Riverside villages and vineyards are beautiful places to sample pinots and rieslings at the cellar door or dine in winery restaurants with big views and menus featuring the best of Tasmania’s fresh produce.
Route SummaryThe Tamar Valley is Launceston’s backyard, but there’s excellent accommodation all along the route, so stay overnight if you get the chance. From Launceston, it’s only a short drive to the Tamar Island Wetlands, where a variety of water birds congregate in an area of unexpected tranquillity just off the highway.
If you’re a wine-lover, follow the road signs indicating the Tamar Valley Wine Route, which takes in many family-owned vineyards as well as the larger enterprises – Rosevears Vineyard Retreat and Daniel Alps at Strathlynn, offer lunches featuring their own wines and Tasmanian food.
At Beaconsfield, you can learn the history of local gold mining at the Grubb Shaft Museum, before continuing on to Beauty Point’s Seahorse World and Platypus House. Your journey ends across the river at George Town and Low Head, where you’ll see heritage buildings, historic lighthouses, grand old sailing ships, penguins and maybe even seals.
What You Will DiscoverThe Tamar Valley has established an excellent reputation for its sparkling wines and pinots, so why not take a guided tour of a number of vineyards? Not only will you learn the techniques and conditions that have created these fine vintages – often from the growers and makers themselves – but because someone else is driving, you’ll be able to sample as many wines as you like, and still have a glass with lunch.
The coast at the mouth of the Tamar River is far more treacherous than the placid waters of the river suggest. In all, a dozen ships were wrecked in the hundred years to 1903. A beacon was established and manned at Low Head in 1805, though a lighthouse was not built until 1833.
In 1888 the original convict-built station was pulled down and replaced with the white lighthouse on the site today, and the Low Head Pilot Station remains the oldest continuously operating pilot station in Australia. The bold red stripe on the tower was added in 1926 to improve the lighthouse’s daytime visibility.
For anyone with an interest in Australia's marine history, this is your place! The adjacent (1835 convict-built, John Lee Archer designed) Pilot's Row is a terrace of four four-roomed cottages originally built to house the Pilots. It is now home to a very good Maritime Museum - open 10am to 4pm daily (except Xmas day), manned by knowledgeable volunteers.
Set out from Launceston along the West Tamar Highway (A7). Just 15 minutes into the drive, visit Launceston Lakes and Wildlife Park for an encounter with Tasmanian devils, quolls, wombats, emus and 40 different bird species living in natural bushland. Alternatively, try your skills fly fishing for trout in the well-stocked lakes.
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.
Just north of Legana, another special place to spend some time is Quality Hotel a Tamar Valley Resort, where day visitors are welcome. There's even a Putt-It mini-golf course.
The Tamar Valley is Tasmania's oldest and largest winegrowing region, renowned for its cool-climate wines, specialising in Pinot and Riesling varieties. You will notice the road signs indicating the Tamar Valley Wine Route.
Because many of the vineyards are small and family owned, the growers themselves will often greet you and explain just 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 Vineyard Retreat and Daniel Alps at Strathlynn offer lunch menus based on fresh Tasmanian produce.
If you enjoy short walks, visit the enchanting Notley 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 in a beautiful natural setting with 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 Cafe 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.
Five minutes farther north is Beauty Point, where families in particular will enjoy visiting Seahorse World and Platypus House, or discovering the upper Tamar River on a short river cruise on board the Shuttlefish Ferry.
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 close-up. Also view hundreds of creepy crawlies, water rats and butterflies.
From Beauty Point head towards the sweeping beaches, white peaks and coastal heathlands and forest of the Narawntapu National Park for panoramic views of Badger Head and Bass Strait. From the western car park at Greens Beach, take an easy 270 metre walk to the West Head lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular clifftop views along Badger Head Beach and westward as far as Table Cape and the Dial Ranges behind Ulverstone. There is also an easy four-hour return coastal walk to Badger Head.
Heading south, at Beaconsfield take the first turn-off to Batman Bridge, which links the western and eastern banks of the river. This is a pleasant scenic drive, and on the way, stop in at Lavender House at Rowella where more than 100 different kinds of lavender are grown, flowering between August and May. Browse the showroom, peaceful gardens and fragrant fields or just sit and enjoy a tea or coffee in their tearooms.
Once across Batman Bridge, take a right turn along the partly unsealed but scenic road to the picturesque hamlet of Hillwood or take the East Tamar Highway (A8) route instead. 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. Hillwood is also the home of Southern Cross Country, which sells lovely handcrafted coats. Watch them being made in the workshop.
For a short but challenging walk, take the 1.5 kilometre 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. Linger over a meal in the café and wander the peaceful shoreline. For a lasting memory of this area, take a two to three-hour journey on the historic tall ship Windeward Bound, which is moored at the site during the warmer months. A coastal walk leads to a small beach where penguins come ashore at nightfall, and guided tours are available every evening.
Before returning to George Town, take a walk along the East Beach and visit Low Head Lighthouse. The present lighthouse (1888) takes in panoramic views of the peninsula, the Tamar River, and surf and river beaches.
If you are moving on today, why not return to Launceston or head east via the North East Trail, taking in the Pipers River wine producing area. Here you can taste and buy some of Tasmania’s best premium sparkling and non-sparkling wines.
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