| North West and Highlands of Tasmania Directory |
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Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair: Australia's most recognisable mountain peak, Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the wild Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, itself a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The familiar jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while abundant wildlife, icy streams, alpine heathlands, colourful deciduous beech and ancient pines reflected in still glacial lakes entice many visitors to stay and explore.
Boat Harbour Beach: This may well be the most beautiful village and beach on the whole north coast of Tasmania. It tumbles down the side of a gentle hill to a superb white beach with rocky headlands on either side. The sea is green and blue, the beach so clean, the village is sleepy and peaceful. Furthermore, the village exists in a microclimate which is removed from the surrounding weather patterns. Frosts are unknown and plants from the tropics can be seen in local gardens. It sounds like paradise!
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Circular Head: The core or volcanic plug of an extinct volcano, the Nut as Circular Head is more popularly known, rises 152 metres above sea level, dominating the coastal plain. Almost surrounded by ocean, it is now a state reserve and has a range of bird life including Short Tailed Shearwater (muttonbird), Nankeen Kestrel, Peregrine Falcons, Silver Gulls, Little Penguins and Orange Bellied Parrots. Close by is the quaint village of Stanley, and Highfield, the history pioneer settlement of the Van Diemen's Land Company.
Great Western Tiers: The northern face of the Tasmanian Central Plateau, the Great Western Tiers is a series of small mountain peaks and bluffs. A short drive from the coastal towns of Tasmania's north west, the region is one of rare and diverse beauty. Beyond the Tiers is The Walls of Jerusalem, an alpine wilderness dominated by dolerite peaks, highland tarns and alpine vegetation. It is considered by many as the jewel in the crown of Tasmania's national parks.
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King Island: A large island off the north-west corner of Tasmania which lies in Bass Strait in the path of the Roaring Forties, the ever-present westerlies that circle the world's southern latitudes. Its regular rainfall, clean air and year-long green pastures are ideal for raising sheep, quality beef and dairy cows, and as a result, the island is famous for its produce. Lightly populated, it's the ideal destination for anyone wishing to 'get away from it all' while remaining remarkably 'close to it all'.
Table Cape: Table Cape, on the shores of Bass Strait, is the remains a basalt volcanic plug which rises to about 170 metres above sea level on the coastal plain. The Cape is famous for its light station, built in 1888, and for its agricultural produce. Located close to the light station are magnificent tulip fields, that are stripes of glowing colour each October when the Tulip Festival announces the start of the tulip harvest. At the foot of Table Cape near Wynyard is Fossil Bluff where fossils can be seen in the rocks at low tide.
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| 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. Rainfall occurs throughout the year. The weather is most stable from the end of summer to autumn (February to April).
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How To Get There: by car, from Melbourne - Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry overnight from Melbourne. A supplementary day travel services operates during summer months. Website. From Launceston - drive to Devonport via Deloraine, taking Bass Highway via Midland Highway south from Launceston. By coach, Tassielink Coaches services all major centres throughout Tasmania.
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 The Overland Track: Australia's most famous walk runs for 73 km across the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. The northern start is at Waldheim in the north and the southern terminus is at Cynthia Bay beside Lake St Clair. The track crosses the highest region of Tasmania passing many of the highest peaks in the state. The scenery is glacial with many magnificent lakes, cliffs, cirques and waterfalls. One of the track's biggest attractions is that the scenery keeps changing as you pass through the park - there is a wide variety of landforms and vegetation and every day is different.
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Nearing the peak of Cradle Mountain
The Walls of Jerusalem: this mountainous area is part of the extensive central plateau of Tasmania. A good track is provided from the closest road and the main valley of the Walls around Lake Salome can be visited as a day walk. Most prefer to explore further and two day walks with an overnight campsite is the most popular trip. Camping platforms have been provided in the entrance to the Walls below Herods Gate. This is also a good area for experienced walkers as there are multiple multi-day approaches across the Central Plateau to the Walls.
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Currie Harbour, King Island
Currie Heritage Harbourside Walk: All visitors to king Island are recommended to take this walk from the township of Currie as it gives a fairly complete picture as to what King Island is all about. The walk includes Currie's fishing boat harbour, the island's Cultural Centre, King Island Museum, Currie Lighthouse (tours can be arranged), British Admiral beach and the Netherby and Blencathra wrecksites.
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 Tasmanian Trail: Runs from Devonport in the north to Dover, to the south of Hobart. The trail is 460 km long and consists of 15 sections. Each section is approximately one day's journey for a horse rider or cyclist. The trail can be hiked, or riden by bike or on horseback, but its use of roads and other vehicle tracks means certain sections are not always appealing to walkers. The track runs mainly through state forest, national parks and other reserves. The trail often leaves valleys to seek ridge lines which then offer many scenic outlooks.
The trail commences with a gentle grade on a made road from Devonport which runs beside the Mersey river. It soon enters rougher terrain including the Cluan Tiers, Great Western Tiers and then climbs into the Central Highlands. The trail then passes through Great Lakes region across the highlands to the Derwent River. At New Norfolk the trail leaves the Derwent and climbs over the mountain pass of the old stock route to the Huon River valley using a track around the ‘back’ of Hobart’s Mount Wellington.
The towns the track passes through (or near) are Latrobe, Railton, Sheffield, (Deloraine), Bracknell, Arthurs Lake, Miena, Bronte Park, Ouse, Bushy Park, Glenora, New Norfolk, Lachlan, Judbury, (Geeveston) and Dover.
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Penguin Cradle Trail: This trail runs for 76 km from the seaside town of Penguin to the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park, and primarily follows the valley of the Leven River to near its source then follows the crest of the Black Bluff Range to the Cradle Mountain area. It can be combined with the Overland Track into an excellent 2 week walk.
The track is not well known with visitors. The most spectacular section of it, is where it passes through the Leven Canyon - this has scenery as good as anywhere else in the state. In the north, parts of the track are often obscured by bracken and fallen trees. Experienced walkers will have little trouble following it but do not expect the well marked track and regular signposts that are seen on the Overland Track.
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Other Walks: Calcified Forest (King Is.); The Nut; Fern Glade; Leven Canyon; Alum Cliffs; Springlawn Nature Walk; King Island Wilderness Walks
See also: Tasmanian Cross Country Walks and Hikes
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