The north east corner of Tasmania, and the coastline which extends south from it is a region of magnificent coastal vistas, good surf beaches and fishing grounds. The numerous small seaside villages, nestled mainly around sheltered inlets, increase dramatically in size during the summer holidays and are fairly quiet at other times. The clear water of the rivers, bays and miles of beaches abound with sea life including lobster, abalone and many varieties of scale fish.
Ringarooma Bay and Cape Portland
The East coast of Tasmania, which begins at the north-east corner of the state, Cape Portland, features wide sweeping beaches punctuated by headlands of granite, much of which is covered in orange lichen. The crystal clear waters, the ribbons of clear white sandy beaches and the brightly painted rocks that punctuate them, have led to these beaches being ranked internationally among the best in the world.
In stark contrast is the hinterland, a mountainous area where once miners extracted tin and gold from the ground, but today farmers plough patchwork quilts of rich dark soil, where bountiful crops grow alongside verdant pasture.
The untamed natural majesty of the region's rugged mountainous terrain is never far away, encircling the farmlands are deeply wooded rainforests where the White Knights, the world's largest eucalypts, grow in abundance. here, rivers flow over waterfalls and wildlife abounds, as it has for thousands of years.
Evercreach Forest Reserve
How To Get There
Branxholm
The city of Launceston is the transport hub for Tasmania's North and
the gateway to the North East. Melbourne, Hobart, King Island and
Flinders Island are linked 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.
Lilydaly Road connects Launceston to the North East coastal towns.
Tasman Highway connects Launceston to the inland areas of the North
East. The Esk and Fingal Valleys, in the region's south, are accessed
via the Midland Highway south from Launceson, then east on the Esk
Highway. Access from the East Coast is via the Tasman Highway from St
Helens.
Best Time To Go
St Columba Falls
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 May).
Some towns in the region are planted with European deciduous trees
which shed their leaves in Autumn (March to May). Their display of red
and golden make the region particularly picturesque during these
months.