Gunns Plains, the Valley & the Leven River
October 6th, 2011 | 
Author: Gunns Plains: Why We Live Where We Live
by Michelle Kneipp Pegler
Gunns Plains. As soon as we drove down into the valley we just knew that this part of Tasmania was where we wanted to live. Looking down onto the fertile soil and green pastures as we descended to the valley floor we decided that this place ticked every box on the list of things we wanted for our new life. Gunns Plains is a rich fertile area dotted with dairy farms, potato growing, poppy growing and beef cattle. In days gone by they grew vegetables here and it was also one of the three major hop producing regions in Tasmania.
From the lookout: views of the valley of Gunns Plains
Things to Do in The Valley
For a relatively small area there is quite a lot to see and do when you visit Gunns Plains. There’s the beautiful Leven River renowned for its trout fishing and a great spot to canoe or kayak. Then there’s the beauty of the Gunns Plains Caves. Well known for the wonderful limestone formations, including calcite shawls and flow-stones, it also has a glow-worm display. The ever jovial Trish and Geoff take you on a wonderful trip through the caves with a laugh or two along the way.
If you are coming in or out of the valley along Raymond Road don’t forget to call into the Leven Valley Vineyard. It’s home to award-winning cold climate Chardonnay, Rose & Pinot Noir. There’s work by local artists on display. You can enjoy a glass of wine and a platter of local cheeses while looking out across Gunns Plains and the Leven River.
Let Geoff and Trish show you the beautiful Gunns Plains Caves
Gunns Plains Goodies: Potatoes, Parks & Preston Falls
The Preston Falls are worth a look, also on Raymond Road. Wings Wildlife Park is a must to see. It has the largest collection of Tasmanian wildlife in Australia, so leave yourself plenty of time to see everything. Call into Gunns Plains Goodies and have a bite to eat and a chat to Paula and Graham. If you are in Gunns Plains on the first Monday in November stop in and have a look at our Gunns Plains Potato Festival, which is held on Recreation Day (a public holiday in northern Tasmania). The Potato Festival is a celebration of all things potato and it’s a fun day out for everyone.
Leven Canyon is only 25 km away and has a great viewing platform, which juts out of the rock face. You can look down into the canyon floor and see the mighty Leven River thundering past. If you find you want to spend more time in our beautiful valley there are a few accommodation places you can stay. Wings Wildlife Park has accommodation, as do St. Marks Luxury Accommodation and Mathom Farm Goat Dairy Cottage.
Mathom Farm Goat Dairy, one of the farming properties in the valley
Home is Where the Heart is: Leven River Farm
This is why we live where we live in Gunns Plains. It’s oh so beautiful and there’s lots to experience here and in the surrounding area. It’s twelve months now since we said good-bye to the heat and humidity of north Queensland and Hello! to our new farm life in Gunns Plains. We have settled into this welcoming community with ease and have made many new friends. We are so lucky to have made the move to our own little slice of paradise situated in the beautiful north west region of Tasmania. So please visit this area next time you are over this way. You will be very glad you did.
The magnificent Leven River runs through the valley of Gunns Plains
Michelle Kneipp Pegler writes a blog called Leven River Farm
about the ups and downs of her Good Life
and occasional forays delving into the lessons of the past.
Map: Gunns Plains Tasmania
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Posted in North West Coast, Tasmanian Accommodation, Tasmanian Things to Do, Tasmanian Wildlife | 
Tags: Events, Farm Animals, Maps, Produce, Rivers, Tourism, Travel Destination, Wildlife Park
2 Responses to “Gunns Plains, the Valley & the Leven River”
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You have found paradise & doing the things that you always wanted to do. A lot of hard work but well worth the effort now that you can see the rewards.
I can visualise the view down into the valley. The land looks so fertile but can you imagine how hard it was for those that worked it with bullock and horse drawn farm machinery. I have read about the boggy ground up at North Motton & how it became impossible to work the land for several weeks of the year.
The first time we visited Gunns Plains it was a wet & murky winters morning but we still enjoyed going down into the cave. This is a must for any tourist & it’s so close to many other attractions.
Hi Roger Thanks for that. Yes I often wonder as I’m driving out of the valley how hard it must’ve been to make a road into Gunns Plains in the first place. They certainly did it hard all those years ago.