DAY 1 - Launceston to Cradle Mountain Departing from Launceston, head west towards the
Great Western Tiers Touring Route (A1), gateway to the renowned Cradle Mountain and Tasmanian World Heritage Area. If time permits, take the old road that passes through the townships of Hadspen, Carrick and Westbury, which all have their own unique historic flavour.
Near Deloraine (B12) is Mole Creek, where you will find
Wychwood, an inspiring one-hectare garden, including a small orchard of heritage fruit trees, and a productive vegetable garden and orchard. See cleverly arranged plantings, with an emphasis on bold foliage, form and colour. Many of the display plants can be purchased in the nursery.
Travel via Paradise (C137) to
Sheffield, referred to as the Town of Murals, with more than 50 murals depicting the history and heritage of the region. Sheffield is also the home of the Clematis Cottage Nursery - clematis heaven for lovers of this plant!
A little way out of Sheffield is
Tasmazia, in the aptly named Promised Land (C140). Pit your wits against the world's largest botanical maze, The Great Maze. There are eight mazes in total, including the Hampton Court Maze, a Balance Maze, the Yellow Brick Road Maze, the Hexagonal Maze, the Cage, the Irish Maze and the Confusion Maze.
Follow the
Cradle Country Touring Route to Cradle Mountain and Tasmania's World Heritage Area. Staying an extra night will give you time to view the many unique alpine plants on one of the area's many short walks. During autumn, the Cradle Valley area is among the best locations to view and photograph the changing colours of the deciduous beech, or fagus.
DAY 2 - Cradle Valley to the North-West Coast At nearby Nietta (C128),
Kaydale Lodge Garden showcases selectively bred daffodils, a fritillaria 'meadow', rare alpine plants, a colourful thyme lawn and Jurassic Park-like tree ferns. Home-style accommodation is available, perhaps a convenient staging point for visiting Gunns Plains and Leven Canyon.
The North-West Coast's rich volcanic soil grows a diverse range of crops. Flowering pyrethrum, poppies, peonies and tulips can be seen from the road, as can more traditional vegetable crops. On the Old Bass Highway at Sulphur Creek discover Orchids 'n' More, specialising in orchids and other specialty plants.
Continue to
Annsleigh Gardens and Cafe (B18) just 10 km south of Burnie. Here, flowering and ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, cherry blossoms, wisteria, camellia and laburnum walks abound.
A short distance away, at
Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, relax among the many rhododendrons and select companion plants, arranged in geographical sequence to indicate the origins of the species, from the Himalayas, Asia and North America. Peak flowering time is mid-September to early November. However the 13-hectare natural amphitheatre offers colour for most of the year. A Japanese tea house is the latest addition to the garden.
Stop by the Two Oaks Nursery and Gallery Café in Somerset (A1) for a light lunch or Devonshire tea and a chance to purchase some perennials or perfumed plants.
Nestled between the Inglis River and Goldie Street in the coastal township of
Wynyard (A2) are the Richard Gutteridge Gardens. The gardens feature a rock water wall and a fountain originally from Terra Nova. Walking tracks link the gardens to Fossil Bluff through remnant coastal forest, providing an opportunity to view local native wildlife.
Wynyard is host to 'Bloomin Tulips!' (formerly the Wynyard Tulip Festival), an annual festival held during the first fortnight in October. Highlights include Breakfast on Table Cape, art and craft displays, music and tulip-tossing championships. With Table Cape Tulip Farm and Van Diemen Quality Bulbs situated in the area, the festival is timed to coincide with the peak flowering of the tulips, a sight not to be missed.
Also at Wynyard is Katandra Garden and Bulb Farm, offering a large country garden and under-cover daffodil displays to view and purchase.
Head inland for something completely different in the horticultural field, yet aptly suited to the local conditions. Oldina Nursery at Oldina (C237) specialises in Australian plants and Tasmanian rainforest plants.
Nearby
Rocky Cape National Park contains a diverse range of native botanical specimens - from small orchids to a unique species of banksia.
DAY 3 - Stanley to Launceston A visit to this part of Tasmania would not be complete without dropping in to Tarkine Forest Adventures, 30 km from Smithton. Covering an area of 600 hectares, it is believed to be the only sinkhole (a basin-shaped depression) in the world that encloses a dense blackwood forest. If you are a thrill-seeker, swoop down to the swamp floor on the 110-metre slide; for the less adventurous, access is via maze-like paths that meander across the sinkhole floor.
Travelling back towards Smithton on the A2, take the B22 to
Allendale Gardens and Rainforest Walks at Edith Creek. See collections of mature exotic plants, natural streams, exotic trees and conifers in this multi-award-winning garden. Take an easy walk into Allendale's own private blackwood rainforest, with its exquisite fern glades.
Heading back towards Devonport, stop at Fuchsia Fantasy at Lillico, between Turner's Beach and Don, where you will be overwhelmed by more than 1,500 varieties of fuchsias.
Ten kilometres south of Devonport at Eugenana (C146) is the
Tasmanian Arboretum, situated on the Don River and Melrose Creek. View the Tasmanian flora collection, natural bush, limestone outcrops and an ornamental lake. Platypus can be seen regularly, as can waterbirds.
Time permitting, an alternative drive via Railton (B14) will allow a visit to Villaret Gardens at Kimberley, a lovely garden in a peaceful rural area.
Wander through acres of native and exotic trees and shrubs planted around purple beech, holly and English oak trees, established early last century.
Consider a visit or overnight stop at
Hawley House on the coast at Hawley Beach. Built in 1878 in Victorian Gothic style, this eclectic homestead has six hectares of vineyard, together with substantial gardens, lakes and ponds that have become a sanctuary for an abundance of wildlife.
Travel via the Frankford Highway (B71) into Launceston to complete your journey.
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