St Helens And The North East Guides Attractions Events in Tasmania

Bridport in Tasmania’s north east is a popular holiday destination overlooking Anderson Bay. Surrounded by bushland reserves, white sand and the sloping vines of Pipers Brook wineries, Bridport is an ideal place to unwind.
The town’s population of 1,350 almost triples in summer when holidaymakers flock to the beach. Bridport’s main industries are tourism, vegetable farming and fishing. Local specialties are scallops, lobster and trout from Australia’s first freshwater rainbow trout farm. Bridport is also a port for the Matthew Flinders cargo vessel, which travels to Port Welshpool in Victoria and Flinders Island.
In spring, the wildflowers and birds are prolific in the Granite Point Coastal Reserve and Bridport Wildflower Reserve. Other nearby reserves have spectacular coastal views, waterfalls, white sand dunes and native wildlife.
You can tee off at Barnbougle Dunes, a classic links golf course, considered one of the best in Australia; water-ski at Weymouth, or fly in (literally) to the Flying Teapot Garden Café and Gallery, which has its own airstrip.
Lavender-perfumed air emanates from the purple-washed paddocks of Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm – one of the world’s largest lavender oil producers.
The coastline was navigated by Bass and Flinders in 1798, but Bridport was not settled until 1830, by Thomas Lewis. Chinese tin miners were among the early pioneers. It was a port for the timber industry and enjoyed periods of prosperity in the late 1860s, when gold was discovered in a nearby village.
Hit the beach in January when Bridport’s average maximum is 23 degrees Celsius (73.5 degrees Fahrenheit). Wine and dine by a log fire in June’s average of 12.5 degrees Celsius (54.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Bridport is 85 kilometres (53 miles, or one hour’s drive) north-east of Launceston on the B81 and B84.

Derby is about 104 kilometres (65 miles) north-east of Launceston.
Mountains, rainforests and old tin mines surround this classified historic town. In the late 1800s it was a booming mining settlement and at the Derby Tin Mine Centre you can pan for a bit of raw tin - metal we use every day of the week without thinking about where it comes from.
Derby still has the feeling of a pioneer town, and you explore the quaint shops for antiques, second hand books and modern crafts. Then discover for yourself that Blue Lake really is blue; take a long walk or paddle a canoe on Cascade Dam to sharpen your appetite for a homemade afternoon tea in one of Derby’s cafes.
In October each year, you can enjoy the madcap Derby River Derby - a river race with very different rules.

Founded in the 1870s as part of the tin mining boom in northeast Tasmania. On the road to the northern entrance to Mt William National Park, Gladstone is today the service centre for the Far North East and a good base from which to explore the magnificent coastline and heath lands of Mount William National Park. Make Gladstone your base – a range of accommodation is available, from pub and hostel-style to powered sites and self-contained accommodation.

Scottsdale is administrative centre for the north-east and is about 70 kilometres (44 miles) from Launceston.
It is a friendly and busy town with a population of around 2,000, surrounded by farmlands, where you’ll see crops growing, contented dairy cows grazing and forest-based industries.
Visit the Forest EcoCentre, a unique architectural experiment in energy-saving design, showcasing Tasmania’s finest timbers, forest ecology and history of the area. North East Park is a good place for a picnic, and then challenge yourself to a half-day return walk to the summit of Mount Stronach for panoramic views of the forests and farms.