Wynyard Tulip Farm (Tourism Tasmania and John de la Roche)

Leaving Devonport on the coastal road to the east there are numerous towns to travel through and places to see on the way up to the Rocky Cape National Park.

Penguin
The coastal drive through Ulverstone and on to the town of Penguin is another of Tasmania’s many scenic coastal areas. As you might expect with a name like Penguin there are good opportunities to see penguins near this small town, and the evening penguin tours are very popular!

Burnie
Moving onwards along the coast to Burnie and you again have plenty of chances to see penguins, in addition to platypus on an evening tour. There are several hotels in Burnie, so you could choose to stay the night here if you wanted to join a penguin tour. Despite Burnie being an industrial port town there are actually a number of interesting attractions here for visitors, so this may be a good place to stop for the night to see what else is on offer. Highlights include the self-guided Heritage Town Walk and the Pioneer Village Museum which shows visitors what Burnie was like during its boom time from 1890 to 1910.

Wynyard
A little further west along the coast from Burnie is Wynyard. If you didn’t stay in Burnie for the night Wynyard is a good alternative as there are several nice hotels and other Wynyard accommodation here too. Wynyard is best known for its fields of tulips and the Bloomin’ Tulips Festival which takes place over 10 days in October. Another highlight is hiking up to Table Cape, one of the most prominent landmarks in the area, from which you get some great views and there’s also the old lighthouse here too.

Boat Harbour
Boat Harbour is a picturesque little town, originally called Jacob’s Boat Harbour after Captain John Jacob. Boat Harbour Beach, which is actually the name of a separate township, is very popular and as the name suggests, the main feature is the nice sandy beach. Boat Harbour Beach is another great little spot to spend a night or two and there are some great Boat Harbour accommodation places here. This actually makes a good base from which to explore the Rocky Cape National Park which is right on its doorstep, as there is no camping in Rocky Cape.

For a fantastic range of North West Tasmania accommodation, visit Book it Now.

‘Touring Tasmania - Devonport to Rocky Cape National Park’ by Claire Bolgil

Mersey Bluff Lighthouse

Having spent a day exploring the caves of the Mole Creek Karst National Park we had several options for which direction to head in. We will be visiting the next national park on our list, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire, but decided that heading north back up to the coast and to the city of Devonport was best at this point.

Devonport is Tasmania’s third largest city though one of the busiest in terms of tourists because the Spirit of Tasmania ferries from Melbourne dock here, making this a popular place to start or finish a holiday in Tasmania.

Devonport started life as Port Frederick and then as Mersey River. The name of the Mersey River remained but the town again had a name change when it was split into two separate halves – Formby and Torquay, finally, when these two towns rejoined in 1890 the name Devonport was settled on.

Devonport has an array of places to stay, but being the popular travel gateway that it is places can get booked up in advance in the peak season. So if you’re planning on staying in a Devonport hotel you’d be advised to book this in advance rather than find everywhere is full. For a full list of great Devonport accommodation, visit Book it Now.

What to See and Do in Devonport
Devonport may be famous for the ferries, but there are also some interesting attractions in the city which visitors should stick around to see.

Scenery – Devonport is an attractive town with some appealing architecture but the area also has some pretty scenery – places like Mersey Bluff and the photogenic Mersey Bluff Lighthouse are good to visit. Don’t miss the penguin viewing area at the lighthouse. Mersey River Cruises is a company operating cruises up the Mersey River estuary, giving you further opportunity to see the city and the surrounds.

Museums and Cultural Centres – The Devonport Maritime Museum is an interesting place to spend an hour or two, as is the Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre. This is a museum dedicated to aboriginal history.

Don Village and Don River Tourist Railroad – The Don River Railway is a fun attraction for the whole family to enjoy. You can see steam and diesel engine locomotives and get to ride one of the vintage Tasmanian trains for a 30 minute return journey. In Don Village, just a short distance outside Devonport, you’ll find the Don Village market which is a country market and a good place to stock up on supplies.

Imaginarium Science Centre – Devonport’s Imaginarium Science Centre is a hands-on place where you can find out how things work by taking part in experiments on a variety of themes. Kids will certainly enjoy all the hands-on stuff here!

‘Touring Tasmania - Devonport’ by Claire Bolgil

Marakoopa Cave (Photo: Tourism Tasmania and John De la Roche)

After a good night’s rest in Deloraine we were raring to get going to Mole Creek Karst National Park as we’re keen to see the spectacular caves and karst formations there!

About the Mole Creek Karst National Park
Visitors have been coming to the Mole Creek Karst National Park for many years to admire the great cave systems here, but the actual national park was set up only quite recently in an attempt to control entry into the cave systems and therefore protect this spectacular area. The Mole Creek Karst National Park was declared in 1996 and is the only national park in Tasmania that was created specifically to protect the karst formations.

What to See and Do at the Mole Creek Karst National Park
For many visitors the highlight of a visit is the two accessible caves of Marakoopa and King Solomon, those these are just two out of over 300 different caves and sinkholes in the region. The park is also popular for spending time enjoying outdoor life with walks, picnicking and more.

Both Marakoopa and King Solomons Cave are open to the public and guided tours are available and highly recommended.

Marakoopa Cave
Marakoopa is a Tasmanian Aboriginal word which means ‘handsome’, and once you’ve seen inside this cave you’ll understand why it’s called this! The highlights of this cave are the two underground streams and the amazing large display of glow-worms! On the 45 minute guided tour you’ll also see caverns, including the Great Cathedral and the Gardens.

King Solomons Cave
45 minute tours are available for the King Solomons Cave too where you’ll see a plethora of stalactites and stalagmites! The good thing with this tour, and with the majority of the Marakoopa cave tour, is that all age groups and all levels of fitness can do it. If you however want to experience a more adventurous form of caving there are tour companies who offer beginners tours in other caves which can last for half a day or a full day, and all necessary equipment is provided.

Unlike some of the national parks of Tasmania, there are no camping facilities here at Mole Creek Karst National Park so you’ll have to plan your visit around staying in a hotel in one of the nearby small towns like Mole Creek or go back to Deloraine or up to Devonport.

‘Touring Tasmania - Mole Creek Karst National Park’ by Claire Bolgil

Launceston seaport (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & Greg Clarke)

Launceston is the second largest city on Tasmania, and is located directly north of Hobart on the opposite end of the island, at the end of the Tamar River estuary. Being such a large city, by Tasmanian standards anyway, Launceston has many attractions both in the city and in the surrounding areas. The city makes a great base to stay for several nights whilst you explore everything there is to see and do, and there are a great many hotels to choose from here.

Launceston is one of Australia’s oldest cities. It was founded in 1806 and was named after the town of Launceston in Cornwall, England, in honour of the New South Wales governor Captain Philip Gidley King, who was born there. Visitors interested in seeing a good selection of 19th century buildings will be in their element here as it has the largest selection of such buildings in the whole of Australia!

The town grew substantially when both tin and gold were discovered nearby and Launceston was used as the export centre. Now tourism is becoming one of the most important industries here, as it is on much of Tasmania!

What to See and Do in Launceston
There’s a good selection of attractions to keep you occupied in Launceston for at least a day or two. Some of the more popular include…

Cataract Gorge – This is actually Launceston’s most popular attraction. Cataract Gorge is a large river gorge which has the world’s longest single span chairlift in the world, crossing the Gorge. The chairlift was built in 1972 to take visitors across and has a total span of 457 metres. If you don’t fancy taking the chairlift there is also a bridge over the gorge too! The King’s Bridge-Cataract Walk is a path along the north edge of the Gorge and is also a popular attraction.

Museums – Museums include the historic Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery which was established in 1891. This is a great museum to visit for its variety of exhibits including colonial art, Tasmanian history and a large Chinese section. The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania is the other popular museum here in Launceston and it covers 100 years of the auto industry.

Boag’s Brewery – One of Australia’s older brewers, J. Boag and Son was established in 1883 in Launceston. Visitors who enjoy a good beer should head to Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers which is situated in the former Tamar Hotel, a Georgian building dating to 1826. Tours of Boag’s Brewery depart from here though prior booking is essential.

These are just a few of the things you can see and do in Launceston. Further Launceston attractions, as well as attractions in the surrounding area, will be covered in our next entry.

For a comprehensive guide to Launceston Accommodation, visit Book it Now.

‘Touring Tasmania - Launceston’ by Claire Bolgil

Scottsdale (Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Owen Hughes)

The medium sized town of Scottsdale is set amongst fertile agricultural lands which meet the higher hills of areas like Mount Scott and Mount Stronach. Bushwalking is a very popular pastime here or there are a number of less strenuous walks available too. The town has a selection of hotels to choose from if you’re staying for more than just the day.

What to See and Do in Scottsdale
Named after the surveyor, James Scott, who first surveyed this area of land in 1855, Scottsdale was established as a farming community because it had, and still does have, some of the most fertile lands on the whole of Tasmania.

Forest EcoCentre – The Forest EcoCentre is run by Forestry Tasmania and is an educational visitor centre established to tell visitors more about the forestry industry on Tasmania. The funny thing is that the forestry industry is somewhat controversial, yet the centre was designed in such as way as to be environmentally friendly. Anyway, entrance is free and you can enjoy the small walkway which takes you around with information about the industry to read along the way.

Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm – Particularly popular during the summer months of December and January when the lavenders are in full bloom and the main attraction is the beautiful fields full of lavender. Guided tours are offered.

Mt Stronach and Mt Scott – Bushwalking up one of both of these hills is popular and the views from the top are worth it! You can see north east Tasmania, and on a clear day even as far as the Furneaux Islands.

Cuckoo Falls – A walk to Cuckoo Falls is also highly recommended. Although not a highly demanding walk it can take about 3 hours return and does involve some inclines. But the view of the falls set in the forest is very pretty.

Shopping and Dining – Although there aren’t huge numbers of shops and restaurants in Scottsdale there are a number of locally owned stores and places to eat. Choose from pies and pasties for a snack, or a restaurant with a full menu if you’re staying for dinner. The art gallery on Alfred Street is a good place to see some locally produced art works and perhaps buy a picture to take home a bit of Tasmania!

Visit Book it Now for a great selection of Scottsdale Accommodation.

‘Touring Tasmania - Scottsdale’ by Claire Bolgil

Flinders Island (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & John de la Roche)

From Gladstone we took the road to Bridport, on Tasmania’s northern coast. Like so many other coastal towns Bridport is a popular summer holiday tourist destination and offers beaches, safe swimming and a whole host of water sports. In 2004 Bridport also became a popular destination for golfers and from the town you can get flights or a ferry service to Flinders Island.

Being a popular tourist town there are a number of hotels and other Bridport accommodation here in if you want to stay a night or two.

Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course
Opened in 2004, the Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course is just outside the town of Bridport. This spectacular course with its coastal location really reminds me of the famous St Andrews Old Course in Scotland, and Barnbougle is quickly establishing itself with an excellent reputation. Within just a few years it has become ranked in the top 50 best golf courses in the world, and it is in fact Australia’s number one public golf course. Golf lovers should definitely bring their clubs!

Flinders Island
Flinders Island is located 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) off the northern tip of Tasmania and is part of the Furneaux group of islands. These islands were discovered in 1773 by Tobias Furneaux, after whom they’re named. Being an island the only ways to get here are by ferry service or there is also a light aircraft service operating out of Bridport.

One of the main attractions of the island is the Strzelecki National Park. Named after a famous Polish explorer, Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki, the park was established in 1967. It is best known for its high numbers of endemic species – these are species which are found only here, so it’s a great place to see many rare and interesting species of plants. There are also a great many animals and bird life here too. The park is also good for hiking, rock climbing and sea kayaking. There are some great Flinders Island accommodation spots too.

From Bridport you can continue along the northern coast to the next major town, George Town which sits on the Tamar River estuary. We have decided to leave George Town for another day, so head south instead to Scottsdale, a medium sized town set in attractive surrounds with a great many bushwalking opportunities!

‘Touring Tasmania - Bridport and Flinders Island’ by Claire Bolgil

Mt William National Park (Photo:Tourism Tasmania and Joe Shemesh)

On leaving St Helens you have a couple of options – stay on the main road (the A3) and head inland towards Scottsdale, or take a detour to the Bay of Fires, or another detour to the far north east and Mount William National Park.

We had heard that the Bay of Fires was a spectacular section of coastline so definitely wanted to visit. Although not on the more beaten tourist path, the Bay of Fires has recently been named the world’s “hottest” travel destination for 2009 by Lonely Planet, so I have a feeling this is about to change!

Bay of Fires
We were advised that the best way to fully enjoy what the Bay of Fires has to offer was to join a four day guided hike. As appealing as this sounded we didn’t have four days to spare so had to make do with a quick visit.

Take the road to Binalong Bay and enjoy the views here first. Just north of Binalong Bay is the beginning of the Bay of Fires which stretches all the way north to Eddystone Point and there is a minor road which takes you a little further up the bay.

The Bay of Fires features amazing white sandy beaches, the most wonderful blue waters and lichen-covered rocks which, with their red colour, look almost as though they’ve been painted! The area also has a diverse ecology and much wildlife.

Mount William National Park
From the Bay of Fires we travelled back on ourselves to the A3 in order to take another minor road, the C843. This is a gravel road which takes you up to Eddystone Point in the Mount William National Park.

This is another destination where you could easily spend several days attempting to see everything the park has to offer. There is camping here, for example, and attractions include a multitude of wildlife – the park is a sanctuary for the Forester kangaroo as well as wombats and Tasmanian pademelons, echidnas, brush-tailed possums and more. Birds include kookaburras, yellow-tailed black cockatoos and albatrosses.

Gladstone
If you leave the park on the C843 but in the opposite direction from which you came you will shortly arrive at the tiny town of Gladstone.

This was once a bustling town, spurred on in 1870 by the mining of tin nearby. Now there is little more than a general store, one hotel and a police station, but the town remains the major entry point to the Mt William National Park, so tourism keeps it going.

If you’d like to spend some time here there is plenty of opportunity for bushwalking in the area and Gladstone’s cemeteries provide an interesting glimpse into the town’s past. There are many graves of Chinese miners who were attracted to the area.

For a great selection of Far North East Tasmania Accommodation, visit Book it Now.

‘Touring Tasmania - Tasmania’s Far North East’ by Claire Bolgil

Bay of Fires (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & Glenn Gibson)

One of the more major towns on the Eastern Coast of Tasmania, St Helens has grown from a small fishing village into a popular tourist town and has built a reputation as the ‘game fishing capital of Tasmania’. The fact that St Helens has a nice selection of hotels was our main influence for stopping here for the night, as we can’t claim to be big on game fishing!

What to See and Do in St Helens
St Helens was named after the English town of St Helens, on the Isle of Wight, and was established as a whaling base in the early 1800’s. By the 1870’s it had grown into a small shipping port in order to ship out the tin which had been discovered nearby. Now St Helens is primarily a tourist destination, though fishing and timber are other important sectors too, the warm microclimate experienced here makes St Helens a pleasant destination in both summer and winter.

Local History Room – St Helens own little museum gives visitors further insight into the tin mining which helped to develop the region. As a result of the tin mining, many Chinese people were attracted to the area, and you can find out more about them as well as the Aboriginals of the region.

Water Based Activities – With lovely sandy beaches and the calm waters of Georges Bay, St Helens is a great place to enjoy swimming and relaxing on the beach, and with 50 kilometres (31 miles) of coastline there’s enough space for everyone! For a little more activity try fishing, whether it’s game fishing or a more casual kind – Scamander River is renowned for its bream, for example. Surfing is also another popular pastime here in St Helens.

Restaurants and Hotels – Considering the huge influx of tourists into St Helens, you would expect there might be more in the way of restaurants and places to stay, though these are actually fairly limited. If you are planning to stay in St Helens, make sure you book your hotel well in advance as demand is high and space is limited. Make sure you visit Book it Now for your St Helens accommodation.

In terms of restaurants there are a number available, several of which are attached to the hotels and motels. With so much fishing around St Helens, seafood should feature highly – the town is most famous for its scallops, crayfish, flounder and abalone, so look out for these!

‘Touring Tasmania - St Helens’ by Claire Bolgil