|
TOURING MAP
Exploring the Huon Valley and Channel.
The Channel and Huon valley are located immediately south of Hobart and are one of the most popular tours
in the southern region. Being a round trip you can begin by either the Channel Hwy or the Huon Hwy, but for this
guide we will begin with the Channel Hwy which is the continuation of Sandy Bay Road.
Leave Hobart along Davey St and turn left onto Sandy Bay Road (B68) at St Davids Park. Pass through the scenic southern suburbs
following the coast to Taroona. Just past Taroona, on the left is the
Shot Tower,
a fascinating building and unique in Australia.
Continue on to Kingston and visit the
Antarctic Division through town on the left. From here follow the road south to Margate
where you will see the Margate Train on the left.
Craft and antique shops are part of this complex and you can get some information
on the area. Continue through Margate to Snug, nestled on the tiny bay and where you will get your first glimpses of
Bruny Island. The hotel here offers excellent lunches before you continue to Kettering where the ferry leaves for
Bruny Island.
Bruny Island offers a wide variety of activities and sights
and you can visit the Bligh Museum,
Captain Cook's landing place, and take a spectacular cruise
to The Friars at the southern tip of the island.
Returning to the mainland, continue to the pretty town of Woodbridge and call in to
Peppermint Bay, a gourmet centre offering
local cheese and wines. Peppermint Bay can also be reached by ferry from Hobart.
From Woodbridge you can either continue south through Middleton and Verona Sands to Cygnet, or retrace you trip to Oyster Cove
and take a short-cut through Nicholls Rivulet direct to Cygnet.
Cygnet is a small town on the east bank of the Huon River and is a major producer of apples and other fruits. There are several
galleries and old buildings to explore before heading north to Huonville. Along the way you will pass through Cradoc where
there is a winery just off the road to the west.
Huonville is the largest town along the route and the apple centre of Tasmania. There are several museums explaining the history
and development of the industry, there are wooden sculptures along the bank of the beautiful Huon River, and there is a reasonable
size shopping centre offering all you will need.
Cross the river and head south through Franklin where there is a
wooden boat building centre and an interesting antique centre
directly opposite. You can also get some wonderful photos here of the yachts in the Huon River.
Continue south through the small towns of Port Huon and Castle Forbes Bay to the forestry centre of Geeveston.
Geeveston is the gateway to the Arve River Drive,
Tahune Forest Airwalk and the forests of the south west.
There is a Forestry Centre, galleries, wooden sculptures and plenty to see and do.
After exploring Geeveston continue south to Dover and the Hastings Caves
and Thermal Springs, a short drive west of the highway.
You have an option after returning to the road of taking the loose surface road south to Cockle Creek. Why ? Because it is the most
southerly driveable road in Australia. Also at Cockle Creek you can take a walk along the track into the
South West Wilderness Park,
a walk which explores the south west section and extends for around 60km to Strathgordon and beyond. There is also a wonderful
whale sculpture on the foreshore, and at Lune River you can ride
on an historic railway. So there is plenty of reason to take
the trip to Cockle Creek.
Return to Huonville along the the same road and pass through the town heading north towards Grove. The
apple museums are along this
stretch of the Huon Highway a few kilometres north of Huonville and, a bit further on is a
Coopers Factory making wooden barrels which is
open to the public and a fascinating diversion.
Continue along the road to the turn-off on your left to Longley along the old highway. This beautiful drive winds through the
forest with views across Kingston to the river. At Fern Tree you can take a break in the hotel before continuing on to the
Mount
Wellington turn-off. If it is a clear day the drive to the summit offers extensive views over Hobart and surrounds and is one of
the highlights of a tour around Tasmania. Note, it may be windy and cold so be prepared. The road is sometimes closed due to snow
during winter so check first in Fern Tree.
There are also many walks to the summit including one from
Fern Tree. These are not for the faint-hearted though and should be approached with care.
This tour cannot be adequately done in a day and there is only one motel along the way. Use our accommodation guide to locate
somewhere to stay on this rewarding tour.
|
