North-west

A five-day return road trip from Devonport to Strahan via Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair.

Distance: 849km

DAY ONE /

Your first destination is the secluded Tarkine Wilderness Lodge, but first, stop off for breakfast at Bella’s (closed Mondays), only a few minutes drive from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal. Then head to Ulverstone and follow the coast via the pretty town of Penguin towards Burnie. In the hills behind Burnie, spend an afternoon tasting whisky at Hellyers Road Distillery. Drop into The Cheese Shop for a tasting of specialty cheeses at the Makers’ Workshop which also has a museum, paper making tours, café, artists’ studios, and a gift shop. Finally, head to your accommodation in the majestic wilderness at Tarkine Wilderness Lodge, about 50km west of Burnie. Make a reservation for dinner and enjoy beautiful local produce and Tasmanian wine.

DAY TWO /

Start the day with a Tarkine Wilderness Lodge escorted rainforest walk, then drive to the quaint fishing village of Stanley in time for Stanley Seal Cruise’s afternoon boat trip. The town centre is charming, with interesting shops and galleries, especially Providore 24, where you can buy provisions for tomorrow’s picnic. If you choose not to take the boat trip, walk or catch a chair lift up to the top of the most distinctive landmark, The Nut, for panoramic sea views. Finally, head to the Old Cable Station for the night and reserve a table at its restaurant where you can enjoy wood-oven roasted local crayfish.

DAY THREE /

Get an early start and head to Woolnorth, about 60km west of Stanley, for a morning tour of the Van Diemens Land Company’s historic property. Enjoy a picnic lunch then make the four-hour journey to Strahan via Zeehan, arriving in time (before 5:30pm) for a performance of the long-running play The Ship That Never Was. Strahan Village offers a choice of cottage and hotel style rooms with views over the town’s pretty harbour.

DAY FOUR /

After a stroll to Hogarth Falls, let the Grining family show you Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River on one of their World Heritage Cruises. Late afternoon drive to Tasmania’s exciting new wilderness resort, Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair, for your final night’s stay.

DAY FIVE /

With advance notice, Pumphouse Point can organise a fishing trip for you with a guide from the Orrsome Tasmanian Fly Fishing Lodge. Then, with your line-caught trout packed and ready to take home, return to Devonport to the ferry terminal.