On the Tasman Highway (which connects Launceston with the eastern coast) 70 kilometres north-east of Launceston, Scottsdale is a large town supporting some of Tasmania's most productive pastoral and forestry country. The town's friendly atmosphere and wide range of services and accommodation make it a great rural retreat, and garden enthusiasts will love the Bridestowe Lavender Farm, especially during December and January when the hillsides are ablaze with purple. From Scottsdale, it's another 33 kilometres west before the Tasman Highway reaches the charming old township of Derby. So numerous are the historical buildings brought about by its tin mining heyday, the entire town has been classified by the National Trust. Some of the old mine buildings now form part of the interesting Derby Tin Mine Centre, a museum which features a reconstructed mining shanty town, as well as various displays of old photographs and mining implements. Many of Derby's other 19th century buildings and shops are also worth a look, now housing a range of galleries and craft outlets.

38 kilometres further down the Tasman Highway towards the coast, the tiny rural community of Pyengana marks the turn-off to the St Columbia Falls. Well worthy of the 13 kilometre detour, the falls are thought to be Tasmania's highest, dumping up to 200 000 litres of water over a ninety metre drop every minute. The best vantage point to view this amazing spectacle is from the platform at the base of the falls, accessible via a ten minute walk from the carpark. While in the area, it always fun to have a beer St Columbia Falls Hotel, a unique watering hole better known as the Pub in the Paddock.

Back on the main highway and travelling east, it's only another 26 kilometres before the road touches the eastern coast at the popular holiday resort of St Helens. The largest town this side of the island, St Helens has long been visited by landlocked Tasmanians looking to capitalise on the area's mild climate and excellent swimming, boating and fishing opportunities (a good range of charters can be hired). Lovers of fine food will also be happy to know that the town's other big drawcard is seafood. Within hours of its huge fishing fleet returning home, the local specialities of lobster and scalefish can be sampled in St Helens' renowned seafood restaurants.

Set on a string of superb white beaches 20 kilometres south of St Helens, Scamander is another frequented holiday destination enjoying Tasmania's stunning eastern coast. Although considerably smaller than its northern neighbour, the township is well developed and offers a good choice of places to stay. Just inland from the coast 17 kilometres south of Scamander, St Marys is a quaint little country town, lying at the junction of the Tasman Highway and Esk Main Road. Visitors to St Marys are either here to soak in the charming rural atmosphere, or to eat at the world famous Mount Elephant Pancake Barn, set amidst spectacular scenery only minutes south of town.

National Parks

In the remote top corner of North East Tasmania, the little known Mt William National Park is an important wildlife reserve, brimming with common species like wallabies, echidnas and wombats, as well as rarer native animals like the Forester kangaroo (Tasmania's only kangaroo), spotted-tail quolls, and the Tasmanian devil. The park's landscape consists of gentle, undulating hills, fringed by rugged headlands and beautiful white beaches, perfect for swimming, fishing, and diving. Bushwalking is obviously the other main activity, and treks include a hike to the breathtaking views at the summit of Mt William itself. Built in the 1890's, the impressive lighthouse at Eddystone Point is another great photo opportunity.

Access to both the northern and southern stretches of Mt William National Park can be gained via the small town of Gladstone, 135 kilometres north-east of Lauceston. For those planning an extended stay, Gladstone is only good for accommodation on a limited basis, but well-equipt campers can utilise Mt William's basic, but scenically positioned campgrounds. (for more information see Campgrounds under Accommodation)

Closer to Launceston, the less remote Ben Lomond National Park is one of Tasmania's two main skiing destinations, encompassing the entire Ben Lomond Range. During the ski season, the moderate slopes offer both downhill and cross-country skiing (at around half the cost of similar setups on the mainland), and services at the park's alpine village include a kiosk, restaurant, ski and snowboard hire, and a cosy tavern with accommodation. Should you be in the area when the slopes are green rather than white, the park's striking mountainous scenery is still well worthy of exploration, especially in Spring when the countryside is blanketed in wildflowers.

Situated on the Bass Highway thirty five kilometres west of Launceston, Westbury is an quaint historic town with a distinct English flavour. Dating back as early as 1828, Westbury's grand old buildings are the source of much of it's appeal, particularly the stately White House on King Street. Set alongside the town's uncommon village green, the White House contains an extensive colonial museum featuring antique furnishings, vintage cars, and an incredible collection of 19th century toys. Following in the theme, Westbury's other main attractions include a working assortment of steam train locomotives at Pearn's Steam World, and the very British Westbury Maze, a challenging and well-kept hedge maze on the outskirts of town.

Another 16 kilometres further west of Westbury, Deloraine is Tasmania's largest inland town, beautifully set on the Meander River and the gentle foothills of the rugged Great Western Tiers. Originally settled in 1830, Deloraine has many surviving Georgian and Victorian buildings which are best seen on foot. The ideal place to begin your self-guided tour is the Folk Museum (doubles as the tourist office) on Emu Bar Road, ending with a stroll in the superb riverside parklands towards the centre of town.

Apart from the town's fine buildings, the Deloraine community is equally renowned for its vigorous enthusiasm towards arts and crafts. The locals not only display their quality wares in the town's numerous galleries and craft outlets, but host what is claimed to be Australia's largest working craft fair, held early November every year. So popular is the event, that the town's great range of accommodation is usually booked out well in advance. For those that can't make it in November, markets are held at the showground on the first Sunday of every month.

On the coast north of Deloraine, Port Sorell is a small but popular holiday town, overlooking the wide estuary of the Rubicon River. Although the township can boast a mild climate nearly all year round, most visitors arrive in the warmer months, looking to enjoy the great fishing, boating, and swimming conditions on offer around the estuary. A favourite spot is Hawley Beach, an isolated sandy stretch accessible via a pleasant, three kilometre walk to the north of town. On the opposite side of the estuary, more picturesque and deserted beaches can be found within the Narawntapu National Park, the area's other major drawcard. The park also provides the breeding grounds for a colony of fairy penguins, as well as protecting a diverse variety of other fauna including seabirds, kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, and large battalions of soldier crabs. A number of well signposted walking tracks traversing the park give visitors a great chance of spotting more than their fair share of wildlife, especially the Springlawn Nature Walk which takes trekkers over a wetland area (via an elevated boardwalk) to a bird hide.

If you can't arrange a boat ride across to the park from Port Sorell, land access is available off the West Tamar Highway, near the pretty little holiday destination of Beauty Point. Located 48 kilometres north-west of Launceston on the mighty Tamar River, the town was primarily established to ship the healthy amounts of gold being extracted from the nearby Cabbage Creek Hill gold mine, though current day activities sees Beauty Point being frequented by fishermen and sailors. If you don't have your own boat or yacht moored at the marina, Tamar Boat Hire & Cruises will tailor make a tour of the Tamar's superb waterways to suit your tastes (see Tours & Trips under Things To Do).

Five kilometres directly south of Beauty Point, Beaconsfield is the new name of this quiet town formerly known as Cabbage Creek Hill. The streetscape of this once thriving gold-mining town is dominated by the impressive ruins of three of the original mine buildings, two of which now house the Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum, Beaconsfield's main attraction. The museum features numerous hands-on and interactive exhibits, as well as working mining models, a restored miner's cottage, and various displays filled with artefacts from the era.

If travelling to Tasmania by sea, chances are your first port of call will be Devonport. Apart from the Devil Cat ferry which runs between George Town and Melbourne in the warmer months (see adjacent section), the only other vessel operating between the island and the mainland is the much larger Spirit of Tasmania. Resembling more of a cruise liner than a ferry, the Spirit of Tasmania leaves Melbourne for Devonport's Mersey River terminal on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and vice versa on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. (For additional information see Getting Here on the Tasmanian Homepage)

On Arriving in Devonport, many travellers get put off by the city's industrial facade, leaving immediately for other parts of the island. Don't make the same mistake, as Devonport not only makes an excellent base for exploring the picturesque north-west stretches of Tasmania (there are some superb wilderness tour companies based here), but also hosts a number of attractions worthy of a visit in their own right. Known as Tiagarra (the Aboriginal word for "keep"), the Tasmanian Aboriginal Culture and Art Centre is one such attraction, overlooking the city from the prominent Mersey Bluff headland. Tiagarra features a one kilometre circuit walk to over 250 rare Aboriginal rock engravings, as well as various displays of local artefacts and exhibits explaining traditional lifestyles. While on the headland, the impressive views across the town, river and coast make for an excellent photo opportunity, as does the Bluff's historic white and red striped lighthouse.

Closer to the city centre, the recently expanded Tasmanian Maritime and Folk Museum is a must for history buffs, showcasing a vast collection of local memorabilia as well as numerous model ships. Sweet tooths should get a kick out of the Anvers Confectionery Tasting Centre, while Art lovers will prefer the Devonport Gallery and Arts Centre, housed in a lovely old church on Stewart Street. On the outskirts of Devonport, highlights include the Forest Glen Tea Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, as well as scenic rides aboard the Don River Railway and Museum's various vintage trains.

Following the Mersey River less than ten kilometres inland from Devonport is the historic township of Latrobe. Latrobe was once a bustling shipyard town, though these days it only gets busy on Sundays for its markets, and during December when it hosts one of Australia's biggest cycling events. The town's enclave of classic 1840's buildings and shop fronts (some National Trust classified) are worth exploring any time of year.

27 kilometres south of Latrobe, the little farming community of Sheffield boasts some of the most picturesque surroundings in the state. Besides being encircled by the lush, English looking agricultural district known as the Kentish Plains, the town is set on the foothills of the majestic Mount Roland, a peak which changes hue as the day progresses. Sheffield itself is just as visually appealing, as local scenery and history have become the subject of over 35 colourful murals, painted on various public walls throughout the town.

On the outskirts of Sheffield near the national rowing centre of Lake Barrington and the proudly named rural village of Promised Land, the Tasmazia tourist centre makes for an interesting detour, claiming to have the largest maze in the world. The area's numerous waterways are is also a fishermans delight, renowned for their healthy stocks of brown and rainbow trout.

Directly south of Sheffield, Mole Creek is a small town serving the surrounding dairy and forestry district. Mole Creek also supports an industry unique to the township, that of the world's only leatherwood honey factory. This distinctive, aromatic honey is made by bees gathering pollen from the leatherwood tree, a species found solely in the rainforests of western Tasmania. Stephens' Tasmanian Honey Factory on Pioneer Drive allows visitors to view the honey-making process from extraction to finished product, and of course tastings and sales are available. Mole Creek's other major attraction lies on the outskirts of town within Mole Creek Karst National Park. The park protects one of Tasmania's most amazing limestone cave systems, two of which are open to the public for guided tours. King Solomons Cave is is the smaller of the two caves, famous for its glittering calcite crystals and strikingly coloured stalagmites and stalactites. It's larger neighbour Marakoopa Cave, features lucid subterranean pools and streams, as well as an extraordinary glow-worm display. Those that wish to take the caving experience to the next level should contact Wild Cave Tours (see Tours & Trips under Things To Do).

On the opposite side of Mole Creek to the caves, the privately owned Trowunna Wildlife Park is one of the best in the state, featuring a menagerie of Australian fauna in their natural surroundings. The parks most popular drawcards are its koalas, kangaroos and feisty Tasmanian devils.

The Tasmanian Trail

The Tasmanian Trail is a 477 kilometre track which winds its way from Devonport in the north, all the to Dover in the south. Accessible to bushwalkers, horseriders, and mountain bikers, the trail passes through a variety of landscapes including highland plateaus, farmlands, and spectacular wild forrests, making it one of the most exciting ways to experience what Tasmania has to offer.

Less than 20 kilometres west of Devonport, Ulverstone is a large seaside town, set scenically at the mouth of the beautiful River Leven. Established as a timber town in 1852, Ulverstone now supports the surrounding farming district, as well as an ever increasing stream of tourists, eager to appreciate the area's laid back atmosphere and natural attractions. For this reason, the town is well equipt with tourist facilities and shopping, including an array of quality waterfront accommodation, as well as numerous antique stores and art and craft outlets. The town also holds a colourful weekend market twice a month.

Approximately 30 kilometres inland from Ulverstone, the first of the region's must see natural attractions are the spectacular caves at Gunns Plains. Guided tours to the cave's many underground wonders leave on the hour between 10am and 4pm everyday. While in the Gunn Plains area, animal lovers can check out the cold-blooded collection and farmyard menagerie at the Wings Creek Farm and Reptile Centre. Directly south of Gunns Plains near the township of Nietta, the stunning wilderness and breathtaking scenery of Leven Canyon is also well worthy of exploration.

Back on the coast, halfway between Ulverstone and the aptly named coastal hamlet of Penguin, is another of the district's renowned ecological drawcards. Especially during late Spring and Summer, Little, or Fairy penguins can be seen surfing ashore as they return to their burrows each evening. The town of Penguin itself is home to some lovely old timber buildings and churches, as well as several sandy beaches which entice holiday makers in the warmer months. There's also some scenic walks around Mount Montgomery and the Ferndene Gorge Nature Reserve to the south of town. To prove you've been here, you can have your photo taken with the Big Penguin on Main Street.

Following the coastline 20 kilometres west of Penguin, the commercial port of Burnie has grown into Tasmania's fourth largest city, thanks predominantly to the enormous shipping and paper industries based here. Tourist wise, there are a number of attractions in town worth a visit, particularly the Pioneer Village Museum next to the Civic Plaza. The museum is a cleverly recreated streetscape of 19th century buildings and shop fronts, allowing visitors to step back in time for a moment. The numerous stores include a boot maker, printer, and blacksmith's shop. Close by, the wildlife reserve and landscaped gardens of Bernie Park make a great spot for a stroll or picnic, and coffee can be sipped from the cafe housed in the colonial setting of Bernie Inn. Other highlights within the city limits include the Burnie Regional Art Gallery and tastings at the Lactos Tasmania Cheese factory.

On the outskirts of Bernie, industry gives way to attractive, undulating countryside, consisting of fertile fields and remnant bushland. Walks along the picturesque Emu River in the Fernglade Reserve is one of the hinterland's highlights, as is the Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens, especially in Spring. Further inland near the tiny township of Ridgley, the stunning Guide Falls are also worth a look.

Just off the Bass Highway midway along Tasmania's north-west coast, Wynyard is a medium sized town, supporting the local farming and fishing industries. Although there's not much to see in Wynyard itself, the good range of accommodation makes it an ideal base to visit the areas varied attractions. The closest ones to town include the shell fossils at Fossil Bluff, as well as the lighthouse, tulip farm, and breathtaking views at Table Cape.

Following the Bass Highway 14 kilometres west of Wynyard, the delightful fishing hamlet of Boat Harbour Beach is set on a pristine sandy bay, bordered by rocky headlands on each side. The bay's exceptionally clear water is ideal for snorkelling and swimming, and dropping in a line is generally no waste of time either. A little further up the coast, another stunning white beach perfect for swimming and fishing can be found within the Rocky Cape National Park. Sisters Beach is an isolated, eight kilometre expanse of glistening sand, lapped by waters as crystal as its eastern neighbour. Other features of the national park include Aboriginal caves and middens, as well as an excellent 10 hectare bird sanctuary devoted to native species.

Another 50 kilometres west of Boat Harbour Beach lies Stanley, a major highlight of the North West Tasmanian coast. The village was first settled way back in 1826 as the headquarters for the Van Diemen Land Company (VDL), a London based company with the specific purpose of developing the region. Aided by the area's rich agricultural and farming land, it wasn't long before Stanley began to prosper, shipping much of its produce to the heavy demands made by the thriving Victorian goldfields. Today there are many splendid reminders of Stanley's early prominence still lining the streets, earning the entire town a National Trust classification. Some of the finest colonial buildings can be found at the Highfield Historic Site, just north of the village. The site is home to VDL's old headquarters and bluestone bond stores, as well as a grand old homestead complete with outbuildings, built for a company official in the 1830's. In town, other historic buildings worth a look include Lyons Cottage, the birthplace of Tasmania's only Australian Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, and the Van Diemen Land Company Store, which is now an arts and crafts centre.

Although Stanley's multitude of quaint historical buildings are very appealing, the village derives much of its beauty from its amazing setting. Perched on slim spit of sand overlooking azure bays on either side, the township is overshadowed by an enormous rocky headland known as The Nut. This ancient volcanic outcrop lurches more than 150 metres out of the ocean, creating not only an impressive backdrop for the town, but a landmark that can be seen from miles around. Although it's a steep, 20 minute ascent to the top of The Nut (the less ambitious can catch a cable car), the views from countless lookouts at the summit are nothing short of sensational.