James & Sara Barnes - Owners
Sara and James found in each other in a very unlikely location; taking a leap into the unknown and moving to the middle of Australia to tour guide at Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park in 2012.
Chasing a desire to learn more about Australia's indigenous culture and continue careers in the tourism industry, the gypsy soul originally from Tasmania and the Melbourne primary school teacher found unexpected love in the dusty desert. Little did they know, that this was only the beginning of their adventure together (and where James would propose 5 years later!).
The following six years saw the couple dart across the country, chasing incredible opportunities to work alongside each other. Teaching in remote aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land and Central Australia, managing the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk for the Tasmanian Walking Company and working in guest relations for luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent, just to name a few.
With a deep love and passion for sharing experiences and a wealth of experience under their belts, the husband and wife duo created Experiential Tasmania in 2018 to design authentic unforgettable journeys on their island home in Tasmania. Delivering a high level of customer service comes naturally to the couple, as they work together to give guests memorable experiences with a luxury edge.
Our Guides
Naomi
Where are you from? I am 4th generation explorer, salty sea dog, lighthouse keeper, boat builder, shack dwelling Tasmanian.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? I love the sense of peace, the slow pace, the safe feeling of familiarity, but the excitement that there is still much I have yet to uncover of this beautiful island.
Favourite place in Tasmania? My little off grid shack on the north east coast, that gives me access to the best beaches in the world, with no one else on them.
Favourite Experiential Tasmania experience to share with guests? The reaction of every guest that hasn’t experienced Freycinet beyond Coles Bay on the Freycinet Walking Tour. There is something spiritual beyond the Hazards that is so uniquely Tasmanian.
Memorable moment on tour? On a beautiful Autumn’s day, I was lucky enough to guide 2 interstate guests (that had all their wedding plans cancelled due to COVID) to the top of Mt.Murchison to say ‘I do.’ The entire day was something I’ll always feel so blessed to be a part of. You only get this type of memory as a guide for Experiential Tasmania.
Grace
Where are you from? Born and bred in Launceston, Tasmania
What do you love about being Tasmanian? Gosh, everything! I love the slow pace of Tasmanian life. I love being able to jump in my car after I knock off work in Launceston and go somewhere wild for a bushwalk. I love the incredible produce and how much it’s celebrated by locals. There’s no where else I’d rather be.
Favourite place in Tasmania? Anywhere lush and mountainous has my heart. I grew up spending a lot of time in the Central Highlands, so I feel at home up there. South West is pretty special too.
Personal highlight of the Freycinet Walking Tour? I actually really love the Isthmus Track! The bird song through the coastal woodland is beautiful. And the frogs in Hazards Lagoon sound so happy.
I also just really love being out in nature meeting people from all walks of life and sharing my many local Tassie tips! I regularly finish tours feeling like I’ve just made awesome new friends- which is pretty special!
Memorable moment on tour? Seeing wildlife is always a buzz. I remember one of my first tours, we were having morning tea at Wineglass Bay and a pod of dolphins put on a show for us! Also finding a wombat after following tracks down the beach in the sand. I always feel so lucky to be out in nature for work, sharing the space with our incredible local wildlife.
Harley
Where are you from? I've lived in this beautiful state most of my life. With a few stints over seas and on the mainland.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? The cold weather, the beautiful scenery. The uncrowded beaches. There's a lot to love about being Tasmanian but the proximity to nature would have to be the best.
Favourite place in Tasmania? The Walls of Jerusalem.
Memorable moment on tour? Swimming with dolphins at Honeymoon Bay on the Freycinet Walking Tour.
Amber
Where are you from? I am a true Tassie Girl; I grew up just 45 minutes away from Hobart in a small sea side community. My childhood consisted of long days wandering and exploring the bush and river that surrounded my house, later on stretching further afield.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? My favourite part of being Tasmanian is that feeling of connection between people and place. You are never very far from an adventure or a friendly face.
Favourite place in Tasmania? I have many favourite places, but one dear to my heart is Mount Wellington in Hobart. It holds many fond memories such as snow days as a child, with a snow man balanced on my parent’s bonnet for the ride down the mountain. Also spending nights camping under the stars in the secret huts scattered across the area.
Personal highlight of the Freycinet Walking Tour? Freycinet is particularly special to me as it was one of the first places I went as a child. I feel privileged to lead others on a path my father helped build, with my favourite being a section of duck boarding on the Isthmus Track that is the same age as me and with a story to be told.
Memorable moment on tour? The first was having the privilege of accompanying a gentleman in his late 70s on his first ever bush walk, and seeing the look of pure glee and sense of achievement when he finished. The second was a wild days walking with an adventurous young couple and 200ml of rain! We walked sections in calf deep water and hundreds of baby frogs.
Shane
Where are you from? From Devonport, born and bred. I still live in the town where I was born and have never moved away. It ticks all the boxes for me.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? It has a great backyard from the remote South West and national parks. The food is great, the weather is fantastic, not too hot or cold. The diversity in wildlife and plants, I love our native orchids. Everything is relatively close and you don't have to go too far to enjoy the bush without the crowds.
Favourite place in Tasmania? That is a tough one. Anywhere in Tasmania pretty much. But Schouten island, Walls of Jerusalem and Bathurst harbour.
Personal highlight of the Freycinet Walking Tour? The Wineglass Bay Lookout, the view is fantastic no matter what the weather. Also the joy from the guests making it to the lookout and the joy they have in soaking up the scenery.
Memorable moment on tour? I think it would be seeing thousands of Spider crabs in the water as one big mass while they are moulting, just after being picked up by the Freycinet Aqua taxi.
Bronte
Where are you from? I grew up on the North West Coast of Tasmania in a small agricultural town called Smithton. It's well known for its excellent oysters and is the beginning of the incredibly magical and ancient temperate rainforest, the Tarkine.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? Nature. I feel so blessed with the diverse natural landscape within Tasmania. You don't have to travel far to go from a temperate rainforest where it rains most days of the year, to white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters. I also love the communities here - people are super friendly.
Favourite place in Tasmania? I honestly can't separate one favourite place from another- the whole island is my favourite place! I love the West Coast rainforests for its pure wilderness, raw beauty, and rugged coastlines. Equally, the East Coast holds a special place in my heart with the beautiful beaches, the striking Hazards mountains that emerge from the water, the mountain bike trails, and the lovely little cafés. I also love the South of Tasmania. In Hobart I love the food, the people, the culture and art. And of course, central Tasmania. Between Cradle Mountain, the Central Plateau, and the Great Lakes, there is endless beauty and much to explore.
Personal highlight of the Freycinet Walking Tour? I love having the opportunity to share this special part of the world with people and share my personal connection to Tasmania and Freycinet. I absolutely love the walk - no two tours are the same. I thrive on being outside, hearing the bird calls, seeing the flora change throughout the seasons, and learning more about the area from others.
Memorable moment on tour? On almost every walk, we see at least one pair of pied oystercatchers. They love hanging out in pairs. I was filled with excitement when one morning we arrived at Wineglass Bay and noticed a tiny baby oystercatcher - it was so fluffy and it was precious to see them following their mother around.
Lily
Where are you from? I grew up on the beautiful South East Coast of Tasmania in Oyster Cove and spent my childhood exploring the forests and beaches of this beautiful island.
What do you love about being Tasmanian? I love being surrounded by nature, the ocean and friendly faces. The smell of salt, cold fresh air and bonfire smoke in winter makes me feel at home. Being able to climb to the top of a mountain where the whole world goes quiet and sleep beside the waves in one day is a truly special part of Tasmania.
Favourite place in Tasmania? Lake Rhona with its magical sunrises and magnificent rock formations or the remote beaches at the Bay of Fires where the stars are absolutely mesmerising.
Personal highlight of the Freycinet Walking Tour? The incredible conversations with people from all walks of life; I always come away from tours with a full heart. As a swimming enthusiast, I love encouraging people to jump in the water at the end of Hazards Beach and seeing their giddy smiles emerging from the water.
Memorable moment on tour? When a lovely family came on a tour with me and were awestruck by the texture and composition of Bull Kelp. It was amazing seeing their excitement and fascination about this organism and its biological and cultural history. Also when we were fortunate enough to spot some fur seals basking on the rocks!