On Board, a Tasmanian-owned expedition company and member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a four-night Port Davey Escape expedition for two, offering travellers the chance to experience one of Australia’s most remote and protected wilderness regions.
Over the past decade, On Board has quietly established itself as a leader in small-scale, place-led expedition travel. Key milestones include national recognition at the Australian Tourism Awards, membership of Luxury Lodges of Australia, the design and launch of its purpose-built vessel Odalisque III in Hobart using 98 percent Tasmanian materials and suppliers, and the development of direct seaplane access to the expedition vessel into the southwest through acquisition of Above & Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes.
The company has also contributed to conservation through citizen science initiatives within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, supported wildlife care partnerships including an exclusive experience with Raptor Refuge, and introduced nearly a thousand guests to the ecological and cultural significance of the region.
Operating in Tasmania’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed southwest, On Board has spent the past decade guiding small groups into Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, a place defined by isolation, shifting conditions, and rare access. The anniversary prize reflects the company’s focus on low-impact, place-led travel in a region few reach.
Founded by diver and skipper Pieter van der Woude, On Board grew from early explorations of the southwest’s hidden waterways into an award-winning, family-led operation, shaped alongside his daughter Alice. Since its official launch in 2016, the company has evolved through experience on the water while remaining grounded in small-group access, local knowledge, and a commitment to letting the environment lead.
“Port Davey has a way of setting the terms,” says Alice van der Woude, Director of Marketing and Experience. “It is not something you arrive and conquer. It reveals itself slowly, and over time it becomes part of you. That is how this began for us as a family, and it is still how we approach every expedition. We are here to share it, not shape it.”
On Board is a Tasmanian-owned, family-operated expedition company marking 10 years of exploring Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour within the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The company operates Odalisque III, a 24 metre purpose-built expedition catamaran designed to provide intimate, place-based experiences connecting guests to the landscapes, stories, and flavours of Tasmania’s remote southwest, including locally sourced island produce, boutique wines, and small batch whiskies.
As a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, On Board reflects a commitment to sustainability, authenticity, and experiential travel, with privileged access to one of the last truly wild regions on Earth.
For more information, visit onboardexpeditions.com.au
