Tasmania is noted for its numerous historic 19th Century colonial towns. However, it has been said that Ross is the most beautiful of all. It therefore attracts a number of visitors, but it has not been excessively affected by tourism. Its tranquil ambiance is enhanced by the fact that the main highway between Hobart and Launceston bypasses it.

The town has a unique English atmosphere which is evident by its numerous sandstone buildings. They are evocative of those found in the Cotswold area and north Oxfordshire in England. Ross is often referred to as ‘the town preserved in aspic’ and its charming vistas have remained unchanged for centuries.

A landmark feature is the imposing stone bridge that was constructed by convicts in 1836. It still stands strong and is one of the three oldest bridges in Australia. The other two were also erected by convicts but Ross Bridge is more remarkable because two stonemasons by trade were part of the team of convict builders.

There is a protected area for swans and ducks on one side of the bridge. On the other side, you will find a popular fishing area where you can try your luck at catching an elusive trout. Another tourist attraction is Somercot’s Cottage just a couple of kilometres outside the town. Built in 1840 by Captain Samuel Horton, it features an impressive 20 paned French window and a cobbled courtyard.

You will find plenty of fascinating sights in Church Street. The town has 40 historic buildings and, of these, 22 are found in Church Street. Step back in time by taking a drive to Uniting Church at the end of the street, then take a leisurely walk back. On the way, stop in at the various specialty shops offering all sorts of collectibles like jewellery, crafts, antiques, china, furniture, and pottery.

See some splendid examples of colonial architecture such as St John’s Church of England. It was built in 1868 and is still home to a functioning 100 year-old organ. This building is well-known for its amazing stained glass windows, a unique stone pulpit, and an oak lectern.

Church Street is also home to the Tasmanian Wool Centre which specializes in distinctive, quality products manufactured with locally produced wool. Visit the Wool Exhibition in the centre and see beautiful displays of fine garments and wool samples. Afterwards, stroll around the gift shop that offers a variety of Tasmanian crafts, clothing, wool, and blankets.

If you are looking for an Australian getaway that is both restful and interesting, Ross should definitely be on your shortlist. This lovely town has resisted the lures of commercialism and kept its aesthetic tranquillity and beauty. Ross Accommodation options are varied and include camping sites, caravan parks, cabins, cottages, apartments, guesthouses, Bed and Breakfasts, inns, and hotels.

Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park (Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Geoff Murray)

Having headed back along the north coast of Tasmania, Devonport was a good place to stop for another night as there are a good many hotels here to choose from. We were ultimately heading towards Cradle Mountain but had heard about some interesting little towns along the way which we decided to visit after spending the night in Devonport.

Latrobe
The town of Latrobe is just 8 kilometres (5 miles) south east of Devonport. This part of Tasmania was first settled in 1861 and was named for Charles Joseph Latrobe, administrator of the colony of Tasmania. From a tourist’s point of view the best thing about Latrobe is the historic streets and interesting antique shops. One store which Latrobe is famous for is the House of Anvers where you can sample and buy delicious chocolate truffles, pralines and more, all made to authentic Belgian recipes.

Sheffield
Sheffield is best known for being ‘The Town of Murals’. When Sheffield was a town in decline, local Brian Inder had the idea of making it into a town of murals and Sheffield has since been thriving as the murals have become a popular Tasmanian tourist attraction.

There are over 30 murals to view around the town, each depicting periods in history or special occasions. Take a tour around the whole town to see them all as they are all great works of art. Also take time to admire the views of nearby Mount Roland.

Tasmazia
About 15 minutes drive from Sheffield is one of the area’s top tourist attractions. Again instigated by Brian Inder, Tasmazia is a fun attraction for all the family. The complex consists of a total of 8 mazes, making it the largest maze complex in the world!

The Great Maze is reputedly the largest maze in the world, whilst you can also enjoy a replica of the famous Hampton Court Palace Maze plus several others.

Also at Tasmazia is the ‘Village of Lower Crackpot’! This is a whimsical village, not a real one, and is built to a scale of 1/5th. The village is a lot of fun to view and interesting to boot! Other attractions at Tasmazia include the Pancake Parlour, a Lavender Farm, Gift Shop and more.

Cradle Mountain
About 40 minutes drive on from Tasmazia is Cradle Mountain. Cradle Valley has an assortment of accommodation to choose from. We were advised to spend a couple of nights at least in the area to be able to make the most of Cradle Mountain and all the great scenery around here.

There is some fantastic Cradle Mountain accommodation and Western Wilderness accommodation to suit every need.

‘Touring Tasmania – Devonport to Cradle Mountain’ – by Claire Bolgil

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

Wineglass Bay

At the gateway to the Freycinet Peninsula is the small town of Coles Bay. With its permanent population of less than 500 people, the town swells under the pressure of thousands of tourists visiting each year. But the town is well prepared for this large influx of people and there are a number of hotels and other places to stay in Coles Bay for those who want to spend more than just the day here, which is of course highly recommended!

What to See and Do in Coles Bay

Although many visitors are passing through Coles Bay in order to enter the Freycinet National Park, the town does also offer its own attractions.

Stunning views are just one of the advantages of Coles Bay – looking out across Great Oyster Bay, though the most impressive views are of The Hazards. The Hazards are a series of red and pink granite peaks and are situated on the Freycinet Peninsula, though Coles Bay affords some of the best views of them.

With all this natural beauty surrounding Coles Bay this makes a great location for outdoor enthusiasts – activities such as boating, kayaking, hiking, climbing, fishing and biking are all hugely popular around here.

What to See and Do in Freycinet National Park

Situated on the Freycinet Peninsula, which was named after the French explorer Louis de Freycinet, is the Freycinet National Park. Founded in 1916, it, along with Mount Field National Park, is the oldest national park in Tasmania.

Visitors to the park can enter in their vehicles, and you don’t have too much time available for exploring the car is probably the best way to get around. However, this will mean you miss one of the best beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay!

Wineglass Bay – Only accessible by boat or by a fairly lengthy hike, Wineglass Bay is certainly worth the effort required to get here! Visitors to this sweeping bay would be forgiven for thinking they had arrived on a tropical island as it features gorgeous sandy beaches and azure blue waters. If you can manage the hike all the way down to the bay this is a wonderful place to spend a few hours enjoying the beach and the waters, before heading back.

Depending on your walking speed, the hike all the way to Wineglass Bay is about 3 hours return. For those who don’t wish to spend this much time walking you can take the same route but stop at the viewing point. From here, which is about an hour’s walk, you get the most amazing views of the bay and for many people the views are more spectacular than experiencing the bay close up!

Other Walks – There are a good many other walks available in Freycinet National Park as well; some longer and some shorter than the one to Wineglass Bay. If you don’t have much time to spend here or perhaps don’t have the ability to walk too far there are a number of much shorter walks, such as 5 minutes to the Friendly Beaches Scenic Lookout.

Scenic Drives – Of course there’s also the option to see the park from the comfort of your car and there are scenic drives you can try, though be aware that often you will have to park and walk a little way to get to your destination anyway. Take the road to Cape Tourville, just after the Freycinet Lodge, to a car park 6.4 km in and from here there’s a boardwalk along the cliff which gives you wonderful views as well as taking you to the lighthouse.

Visitor Centre – Be sure to visit the >Freycinet National Park visitor centre as there is lots of information on all aspects of the park to be seen here plus you can pick up information on walks, wildlife and other attractions you can experience within the park.

Freycinet National Park Accommodation – Camping is restrictively permitted in the park, though has to be planned a long way in advance. Basically applications are received for a ballot, and successful campers are chosen randomly, so just turning up with your tent is not going to get you a pitch!

Other than camping there is the Freycinet Lodge. This is luxury accommodation situated just inside the park boundary, and although the location and the accommodation is stunning there is a hefty price tag to go with it!

There is plenty of other great Coles Bay accommodation and other Freycinet accommodation which you can browse through on Book it Now.

‘Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula’ by Claire Bolgil

View of East Coast of Tasmania

This coastal drive between Orford and the Freycinet Peninsula gives travellers some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the whole of Australia. This is the kind of journey which should be savoured and remembered for years to come, therefore we hadn’t set ourselves any time limits; we planned to amble along, stopping at places where it was safe to do so and taking in the wonderful views around us. Here are some of the features, both natural and man-made, to be seen on this leg of the journey:

Great Oyster Bay
There are numerous spots long the way from where you can get fantastic views of the expansive Great Oyster Bay. This is a huge sweeping bay, spreading across to the Freycinet Peninsula and has the town of Swansea at the eastern end and Coles Bay at the western end. Great Oyster Bay is actually farmed for oysters and other shellfish and marine vegetables.

Berry Farms and Wineries
Onwards towards Swansea you have the opportunity to stock up on local berries and wine supplies, as there are a number of wineries and berry farms just outside Swansea. Kate’s Berry Farm is a highly recommended stop on your tour because not only do you get to sample the different berry products made here you can sit and admire the great view.

Wineries in the area include Freycinet, Coombend and Apsley Gorge and you might be pleasantly surprised by the different palate you’ll experience with these cool climate wines.

Spiky Bridge
When you see Spiky Bridge it’s easy to understand why it’s called this, but why it was built like this is not as apparent!

Located 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles) from Swansea, Spiky Bridge was built by convicts (like so many other structures on Tasmania) in the early 1840’s. On either side of the bridge the edges have randomly sized spikes of rock sticking up out of them, which have been set into the mortar. We couldn’t figure out whether this was done for decoration and was part of the original design, or whether it was done this way for another reason entirely. One theory though, is that these spikes were put here to stop cattle falling of the bridge!

For all you East Coast accommodation requirements including Orford accommodation and Swansea accommodation, visit Book it Now for a great selection and great rates.

‘Orford to Swansea’ by Claire Bolgil

Sandstone formations on Maria Island

Maria Island is a small mountainous island situated off the East Coast of Tasmania and for such a compact place it has quite a varied and interesting history! Now though, the whole of Maria Island is a national park and a popular destination for eco tourists, though there are some things you will need to know before planning your visit to the island.

Getting To Maria Island
There is only one way to get to Maria Island and that’s by boat. The Maria Island Ferry departs from the town of Triabunna, the largest town on Tasmania’s East Coast, 6km (3.75 miles) north of Orford. You can buy tickets and check the sailing schedule at the Triabunna Visitor Centre but please note, this is not a large ferry so advance bookings are essential to guarantee your place. Also note that the ferry does not sail every day and the schedule changes according to the time of year, usually though there are two sailings to Maria Island and two sailings back.

Getting Around Maria Island
Maria Island is a national park and hence nobody lives on the island, the only inhabitants are the rangers who look after the place. There are no vehicles on the island. This means the only way to get around is on foot or by bicycle. Bicycles are not available for rent on the island so you’ll need to bring your own (or rent them from Hobart) and these can be brought over on the ferry for an additional charge on top of your fare.

Staying on Maria Island
There are no hotels here! If you want to stay on the island (and this is recommended to fully appreciate it) you’ll have to camp in one of the campsites or you can stay in the converted and very basic Penitentiary! These buildings give you a roof over your head, some heat, bunk beds and mattresses and a picnic table. There is no electricity or cooking facilities though toilets and showers are located nearby. Despite the somewhat primitive accommodation, these rooms (which sleep from 6 to 14 people) get booked up a long way in advance. It must be the novelty factor!

Also be aware that there are no shops, restaurants or other services and facilities here on Maria Island, so this means you’ll have to bring everything you need with you. If you’re here just for the day obviously some food and drink are the main things to remember, though if you’re camping or staying at the Penitentiary you’ll have to remember bedding, food and cooking utensils too.

A History of Maria Island
As mentioned above, Maria Island has quite an interesting and varied history, remnants of which can still be seen today.

Maria Island was named by Abel Tasman after Anthony van Dieman’s wife, Maria, in 1642. It wasn’t until 1825 that Maria’s Island became inhabited and was established, like much of this region of Tasmania, as a penal colony. Several of the buildings from this era can still be seen here today – the Commissariat Store built in 1825 and the Penitentiary completed in 1830.

The opening of Port Arthur in 1830 was one reason why it was decided to abandon the penal colony in 1832, yet ten years on a second convict era began, this time lasting eight years until 1850. Following this the island remained abandoned until 1884 when an enterprising Italian named Diego Bernacchi decided to try his luck with several projects.

The original settlement of Darlington was renamed San Diego and soon had over 250 residents. He set up a small cement works then built the Grand Hotel in 1888 with the intention of establishing a pleasure resort. Several other buildings were constructed, though in so doing they used bricks from some of the former penal colony buildings, losing some of the heritage of Maria Island along the way. Although the resort was popular, Bernacchi’s Maria Island Company went into liquidation and following the collapse of his cement business also, he and his family left in 1896.

From the 1920’s Bernacchi gave Maria Island another try! Again the settlement began to thrive and the cement works were started up, but again there were problems. A number of other buildings were built during this time, though by 1930 the island’s industrial age had ended. Farming took over and Maria Island was still being farmed until 1972 when it was declared a national park. Unfortunately naivety meant that the cement works were demolished prior to the island becoming a national park – it wasn’t considered that these were historically significant at this time, so more of Maria Island’s heritage was lost.

What to See and Do on Maria Island
Darlington – Maria Island’s only ‘town’ is Darlington. The ferry from Triabunna docks here and you can still see remnants of the different periods in the island’s history. These include remains of the convict settlement as well as buildings from Bernacchi’s time on the island.

The Painted Cliffs – The Painted Cliffs are beautiful sandstone cliffs which have been eroded to form attractive patterns. The reason why they are called the Painted Cliffs is because they have been stained by iron oxide seeping through the sandstone.

The Fossil Cliffs – The Fossil Cliffs are quite different as these are limestone though what makes these so interesting are the abundant ancient fossils which have been preserved in the rock.

Mount Maria – The highest point on Maria Island is Mount Maria, standing 711 metres high. A popular hike is to the summit, though this can take 6 to 7 hours return from Darlington so isn’t feasible if you’re only here for a day trip. Bicycles are not permitted on this mountain track and also the track going up Bishop and Clerk Mountain, so the only way up is by foot.

Haunted Bay – On the southern part of Maria Island (which is joined to the northern end by an isthmus) is Haunted Bay. This is about 20km (12.5 miles) from Darlington on a track, so bicycling this distance should be relatively easy for most. If you visit in the evening you’ll find out why it’s called Haunted Bay, and no it’s not because of ghosts! The Fairy Penguins who live here have a haunting sounding call which is most heard in the evenings.

Encampment Cove – Encampment Cove is 13km (8 miles) from Darlington. Visitors to Maria Island who are coming by private boat often dock here and about a kilometre on from the cove are the ruins from the second convict colonial era at Point Lesueur.

Beaches, Swimming and Diving – There are several excellent beaches on Maria Island which are suitable for relaxing or for swimming. Diving is also popular and there is a sunken trader, called the Troy D, which was purposely sunk in 2007 to create a dive site. This is located 1.7km (1 mile) west southwest of the Painted Cliffs.

Wildlife and Marine Life – Because of Maria Island’s national park status it has meant this has become somewhat of a haven for wildlife. In addition some of the surrounding waters are within an important marine protected area.

For places to stay on the East Coast of Tasmania before and after your trip to Maria Island, visit Book it Now.

‘Maria Island National Park’ by Claire Bolgil