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DERWENT VALLEY TOURING MAP

Exploring the Derwent Valley.

A tour of the Derwent Valley can be done as an overnight trip from Hobart or incorporated in your drive between Hobart and the West Coast. The Lyell Hwy between Queenstown and Hobart passes through this region. To do the tour from Hobart we will include an overnight stay at Derwent Bridge or Lake St Clair.
Leave Hobart north along the Brooker Hwy to the bridge at Granton and take the left hand road (Lyell Hwy - A 10) to New Norfolk. There are 2 wineries on the left just beyond the start of the highway and, the large factory you see across the river ifs the Boyer Paper Works.

As you enter New Norfolk, turn right into the park and visit the Oast House where you can see and buy local craft before passing through the roundabout to the historic Bush Inn on the right. You can take a jet boat ride on the river at New Norfolk if you retrace your trip and head down to the waters edge a couple of streets back. (Follow the signs). Otherwise, turn left at the hotel corner and visit the town centre before taking the road north on the western side of the bridge, you will return via the eastern side.
The road will take you to the Salmon Ponds where you can stop for a break and inspect this long established facility which produces salmon and trout fingerlings for stocking Tasmania's fresh waterways.
Continue north through the lush berry and hop fields and the pretty towns of Plenty and Bushy Park to Westerway. Turn left here along the Tyenna River to the entrance to the Mt Field National Park. A short walk will take you to the Russell Falls and the interpretive centre will provide much more for you to see and do while visiting the park.
Leave and turn right (west), past National Park and the pub, to Maydena. A small timber town and gateway to the massive Lake Gordon. The drive from Maydena to Strathgordon passes lakes and winds through old growth forest areas with several turn-offs including the Styx Valley and the Creepy Crawly Walk. Strathgordon is at the end of the road and the touring point for the Gordon Dam and Lake. There is a motel/hotel here.

Retrace your trip to Westerway and turn north over the Tyenna River through Ellendale and across Dunrobin Bridge to rejoin the Lyell Hwy just west of Hamilton, which you will visit on the way back, or, if you want to do a day trip only, turn left a few kilometres to Ouse, then return via Hamilton along the eastern shore of the river to New Norfolk and Hobart.
To complete this tour however, turn left at the junction and go on to Ouse where you begin the climb into the highlands.
You will be passing through dense forest for much of the rest of this trip and the first detour is at Wayatinah where you can see one of the several villages set up to construct and maintain the hydro system. Continue on along the road to the steep drop to the Tungatinah Power Station and picnic area on the beautiful Nive River. Up the hill and you come across the fast running canals which feed the pipes from Tarraleah to the power station below. Turn in to Tarraleah and enjoy a coffee or snack at the new resort complex there and inspect the hydro system from the lookout. A photograph straight down the pipes is a must. there is also accommodation available at Tarraleah.
Take the loop road out of Tarraleah and rejoin the highway to head west past the lakes to Bronte Lagoon where there is a monument to the surveyors who designed and developed the area. Just past here is a turn off to the small town of Bronte Park. There is a general store and a motel here and petrol is available.
Return to the highway and continue on to Derwent Bridge. There are cabins, an hotel-motel, and an excellent roadhouse with food and petrol. From Derwent Bridge a road leads north to Lake St Clair and the interpretive centre. Views across the lake include those to Mt Olympus and make for excellent photos. The Cradle Mountain walk leads from here to Cradle Valley in the north and takes several days. it is one of Australia's finest walks and you can get information from the centre.

Settle in to your accommodation and take a walk around the park, or if you are staying in Derwent Bridge, meet a few locals at the hotel, and relax in the high mountains fresh air amongst the bird calls and natural environment.
A timber gallery is just east of the town and is highly recommended to begin you return journey the next day.
A loose surface road leads from just east of Bronte Park to Dee, the Victoria Valley Falls, Lake Echo, and the Waddamana Hydro Museum. Take this road and visit the museum and join the Lakes Hwy near Hermitage, just north of Bothwell. Continue to Bothwell and visit the Golf Museum and golf course, claimed to be the second oldest in the world after St Andrews. There are also several historic buildings to see. From Bothwell a bitumen road leads to Hamilton and a loose surface road to Ouse.
Take either of these and return to the Lyell Hwy and head east. Hamilton is an historic town with plenty of old buildings including St Peters Church, the oldest Anglican church in Australia (1838). The hotel, old schoolhouse, and Glen Clyde House are amongst other places to see. Pick up a free map at Glen Clyde House.

From Hamilton, head east along the river through the small towns of Gretna, Rosegarland and Hayes to New Norfolk. You can cross the river here and travel back along the same route you came on or continue straight on at the bridge and return along the east bank of the river through Boyer and Dromedary joining the Midland Hwy at Bridgewater before crossing the bridge to Granton.
This is a wonderful tour taking in rivers, mountains, the hydro scheme, historic towns and buildings, forests, lakes and many fine galleries and museums. There are plenty of bakeries, coffee lounges and pubs along the way for refreshment, and accommodation places will be found from the link opposite. In mid winter there may be snow and ice on some of the roads so check the conditions first and take care.

Wilkins Tourist Maps produce a free map of this area. You can pick up a Derwent Valley map from accommodation houses and some information centres in towns in this area.

AREA INFORMATION

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