Keen to savour the best of the Northwest in a limited timeframe? We’ve rounded down the top ten sites to visit from Devonport.
As Tasmania’s most iconic attraction, this majestic peak looms over a pristine national park. A vast network of walking trails criss-crosses the atmospheric alpine wilderness, with options to cater for all abilities.
As the gateway to the spectacular Great Western Tiers, this lush riverside town lures a steady stream of outdoor explorers. Even if you’re not an avid hiker, Deloraine is worth a visit for its spectacular natural setting and quaint old-world charm.
At the southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this crystalline lake glistens on a clear day. A multitude of hiking trails slices through the eerie alpine region, from easy-going strolls to arduous climbs. Energetic types can tackle the Mount Rufus Circuit.
The Great Western Tiers pièce de résistance, Liffey is a photogenic multi-level cascade that tumbles along a rainforest-thronged river. Approach from the Upper Liffey Falls Car Park for a short, easy-going stroll. Alternatively, start at Lower Liffey Reserve for a scenic 5.5km return hike.
A tiny one-street town surrounded by towering mountains, Mole Creek is a quintessential Tasmanian village. But it’s the intriguing caves of Mole Creek Karst National Park and the panoramic Alum Cliffs that make this place a must.
Stretching from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, this epic 65 km trail is among the world’s most prestigious multi-day hikes. Allow six days to complete your adventure or more should you tack on side trips. However, the limited summer availability books out months in advance. If you can’t snag a spot, try Frenchman’s Cap or the Walls of Jerusalem instead.
Once a thriving silver mining town, this charming mountain-surrounded village is a great base for exploring the west. Cascades like Nelson Falls and Montezuma Falls warrant a look, as does the vertigo-inducing Iron Blow Lookout. And you don’t have to be a theatre buff to appreciate The Ship That Never Was, Australia’s longest-running play.
An emblematic north coast destination, Stanley sits on a slender slither of a peninsula jutting out into the tumultuous Bass Strait. The old-timey town features stacks of charming colonial-era buildings and an iconic volcanic plug nicknamed “The Nut”.
Set on the shores of the sparkling Macquarie Harbour, the historic port town of Strahan oozes with old-world appeal. Locomotive lovers mustn’t skip the West Coast Wilderness Railway, a century-old steam-powered train that chugs 35km to Queenstown and back. For more splendid rainforest scenery, add on a 6-hour Gordon River Cruise.
Stretching 130 km, the Tarkine Drive is a classic Tassie road trip spanning cool temperate rainforest and rugged mountainous lookouts. Verdant picnic grounds, limestone sinkholes, and myrtle forest hikes lie along the route. Don’t miss Trowutta Arch, a stunning collapsed cave that’s become a big hit on Instagram.
Most RV travellers see Devonport as more of a starting/finishing point than a destination.
Devonport serves as a strategic starting point to explore the pristine landscapes of Northwest Tasmania.
On the north end of town, scenic hiking trails wind around a rugged peninsula home to the red-and-white-striped Mersey Bluff Lighthouse. If the weather’s nice, nearby Coles Beach is a top spot for a splash. Sea-faring types should pop into the Bass Strait Maritime Centre to learn about Tasmania’s nautical past.
Just west of town, the Penguin Viewing Platform offers an up-close encounter with adorable flightless birds. Epicureans should swing by Ashgrove Dairy Door, the House of Anvers, and Spreyton Cider Co to taste Tassie’s top cheese, chocolate, and apple-infused booze.
The jewel of Northwest Tasmania is Cradle Mountain, an iconic 1,545-metre peak. A string of scenic walking trails traverses the pristine national park, from quick, family-friendly stints to the 65km Overland Track. Scaling Cradle’s summit requires solid fitness, but easy breathtaking trails abound around Dove Lake.
To the north, Leven Canyon is a worthwhile detour for its tranquil campsite and the jaw-dropping Cruickshanks Lookout. Hardy hikers will love trudging around the rugged Mount Roland Regional Reserve. If you’re especially fit and craving a multi-day wilderness adventure, the Walls of Jerusalem offers a challenging alternative to the Overland Track.
The Great Western Tiers region hosts a broad network of breathtaking trails, from luscious rainforest walks to cragged panoramic peaks (try Meander Forest Reserve and Quamby Bluff Forest Reserve). The highlight is the easy-to-reach Liffey Falls, one of the state’s most scenic cascades.
A plethora of quaint country towns lies peppered around Northwest Tasmania, each blending time-old colonial history with verdant hilly views. Pencil in a pit stop at charming settlements like Deloraine, Railton, Sheffield, Mole Creek, Spreyton, and Latrobe.
Underground explorers will love King Solomons Cave and Marakoopa Cave (near Mole Creek), as well as Gunns Plains Caves (near Ulverstone).
Venturing west from Devonport, stretch your legs in Ulverstone and Penguin to taste Tasmanian coastal life. The industrial city of Burnie doesn’t have huge appeal, although wildlife spotters will enjoy the Fern Glade Platypus Reserve and Little Penguin Observation Centre.
The riverfront village of Wynyard brims with colonial-era charm and offers stunning views from the top of Fossil Bluff. From late September to late October, Table Cape Tulip Farm blooms with bulbiferous geophytes. Nearby, the Table Cape Lookout affords more breathtaking coastal views.
Boat Harbour is a beautiful beach town famed for its calm, turquoise-tinged waters. Not far west, Rocky Cape National Park is a hiker’s paradise full of rugged cliff-top trails.
Perched on a pointy peninsula, the seaside town of Stanley is a classic Northwest destination. Don’t leave without hiking or riding the chairlift up The Nut, a bulbous ancient volcanic plug overlooking the village.
A little inland, the Tarkine Drive is a magnificent mini road trip full of rainforest-shrouded rivers and reflective tree-lined ponds—don’t miss the photogenic Trowutta Arch. The aptly-named End of the World Lookout at Arthur River showcases the raw power of the Roaring Forties, Tasmania’s famously fierce westerly winds.
West Tasmania is a sparsely populated region famed for its pristine rainforests and staggered peaks.
The most famous town is Strahan, a historic spot and starting point for scenic Gordon River cruises and the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
A short drive east, Queenstown is a former mining settlement surrounded by towering hills. Watch hard-as-nails locals play football on gravel at the Queenstown Oval. Come nightfall, hit the Paragon Theatre for The Ship That Never Was, Australia’s longest-running play.
To the north, historic Zeehan has a string of exquisite buildings from its 1800s silver mining heydays. Wander through the Spray Tunnel and brush up on history at the West Coast Heritage Centre.
The cragged Frenchman’s Cap is among Tasmania’s top multi-day hikes. You’ll also find a slew of day trails around the region, especially within Lake St Clair National Park. Waterfall chasers mustn’t miss Montezuma Falls, Nelson Falls, and Hogarth Falls.
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