From Monday, September 7 those residing in the state can register for the raft of Make Yourself at Home travel vouchers to use on eligible accommodation and local experiences.

But what’s eligible and what’s not? And can you holiday on the vouchers more than once?

AM I ELIGIBLE?

To register for a voucher you must live in Tasmania, and are aged 18 years or older at the time of registration.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU CLAIM ?

1 ADULT REGISTRATION (maximum claim of $150)

1 x $100 accommodation voucher and/or

1 x $50 experience voucher

2 ADULT REGISTRATION (maximum claim of $300)

2 x $100 accommodation vouchers for use on different nights and/or

2 x $50 experience vouchers

FAMILY WITH CHILDREN REGISTRATION (maximum claim of $550)

Family of 2 adults:

2 x $150 accommodation voucher for use on different nights and/or

2 x $50 experience vouchers

Family of 1 adult:

1 x $150 accommodation voucher and/or

1 x $50 experience voucher

Children:

1 x $50 experience voucher per child capped at three or $150

HOW DO I USE MY VOUCHER?

Accommodation voucher

You can redeem the value of your accommodation voucher towards your stay at eligible accommodation across Tasmania from Sunday to Thursday in the months of September, October and November 2020. You can do this once you have completed and paid for your stay and have a valid proof of purchase.

Experience voucher

You can redeem the value of your experience voucher towards an eligible tourism experience across Tasmania any day of the week in the months of September, October and November.

You can do this once you have completed and paid for your experience and have a valid proof of purchase.

Don’t forget to ask for proof of purchase from the eligible accommodation or experience business (for example, the hotel or tour operator) – you will need this to redeem your voucher along with ID (e.g. your driver’s licence), the name of the business and the dates you completed your travel activity.

CAN I REGISTER FOR MORE THAN ONE VOUCHER?

Yes. But you’ll need to have completed and claimed for your first trip before registering for another. The vouchers are also subject to availability.

MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

STAYCATION PACKAGES AROUND TASSIE

Aimed with this information, it’s time to start researching for your intrastate trip, but don’t book yet!

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin says it’s important to secure your voucher first to ensure you can redeem later.

He also reminds travellers that vouchers have to be redeemed through the website (www.makeyourselfathome.com.au) and not directly through the business.

There is a plethora of stay and play deals in Tassie at the moment.

Here are just some of the most interesting, region by region to give you some inspiration.

EAST COAST DEALS

• Edge of the Bay resort at Coles Bay is offering low-season rates until the end of September. Ocean-view suites at $245, usually $383 and cottages for $185 per night, usually $335. www.edgeofthebay.com.au
• New Bicheno venture Pop Up Picnic creates pop-up picnic experiences as well as takeaway pincic boxes of seasonal Tasmanian produce. Pair this with one of the many nearby accommodation offers. Call 0481 365 737.

NORTH-EAST DEALS

• Plan a stay at the Low Head Pilot Station Cottage, the rate includes one of the nightly penguin tours. Until December 1, stay a night in the seaside 1800s self-contained cottage with a breakfast basket, bottle of wine and penguin tour from $289. www.lowheadpilotstation.com

NORTH-WEST DEALS

• At Stanley the Horizon Deluxe Apartments package is a two-night stay in a luxury studio with a $20 voucher at the Stanley Hotel, full breakfast provisions, a bottle of wine and a hamper of local gourmet goodies. The package costs $670, which is heavily discounted from the standard $890. www.horizonapartments.com.au

WEST COAST DEALS

• The West Coast Wilderness Railway resumes operation of its Rack and Gorge tour and Raft and Steam package from September 22. Tours operate from Queenstown three days a week. Tours aren’t scheduled to leave from Strahan until January 2021 due to maintenance works.

DEALS IN THE SOUTH and FAR SOUTH

• Port Arthur Motor Inn are offering a 2 for 1, second-night-free accommodation deal on double and queen rooms. The room rate has also dropped from $150 to $100. Pair this with an experience voucher such as the Ghost Tours at nearby Port Arthur Historic Site.
• Bruny Island’s Free Spirit Pods have a ‘Naughty but Nice’ all-inclusive promo for two people staying three nights in waterfront accommodation, gourmet produce hamper and a three-hour Pennicott Wilderness Journey cruise for stays between December 18, 2020 — January 31, 2021. www.freespiritpods.com
• Esperance Adventures at Dover offers kayak tours of the waters off Tassie’s far south wilderness. A winner with kids is the Treasure Hunter Tour, where families paddle their own boat to a deserted island to hunt for hidden treasure, with treasure map and morning tea included. Choose, too, from four other kayaking tours from Lune River to Recherche Bay. www.esperanceadventures.com.au
• Far South Tasmania’s experience package bundles up accommodation in the Huon Valley with an adventure kayaking tour and tickets to Tahune Airwalk and Hastings Cave.
• Tasmanian Boat Charters has a 5% discount for local guests booking out the whole vessel (6 people) for a Port Davey expedition. www.tasmanianboatcharters.com.au
• Villa Talia at Wattle Grove in the Huon Valley is a pastoral homestead with orchards, cattle and rolling hills. Use the online promo code TASSIEGIFT for its 2 for 1 accommodation special. For the price of four, eight nights are up for grabs. Book before September 30 for travel until June 2021. www.vilatalia.com.au

AROUND HOBART

• Salamanca Wharf Hotel’s Spring Alive Special offers a free night’s accommodation when a minimum of three is booked. www.salamancawharfhotel.com
• Once you factor in the state government’s $50 experience voucher, Cam Blake’s two-hour photography session around the Hobart docks works out to be free. For $50, learn the basics of SLR and iphone photography on one of these Hobart Tuesday Photowalks. www.camblakephotography.com.au

AROUND LAUNCESTON

• Be one of the first to stay at Hotel Verge, a new industrial luxe hotel on Tamar Street. Opening rates start from $179, which equates to buckleys when you factor in the travel voucher. www.hotelverge.com.au

SELF-DRIVE TRAVEL PACKAGES

• TasVacations has a range of tailered touring holidays from week-long adventures to 12-night road trips. www.tasvacations.com

Are you offering a top travel deal or discount? Email us details of your offer to mercury.news@themercury.com.au for the chance to feature in this comprehensive guide.

For more information on how to get and use you travel voucher, click here.

susan.oong2@news.com.au