Derwent Valley & Central Highlands Tasmania

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 in the Derwent Valley

· 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.