Mount Wellington looms 1,271 metres (4169 feet) above Hobart. The mountain provides a jaw-dropping lookout accessible by car and several bushwalks, including The Organ Pipes.
These column-shaped cliffs were formed in the Jurassic period when Tasmania was separating from Antarctica. Mount Wellington is also one of the best (and easiest) places to enjoy the snow.
Mount Wellington is only a half-hour drive from Hobart, and you can often see the snow-capped peaks from within the city. You can also check the snow-cam for a better idea of the conditions.
Pinnacle Road will take you to the peak; it is a windy road but overall safe, and it’s accessible by caravans and motorhomes.
There is no need for a Parks Pass, and entry is always free.
Our Tip: Sometimes after heavy snowfall there can be road closures. Check the status of Pinnacle Road here.
Read: The best things to do in Hobart.
New Norfolk was settled in 1807 when the first Norfolk Island settlement was closed. Mostly farming families migrated to Tasmania, with the promise of land grants in compensation.
New Norfolk is a quaint town and lovely to visit. It’s home to St Matthews, Tasmania’s oldest Anglican Church. And also the Bush-Inn, one of Australia’s oldest pubs.
Fun Fact: Betty King is buried at New Norfolk. She was part of the first fleet that landed in Botany Bay in 1788. Her tombstone reads, “The first white woman to set foot in Australia.”
Where to stay in New Norfolk
The Welcome Swallow Brewery feels a lot like the indie breweries of Melbourne; it’s inside an old warehouse, there are plants galore and the seats are an eclectic mix. Instead, this microbrewery is in the small town of New Norfolk.
The Welcome Swallow brews in limited 800-litre batches, with hops that they have lovingly grown themselves.
To the European settlers, Tasmania was a very different region to the motherland they left behind. So they began introducing wildlife and fauna to make it seem like ‘home.’
The salmon ponds were an attempt to farm salmon, but they failed. Salmon are migratory fish, and after they hatched, they never returned to the Derwent. Instead, these ponds were used to breed trout.
Visit the Salmon Ponds and wander around the 19th-century English gardens, feed the trout and dine at the cafe.
This mesmerising waterfall that flows down Mt Field is perhaps the most photographed in all of Tasmania.
Russell Falls was first discovered in 1856 and originally called Brownings Falls. Mount Fields soon became a popular destination and in 1885 it was protected as Tasmania’s first nature reserve.
Russell Falls is easily accessible via a short fifteen-minute walk through towering swamp gums.
You will need a Parks Pass to access Russell Falls.
The Wall in the Wilderness is an art project to commemorate those who shaped Tasmania’s central highlands. The huon pine slab stands three metres high and one hundred metres long, carved by sculptor Greg Duncan.
Engraved into the wood are timber harvesters, miners and hydro workers. The wall is open to tourists but take note! Photos are not allowed.
This forty-minute return walk will take you through forest and up to Donaghys Hill. From there, you look down on the Franklin River valley and out to the Frenchmans Cap.
It’s located midway between the Derwent Bridge and Queenstown, making it a good moment to stretch the legs.
This short walk – off the Lyell Highway and thirty minutes from Queenstown – will take you to a gorgeous waterfall. It’s an easy walk and features a boardwalk accompanied by interpretation panels highlighting the unique plants in the area.
The Iron Blow was established in 1883 on Mount Lynell. Prospectors had hoped to find gold, instead, they found a large amount of copper.
The area is now desolate, and while void of life, has its own unique beauty. The lookout will give you a view of the Iron Blow. There is plenty of parking and the lookout is easily accessed by foot.
This thirty-minute walk will lead you to fantastic mountain views. Witnessing the falls is dependent on recent rainfall. While pretty, they aren’t as grandiose as Russell Falls or Nelson Falls. The main reason to tackle Horsetail Falls is for the view of the landscape.
This windy road will lead you to Queenstown. Despite its name, it doesn’t feature 99 bends, but there sure are a lot. The road is completely sealed, and campervans will be fine. Cruising down the 99 Bends into Queenstown is the best way to travel, as it’s all downhill.
Like all towns on the West Coast, Queenstown has a long mining history. Visit the Galley Museum to get a better understanding of the trials of the Queenstown prospectors. Housed in an old pub, several rooms are filled with photographs and relics, all documenting the West Coast.
Queenstown also has a notable football field. Unlike traditional footy fields, this one isn’t covered in grass; it’s gravel.
It’s not easy to grow grass due to the contaminates left over from the mine and the West Coast’s large rainfalls – the town gets 2,408 mm of rain a year. Every year the council tips ten truckloads of gravel and compresses it with rolling machines.
Some say visiting Strahan is like visiting the edge of the world; this isolated harbour town sits on the edge of McQuarie Harbour and is surrounded by world heritage-listed wilderness. Although isolated, it is a gateway to several incredible experiences on Tasmania’s West Coast.
Where to stay in Strahan
Author
Taylor
Taylor was born and raised in Tasmania. He moved to Melbourne to study Film & television, and went on to start a marketing agency for hospitality. Whilst in Melbourne he also founded a walking tour company. He has a love for rock 'n' roll bars & New York-style pizza. In 2020 he was amongst the top 1% of Frank Sinatra listeners on Spotify.