The Nut
Geoffrey Lea / Auscape International

Highlights

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park

This magnificent glaciated landscape is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. While the park has become synonymous with the Overland Track, it also includes some fantastic short walks. Take the three-hour circuit around Dove Lake in the north for views of the majestic Cradle Mountain from all angles.

The Nut

Historic Stanley is dominated by the 152 m high volcanic Circular Head (known as The Nut), Tasmania’s version of Uluru. A steep stairway and a chairlift go to the cliff-top, where a 40-minute circuit walk offers spectacular views.

Bass Highway

The spectacular scenery on the Ulverstone to Stanley section of this highway recalls Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. The route’s highlights include the little penguins at the village of Penguin, the Lactos Cheese Tasting Centre in Burnie, the colourful fields of Table Cape Tulip Farm near Wynyard, and the picturesque town of Boat Harbour.

Woolnorth

The Van Diemen’s Land Company, which was granted tracts of north-west Tasmania in the 1820s, still owns this sheep, cattle and plantation-timber property. Tours from Smithton include a visit to the wind farm and to spectacular Cape Grim, where the air is reputedly the world’s cleanest.

Pieman River cruise

Corinna is a delightful spot with a goldmining heritage. Once a bustling town and river port, today it is a popular launching pad for cruises (or canoeing trips) down the Pieman River, compared by many to the mighty Gordon. Daily four-hour return trips aboard Pieman River Cruises’ Arcadia II pass lush rainforest incorporating stands of majestic Huon pine on the way to rugged Pieman Heads, where you can go ashore and explore untouched wilderness.

Focus On: Overland Track

The 85-kilometre Overland Track, one of Australia’s most awe-inspiring treks, takes walkers into the heart of Tasmania’s alpine wilderness, past lakes and tarns, buttongrass heath, wildflowers, woodland and rainforest. It runs the length of Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park and passes Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak. Each year about 9000 people attempt the five-to-eight-day trek. While you can choose to do the walk with a group and a guide, staying in well appointed private huts along the way, most people do the walk unguided. There are 12 basic, unattended huts for overnight stays, but these quickly fill up, so be prepared to camp. Summer is the best season for walking here, but even then walkers need to prepare for all conditions.