North-West

Head west from Launceston to discover charming towns, beaches, forests, farmland, friendly people and the World Heritage Area wilderness that includes the famous Cradle Mountain.

There are National Trust properties at Hadspen (Entally House), Westbury (White House) and Deloraine (the Folk Museum). At Westbury there’s also a challenging hedge maze and a working display of machinery at Pearns Steam World.

Deloraine is a delightful town, full of creativity, and has Australia’s largest craft festival (November). There are also many restored Georgian and Victorian buildings, galleries and a remarkable community tapestry project, Yarns. There’s plenty of trout in the highland lakes, rivers and streams – tuition and guided tours are available in Deloraine.

There are many native animals in the Trowunna Wildlife Park, at Mole Creek and in the Mole Creek Karst National Park you can go underground on a guided tour through Marakoopa Cave to see glow-worms or take a Wild Cave Tour.

Head to Cradle Mountain for a great short walk from Dove Lake or Waldheim. The Overland Track is one of the world’s best 5 to 8 day walks and takes you through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park to glacial lakes, waterfalls and tall forests. There are public huts for independent walkers carrying tents or guided walks that range from tent-based trips to fully-catered walks with accommodation in comfortable, fully-equipped huts.

Over a third of Tasmania is protected in national parks and reserves and they are a joy to explore. There are 17 accessible national parks from the mountains to the coast. The Tasmanian World Heritage Area, the world’s last great temperate wilderness, is made up of the Southwest National Park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain-St Clair National Park. Unlike on the mainland, Tasmania is such a compact state that all the parks are in easy travelling distance. A fee is charged for entry to the national parks and all money raised goes back into protecting the parks for the future. A National Parks Pass ($30) allows entry to all parks and is valid for two months. A 24-hour pass costs $9 per car and those on foot, bike or in a coach pay $3.

To sample local produce, visit Stephen’s Honey Farm at Mole Creek and, heading up to Devonport, Elizabeth Town for Ashgrove Cheese.

A pleasant scenic drive will take you to Sheffield, the town of murals. Perhaps stop for a picnic or barbeque at nearby Lake Barrington.

Latrobe is a pretty, well-preserved town on the Mersey River that was once a busy shipyard town.

On the Latrobe Landcare walk you will be able to see families of platypus in the wild. Latrobe also has the recently opened Axeman’s Hall of Fame.

The Bass Strait passenger ship, the Spirit of Tasmania docks in Devonport so many visitors begin their travels here.

In Devonport visit the Devonport Gallery and Arts Centre, the Maritime Museum or ride the Don River Railway (7km west).

Heading towards Burnie, the coast road between Ulverstone and Penguin has wonderful scenic views. Penguin is so named because of its colony of Little penguins and, curiously, there is a BIG Penguin!

In and near Burnie there’s the Regional Art Gallery, Pioneer Village Museum, Lactos Cheese Tasting Centre (off Old Surrey Road), the Creative Paper Mills and the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden. Other gardens worth a look include Annsleigh Gardens near Burnie, Allendale Gardens near Edith Creek, Tanfield Gardens at Rocky Cape and the Table Cape Tulip Farm.

The highway west from the busy port of Burnie pretty much follows Bass Strait, past rocky capes and bluffs, through fields of flowers and past rich farmland with some delightful towns to stop and explore.

At Fern Glade you can view platypuses in the early mornings and evenings. Scenic waterfalls in the area include Guide Falls, Dip Falls, Waratah Falls and Detention Falls.

Take the drive south through Hellyer Gorge to the historic mining town of Waratah.

In Wynyard, take the short beach walk to Fossil Bluff. Just beyond Wynyard is Table Cape (lookout with spectacular views) and the colourful tulip farms. Go for a walk in the Rocky Cape National Park or take a dip in the sheltered waters at lovely Boat Harbour or Sisters Beach.

In Stanley you’ll find the cottage where Australian Prime Minister Joseph Lyons was born and some fine art galleries and studios. Stanley is nestled into the side of The Nut. For the energetic there’s a track to the summit, for the not-so-energetic there’s a chairlift. In October to April you can watch the shearwaters returning from the sea in the evening. Bull Rock (5 nautical-but-nice miles from The Nut) is home to Australian fur seals and penguins.

At nearby Smithton you can take a rewarding walk to Lake Chisholm or picnic in the forest reserves. Down the west coast a tad is Marrawah, which offers excellent surfing and the world’s cleanest air at gloomily named Cape Grim. You can take a tour on the Arthur River to discover wildlife (particularly sea eagles).

The north-west links to the West Coast but driving is a little slower as most of the road is unsealed.

More Information

For more information about Tasmania:

• Events And Festivals
• Accommodation
• To See And Do
• Hobart
• Southeast
• Derwent
• Midlands and North
• East Coast
• South-West Wilderness
• The island's Other islands

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