Rugged and wild, the northwest of Tasmania has a hauntingly lovely quality, which never fails to enchant visitors and inhabitants alike. While it’s the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain that draw many here, it’s not long before they discover the region’s other delights. Remote rainforest wilderness, coastal towns with colonial pasts, and farms with air tinged with sea breezes are all begging to be explored.
Switch hazy fields of lavender for bright splashes of tulips up at Table Cape. Ascend an ancient volcanic plug for an expansive view like no other, and hear your heartbeat in the calm of the Tarkine Forest Reserve. Tee up on one of the world’s best golf courses across the Bass Strait on King Island, and dive into its dramatic history of shipwrecks and rescues.
Best places to visit in North West Tasmania
If you’re arriving by ferry, your first stop will be the port town of Devonport, the gateway to North West Tasmania. Up the Cradle Coast, the town of Burnie was once an industrial port city, but today hosts a thriving artistic community. At Stanley, ‘the Nut’ volcanic plug dominates the landscape, with a colonial town nestled on its slopes. Inland is where you’ll find one of Australia’s most iconic sites – Cradle Mountain. King Island lies 120 kilometres offshore in the middle of the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania. Its famous wares include cheese, beef and seafood, as well as its beaches and incredible golf courses.
Top things to do in North West Tasmania
The natural beauty of North West Tasmania is something to behold. See Cradle Mountain from every angle in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Ramble on the Dove Lake Circuit, hike the summit walk or even embark on the 65-kilometre Overland Track. Don’t forget to stop on the way out at the spectacular Bridal Veil, No Name and Champagne waterfalls. For some of Australia’s best breaks, fly to King Island. On dry land, the cliffs of Seal Rocks State Reserve and the 7,000-year-old Calcified Forest there make for captivating walks.
History buffs can see well-preserved colonial buildings at Stanley, dating back to when the Van Diemen’s Land Company was based in the shadow of the ‘Nut’. Equally enthralling are abandoned miners’ towns like Balfour, which make for an eerie trip back in time. The once industrial town of Burnie has recreated itself as a creative centre, and the quirky rural town of Sheffield has been splashing murals onto its walls since the eighties.
Accommodation in North West Tasmania
Camping & caravan parks
While there is no free camping in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village offers cabins while Cradle Mountain Discovery Park has spots for tents or caravans. Alternatively, there are free sites nearby, like those at Lake Gairdner.
You can book one of the eight Waldheim Cabins while doing the hikes of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. While you need to bring your bedding (or book it ahead), basic amenities like an electric stove are welcome treats after a cold day walking.
If you’re going to the Arthur River area for a spot of salmon or trout fishing, the Manuka, Prickly Wattle and Peppermint campgrounds in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area are low-cost places for a tent or caravan.
On the coast, you can caravan-hop between parks like the Ulverstone BIG4, the Stanley Cabin & Tourist Park, the Devonport Discovery Parks, and Mersey Bluff Caravan Park at Patrol Beach.
Boutique hotels & luxury accommodation
For a touch of pampering after tramping around the slopes, the four-star Peppers Cradle Mountain has cosy alpine cabins, roaring log fires and an onsite spa. Alternatively, Pumphouse Point is an adults-only wilderness retreat, located tantalisingly in the centre of the lake.
The rustic eco-retreat Corinna Wilderness Experience is a unique way to experience the lush rainforest of Tarkine, with cottages that include a refurbished old pub, as well as camping spots.
On King Island, the exclusive Kittawa Lodge has secluded boutique lodge accommodation that is luxurious from its coastal views to panoramic (read: enormous) bathtubs.
Restaurants & pubs in North West Tasmania
It would be a shame ot leave North West Tasmania without stopping into the long list of food and drink producers, from wine makers to cheese mongers. Restaurants range from the casual and kid-friendly Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe for raspberry sundaes and much more, to fine-dining award-winners like Wild Harvest Restaurant, overlooking King Island’s Grassy Harbour.
Getting to North West Tasmania
Travellers can fly to Hobart or Launceston. From Launceston, it is an hour drive to Devonport, and from Hobart, it takes just over three. Those coming from Melbourne can fly directly to Wynyard (Burnie), King Island or Devonport, or even take the famous Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong. The latter has the advantage of being able to take your car – meaning you’re road trip ready as soon as you arrive.
Summertime is the peak season, with warm, dry days. Alternatively, spring and autumn are less crowded, without the heavier winter rain or snowfalls.
