10 full-time equivalent positions in the Port Arthur region.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said the launch of the cruise could not have come at a better time.
“Today is another positive day for our state’s tourism industry because our competitiveness as a destination relies heavily on the development of new and different experiences and products,” she said.
“Not only will this new offering be a trigger for Tasmanians to revisit Port Arthur and the Tasman region but it will be a draw card for interstate and international visitors too – and just in time for our busiest time of year.”
