OUR brief was to find a self-drive holiday with minimal travel stress, lots to see that’s out of the ordinary, and where accommodation was easy to find along the way.
The first place that came to mind was a route that would take the traveller up through the centre of Tasmania from Hobart to Devonport and then across to Launceston – fly into Hobart and fly out of Launceston.
It’s a route that could be done in less than a day but is best enjoyed by taking a week or more to enjoy all the ‘destination towns’ along the way have to offer.
There’s lots of accommodation options on this route so rather than mapping out a day-by-day trip, we’ll hit the highlights of the journey and leave it up to the traveller to decide how long to stay at places on the route.
Our best advice is to start out with a ‘leisurely mindset’, consider travelling in spring and take clothes for all seasons.
Our chosen route takes us along the Midlands Highway and then onto Highway 1 and then a ‘U’ back onto the Midlands Highway to Launceston.
So, let’s begin by flying into Hobart, picking up a rental car and making an overnight stay to give you time to wander around the capital, enjoy a meal in one of the many cafes or restaurants and to make a relaxed start to your holiday.
Breakfast and you’re on your way to Oatlands with stops along the way to soak in the reality of a couple of bridges.
“Bridges?” you ask.
“Both are worth it,” is our reply.
The first is at Richmond and is picturesque in design, setting and history.
The heritage listed arch bridge was built by convicts and 200 years later continues to serve its original purpose. Sandstone for the nation’s oldest span bridge was cut and hauled more than two kilometres by handcart to the site of the crossing over the Coal River.
While in Richmond you could also take in Australia’s oldest colonial goal.
Onto Oatlands to see a working flour mill of Georgian design. It was opened in 1837 and continues to operate today.
Oatlands, like many of the stops along the route is a place to take the time wander along the main street. While the town is comparatively small, it does boast the largest number of sandstone buildings (150) in Australia and all are of Georgian design.
It also stands as the gateway to Lake Dulverton’s picnic areas where you can fish or take your binoculars to spot some of the state’s rarest birds.
Next on the route is the town of Ross, another place full of historic buildings and another convict built bridge. This one stands apart as it features 186 carvings which are believed to be based on real people known by the convict stonemason who was responsible for the artworks back in the 1830s.
The town also hosts the most archeologically intact female convict site, Tasmania’s wool centre and some fine places to enjoy a meal, while taking in the Georgian architecture.
Wonderful old Georgian style buildings are also a feature of Evandale and these too are well preserved and range from churches to hotels through to a saddler’s shop.
And we encourage you to take the time to drive a little way out of town and then down a long tree lined drive to Clarendon House – a truly magnificent two storey Georgian home; from its Italianate facade to its internal rooms and grounds.
Deloraine is described by the tourism bureau as an ‘artsy town straddling the Meander River’ and while it too has some historic claims, it’s foremost attraction is the crafts fair held in November.
Those historic claims range from Georgian to Victorian architecture and the surrounding farmlands come with the many a paddock to plate style fare in outlets throughout the region. It is also one of the ‘stepping off’ points for the drive west to Cradle Mountain and all the far west of the state has to offer … but that’s for another story.
From Deloraine we drive to the northern city of Devonport, where the Mersey River flows into Bass Strait. There are old buildings, museums and a regional art gallery among the options and it’s the gateway to several nature reserves and beaches.
If time is beginning to run out, the trip to Launceston and the airport is only a little over an hour from Devonport but we’d like to throw in a couple of delightful stopping places along the way.
Those stops are Westbury and two neighbouring estates south of the town of Longford – both take you off the direct route to Launceston, but are worth the extra travel.
Another ‘historic village with an English feel’, Westbury lives up to its promise in so many ways as it has a village green, elegant old inns, staid and immovable looking churches, tree lined streets and old courtyards, inns and stables.
The Woolmer Estate and the Brickendon Estate are world heritage listed working farms – both are ancestral homes of the Archer family and both are considered national treasures (privately owned).
Brickendon remains in the Archer family, while Woolmers is now run by a not-for-profit organisation. Beautiful gardens, authentic colonial outbuildings, a chance to take a tour through the home (Woolmers) or on a guided tour around the site by one of the owners (Brickendon) are just some of the offerings.
And this brings us to Launceston where there’s lots to see and do including Cataract Gorge where I’d highly recommend a walk from the carpark along the river walk.
