Walking through a lush rainforest full of towering tree ferns, myrtles and tall eucalyptus all covered in green moss is a delight. Finding the extraordinary and rare geographical feature, the Trowutta Arch, at the end of a 15 minute walk is a glorious bonus. This is part of the Tarkine Drive in the remote north-west coast of Tasmania. "This rainforest is park-like, with large, widely spaced trees producing a dense canopy above and a shaded, cool and moist understory of tree f

Liffey Falls is upstream from the town of Liffey in the Meander Valley, and accessible via the town of Deloraine. There are four tiered cascades here, Alexandra Falls, Hopetoun Falls, The Leap or Spout Falls, also called the Albert Falls, and Victoria Falls (often known as Liffey Falls). As you will be walking through rainforest, make sure to wear comfortable, waterproof shoes. The picnic area has toilets, tables and gas bbqs for visitors to use. This is an awesome area to ge

A surprising find in the north-west of Tasmania was the stunning, awe-inspiring, magnificent Leven Canyon. I believe it should be on everyone's bucket list of things to do when in Tassie. It is 43kms south of Ulverstone and with three designated trails, there is one to suit all abilities. Happy Travels! #maturesolotraveler #ayearintassie #solotravel #solotraveler #solotraveller #australia #caravanning #tasmania #levencanyon #ulverstone #nwtasmania #northwesttasmania #tassieo

In 1804 a colony (named Outer Cove) was established at Port Dalrymple and was proclaimed an official settlement on 11 November, the first town in Tasmania. Unhappy with the supply of water, they decided to move the main camp to York Town on the opposite site of the Tamar River. Construction began in York Town in December 1804. York Town also proved to be unviable and that settlement moved to Launceston in 1806. In December 1811 Governor Macquarie visited Outer Cove and rename

Tasmania is a state full of history. It was the second Australian state to be populated by European settlers in the eighteenth century, after New South Wales. Tasmania was originally known as Van Diemens Land. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman named the island state in 1642, after his sponsor, the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. In May 1804 a British garrison set up a camp on the current site of George Town, a perfect location with both sea and river access. Yorktown was also an

Often we visit a venue and don’t know the story of how it started. I love finding out about businesses that have organically grown in the local area, it enhances the experience. Visiting Fuchsia Fantasy in Lillico was an absolute gem and has an amazing story behind it. Ken Mason and his wife Stephanie were potato farmers in north-west Tasmania. For their hobbies, Ken competed in table tennis and Stephanie collected fuchsias from around the world. Eventually they started to of

Captain William Bligh is known for his mis-adventures in Mutiny on the Bounty. But did you know that he is to thank for the apple industry in Australia? Way back in 1788, Captain Bligh planted a selection of fruit, including apple seedlings, on Bruny Island in Tasmania. These were the first apple trees planted in Australia. Apples were important in the early colonial days of Australia. The fruit is rich is antioxidants and dietary fibre, plus helps reduce the risk of developi

Dip Falls in northwest Tasmania is a cascade waterfall that flows over cubic-basalt formed rocks. A little off the regular tourist routes, visiting the falls are most definitely worth the detour. They are 64kms from Burnie, about a 1.5 hour trip. I drove through gorgeous green farmland, watching cows graze and admiring the landscape before arriving at my destination. This two tiered waterfall, has amazing rock formations that look like blocks have been stacked to form the dro

When out exploring the countryside, it is an absolute pleasure to come across a true Tasmanian delight. An old building, reminiscent of a local town hall, seemed plain on the outside, but inside! The décor, the food and the vintage wares were all truly amazing. It was the prices that also surprised, they were very affordable. Stepping inside I was delightfully astonished at the décor. The walls were adorned to the ceiling with framed old portrait photographs. The seating was

Held annually each year, Winter Fire in Deloraine attracted capacity crowds in 2021. I was one of the 900 guests and 100 workers who attended the event to celebrate winter and community. The highlight of the evening was the largest bonfire I have ever seen. Local firefighters were on hand to ensure the safety of everyone. The soulful sound of a piper led everyone to the phoenix topped bonfire just prior to the lighting. Each year a different theme is created. This year the ph

The largest whisky distillery in Australia is located in Burnie, Tasmania. The first cask of Hellyers Road single malt whisky was lovingly filled in 1999. Today, their range of premium whisky and vodka is enjoyed all over the world. They also have the brands Southern Fire and Southern Lights. At their distillery, visitors can take a one hour behind-the-scenes tour. The whole process is on site here. Emma was the extremely knowledgable tour guide. Her passion for the product w

On the edge of the rainforested Tarkine wilderness is an old mining town with an amazing history and incredible natural features. There is a waterfall in the main street! The Waratah River forms a lake in town, a perfect place to walk around or sit and wait to see platypus swimming in the waters. The river then plunges over the plateau as a spectacular waterfall. Cascading 600m to the fern covered grounds below, the river heads into the Tarkine wilderness. This is a perfect s

Seahorses hold an amazing fascination for me. They look so fragile but are very strong. They can be between 1.5cm and 35cm (0.5in and 14in) long. Amazingly, they are among the only animal species in which the male bears the unborn young. Seahorses prefer to swim in pairs with their tails linked together. Seahorse World is located at Beauty Point in the Tamar Valley, just 45 minutes from either Devonport or Launceston in the north-east of Tasmania. It is located on a wharf ri

Loss, mateship, community spirit, ingenuity, persistence, and heroism are words displayed at the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre. These words symbolise the town. Gold was first discovered here in 1847 and mining began in 1877. The mine last closed in 2012. There is a lot to see and do here, all relating to the Beaconsfield mine and local area. Learning more about the Beaconsfield early days as I embarked on a journey through the historical buildings was interesting. Int

Beaconsfield in the rural north-east of Tasmania is 40 kilometres from Launceston and situated near the Tamar River. This former gold mining town had a population of around 1300 in the 2016 census. While small, it is big on things to see and do, retaining its heritage and proudly welcoming new residents and businesses. I spent a day here wandering around enjoying the many delights the town had to offer. The park in town has free gas bbqs and is the perfect place to have a cou

Cradle Mountain is one of my favourite places on the planet to spend time at! There are various walks and hikes to be undertaken, the freshest air on the planet to inhale, the natural beauty to experience and the awe of nature to absorb. At 1.58 million hectares, almost a quarter of Tasmania, this site is one of the largest World Heritage Areas on Earth. As you approach the visitor centre there are 7 standing Jurassic dolomite pillars that represent the 7 World Heritage Area

Have you ever wanted to own your own brewery? I have heard many people say they want to, but few actually do. Imagine my surprise when I have discovered that there are quite a few people in Tasmania who have actually taken that step and are brewery owners. It will be my pleasure to visit most of these micro breweries and share their details with my readers. (Someone has to do it after all!) In the 1990s Catherine moved to Tasmania from Canberra and Willie from New Zealand. Th

Voted as one of the world's most livable cities, Port Fairy is a coastal town in south-western Victoria, 28kms west of Warrnambool and 290kms west of Melbourne. Establised around 1828, it was originally known as Belfast, with the name changing in 1887 to Port Fairy (after the sealing cutter The Fairy, captained by James Wishart). The 2016 census lists the population as 3,340. This number swells during the annual Folk Festival. Held in March each year since 1977, over 3.500 a

A great way to get to know a new area is to take a tour with a local company. They have a passion for their local area and are keen to share this love with others. Howard Smith from Cradle Coast Tours offers various tours of the North West Tasmanian area. I had the pleasure of taking a full day wine and food tour with Howard and four other tourists recently. Having an expert drive the mini bus gives you a chance to look outside and really savour the green rolling hills of the

After visiting the Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs in Warrnambool, I wished that I lived in Victoria, Australia. To stay at the hotel and enjoy the amazingly relaxing hot springs would be a regular reward. Their promo reads "Harnessing the natural geothermal waters, the Deep Blue Hot Springs Warrnambool is a self-guided journey in an open-air sanctuary of enhanced geothermal bathing experiences." After trying out this journey for myself, I can say, "Yes, it is a definite WOW!