You can’t say you’ve done Tasmania until you’ve done the North West coast. From beautiful coastal drives to misty highland highways, foodie-themed routes, winery circuits and lonesome country backroads, the adventures will come in all shapes and sizes. Getting from A to B might not take all day, but you’re guaranteed some magnificent scenery and wildlife encounters along the way.
Looking for inspiration?
If you’re after insider tips on where to visit, the must see sights or for something off the typical tourist track, we’ve compiled some of the best of the best here.
Tasting Trial
The Tasting Trail is a self-drive food and drink trail, choose your own adventure but with wine, cheese and chocolate! Your travels will include stopping at almost 40 producers, retailers and dining experiences.
Ulverston
This seaside town offers up plenty of beautiful swimming beaches. There are also abundant coastal paths and picnic spots with stunning views for the whole family. And you’ll be able to oggle some of Tasmania’s most beautiful birds in Ulverstone.
In town, you’ll find an endearingly quirky garden maze on Maud Street. You get breathtaking views of the town and its coast from this zigzagging garden. It’s especially pleasant when river cruises are coming back to town from the Leven River.
It’s not hard to guess the star attraction in the pretty seaside town — sitting on the edge of Bass Strait, Penguin does indeed take its name from a nearby rookery, where you can see little penguins return from the sea each night. It’s obvious the town is proud of its residents: there’s a 3m-high “giant penguin” for photo opportunities, penguins featured artistically on rubbish bins, and other penguin signage scattered about.
But here you’ll also find great accommodation with expansive seaside views, a good selection of eateries and on Sundays the Penguin Undercover Market with stalls selling food and wine, handcrafts, art, vintage treasures and more. This stretch of the Old Bass Highway is a scenic drive with sweeping ocean views, great picnic spots and fine beaches for seaside walks.
Boat Harbor Beach
You might wonder if you’re in the right place when you encounter Boat Harbour – the hamlet straddling the Bass Highway isn’t on the water. Instead, take the turn-off to Boat Harbour Beach to find this seaside getaway.
Laze on the sheltered beach, spot marine life in rock pools and head to Seekers Bar and Cafe in the surf club for fish and chips and chilled drinks that come with a panoramic view of Bass Strait.
Explore neighbouring Rocky Cape National Park. This park surrounds another beach community, Sisters Beach, which is located along a former horse trail known as the Postman’s Track that once connected Burnie and Stanley.
Check out the park’s remarkable geological formations – the rocks of pinmatik / Rocky Cape are among the oldest in Tasmania. Explore extensive hiking trails and see Tasmanian Aboriginal shelter caves; please respect the wishes of the Aboriginal community and don’t enter the caves.
Stanley
Stanley is a romantic town sitting on a slender sliver of land jutting out into the Bass Strait on Tasmania’s northwest coast. It is remarkable for its incredibly well-preserved colonial buildings and its massive volcanic plug cheekily named ‘The Nut’. The plug rises 150 metres out of the water and it dominates the small town skyline and is what visitors remember the most.
Hiring a Car from Melbourne
Starting and ending in Devonport, many visitors travel across Bass Strait with their Everything Fleet vehicle on the Spirit of Tasmania between Geelong and Devonport.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip:
- Tasmania is a small state by Australian standards, but it’s a similar size to Ireland. Don’t underestimate the time it takes to get around.
- Tasmania’s compact size and diverse landscapes make every road trip an adventure.
- Road conditions vary and can be winding and steep, so allow extra time when estimating driving times and distances. Because wildlife is so abundant, native animals often wander onto the road, especially between dusk and dawn – please slow down and take extra care, especially at these times.
- Some fuel stations close as early as 5pm, particularly in remote regions. Ensure the tank is kept well above empty when venturing out of cities and before driving long distances.
- Be aware that vehicle-rental contracts have special conditions for using unsealed roads.
Are you ready?
Tasmania is proof that good things come in small packages: you’ll be wowed by the natural beauty of this compact island. Good roads and scenic views around every corner make travelling in Tasmania exhilarating. Give the team at Everything Fleet a call today and turn your holiday vision into reality.
