A sleepy coastal village off the main road. In the early 1800?s Southport was a convict station, bustling mill town and international port. Being Tasmania’s second largest town at that time, it was proposed as the capital of the colony. Today, it is just a nice quiet spot to relax, go swimming, sail the calm waters of Southport Bay, walk on the beach or a little fishing.
Where is it?
104 km south west of Hobart, in the Huon Valley.
Lunaris Gemstone Museum shop has a comprehensive display of fossils
and agates fromthe local gem fields as well as minerals, rocks and
fossils from around the world.
There is a monument on Southport Bluff (40 minute walk from the road)
to the convict ship George III which was wrecked off the coast in 1835
with the loss of 94 passengers. It is said that the guards on the ship,
fearful that the convicts would panic if the ship went down, shot
indiscriminately into the ship’s hold. This is supported by the
peculiar death toll which saw 81 convicts lose their lives while only
13 passengers and crew were drowned.
Ida Bay Railway
Ida Bay Railway is a tourist bush railway that travels on a 2’ gauge line constructed in 1922. It is the last original operating bush tramway in Tasmania and is state heritage listed. Ida Bay Railway also has the distinction of being the most southerly railway in Australia running two 1940 era Malcolm Moore diesel locomotives. The return trip of 2 hours affords many historical points of interest. The train meanders through bush land and along the water’s edge to a safe and secluded beach which is only accessible by walking, by water or by the train.
A picnic shelter with BBQ facilities and toilets are available at the beach at the end of the railway line. Passengers can also enjoy the walks to Southport Lagoon (easy 2-3hrs) and Southport Bluff (easy 2-4hrs) accessible from the end of the track and return on a later train.
Fossicking
Fossicking on Lune River: 100 km south of Hobart beyond the Huon River lies the Lune River gemfields. The collecting area is about 1 km south of the old Ida Bay township on Lune River Road in an area east of Lune Sugarloaf. Yields include petrified wood and ferns, agate and jasper. More info. Ph (03) 6297 1501
Fossicking at Coal Hill: This area begins approx. 18 km south of Dover in the Huon region. The area yields agate, chalcedony and crystalline quartz. More info. Ph (03) 6297 1501
Hastings Caves
Hastings Caves State Reserve, to the south of Hobart, offers visitors a variety of 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.
Both the thermal pool and the trail which leads through the surrounding forests are accessible to wheelchair users. Named after Sir Francis Newdegate, the Governor of Tasmania from 1917-1920, Newdegate Cave is the largest tourist cave in Australia which occurs in dolomite, rather than limestone. Adamson’s Falls and Adamson’s Peak, the Mystery Creek Caves are accessed from Hastings.
Major Attractions
