Huon Trail

The Huon Valley, the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island are a patchwork of fishing, farming and forestry activities. Often named after 17th and 18th century sea captains or their vessels, the islands, bays and rivers of this region reveal an exceptional variety of landscapes, from the dark, still waters of the Huon River to forests of mighty Eucalyptus regnans.

You’ll need every minute of the four days allocated to this journey to explore the region south of Hobart. Once renowned for its apple orchards, today the Huon Valley has diversified. On your way to Huonville, you can visit Home Hill vineyard, with its stylish rammed-earth winery restaurant. Further south, past Geeveston, you’ll come to the cantilevered Tahune Forest Airwalk, which lets you stroll through the canopy of mature forest high above the Picton River. If you enjoy bushwalking, you can survey the south-west wilderness in all its majesty from the summit of Hartz Peak. From here, you head for the caves of Hastings and the magnificent beaches of Recherche Bay, then back to Hobart via the clifftop walks and wildlife cruises of Bruny Island.

The caves of this region started to form 40 million years ago and remained unseen by Europeans until 1917, when timber workers discovered an entrance. Newdegate Cave is one of the few caves in Australia to have formed in dolorite, which is harder and heavier than limestone. Forty-five-minute tours of the cave’s large and spectacular formations are conducted throughout the day.

In 1792 Rear Admiral Bruni D’Entrecasteaux, commanding the Recherche, and Captain Huon de Kermadec, commanding the Esperance, were sent to search for La Perouse, whose expedition had been overdue since 1788. During his search, D’Entrecasteaux took time to chart and take soundings in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, the Port Esperance area, and the Huon and Derwent rivers. While staying on Bruny Island for a month, the French had friendly meetings with the Aboriginal people, exchanging gifts and sharing meals of roasted shellfish. At Recherche Bay, the remains of a garden established by the expedition have been preserved, along with the surrounding forest.

• Tahune Forest AirWalk
• Peppermint Bay Restaurant
• Bruny Island Charters wildlife cruises

• For more information on the Huon Trail.
• Visitor Information
• Regional Websites:
  www.brunyisland.org.au and
  www.farsouthtasmania.com
  
• Parks and Wildlife information
  Phone: (03) 6264 8460

Take the Southern Outlet (A6) from Hobart towards Kingston and follow the signs to Huonville, a drive of approximately 30 minutes. En route call in to the Huon Valley Apple and Heritage Museum at Grove to discover the traditions behind the once flourishing apple orchards of the region.

If fishing is your passion, don't miss the Snowy Range Trout Fishery in the hills behind Huonville, where you can catch and barbecue your own fish on site, as well as look through the hatchery where more than 50 per cent of Hobart's restaurant salmon and trout is sourced.

In Huonville, take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Huon River. Even among the whitewater adventure, there'll be time to admire this very beautiful riverscape, complete with Huon pines. Examples of this now-rare species, famous for the boatbuilding properties of its timber, are among the oldest living things on earth, some being more than 2,000 years old.

Nearby, savour the food of the region at the Home Hill Winery Restaurant at Ranelagh. Its stunning architecture features glass vistas and rammed-earth walls. Choose from a menu of Huon Valley seasonal produce – salmon, oysters, beef, trout, lamb, fruits and vegetables, including the famed Huon Valley mushrooms – all served in a picture-postcard rural setting.

Beyond Huonville lies the historic township of Franklin, with its fascinating School of Wooden Boatbuilding, where you can spy on shipwrights imparting traditional skills to students from around the world.

The Forest and Heritage Centre at Geeveston is a must for anyone interested in gaining an insight into the history and practices of the State's forest industries, not to mention an appreciation of the smell and feel of timber. Buy your tickets to the Tahune Forest AirWalk at the Centre before travelling 30 minutes by car via a working forest to the AirWalk itself for a truly magical treetop experience.

Thrill seekers will relish the exhilaration of the eagle gliding experience based 400 metres from the Tahune AirWalk Information Centre. Fly like an eagle in a hang glider that is attached to a 220 metre cable above a 70 metre high forest and the Huon River. It's safe and fun, and is designed to simulate the experience of being a wedge-tailed eagle.

Today, head into the Hartz Mountains National Park for a range of walks and superb views. From the highest point, Hartz Peak, standing 1255 metres high, you can see east to the ocean and west into the very heart of Tasmania’s southwest wilderness World Heritage Area.

Farther south, past the fishing town of Dover, are the awe-inspiring Hastings Caves. Newdegate Cave is one of the world’s great dolomite caves, containing vast chambers more than 40 million years old. After touring the caves, luxuriate in the nearby Thermal Springs – wonderfully warm, clear, naturally occurring pure spring water maintained at 28 degrees year round.

Cockle Creek, a bay of sapphire-blue water fringed with white sand, is the farthest south it is possible to drive in Australia. It’s also the start and the finish point for the challenging multi-day South Coast Track into the Southwest National Park World Heritage Area. If you haven’t the time to bushwalk in the area consider taking an unforgettable light aircraft flight from Hobart to Melaleuca, deep in this wilderness, where a hide has been established to study Tasmania’s endangered endemic orange-bellied parrot.

Return to Huonville and head towards the D’Entrecasteux Channel. Scenic drives through typically hilly backroads reveal panoramic views of a charming patchwork of orchards, small farms and vineyard set against a spectacular waterscape. Many artists seeking inspiration have homes and studios in this area.

Wines from the Huon region have won more than their fair share of gold medals. Two wineries open to the public for tastings are Panorama, with picnic facilities and vineyard tours available by arrangement, and Hartzview, which specialises in fruit ports and liqueurs. Obtain a copy of the Wine South Tasmania brochure for full details.

Alternatively take a drive following the meandering shoreline of the D’Entrecasteux Channel past the picturesque small townships scattered among the hills. Don’t miss the hamlet of Woodbridge, with its new waterside restaurant, Peppermint Bay, featuring local produce, innovatively prepared and served in a gorgeous setting. If you head up the hill nearby, you can watch the sheep being milked in preparation for the production of fine organic cheeses – and sample a variety of offerings at Grandvewe Farm Cheesery and Vineyard.

At Kettering pause for a moment to admire the idyllic Oyster Cove Marina, the channel and Bruny Island. At the water’s edge is the Mermaid Café, offering information about the entire region. It’s a great spot to wait to take your car by ferry to Bruny Island (a crossing of about 30 minutes), where you can spend a truly romantic night on this beautiful island.

Spend the day exploring Bruny Island with its fascinating history, wildlife and superb scenery.

Take the main road (B66) south to the scenic penguin viewing platform at the isthmus. At Adventure Bay (Captain James Cook’s last port of call in Australia before his tragic death in Hawaii), join a Bruny Island Charters wildlife cruise to the southern tip of Bruny Island – one of the best wildlife experiences available in Tasmania. The high-speed catamaran departs daily until June 30. It has regular sightings of sea eagles, dolphins, whales and seals as well as close-up views of spectacular rock formations and sea caves.

Afterwards, head down to the Bruny Island Lighthouse, on a wild, windswept cape looking out across the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean.

Return to Kettering by ferry, where you can stay nearby and enjoy the country atmosphere or return to Hobart (a drive of approximately 40 minute) via Kingston. From here, take the scenic route along the old Channel Highway (B68) into Hobart rather than the Southern Outlet (A6). At Taroona climb to the top of the 1870 Shot Tower for majestic views of the Derwent River estuary and a fascinating insight into the ancient art of making lead gunshot, then indulge in delicious scones in the tearooms!