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North East Tasmania

North Eastern Tasmania Drive: One of Australia's great drives, it visits just about every destination previewed here.

Launceston: A small (by world standards), rather sleepy provincial city nestled in pleasant hilly countryside, Launceston is the largest centre of population in Northern Tasmania and the second largest city in the island state after Hobart.

Tamar Valley: The Tamar River estuary meanders for 58 kilometres through areas of vineyards, orchards, pastures and forests, its rural and riverside settings which have been likened to those of the Rhine Valley in Europe. The Valley is also known for its regional gourmet produce, including fruits, vegetables, cheeses andb pinot and riesling variety wines.

Pipers River wine region: with its red basalt soil and a cool climate moderated by the proximity of Bass Strait, this small but significant boutique wine region was established in 1974. With a climate close to that of Champagne in France, it is known simply as ‘Sparkling Tasmania’. Many of Tasmania’s premium sparkling wines originate here. It is particularly suited to the aromatic white varieties.

Evandale: a classified historic town, it is a storehouse of superb Georgian heritage buildings which remain in largely original condition. Evandale hosts the Australian National Penny Farthing Championships in February each year. Evandale is an agricultural and administrative centre located on a knoll rising from highly modified plains.

Longford: a quiet, inland locality that has been classified as an historic town, Longford is located close to Launceston in a farming district noted for its wool, dairy produce and stock breeding.

Ross: believed by many to be the most beautiful historic town in Tasmania, Ross was an important stopover point between Launceston and Hobart in colonial times. One of the most attractive aspects of Ross is that it has not been overly corrupted by modern tourism - the Midland Highway by-passes Ross, thus preserving the original, sleepy character of the town.

Campbell Town: once one of the early coaching stops between Launceston and Hobart, Campbell Town is nestled on the banks of the Elizabeth River on the main road between Hobart and Launceston. The town has an impressive collection of colonial buildings from the Georgian era.

Bridport: a small seaside village on the north coast of Tasmania that is a centre for scallop, trout and lobster fishing industries. Bridport has become a very popular holiday location with the population increasing markedly in summer. It has beaches, swimming, sailing and other water sports. A ferry operates from Bridport to Flinders Island.

Scottsdale: One of the largest towns in the relatively undeveloped north-east corner of the state of Tasmania. Potato farming, dairy farming, pine plantations, poppy cultivation and mining are all major industries in the area. Bridestowe Lavender Farm is a popular attraction.

Legerwood: a small village that was put on the map in 2005 when Eddie Freeman from Ross sculptured the trees here as a memorial to World War I soldiers with his chainsaw. On the edge of Mount Victoria and with Ben Lomond rising to the south, Legerwood and neighbouring Ringartooma can be subject to snow from October.

Barnbougle Dunes: a hidden gem and home to one of the world's top Links golf courses. The golf links, built on undulating coastal dunes, is the work of famed golf architect Tom Doak and Australia's Michael Clayton. The breathtaking landscape upon which the course has been created mirrors the wild coastal links courses of Scotland and Ireland and as Barnbougle continues to develop with age it looks set to follow in the footsteps of these great courses. Barnbougle Dunes has been ranked the No.1 public course in Australia and No.7 in the world.

Derby: this fascinating former tin mining town overlooks the Ringarooma River The town is proud of its mining heritage and its Tin Mine Centre tells of Derby’s early days and gives an opportunity to pan for gold and find your own nuggets. The town retains the atmosphere of its pioneering days.


Chinese heritage mine walk at Branxholm

The Trail of the Tin Dragon: spanning the rugged North-East from Launceston to St Helens, the Trail of the Tin Dragon winds its way through stunning scenery and historic townships. The Trail tells the story of tin mining in the North East of Tasmania, focusing on the European and Chinese miners who sought their fortune and risked all for this most remarkable metal.

Douglas-Apsley National Park: an inland reserve that lies between Bicheno and St Marys. The park includes three river catchments (Douglas, Denison and Apsley), gorges, cascades, rocky forested hills and a heath plateau. It has many points of interest - spectacular dolerite boulders and rugged hills, lower lying sandstones and historically explored and mined coal measures, sweeping coastal vistas, varied bushwalks, wildflowers, forested hills, waterfalls, swimming holes, abundant birds and wildlife. 

Fingal: a picturesque, often mist-shrouded village situated in the the heart of the lovely Fingal valley. Opium poppies are grown around Fingal for use in the Pharmaceutical industry. Fingal is the gateway to the Evercreech Forest Reserve and the southern approach to Ben Lomond National Park.

St Helens: situated on Georges Bay, St Helens is the largest town on both the east coast and north east corner of Tasmania. A popular resort with a near perfect climate all the year round, its position makes St Helens a good base from which to explore the whole north-east corner of Tasmania.

Gladstone: Tasmania's most north easterly township is one of the few in the region still involved in tin mining. The town has a colourful history as a centre for gold and tin mining activities. Gemstone enthusiasts are attracted to the district because of the sapphires, topaz, agate and amethysts found here.

Scamander: The coastal town of Scamander a popular holiday destination because of its wide, sandy beaches and views of the ocean. Recreational activities include swimming and fishing for bream in the river. Scamander Beach is Tasmania's premium east-coast surfing beach.

Bicheno: A charming fishing port on Tasmania's east coast, which in recent years has grown in popularity as a holiday resort. Bicheno is central to numerous inland National Parks and reserves, as well as coastal attractions to the north and south.

St Columbia Falls: the largest falls in Tasmania's north-east, they are situated 39 km east via Pyengana, a small village known for its quirky cheese factory. Beyond the falls is an amazing forest of huge 'Man Ferns' (Dicksonia antartica). Here the track crosses a little creek where the rocks and logs are completely covered in mosses and little ferns.

Mt William National Park: this reserve, in the far north-east corner of the state, is north of Binalong Bay along a very corrugated dirt road. The park is known for its long, lonely beaches, its teeming wildlife, its unique history and abundant plant life.

Flinders Island: Isolated, long, gleaming beaches, abundant wildlife in bushland, wetland, ocean and shore; all surrounded by outlying, uninhabited islands and of course, the shining, restless sea - that's what Flinders Island, in Bass Strait, is all about. 

Deal Island: a world away from modern life, Deal Island is Tasmania's most remote national park. There are no mod-cons here, and the phone and TV only work when the wind blows in the right direction. Home to Australia's highest Lighthouse, the island has a resident population of two - volunteers who come to spend three month-long stints weeding and looking after its spectacular natural heritage.


Visiting The Region: The Facts

The Best Time To Visit: November to April is the peak season in Tasmania. Summer brings warm days and mild evenings from December to February, while winter can be stormy with snow on the mountain peaks between July and August. The weather is most stable from the end of summer to autumn (February to April). The northern parts of the east coast enjoy a much milder, more pleasant climate than elsewhere in Tasmania, the result of a micro-climate produced by surrounding hills and warm ocean currents. Consequently St Helens is warmer than Melbourne in winter and enjoys a balmy 22°C average in February.

How to get there: the city of Launceston is the transport hub for Tasmania's North-East region. Melbourne, Hobart, King Island and Flinders Island are liked by air to Launceston, which has an International airport. Launceston is the junction of a network of roads serving Tasmania's north and east coasts, as well as the main highway south to Hobart through the middle of Tasmania. Bus services cover most routes. Launceston is linked by road to Devonport, which is home to the mainland ferry Terminal, and Burnie, another major port in the state's North-west. The Tamar River links Launceston with its ocean port of Bell Bay.


Journeys
Walks

Drives:

  • North East of Tasmania: covers all areas in the region. The drive is a loop and can be commenced and completed from any of the following places, or driven in sections between any of those places: Launceston, Scottsdale, St Helens, St Marys, Bicheno, Campbell Town, Evandale.
  • Complete East Coast (6 days drive, Hobart - Launceston)
  • Circumnavigate Tasmania

Scenic Flights

Sea Kayaking

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