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Day 1 Sunday
If arriving from Launceston, take your time and enjoy the journey. There are plenty of sights to see along the way to the holiday home in Bridport, meaning you can enjoy a full day of fun before you even get your destination!
Leaving Launceston, take the East Tamar Highway, and then turn right into Lilydale Road. After just 15 minutes you will arrive at the Hollybanks Treetops Adventure, an exciting experience. Here you will glide across the treetops in a unique forest canopy tour, gaining a bird's-eye view of Tasmania's beautiful forests. This fantastic adventure lasts three hours and is unlike any other Australian nature experience.
After just five minutes back on the road, you’ll arrive at the farming hamlet of Lilydale. Look out for the distinctive painted electricity poles that line the streets of the town. Lilydale is famous for its gardens; take a wander around town to take them in.
After Lilydale, the distinctive yellow and blue ‘grape’ signs point the way to the vineyards of the Pipers River Region along the North East Trail. Providence, Tasmania’s oldest vineyard, and Clover Hill, makers of premium sparkling wine, are both directly on the trail and their cellar doors are open to the public. A 20-minute drive off the trail along Pipers Brook Road will also allow you to sample the still and sparkling wines of Pipers Brook Vineyard and the Jansz Wine Room and Interpretative Centre. On the way, stop in at Brook Eden Vineyard, just a few minutes along Pipers Brook Road.
Back on the road again and once again head off along the North East Trail. Continue on to the Bridestowe Lavender Farm. Here, soak up the wonderful ambience and scents of the largest commercial lavender farm in the southern hemisphere. At any time of the year, the farm is a spectacular sight – fresh green in spring, a shimmer of purple in summer, silvery-grey in winter. Bridestowe’s café is a great place to grab a coffee and why not try the lavender ice-cream! If you are visiting during December or January, then take a tour to see how lavender is harvested and processed for its fragrant oils.
Fifteen minutes on from Bridestowe is Scottsdale, the major service town for the north east. Here you can discover the secrets of the region’s forest heritage at the contemporary Forest EcoCentre. The award-winning ‘building within a building’ showcases Tasmania’s fine timbers and forest ecology through innovative architecture, design and interactive displays. The EcoCentre also houses the Scottsdale Visitor Information Centre where you can book accommodation and tours plus find out all there is to see and do along the Trail. Scottsdale is also the ideal place to stock up on groceries.
Just 20 minutes north of Scottsdale is Bridport. Settle into the unit, make yourself comfortable and relax for the evening. If you fancy heading out for dinner the Bridport Bay Inn, just a couple of minutes walk down the road, has superb pub grub. Their wood-fired pizzas are fantastic!
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Day 2 Monday
If you have never been to Bridport before, it is well worth spending some time taking in the holiday home’s beautiful surroundings. Or perhaps you might enjoy some golf? We have just the place.
Explore in and around Bridport and enjoy some spectacular coastal scenery. There is a lovely three-hour walk in Bridport itself. It runs from Main Street north to Adams Beach and the Bridport Wildflower Reserve. The reserve is 50 hectares of heath and woodlands which is particularly beautiful in spring when the flowers are blooming. The walk then returns along the Foreshore Walking Track from Pier Beach to the Brid River Bridge. If you are peckish, why not try the bakery below the unit for lunch?
After lunch, head east for half an hour, to Tomahawk. Simply follow Main Street; it will turn into Edward and then Waterhouse Road, keep following it until you reach Tomahawk. Tomahawk is a sleepy little town that features stunning, unspoilt coastline and dramatic sand dunes.
If you enjoy a round of golf you may actually wish to spend the entire week at one of the best courses in the world, right on your doorstep. You’ll have driven past Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links on the way to Tomahawk. The Barnbougle course is considered one of the world's best. The course meanders through towering dunes and along Barnbougle Beach with Bass Straight as a back drop. Barnbougle Dunes also has a Club House with dining and bar facilities, the perfect place for dinner.
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Day 3 Tuesday
Explore inland and east of Bridport. Drive through Scottsdale first and then take the Tasman Highway to Branxholm in the Ringarooma Valley. Before reaching Branxholm, take the turn off to Ringarooma and follow the signs to the impressive Ralphs Falls in the Mt Victoria Forest Reserve. A ribbon of water and sweeping views across picturesque farmland will greet you after an easy 10-minute walk through myrtle rainforest.
At Branxholm pause at the Red Bridge a sign of the significant Chinese mining heritage of the area. Shortly afterwards you’ll arrive at Derby, once a thriving mining town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and today a pretty place to stop on your journey. Learn about the history of the area at the Tin Mine Centre and Shanty Town, and then stay for a pleasant lunch in what was once an old school house. Then stroll over the road and spend time at the cafés, craft shops and galleries.
Back on the road, continue on through to Weldborough and the Weldborough Pass Scenic Reserve – just off this road is an enchanting 10-minute Rainforest Walk where you stroll beneath tall myrtles and learn more about these ancient trees. About 10 minutes after Weldborough, is the turn-off to the Blue Tier Nature Recreational Area where you can choose from a range of walks of 15 mins to five hours duration. The 2.5km road to the walking tracks is unsealed, but is well worth the drive. The Reserve also bears further evidence of the region’s tin mining legacy. On Australia Hill, see the remains of boilers and jockey wheels and wander among the ruins of what was once a mountain mining village.
The settlement of Pyengana is home to the Pyengana Cheese Factory and Holy Cow Café, the factory is famous for its full-flavoured clothbound cheddars. Turn down the St Columba Falls Road at Pyengana to get there. After you’ve enjoyed a snack or a hearty ploughman’s lunch and purchased some produce to sample later, continue on to St Columba Falls State Reserve and see the magnificent 90-metre St Columba Falls. The walk is an easy 10-minute stroll through rainforest to the lookout. Feeling thirsty? On the way back, stop in at the famous Pub in the Paddock which served its first beer over 100 years ago.
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Day 4 Wednesday
Launceston is a beautiful city and is only about 45 minutes from Bridport. The Launceston CBD is a delight and offers a surprisingly vibrant and varied shopping experience for a city of its size. Take the time to wander through the many laneways and arcades. There are also many great cafés dotted throughout Launceston. Whether you seek a leisurely breakfast, lunch or just a coffee, you will be sure to find somewhere perfect. K&H Café at 106 George Street is a personal favourite.
Just a couple of blocks from the city centre is City Park. This historic park is home to a conservatory, duck pond, the impressive Design Centre of Tasmania and a monkey enclosure featuring Japanese Macaques. The macaques are fascinating to watch and entry is free.
The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is located nearby, at the historic railways yards of Inveresk. The Museum is particularly well-known for its Australian colonial art collection; decorative arts, including Australian craft and design, post-1945; Tasmanian natural history; convict collection; Chinese Temple from the 1880s north-east Tasmania tin mining era; and the Planetarium.
If you prefer cars old and new, perhaps a visit to the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania is to be considered. It is located just opposite City Park on Cimitiere Street and on the way to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibits at the museum are always changing and feature a variety of cars and motorcycles.
Across the other side of Launceston is Cataract Gorge, perhaps Launceston’s best known attraction and justifiably so. This nature reserve features many walking tracks, beautiful historic parklands, the remains of Duck River Power Station, the first municipal hydro-electric power station in Australia, the world’s longest single span chair-lift, a swimming pool, cafés and restaurants and stunning natural beauty. No wonder it is so popular! We saved the best for last, so take your time and explore all that the Gorge has to offer.
The Gorge Restaurant is located in the Cliff Grounds Reserve and is a superb choice for dinner. Over winter a log fire creates a cosy atmosphere, while in summer alfresco dining makes the most of beautiful location.
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Day 5 Thursday
Wine lover or not, there is plenty to see and do on the Tamar Valley Wine Route. The route is easily navigated, as it is very well signposted, we suggest tackling the route over several days, however, it would still be best to get an early start, in order to allow enough time to fully explore the many attractions.
Set out from Bridport towards Launceston. Once in Launceston take the West Tamar Highway (A7). Just 15 minutes out of Launceston, visit Launceston Lakes and Wildlife Park for an encounter with Tasmanian devils, quolls, wombats, emus and 40 different bird species living in natural bushland.
To see more of the Tamar’s birdlife, visit the Tamar Islands Wetlands Centre. The Tamar River’s many sheltered coves and inlets are a sanctuary for thousands of native water birds. Stroll along the boardwalk to the picturesque Tamar Island and spot the birdlife along the way.
The Tamar Valley is Tasmania’s oldest and largest wine-growing region, renowned for its cool-climate wines, specialising in Pinot and Riesling varieties. Many of the vineyards are small and family-owned, so the growers themselves will often greet you and explain how the wine is made.
Between Legana and Beauty Point there are a number of vineyards, several with outstanding river views. Most have cellar door sales and some have their own restaurants. Rosevears Estate and Daniel Alps at Strathlynn offer lunch menus based on fresh Tasmanian produce.
If you enjoy short walks, visit the enchanting Notley Vineyard, Tamar Valley Fern Gorge, a 10-hectare sanctuary for wildlife that includes a relatively easy one-hour walk through dense rainforest. Alternatively, just a few minutes farther along Frankford Main Road, discover Glengarry Bush Maze and Tearooms. Set in a beautiful natural setting, these tearooms also offer many puzzles and fun activities for children.
North of Exeter, at Robigana, you can find a quality piece of local art or sample some more Tasmanian wine at Artisan Gallery and Wine Centre. If it’s time for a coffee, visit Lynton Farm Café and while you are there purchase some fresh Tamar Valley produce.
The town of Beaconsfield has a rich mining history and today has one of Tasmania’s few working gold mines, operating next to the site of the original Grubb Shaft, which started operations more than 100 years ago. The Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum shows the workings of the old mine, recalling the boom days of gold. The museum has more than 30 visitor-activated displays highlighting the hard life of the early settlers in the region.
From here, return to Bridport; take the West Tamar highway again until Sidmouth, then veer into Spring Hill Road. This will turn into the Batman Highway. Turn onto the East Tamar Highway and follow the signs to Bridport. Perhaps a relaxing evening in the unit, sampling some of the local wares you have no doubt purchased over the last couple of days is called for? After all, tomorrow will be another big day.
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Day 6 Friday
Today head back towards Beaconsfield. Five minutes further north of Beaconsfield is Beauty Point. Here the family will enjoy visiting Seahorse World and Platypus House both of which open at 9:30am. Seahorse World provides a unique insight into the mystical and intriguing seahorse from birth to adulthood. Located just opposite is Platypus House, the only place in Australia where visitors can watch Tasmanian Platypuses up close.
From Beauty Point, head towards the sweeping beaches, white peaks and coastal heath-lands and forest of the Narawntapu National Park. At Greens Beach, take an easy 270-metre walk to the West Head lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular cliff top views along Badger Head Beach and westward as far as Table Cape and the Dial Ranges behind Ulverstone.
Looping back again from Beaconsfield, take the first turnoff to Batman Bridge. Once across Batman Bridge, take a right turn along the partly unsealed but scenic road to the picturesque hamlet of Hillwood. At Hillwood Strawberry Farm treat yourself to strawberries freshly picked and topped with dollops of cream; in summer pick your own and taste some of their locally made fruit wines.
Alternatively, take a picnic lunch along the banks of the Tamar River at the Egg Island Picnic Reserve. For a short but challenging walk, take the 1.5km track up Mt Direction and learn about the historic, semaphore communications systems that once operated between Low Head and Launceston.
From Hillwood it is an easy drive to historic George Town, Australia’s third-oldest town, settled in 1804. On the way, stop at Mount George Lookout, where you’ll get a great perspective on the valley and surrounding districts. This is another historic semaphore site.
In George Town itself, take a self-guided tour along the George Town Heritage Trail, which highlights the historical sites and buildings here and at nearby Low Head. Of particular note is The Grove, a splendid Georgian home dated circa 1830. In November, the George Town on Show Festival runs over a four-week period and showcases the culture and history, food and wine, industry and community of the George Town area.
At Low Head visit Australia’s oldest continuously operated pilot station, circa 1805, and a maritime museum. A coastal walk leads to a small beach where penguins come ashore at nightfall. The best way to see the penguins is on the guided tour run by Low Head Penguin Tours, these are run at dusk. If you are considering this it will probably be best to grab dinner before the tour, there are a number of dining options in George Town that are sure to satisfy.
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Day 7 Saturday
Regardless of the time of year, Bridport is a great place to spend time on or in the water. There is great fishing all year round, either from Anderson Bay or the Brid River.
Bridport is a largely undeveloped snapper fishing location. In recent years catches of snapper up to 15kg have made the locals excited. When the reds are about, one boat can land four or five in a session - all over 7kg. They can be taken from the land as well. Also from the shore, good catches of snook, pike, couta, salmon, flathead and whiting can be made, as well as some nice gummy and school sharks. The Brid River offers limited fishing, however, trout are available throughout the season and the tidal estuary also holds some big flathead. Anderson Bay offers fairly flat and featureless bottom. Drifting for flathead is very popular as is trolling for couta and salmon.
If fishing is not for you there are many other water activities to keep you entertained in the warmer months. The beaches around Bridport are all protected and ideal for families. There is great snorkelling, water skiing and sailing in and around Bridport.
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