Tasmania Regions - Derwent Valley and Central Highlands

North-west of Hobart is the Derwent Valley, home to hop fields, orchards, lovely villages and old oast-houses. The Lyell Highway is known as 'The Rivers Run' and follows the course of the Derwent River past poplars and willows, towards Tasmania's mountains and wilderness. It's a rugged part of the island and you have to admire the explorers, bushmen and farmers who decided to settle and make a living from the land.

Most of the attractions are 30 to 40 minutes drive from Hobart.

Things To Do

Historic New Norfolk has rewarding riverside and national park walks, a fine collection of heritage buildings, a quaint toll bridge and Australia's oldest Anglican church, St Matthews. From here, go jet boating, rafting, canoeing or fishing on the Derwent.
Nearby Salmon Ponds has the Museum of Trout Fishing and is a nice spot for a picnic.
Explore Mt Field National Park for good walks, waterfalls and cross-country skiing in late winter/early spring.
On the way to Strathgordon, near the Scotts Peak Road turn-off, you can walk the Creep Crawly Nature Trail.
You can take an underground power station tour at Strathgordon, home to the mighty Gordon Dam.
The historic village of Hamilton has loads of local art, craft and antique galleries and a fine museum.
The scenery around Lake at Clair is spectacular. You can take a ferry ride to the head of the lake, take a short walk into the National Park or try your luck with a lure or fly to catch a trout.
The Styx Valley, south of Maydena, has the planet's tallest hardwood forests.
Where the Lake Highway descends from the Central Plateau to the northwest farmlands there's a wonderful rainforest walk to beautiful Liffey Falls.
Golfers, head to Bothwell, home to Ratho, the oldest golf course in the southern hemisphere and home to the Australasian Golf Museum.