Tasmanian Travel: the North West Coast

January 26th, 2011 |

Planning a Tasmanian travel itinerary? Our suggestion would be this: allow more time than you think! We’ve just been for the briefest of visits to the North West Coast, and realise we MUST return again for a more in-depth experience. With apologies to the towns we by-passed, here’s our first impressions of only a small portion of this beautiful northern tourism zone.

Tasmanian travel agenda: long weekend to the north west region

Tasmanian Travel Excuses!

Let us begin by saying this was not a leisurely tourist holiday to the north west by southern Tasmanians. Travel to Burnie for tennis was the main thing on our agenda, so we added a few hours to the drive there and back to take in some fleeting sights. And while we would love to spend all our time in holiday-travel mode, we also really enjoyed spending time at the magnificent Burnie tennis complex meeting some fantastic northern Tasmanian locals.

Burnie Tennis Club, north west Tasmania (Photo by Dale Wylie)

Just while we’re on the subject of tennis, the Burnie International
will be played from January 29 to February 5. Entry to watch
professional tour players is by gold coin donation.
Last year’s event was won by Bernard Tomic and he will be
back in Tasmania to defend his title this year.

North West Coast: Tasmanian Travel Itinerary

Now here’s a sneak peek at a couple of towns we did visit. We’ll use the phrase reconnaissance and promise to explore each in more depth another time.

Deloraine

Home of the Tasmanian Craft Fair in October/November each year, Deloraine is obviously a place of special interest. Both the North West Coast and the Launceston Tamar tourism zones of Tasmania claim the town!! But no matter what the region, Deloraine can boast a bounty of fresh produce.

Green paddocks are dotted with dairy cows, resulting in the local production of cheese and chocolate. Salmon farms, raspberry growers and even a beer brewery provide the tourist with a range of culinary experiences.

Dairy cows near Deloraine, Tasmania (Photo by Dan Fellow)

And with the Great Western Tiers as a backdrop and the Meander River flowing through the centre, Deloraine is a pretty, rural town. There’s visual evidence of farming, and the creative talents of locals are on show in the town’s art and craft galleries. But… we still can’t confirm the platypus sightings promoted for the area. The only wildlife we saw from the banks of the river? Ducks!

North west Tasmanian town of Deloraine: Meander River duck!

Sheffield

Another inland town, Sheffield also has an abundance of farming and beautiful natural landscape. Mount Roland rises from the myriad of colourful paddocks surrounding the town, where poppies, potatoes and other vegetables are grown. But there’s no doubting what draws the tourists into this Tasmanian town. Travel through the main street and you are suddenly in the midst of an outdoor art gallery of painted murals.

Tasmanian travel highlight: Sheffield murals in the north west

Ulverstone

Judging by the amount of activity around the caravan parks along the foreshore, Ulverstone is a popular summer destination for families. The water slide and several pedal buggies were getting a solid workout between the beach and the grassy parks. And we can recommend the lunch menu at Pedro’s on the wharf overlooking the Leven River – but we’ll go into more detail about that another day.

The pedal cars at Ulverstone foreshore in Tasmania's north west

Burnie

Weekend at Burnie! This seaport town has plenty to offer the tourist in Tasmania. Travel here and you obviously cannot ignore the industrial zone. But the town has a new and vibrant focus, overcoming a nasty history.

With the Burnie Makers Workshop and Penguin Observation Centre on the boardwalk, and park-lands and natural features throughout the township and beyond, there’s much to like about Burnie Tasmania.

If you’re looking for tasting opportunities, the Hellyers Road Whisky Distillery is right next door to the Tasmanian Cheese Tasting Centre. How convenient!

View near Hellyers Road Distillery in Burnie, north west Tasmania

Wynyard

Only 20kms from Burnie is another coastal town: Wynyard, where the Inglis River meets Bass Strait. The local council have developed an extensive network of trails along the river. Spend a little time exercising in Tasmania and you realise that a level walking track deserves to be promoted as a unique feature!

Not far from Wynyard is Table Cape, famous for tulips in October and cliff-top geological sites, with a walk from lookout to lighthouse.

Tasmanian Travel - Table Cape Lighthouse

Table Cape Lighthouse & tulip bulbs near Wynyard, Tasmania

Boat Harbour Beach

Good enough to rival the magnificent beaches of the Bay of Fires on the east coast of Tasmania, Boat Harbour has a stunner of a beach. Sheltered and shallow and perfect for families with young children, the sand is white and the water is turquoise. Overlooking the vista: Jolly Rogers restaurant and cafe, sandwiched between the surf life saving club and a take-away joint for hot chips and ice-creams. What more could you want?

North west coast, Tasmania: beautiful Boat Harbour Beach

Tourism Zone: Tasmanian Travel Agenda

A special apology to Devonport, Penguin and Latrobe. These towns are also fabulous and worthy of inclusion in any Tasmanian travel plans. We have the Australian Axeman’s Hall of Fame in Latrobe as well as the Penguin Market on our radar for the future.

Township of Penguin on the North West Coast, Tasmania

And close to the north-western tip of the heart-shaped island, is the coastal township of Stanley: home of The Nut. We didn’t make it this time, but we will. We don’t have any other holiday plans, just more Tasmanian travel including the North West Coast.

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