4 Days in the Northern Midlands

GoTasmania3 years ago

A cluster of historical towns close to Launceston creates a fascinating loop high on natural beauty and colonial heritage.

Credit: discovertasmania.com.au

Evandale Market

With its entire townscape classified by the National Trust, Evandale is a treasury of historical buildings. Explore the town on foot and head to the Sunday morning market.

Evandale Market

8 Logan Rd, Evandale TAS 7212, Australia

Near Evandale, Clarendon is one of Australia's grandest colonial estates, with an elegant portico and a heritage walled garden. Take a guided tour of its period-furnished interiors, and pay a visit to the on-site Australian Fly Fishing Museum. The Australian Fly Fishing Museum at Clarendon collects, preserves, protects and celebrates the art, the craft and the joy of fly fishing. This fabulous collection is for anglers, history buffs and lovers of a good story. Come and see intriguing artefacts that tell the story of the traditions and techniques of fly fishing. The museum promotes the values of fly fishing, especially respect for the habitats of fly responsive fish. There are excellent displays of artefacts of well-known fly fishing identities. It is a national gathering place for anglers, conducts educational programs in fly casting, fly tying, fishing etiquette, angling history, river ecology and aquatic insects. The museum is situated within the heritage walled gardens of Clarendon, a stunning historic estate on the banks of the South Esk, a renowned fly fishing river. You can pay entry just for the Museum or to the whole Clarendon site including Museum and a house tour. National Trust and Australian Fly Fishing Museum members have free entry.

Australian Fly Fishing Museum

Clarendon Lodge Rd, Nile TAS 7212, Australia

Longford

Overnight at Longford, where there's the rare opportunity to sleep in convict-built and heritage-listed cottages at Brickendon and at Woolmers Estate, which has a new restaurant, Homage.

Longford

Longford TAS 7301, Australia

Hot Air Balloon Tasmania

There is no better way to Discover Tasmania than by hot air balloon. The true beauty of the landscape of this island is revealed as you gently lift into the sky with the morning sun. A balloon basket offers an exciting, unique unobstructed view of Tasmania’s mountain skyline, running rivers, lush fertile farmland, heritage homesteads and Victorian townships. The magic sensation of flying in one of these magnificent flying machines makes the experience so much more rewarding. Flights take place daily, all year round from Country Club Tasmania, Launceston. A Free- city hotel pick up service available upon request. All flights include breakfast and souvenir photos of your experience at no extra charge. Hot Air Balloon Tasmania is a Tasmanian owned and operated Company, flying all year round.

Hot Air Balloon Tasmania

15 Kingsway, Launceston TAS 7250, Australia

Trout Territory | Fish Wild Tasmania - fly fishing guides & trout fishing tours Tasmania.

Trout Territory offer guided fly fishing and trout fishing tours and group workshops in Tasmania. Single-day adventures and multi-day expedition packages for trout and other species, seven days a week, all year, by prior arrangement and subject to availability. Catering for individual anglers and groups. Their team of enthusiastic guides will cater to either the lure or bait fisher. In addition to the provision of guiding services, they can also recommend or arrange accommodation. The vast number of quality Tasmanian fishing locations are monitored and chosen according to various conditions. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, along with the diverse scenery and unique native fauna and wildlife, set the tone for an outstanding, highly memorable world-class outdoor experience. An accredited fly fishing tour business, teaching, guiding, coaching the newcomer, the enthusiast, the experienced, the competitor, and the return visiting angler to Tasmania. Operating since 2000, Trout Territory has many years of service and experience in the Tasmanian tourism industry and can provide anything you could possibly need in order to make your experience safe and enjoyable.

Trout Territory | Fish Wild Tasmania - fly fishing guides & trout fishing tours Tasmania.

1317 Powranna Rd, Cressy TAS 7302, Australia

Brickendon Street

Neighbouring Brickendon and Woolmers estates are part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing - allow a morning to explore the properties. Brickendon features a convict-built farm village dating back to the 1820s. Woolmers Estate offers homestead tours, or wander the grounds to see the formal rose garden and Australia's oldest operating shearing shed. The 2.8-kilometre Convict Farm Walk links the two properties.

Brickendon Street

Brickendon St, Longford TAS 7301, Australia

Cressy

Stay the night in Cressy, where options include Cressy House Estate Farm Stay and The Granary.

Cressy

Cressy TAS 7302, Australia

Rustic Bakehouse

Source some baked goods from the Rustic Bakehouse in Cressy and head to the village of Bracknell, where the Bracknell River Reserve is a scenic morning-tea stop beside the Liffey River. Rustic Bakehouse is located in Cressy Tasmania. Baking fresh, delicious artisan bread, pastries and sweets in our original 1926 Scotch woodfired oven. Our mission for Rustic is focused around family, lifestyle and a passion for great food, great service and great coffee. Rustic is open every day with woodfired bread available from Tuesday through to Saturday.

Rustic Bakehouse

78 Main St, Cressy TAS 7302, Australia

Westbury Gingerbread Cottages

Spend the night in Westbury, where options include Westbury Gingerbread Cottages. The Westbury Gingerbread Cottages provide self-contained accommodation in Westbury, centrally located in Northern Tasmania. Accommodation is in six delightful colonial cottages dating from the 1850s. The Gingerbread Cottage, Old Bakehouse, Corner Cottage, Servant's Quarters, Apple Tree Cottage and The Bungalow are all decorated with period furniture and memorabilia. The cottages range from one to three bedrooms. They all have fully equipped kitchens and can be supplied with provisions for a hearty breakfast. At the end of your day enjoy a quiet evening in front of your cosy gas log fire, or dine out at a local restaurant. Wander through the quaint village of Westbury, established in the 1820s as a garrison town. Visit the Village Green, Westbury Maze and Pearn's world famous Steam World. Spend an afternoon visiting the Tamar Valley wineries or book a Tamar Riverboat cruise. Head along the coast to the beaches of Devonport or take a tour through the Mole Creek Caves. Westbury is an easy 20-minute drive from Launceston (35 kilometres).

Westbury Gingerbread Cottages

52 William St, Westbury TAS 7303, Australia

Meander Valley Road

Eight exquisite artworks depicting treasured characters of the Westbury community. The characters celebrated are examples of the many inspirational lives that have built the community. Quirky, skilful, stylish, bold and compassionate - they reveal strands of humanity that bind communities and from which all good things grow. Westbury's story is deeply embedded in British colonialism and Irish culture; formed by the dedication of early Irish clergy and the toil of convict, soldier and free settler alike.

Meander Valley Road

Meander Valley Rd, Hagley TAS 7292, Australia

Pearns Steam World

Delve into agricultural history at Pearn's Steam World, which houses more than 200 steam engines and tractors. Pearn's Steam World is a collection of historic agricultural machinery at Westbury, Northern Tasmania. Pearn's Steam World is the creation of the Pearn family, who operated an agricultural business in the Westbury district for over 80 years. In the 1950's the family began collecting steam engines, farming machinery and equipment, and now have over 200 original and restored machines dating from the late 19th century. We have fantastic examples of steam traction engines, tractors, stationary engines and agricultural memorabilia on display. The collection features Foden, Marshall, Buffalo Pitts, Aveling Porter, Eclipse and Birdsall steam engines, many of which are over 100 years old. Unusual tractors include restored Marshalls, Lanz, John Deere, Saundersons and Titans. See the exhibits come alive via the new audio visual display, "Alive and Threshing" or witness the changes in agriculture through the lives of four generations of Pearn women, in the exhibition "Women on the March". Children can enjoy free train rides on the narrow gauge track around the complex. There are regular steaming days so you can see some of the restored engines in their full glory.