Derwent Valley: The stretch of Lyell Highway up the Derwent Valley beyond Bridgewater is particulary pretty in the early morning with the river is calm and the reflection on the water of the hills is mirror-like. It gives a tantalising taste of things to come - like the Georgian villages of New Norfolk, Bushy Park and Hamilton, and Bothwell, the southern gateway to the central Highlands where golf was first played in Australia.
Mt Field National Park: Tasmania's oldest national park, its landscape ranges from eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland. The Park has a wide variety of scenic walks, from 20 minutes to a full day. The two-hour circuit walk to Russell Falls (Australia's most photographed falls), Horseshoe Falls, Tall Trees Circuit and Lady Barron Falls is highly recommended.
The Convict Trail: In the early 19th century, Van Diemen's Land (the original name of Tasmania) was soon seen as a suitable place to send Britain's unwatedcd convicts and many convict stations and settlements were established there, particularly in the south in and around Hobart. Southern Tasmania has more relics of the convict era than any other location in the world, and the most distant from Hobart are around an hour's drive away from the city. The penal settlement at Port Arthur is the most famous, but there are many others scattered through the countryside.
Hastings Caves: this State Reserve, to the south of Hobart, offers visitors a variety of experiences, from relaxing in the warm waters of a thermal springs pool, walking in the rich forests of the reserve and, of course, the unique experience of exploring Newdegate Cave on a guided tour.
Recherche Bay: a quiet, idyllic bay where French explorer Bruni D'Entrcasteaux camped to study and explore the area in 1792. The southern end of Recherche Bay where Cockle Creek enters it is the southernmost point in Australia to which a motor vehicle can be driven. A signpost identifies Australia's southernmost road. A walking track from the locality passes through the South West National Park and leads to South East Cape, Australia's most southerly point.
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Maria Island: a unique location on the south-east coast, where the visitor feels they have left civilization behind and stepped into another world. There are no noisy cars or machinery, just the sound of the wind rustling in the trees and the occasional bird calling to another. The air is clean; the only smells that accost the nose are the perfumes of the plants in the bushland and the salt in the air, blown off the sea which surrounds you. The whole place is a treat for the senses, and an opportunity to experience something civilisation lost more than a century ago.
Hartz Mountains National Park: dotted with tarns and fragile cushion plants, this Park provides sweeping views of the south-west wilderness all the way to the Southern Ocean. Most people visit this park to bushwalk. In an easy day trip from Hobart you can feel as if you are in the heart of the Southwest Wilderness.
Photo: Andy Chisholm
Shipstern Bluff: this rugged headland on the Tasman Peninsula is generally accepted as being the most challenging surfing location in Australia. Below the bluff, heaving swells hit a reef head-on, causing a huge body of water to arc up seemingly out of nowhere. In recent years, this churning swell has attracted elite surfers from around the world, dominated the surf media and set the bar for extreme surfing in Australia.
Mt Wellington: Rising 1270 metres above Hobart and the Derwent River, Mount Wellington provides a wilderness experience within 20 minutes' drive of the city with panoramic views of Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula.
Tahune Forest Airwalk: this 597m walk amongst the trees in the Huon Valley gets you 20m above the ground. The highlight is the cantilever that is 48m above the river level, providing extensive forest and river views. The 20 minute Huon Pine Walk nearby is the easiest place in Tasmania to see Huon pines growing in their natural riverine rainforest environment.
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Gordon River Road: this 85 km accessway to the hydro-electric dams of Tasmania's south west is the major man made intrusion into the area of World Heritage Wilderness area of south west Tasmania, and with the Scott Peak Dam Road is the only road into the region. It is one of Australia's most awesome road trips.
Heritage Highway: to the north of Hobart, the Heritage Highway follows the original inland road to Launceston that was pioneered by Tasmania's early European settlers and built by convict road gangs in the 1810s. Aptly named, the Highway passes through some of the most complete and well preserved Georgian era villages in the world today in which the finest examples of colonial architecture and convict craftsmanship in Australia can be seen and appreciated.
Southern Wine Route: Southern Tasmania incorporates a number of wine areas within easy reach of Hobart. From the Tasman Bridge, you’re just a few minutes from the start of the Coal River Valley wine growing area and Richmond historic village. Heading south to the rich fruit growing region of the Huon Valley and bountiful Channel Region you can sample the vintages at Australia’s southernmost vineyards. Or wind your way north-west to the highlands, following the Derwent River to its source, calling into the Derwent Valley’s cellar doors on your way to catching a trout.
Richmond: Tasmania's most well known Georgian era town that has become a major tourist attraction, Richmond is rich in history and heritage. It contains the oldest bridge and St Johns, the earliest Roman Catholic church in Australia, as well as a perfectly preserved colonial gaol.
Remarkable Cave: a truly remarkable work of nature, this cave has been carved out of the rock of Safety Cove on the Tasman Peninsula. The cave, which is actually a natural bridge with two entries from the sea, was created over millions of years by the raging seas which pound this isolated coastline. It can be walked through at low tide.
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