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The port city of the Wild West, is known for is location near the Gordon River UNESCO World Heritage Site, their salmon and trout fishing farms, and their close proximity to the mining capital of Queenstown.
The Gordon River is a part of a world heritage site. The river flows through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The area is know for its rain forest and is home to the rate Huon Pine trees. These trees are only found in Tasmania and can live for thousands of years. The timber from these trees is now protected, but has been sought after for its durability particularly for boats. In the 1800s, prisoners were used for logging and boat building on the nearby Sarah Island. We utilized World Heritage Cruises for our trip down the Gordon River, which included a sailing to hell’s gate, a sail by local fishing farms, and a stop at Sarah Island.
Nearby Queenstown has a history rich in mining. The Wilderness Railway is a historical steam railway that departs daily from Queenstown for a half day exploring the areas history and scenery. Due to our time limitations, we were not able to enjoy this site, but received a handful of positive reviews and recommendations from other tourists who had an opportunity to experience.
Located in Derwent Bridge, The Wall is well worth a stop if traveling between Hobart and the west coast. The artist is in the process of hand-carving three meter high wooden panels to display the history of the area. The craftsmanship is impressive and worth admiring. We had heard about the site and were debating the merits. We decided to make a visit after some encouragement and glowing reviews from other tourists. We were glad we stopped and would definitely recommend a quick stop to anyone passing through the area.
A handful of the 60 Short Great Walks of Tasmania are located between Strahan and Derwent Bridge and can be visited if traveling between the Hobart and Strahan. Due to time limitations, rainy weather, and bush fires in the area, we did not experience any first hand. A few to look at are as follows: Nelson Falls, Franklin River, Donaghys Lookout, and Hogarth Falls.
We spent a couple nights at the Strahan Holiday Park in one of their stationary units. The accommodations were basic. Wifi was available for a steep daily fee through Tomizone.
Cradle Mountain National Park is one of the most visited sites in Tasmania. In the shadow of Cradle Peak, the area is full of wildlife and boast many different hiking tracks of varied levels and duration, including the multi-day Overland Track. It is definitely worth the visit on a trip to Tasmania.
The main attraction in the area is the national park. There are a countless number of hikes starting from various points within the park. Have a stop into the information center and they can help recommend a hike to meet your time allocation and fitness levels. We enjoyed the Dove Lake Circuit on our first afternoon in the park. On our second day we hiked from the Ronny Creek shuttle stop/parking lot to Crater Lake, Marion’s Lookout, across the Crater Plateau to Crater Peak and then back to the Ronny Creek shuttle stop/parking lot. Our original plan was to try and do the Cradle Mountain Summit, however, after making our way 1/2 way to the summit we decided to turn back, as I was not feeling comfortable with the very rocky terrain. The scenery and wildlife is wonderful. Also ask about any ranger led talks or tours, we joined a complimentary evening walk about wombats.
Devils@Cradle is a sanctuary for the endangered Tasmanian Devils. In addition to Tasmanian Devils the sanctuary is also home to other rescued marsupials including a quolls and a pair of wombats. We took one of the evening feeding tours and found it very interesting. In advance of our tour we wandered around the sanctuary and enjoyed watching the younger devils at play.
The Wilderness Gallery is located at the Cradle Mountain Chateau accommodations and features an interesting collection of photography. In under an hour and for a small fee you can browse the ten rooms and enjoy some of the works of art. Our favorite was a display of photos featuring scenery from Iceland.
There are limited dining options in Cradle Mountain. If you are hoping to pack lunches for your hikes, be sure to stop at one of the major cities before reaching Cradle Mountain, as there are not many options.
We heard great things about the all you can eat buffet at the Cradle Mountain Chateau. Unfortunately, we did not have an opportunity to try it first hand.
We enjoyed a pint and a casual meal at the Tavern, which is located at Cradle Mountain Lodge. It appeared to be the most budget friendly option in town.
We found all accommodation options that are located near the park were more expensive than we hoped. We elected to stay at the Cradle Mountain Chateau, and found the room to be nice and enjoyed the proximity to the National Park.
Another option near to the National Park is: Cradle Mountain Lodge.
Located in Northwest Tasmania, Burnie is a beachfront industrial town, with a handful of nearby tourist options.
Interested in seeing a platypus? One of your best opportunities may be at Fern Glade, which is located just 10 minutes outside of town. Take the short walk (1.2 km with return) down the river and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. We’ve been told the best viewing times are in the morning and evening hours.
Located on the boardwalk near the old town, Fish Frenzy is a casual dining establishment that serves up incredible fish and chips. The portions are large. We would recommend to anyone passing through town.
Centrally located in the old town, directly across the street from the beach. We enjoyed the location of this budget friendly accommodation option.
St Helens is located on the northeast coast of Tasmania, in close proximity to the Bay of Fires. There are many sites worth visiting along the drive from St Helens to Launceston.
The gateway to Bay of Fires, Binalong Bay is a quant beach town with a beautiful beach and a colorful rocky coastline.
The Bay of Fires extends from Binalong Bay in the South to Mt William National Park in the North. Colorful rocky boulders are scattered along this coastline.
There are a couple of hikes on the list of 60 Great Short Walks in Tasmania.
This short hike (1.2km roundtrip) leads you through a rainforest to one of the largest waterfalls in Tasmania. It is worth the 30 minute stop, if you are in the area.
Another short hike located in northeast Tasmania. We were advised that a 4 wheel drive was required to reach this destination and thus did not make the trip.
The Pyengana Dairy Company is located off of C428, in route to St Columba Falls. Stop in for a free cheese tasting and stay for a tasty lunch at their cafe, or enjoy a scoop of their ice cream on their sunny back patio.
The largest privately owned lavender farm and the only lavender farm in Tasmania. Lavender is in full bloom in December and is harvested in the beginning of January. (The pictures look amazing.) The lavender had been harvested when we visited in early February. In our opinion, it was not worth the stop and entrance fee. However, we might think differently if we were their prior to harvesting or if we were in the market for some lavender souvenirs.
The Tamar Wine Region is located just outside of Launceston. If driving from the East Coast (St Helen’s / Freycinet Peninsula), your routing can include stops at some of the wineries that specialize in cool weather wines, specifically sparkling wines and Pinot Noir. A couple wineries we would recommend in the eastern Tamar Valley are:
Bay of Fires is world known for their sparkling wines. However, we also found ourselves enjoying many of their wines, including their Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc. We would highly recommend a stop at this winery.
This small family run winery produces some good cooler climate varieties. We enjoyed the Rosato and their Chardonnay. (Even though I do not like Chardonnay.)
The Pyengana Dairy Company is located off of C428, in route to St Columba Falls. After doing a cheese tasting, we had a fantastic lunch at the Holy Cow Cafe. The cafe uses local ingredients from their farm. It was well worth the stop, even if it is just to taste the cheese and enjoy a scoop of their ice cream!
There are a handful of motels and B&Bs around St Helen’s and Binalong Bay. We stayed cheaply at a very old motel, Bayside Inn. Let’s just say the price was right, but I was happy to move on.
White Beach is located on the Tasman Peninsula. This peninsula has some beautiful natural sites and provides a glimpse into the history of Tasmania, as home to the UK’s worst criminals during the 1800’s.
In the 1800’s Port Arthur was a prison that housed the United Kingdom’s repeat male offenders. Prisoners arrived via boat (from the UK) to Port Arthur to serve their sentence. This large site provides a glimpse at the history, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in partnership with a handful of other sites on the Convict Trail. It is worth a 1/2 day visit. All tickets include a 40 minute guided tour and a 20 minute boat ride, which are worth taking. Schedule your times when purchasing your tickets. The cafe onsite offers some tasty food selections and a nice selection of beverages. Note: All tickets are good for two days. Also the site hosts a nightly ghost tour for those that are interested.
Four natural sites that are located near Eaglehawk Neck on the gateway to the Tasman Peninsula. Each can be easily visited, as they are with in a short walk from a car park. The Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen are located within the Tasman National Park. Parks passes can be purchased from any tourist information site.
A short walk will take you to view the entrance of this cave. Definitely worth a stop and the views over the coast line. Additionally, make a stop at a beautiful (and empty) white beach, Safety Cove State Reserve, in route to the cave.
There are a handful of hikes on the Tasman Peninsula on the list of 60 Great Walks in Tasmania. We only had time to do one of the shorter walks, but wish we would have had more time to do one of the longer treks.
This hike starts from the parking lot at Devil’s Kitchen in the Tasmania National Park. This short hike (~3.5 round trip) is a relatively easy hike across the cliff side, with a handful of viewing points to a waterfall. In the warm summer months, viewing the waterfall is highly unlikely, however the coastal views are beautiful. It took us about an hour to do the full hike.
This is about 10km round-trip hike (3 hours) along the southern coast of the Port Arthur Peninsula. Unfortunately, we did not have ample time to complete this trek during our stay.
A 9km round-trip hike (4 hours) with great views of Cape Huay. Unfortunately, we did not have ample time to complete this trek during our stay.
A 14km round-trip hike (5 hours) with stunning views of coastal seascapes. This was our top pick for a hike on the Port Arthur Peninsula, unfortunately, we did not have time!
The dog line is a part of the convict trail history. A line of fierce dogs guarded the Eaglehawk Neck to prevent prisoners from escaping from Port Arthur. The nearby beach on Pirates Bay, is beautiful and worth a viewing.
The Coal Mines is a part of the Convict Trail grouping that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site has history as a part of the punishment for convicts. The Coal Mines Historic Site is highlighted as one of the 60 Great Short Walks in Tasmania. (Download the free app!)
A great little B&B on the west coast of Port Arthur Peninsula boasting fantastic views over Wedge Bay. We enjoyed watching the sunset from the patio while enjoying a glass of port and the good company of other guests. Our host Bev and Gary where very welcoming and hospitable.
2013 Around the World Trip
2013 Around the World Trip
2013 Around the World Trip
2013 Around the World Trip
2013 Around the World Trip
2013 Around the World Trip
