Derwent Valley & Highlands

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Overview

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From Granton where the Bridgewater Bridge crosses the Derwent north of Hobart, explore the Lyell Highway as it follows the course of the river past poplars and willows, hopfields and orchards, towards Tasmania’s mountains and wilderness.

As you journey on, you’ll discover explorers, bushmen, farmers and dam builders - tough pioneers who carved a living from this wild and rugged country.

Their stories begin in the historic town of New Norfolk, with its fine collection of heritage Buildings. Look the quaint toll house by the bridge, and the Oast House museum, where the scent of hops still lingers on.

Beyond historic farming settlements of Hamilton and Ouse, the highway climbs into the highlands, crossing rivers where power stations harness the boundless energy of falling water. It reaches the stark beauty of the Central Plateau where 10,000 years ago glaciers scraped the rocks bare, carving the cliffs and digging out the bed of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake.

Turning off the westward highway, your route travels through to the lake country, where once a thick ice cap blanketed the land. Today, a myriad of lakes, all teeming with trout, sparkle across the plateau. Largest of all, the Great Lake stretches from the fishing settlement of Miena to Breona in the north, where the partially unsealed road begins to descend through tall forests with cascading waterfalls.

Descending south-eastwards from Miena, the landscape gradually softens, and the place names reflect a European heritage - Nant, Cluny, Dennistoun - and Bothwell, a stately town on the edge of the wild country.

Special Features

The Oast House Market - This oast house was originally used to dry hops. In it’s latter day incarnation the oast house now offers an interesting variety of attractions to the traveller. Climb up the jasmine covered ramp, and enter an Aladdin’s Cave of treasures! Locally grown seasonal veggies, home made jams, locally brewed ale, gorgeous leadlight jewellery, woodturned ware and more.

History

Tynwald - Country Manor on the Derwent - The Tynwald is a 1830 mansion, set on 40 acres and looks across the magnificent Derwent River and valley which is rich in history. It offer's you a warm welcome, in traditinal comfort with exquisite cuisine and the best of nature.

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