What to Do in North West Tasmania

Tucked away in Australia’s most dramatic corner, North West Tasmania is a region of raw, striking contrasts. One day you can spend your time consuming your weight in artisanal cheese and Tasmanian wine; the next, you're questioning every choice that led you to abseiling down a near-freezing waterfall!

Whether you want to explore at the pace of a grazing wombat, or blast through like Taz devil, this guide to Tasmania’s wild North West has something for you.

If you dream of slower pace travel, rich in flavour, scenery and good food, then youre probably more a wombat than devil. You'll discover how to taste, see and hear your way through the rolling hills and dramatic scenery. If you’re more of a devil, below you’ll learn which tours will leave you feeling more alive than the day you were born, and how to immerse yourself in the deep and ancient scent that North West Tasmania has to offer. 

For the Grazing Wombats: High Calorie, Low Stress Travel.

If you prefer to taste, look and listen your way through the holiday then this is the section for you. 

Taste

The Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail is an open invite to overeat your way through the region's rolling hills. Follow your tastebuds from artisanal dairy and chocolate, to fresh seafood, wine, beer and spirits. With over 40 producers to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Here are our top picks.

Irresistible sweets - Van Diemens Land Creamery (Elizabeth Town) - artisanal Tasmanian Ice Cream and Gelato… If you want to spice it up and try something new be sure to try the Pepperberry Leatherwood Honey Ice Cream.

Delectable dairy - Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door (Elizabeth Town) - A complete paddock to plate experience with award-winning Tasmanian cheese. Watch the cheesemakers in action at the viewing window and learn more about the process by taking a walk through the interpretation displays. 

Fresh Seafood - Hursey Seafoods (Stanley) - Fresh seafood, straight from their own fleet! Famous for the Southern Rock Lobster, known locally as crayfish, it is available all year round. However, you’ll be sure to see many other locally sourced items on the menu including fresh Tasmanian fish, oysters and scallops. 

With over 40 producers to choose between, the Tasting Trail is a fantastic way to see Tasmania’s North West and the fastest ticket to a happily indulgent food coma.

Look

Explore the sights at your own pace, or book a tour to gain a deeper understanding of the wild land around you.  These are a few unique tours in the North West that will have you feeling humbled by how small we are in the awe-inspiring environment we call home.

The Nut Chairlift Experience (Stanley) - A gentle, open- air cable ride that will effortlessly carry you to the top of Stanley’s most iconic feature without the strenuous walk. From the top you have the option of a gentle loop walk where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic coastal views of the Bass Strait.

Little Penguin Tour (Stanley) -  Find yourself a comfortable spot before the sun dips below the horizon, and wait to watch hundreds of wild little penguins emerge from the ocean. Some might even waddle right past your feet to their burrows! Remember to never interact with, or feed the wildlife. The best way to experience wild animals is simply to watch. 

The Tarkine Drive (Smithton) - Beginning in the town of Smithton, this scenic drive will take you through ancient wilderness from the relative comfort of your air-conditioned car. You’ll witness Australia’s largest cool-temperate rainforest, with choose-your-own-adventure stops along the route. Some stops involve a gentle hike to the destination, but we can assure it won’t disappoint. Most popular spots to see are Trowutta Arch and the Edge of the World. Look into it. You'll thank us later.

Listen

If your idea of adventure is a slow boat, a gentle breeze  and the tranquil sound of nature around you, then we think you’ll love these recommendations. 

Pieman River Historic Cruise (Corinna) - On board the famous Arcadia II, a historic vessel built from rare, fragrant Huon Pine. The tour departs Corinna and heads downstream towards Pieman Heads. While on the journey enjoy learning from the commentary about the history and unique features of the area from your knowledgeable skipper. 

Dove Lake Kayak tour at Cradle Mountain - In a smaller boat than the previous recommendation, this is a truly immersive and atmospheric experience. Dove Lake sits below one of the most iconic mountains in Tasmania, and this tour in handcrafted King Billy Pine Kayaks allows you to see it from a unique perspective. A guide will interpret the landscape and the history of the area as they paddle alongside you. Enjoy a stroll through the soundscape of the Ballroom Forest where you’ll get to see the ancient trees that the boats have been made from. 

For the Adrenaline Devils: High Effort, Maximum Thrill Adventure.

On the other hand, if you’re an adventurer who prefers to be outside of their comfort zone, or is comfortable in the uncomfortable, then this section is for you.

Here you don't just look at the landscape. You jump into it, paddle through it, and sometimes wonder why you thought it was a good idea. These tours will hit every sense in the best way possible.

Feel

Full-Day Dove Canyon Tour (Cradle Mountain) - Easily one of the most unique ways to experience this iconic National Park. You will feel undeniably alive the moment your body touches the glacial mountain water. The water temperature generally ranges from 5 to 12°C through summer, so your guides insist you wear every layer of wetsuit they give you - even if you think you’re ‘fine with the cold’. It's a committing experience that pushes you outside your comfort zone as you jump, slide and abseil your way down six natural waterfalls and rock slides. Located in a World Heritage Area, this deep canyon has been carved out by ice over thousands of years.

3-days Packrafting the Alum Cliffs (Mersey River) - This tour has a way of truly making you feel small while paddling through the grand landscape of the gorge. This expedition is also  run by Cradle Mountain Canyons and will have you take your skills to the edge on grade 2 and 3 whitewater rapids. You will paddle your own ultra-light, inflatable packraft with everything you’ll need for the three days packed inside the boat. One minute you’ll be enjoying the serenity of flat water sections, the next you’ll feel your heart pounding as you splash your way through the rapids. It can be a bit of a core workout, but it’s unbeatable for the soul.

Smell

6 Day Tarkine Rainforest Expedition (Tarkine) - This trekking journey is Tasmania’s only multi-day rainforest trek within the area. This trek puts you deep in the forest with a guide to lead you through. Much of the Tarkine remains largely unexplored on foot,  creating an extraordinary sense of isolation and wilderness. It smells of rich, damp earth and prehistoric moss. It has the unmistakable scent of an untamed ecosystem that has remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Pack Your Bags (and your appetite).

North West Tasmania doesn’t force you to choose a lane. Whether you like to graze your way through your travels like a wombat, or your prefer to throw yourself off waterfalls like the adventurous little devil you are, this wild corner of the world has something to offer you and will leave you feeling alive and full of life, food, or both. The North West of Tasmania boasts the cleanest air on earth, ancient rainforests, and world-class trips that cost a fraction of an international flight.

So grab your car keys, pack your bags, and come live out your wombat or devil dreams. Your food coma - or your next great adrenaline rush - is waiting.