Devonport, Cradle Mountain And The Great Western Tiers Guides Attractions Events in Tasmania

Deloraine, at the foot of the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania’s central north, is classified by the National Trust, and you’ll see why the moment you enter. The bridge, Bonney’s Inn and the Baptist Tabernacle are just a few of the historic features that give this riverside village its charm.
Deloraine’s resident population of just about 2,000 swells by 30,000 around November each year when Australia’s biggest working craft fair comes to town. With more than 200 exhibitors, four days seem hardly enough time to take it all in. Indulge in some of Tasmania’s finest food and wine, try your hand at candle wicking, watch as kites and kaleidoscopes are crafted before your eyes and talk to the creators of fine silkscreen paintings, woodcarvings, lead lights, and hand-blown glassware.
If you can’t make it during fair time, you’ll find a wide selection of fine arts and crafts year-round at the many local galleries.
In an easy day-trip from Deloraine you can tour the limestone caves of Mole Creek Karst National Park with its limestone caves, visit Liffey Falls, watch Tasmanian devils being fed at Trowunna Wildlife Park and still have time for a delicious meal of berries with everything at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm. Also nearby is Stephens Honey, where you can taste Tasmania’s distinctive leatherwood honey, and Ashgrove Cheese Factory selling both traditional cheeses such as Lancashire and contemporary flavours including pepperberry and wasabi.
Just north of Deloraine, past Elizabeth Town, stop in at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for all this raspberry picked on site and then drop in at Ashgrove Cheeses.
Deloraine was explored in 1823 by Captain Rolland and was named after a character in a poem by Sir Walter Scott. Tasmania’s first rail link was laid between Launceston and Deloraine.
Deloraine’s average maximum temperature in January is 21.5 degrees Celsius (70.5 degrees Fahrenheit), while in June it’s 11 degrees Celsius (52 degrees Fahrenheit).
To get to Deloraine, take Highway 1 from Devonport or the B54 from Launceston. It’s a 30 minute drive from either direction.

Devonport sits the banks of the Mersey River and is Tasmania’s third largest city. It is one of the Island’s primary access points and home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
The city has a population of about 22,000 and is surrounded by rich, fertile soil that produces more than 40 per cent of Tasmania’s vegetable crops. The roadsides are lined with fields of potatoes, carrots and the yellow and white pyrethrum flower used as a natural insecticide, and paddocks of grazing Friesian cows.
You can explore Devonport’s coastline by walking or cycling along Victoria Parade to the Bluff, where Tiagarra Aboriginal Centre explains the areas Aboriginal history and nearby rock carvings.
Statues along the waterfront walk include those of Joseph Lyons, the only Tasmanian to have held the office of prime minister (1932–39), and his wife, 1940s Federal parliamentarian Dame Enid Lyons. Their National Trust residence at Home Hill is open to the public.
The Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ships are almost landmarks in this city. As they negotiate a U-turn in the Mersey River, they seem to be sailing right up the main street. There’s so much maritime history in the town that a visit to the Maritime Museum is essential.
The Don River Railway has an impressive collection of locomotives, including a steam train that travels to Coles beach. Devonport’s Imaginarium is Tasmania’s only science discovery centre and is full of hands-on activities.
The Devonport Art Gallery is in a converted church and has some excellent works of regional artists.
Devonport was originally settled as two towns, Formby and Torquay in 1826, but the towns were amalgamated in 1890.
Devonport reaches an average maximum temperature of 21.5 degrees Celsius (70.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13 degrees Celsius (55.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. It is 98 kilometres (61 miles, or one hour’s drive) west of Launceston on the Bass Highway (A2).

From the city of Devonport, port of the Spirit of Tasmania, to the rugged country towards Cradle Mountain, is a region of farming hamlets and historic buildings, beaches, forests, mountains carved by glaciers and fertile farmland.
The backdrop to your travels is the Great Western Tiers, known to the Aboriginal people as Kooparoona Niara. Behind this enormous escarpment sits the protected World Heritage Area of mountains and valleys, lakes and forests. Beneath the surface are extensive limestone caves in the Mole Creek Karst National Park and right nearby is Mole Creek with its giant statue of the Tasmanian devil.
Many artists have chosen to live in this area, and each year Deloraine holds the southern hemisphere’s largest working craft fair [link to Tasmanian Craft Fair.
In Westbury, Deloraine and Latrobe there are also well-preserved reminders of earlier days with each offering antique shops where you can search out treasures. Latrobe’s Australian Axeman’s Hall of Fame and Timberworks, celebrates its timber industry heritage. This is a land of milk and honey, sweet berries and fresh vegetables, grass-fed beef and superb farm cheeses.
Mount Roland looms magnificently over fertile pastures around Sheffield, the town of murals, and nearby is the international rowing course at Lake Barrington.
From Sheffield the road winds deep into wilderness. Just beyond Middlesex Plains, you turn left into Cradle Valley, and in the distance is the craggy profile of Cradle Mountain.
From Cradle you can follow country roads through Wilmot’s dairy country and croplands towards the Leven Canyon and Gunns Plains Caves before reaching Bass Strait’s shores and the seaside towns of Ulverstone and Penguin.

Weave your way from the start of this trail through mountains, valleys and picturesque coastal villages until you reach one of the prettiest towns in Australia, the fishing village of Stanley. It begins with the craggy, misty mountains of the Western Tiers; then towards Devonport, lush green pastures where dairy cows produce the milk that makes Tasmania’s famed cheeses. Follow the edge of Bass Strait past pretty seaside villages, penguin rookeries, seal colonies, a platypus habitat, tulip fields, sandy coves, and tasty cheese outlets until you see The Nut - a huge volcanic plug on the horizon at Stanley.

Explore a timeless and mystical landscape that some say has been 370 million years in the making. The chain of mountains that forms the tier has more than 3000 lakes and tarns and its alpine environment is so rare that it is protected as a World Heritage Area. In this ancient landscape, limestone caves are a world away below the surface and hidden valleys shelter farming villages first settled in the early 1800s. The area is popular for its walks, waterfalls, historic homes, gardens, artists and craftspeople.

Follow the twists and turns of the Mersey River and you will soon reach Latrobe, the former port of the north-west coast. Once the bustling town of its time, it is now a much smaller neighbour to Devonport.
Latrobe’s population of 2,700 does not include its platypus inhabitants. The town is known as the platypus capital of the world, and you may be lucky enough to spot one of the flat-billed creatures in the Warrawee Reserve.
Latrobe comes to life with various festivals throughout the year, including the Chocolate Winterfest held at the House of Anvers Chocolate, Frogmore Fair, and Henley on the Mersey, held annually on Australia Day and featuring a family favourite – the ferret race.
Latrobe’s impressive list of achievements includes having the country’s oldest continuously playing brass band and richest wheel race, and being the birthplace of competitive wood chopping. The Australian Axeman’s Hall of Fame, on Bells Parade, is a tribute to this chopping heritage. Bells Parade is also the site of the former port and is now a favourite picnic spot for locals and visitors. It is particularly beautiful in autumn when the deciduous trees shed their leaves.
The town has 76 heritage-listed buildings, which can be explored on an historic walk down Gilbert Street. The former Wyndarra Lodge on the Bass Highway has been converted into a café and chocolate factory. Chocoholics beware, the House of Anvers has a tasting centre choc-full of sweet delicacies.
Latrobe was settled in 1826 by Edward Carr, and grew quickly because it was the first accessible crossing point of the Mersey River. The town was once the third largest in Tasmania, but declined when a railway was built between Launceston and Devonport.
The weather in Latrobe is similar to Devonport’s, averaging 21.5 degrees Celsius (70.5 degree Fahrenheit) in January and 13 degrees Celsius (55.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.
Latrobe is 11 kilometres (seven miles) south of Devonport, on the eastern bank of the Mersey River.

Mole Creek occupies a valley between the Gog Range and the Great Western Tiers in the central north, not far from Tasmania’s highest point, Mount Ossa.
This is an area of fascinating limestone caves that have been forming over the past 450 million years and are now protected in Tasmania’s only underground national park. There are more than 300 caves and sinkholes in all, many featuring streams and springs.
Public tours are conducted through King Solomons and Marakoopa caves, and each give you a very different experience. King Solomons is noted for its lavish colours and formations, while Marakoopa is a wet cave containing the largest display of glow worms in Australia. For equally spectacular scenery, be adventurous and join a wild cave tours. You will journey through underground streams and squeeze between rocky passages with only a headlamp to illuminate your path – be prepared to get wet.
After navigating the caves, you can join a four wheel drive tour of the Mersey valley, visit a leatherwood honey farm, or try white-water rafting on the upper Mersey. There are many pleasant short walks in the area at Liffey Falls and Arm River. You’ll be rewarded by beautiful scenery on longer bushwalks at Lake Rowallan and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
There’s plenty of wildlife at Mole Creek – including the world’s largest barn owl and native Australian animals at the Trowunna Wildlife Park.
Mole Creek is home to little more than 200 people, most of whom earn their living from farming and forestry. It was named after of a small stream that veered underground, like a mole. The area was originally inhabited by Aboriginal people and was explored by Europeans hunting for fur skins in the 1830s.
The average maximum temperature for January is 21.5 degrees, while in June it’s 11 degrees.
Mole Creek is 72 kilometres (45 miles) west of Launceston. Take the B54 as far as Deloraine and the B12 from there.

Penguin, on the northwest coast overlooking Bass Strait, is characterised by sleepy weekdays that turn into bustling weekends, a scenic esplanade, its friendly community and charming seaside cafés.
The town’s population of nearly 3,000 rejoices in all things ‘penguin’ – from the penguin-shaped rubbish bins to the many penguin souvenirs available at the local market.
Every Sunday the Penguin Market draws hundreds of visitors from along the coast and around the state. With more than 200 modern stalls – ranging from fine food and wine, to woodcraft and live music – Tasmania’s largest undercover market caters for the whole family.
You can’t miss the largest penguin in the world, which has made the esplanade its home. The 3.15-metre (10-foot) cement and fibreglass bird was erected in 1975 to commemorate the centenary of the town.
Hiscutt Park, with its Dutch windmill and playground, is a peaceful place for a picnic. Behind the town, Dial Range has several walking tracks to the mountain-tops with stunning views over Penguin and the north-west coast.
Penguin was explored by Bass and Flinders and settled in 1861. It was named by Robert Campbell Gunn, after the small seabirds that live in rookeries along the north coast. Penguin was a originally a small timber and mining town, overshadowed by Burnie and Devonport.
The average maximum temperature in Penguin is 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13.5 degrees Celsius ( 56 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.
Penguin is 17 kilometres (10.5 miles) east of Burnie, or a pleasant fifteen minute drive west of Ulverstone through the Ling Perry Gardens along the coastal road.

The seaside town of Port Sorell, on the Rubicon River estuary, is a quiet getaway, close to some of the best natural wildlife viewing opportunities in the state.
Port Sorell has a population of 1,950, which increases significantly in the summer months when holidaymakers flock to camping grounds and shacks. Its boat ramp is the busiest on the north-west coast. Water sports include water skiing and sea kayaking, but if you prefer to keep dry, you can relax on the sandy dunes, fish from the floating pontoon, play a round of golf and one of the two local courses, or walk along the picturesque foreshore.
Nearby are Shearwater, Hawley Beach and Freers Beach. At low tide it is possible to walk to Penguin Island and Rabbit Island – the latter a hideout for bushrangers in the mid-1800s.
Just across the Rubicon are Narawntapu National Park, abounding in Forester kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and even Tasmanian devils. At dusk, you can catch sight of little penguins scampering up the beach at Point Sorell.
Port Sorell was established in 1822 by Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell and was once the largest town on Tasmania’s north coast. The port traded in wattle bark, and thrived until it was outgrown by Devonport. Port Sorell even had a convict gaol on Watch House Hill, which was later replaced by a bowling green. Little evidence of Port Sorell’s history remains, after the town was destroyed by bushfire.
Climate is temperate at Port Sorell, reaching an average maximum of 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13 degrees Celsius (55.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.
Port Sorell is 117 kilometres (72.5 miles) north of Launceston and a 20 minute drive east of Devonport.

Concealed in the foothills of majestic Mount Roland is the enterprising town of Sheffield, where history and art merge to create an entire town of murals.
Almost 1,000 people live in Sheffield, farming sheep, cattle, deer and emus. You can learn about the history of the Kentish district from the murals themselves, or in local museums, but there are also many galleries and studies to browse in. At the Working Art Space you can talk with local artists as they work.
The views from the summit of 1,234 metre Mount Roland are worth the climb. Sheffield is close to an alpaca farm, vineyards, Devil’s Gate Dam and Kimberley’s thermal springs. The beautiful Lake Barrington, created by the Mersey-Forth Hydro Electric Scheme, is an international rowing course and a haven for water sports.
When you get to The Promised Land, you’ll find Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot, which has its own postcode. With seven mazes, Tasmazia is the largest complex of its kind in the world. It specialises in lavender, honey and pancakes.
Sheffield was explored by Nathaniel Kentish in 1842 but its dense forests meant that it was not settled until1859. It was named by Edward Curr, after his homeland in Yorkshire. The town prospered in 1963 with the Power Development Scheme, but declined when the dams were completed. Sheffield is the centre of the Kentish district, and Mount Roland (named by Captain James Rolland in 1823) is a great source of artistic inspiration.
Sheffield, 30 kilometres south of Devonport, reaches an average maximum temperature of 21 degrees in January and 11.5 degrees in June. Occasionally Mount Roland receives a dusting of snow – a visual delight.

Ulverstone is a coastal town at the mouth of the Leven River, supported by agriculture and tourism.
The town has a population of about 10,000. Inland are several small farming communities, many breeding dairy and beef cattle.
Many parks along Ulverstone’s coastline and beaches are a hub of activity in the summer months, with lifesaver patrols and a waterslide. There are cycleways and walkways through parklands – Shopshire Park’s footpath is inscribed with Royal Australian Navy History. The War Memorial clock at the entrance to Ulverstone is a feature of the town.
Further inland, the Gunns Plains Caves operate tours regularly. The limestone caves have an underground creek, and occasionally lobsters and other wildlife can be found. If the animals are shy at the caves, you are sure to find them at Wings Wildlife Park, a short drive away. If you aren’t afraid of heights, the Leven Canyon is well worth the visit – views of the 400 metre (1,312 foot) gorge are spectacular. There are several waterfalls in the area – some can be reached by car, others require some bushwalking.
Lillico Beach on the Bass Highway is home to a penguin colony, and you can watch them scamper up the beach at night.
Ulverstone was settled in 1840 by James Fenton, but the first shop didn’t open until 1854. Its slow development was due to a lack of accessibility, but it grew quickly once a railway reached the town in 1890. Sawmills operated in early days and as timber was cut down, rich underlying soil was discovered, providing ideal conditions for potato farming.
Ulverstone’s average maximum temperature is 21.5 degrees Celsius (70.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13 degrees Celsius (55.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. It is 15 minutes’ drive west of Devonport on the Bass Highway.