Originally called the Tasmanian Cottage Industry Exhibition and Craft Fair, the inaugural Tasmanian Craft Fair was organised by the local Rotary Club in 1981. That first year, around 3000 attended the event. Considered a success, organisers decided to make it a yearly event. Today, the numbers of visitors has swelled to over 30,000 and is growing exponentially. Between the 4th and the 7th of November 2011, over 240 exhibitors will be displaying their skills and their completed arts and crafts to what is expected to be a record number of visitors from all over Australia and the world.

There couldn’t be a better setting for a crafts exhibition. The countryside around Deloraine is just beautiful and the lifestyle of the town’s inhabitants reflects their creativity and hands-on approach to life.  There is something poetic about the town, which may help explain why its name comes from a poem by Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel. First explored in 1823 by Captain Rowland and settled shortly thereafter, Deloraine’s first claim to fame was when it was linked by rail to Launceston in 1873, making it part of Tasmania’s first railway line.

You can encapsulate the Deloraine lifestyle in a single word: healthy. 41 Degrees South is just one example of a local business that manages to make a living from the land without exploiting or damaging the environment. So passionate is this company about the environment, they have found a way to use the wetlands surrounding their property without interfering with the environment. In fact, they love to share their surroundings with visitors, who can take nature tours of the property that include close-up looks at platypus thriving in their natural environment and indigenous frog and bird species living unmolested and unharmed by their commercial activities.

41 Degrees South is just one local business that lives in harmony with its surroundings. Others include two honey farms, a renowned Tasmanian cheese factory and a raspberry farm where you can enjoy fresh raspberries and cream. In fact, in just about any restaurant you go to in Deloraine, you will enjoy fresh food from Deloraine and the surrounding countryside. After your meal, you will be ready for a relaxing stroll around the historic village, stopping now and then to see what’s inside its numerous art galleries, antique, gift and other fascinating shops.

If you want to attend the Tasmanian Craft Fair, book your Deloraine accommodation in advance, to avoid disappointment. Do yourself a favour and give yourself a few extra days to get to know Deloraine after the crowds have left. After the excitement of the fair, you’ll love having some time to get to know the town at your leisure.

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