Climate
Average temperatures: January max 21C (70F) - min 13C (55F); July max 13C
(55F) - min 5C (41F). Average annual rainfall: approximately 800mm (31
ins). The wettest six months are May-October. Hours of sunshine are:
Summer 7; Autumn 4; Winter 3; and Spring 6.
Characteristics
Devonport, the fourth largest city in Tasmania, is the gateway for the
car and passenger ferries from the mainland. It was originally two towns
that voted to amalgamate in 1893 - Formby on the west bank of the river,
and Torquay on the east bank. Devonport had its beginnings as the centre
of a rich agricultural and orchard area. Today, the Mersey Valley remains
one of Tasmania's main orchard districts, but is now also famous for
its mushrooms.
How to Get There By Bus
Tasmania's Own Redline coaches connect Devonport to Launceston, Burnie
and Hobart, with a connection to Queenstown from Burnie.
By Road
From Hobart, either along the Midland Highway via Launceston, or the Lakes
Highway through the midlands and central highlands with 60km (37 miles)
of unsealed road which may be covered with snow in winter.
By Sea
Spirit of Tasmania passenger/car ferry operates between Melbourne and Devonport,
9206 6211.
Tourist Information
Devonport Visitor Information Centre is at 92 Formby Road, (03) 6424 8176.
Showcase Info, Best Street, (03) 6424 8176, apart from being a tourist
attraction in itself, has complete information about all the things to
see and do in Devonport and the North West Coast. It is open seven days
a week.
Accommodation
Following is a selection of accommodation with prices for a double room
per night, which should be used as a guide only. The telephone area code
is 03.
Gateway Inn (Innkeepers), 16 Fenton Street, 6424 4922. 64 rooms, licensed
restaurant - $108-148.
Sunrise Motor Inn, 140 North Fenton Street, 6424 8411. 33 units, licensed
restaurant (Monday to Thursday) - $120-164.
Argosy Motor Inn, 221 Tarleton Street, East Devonport, 6427 8872. 37 units,
licensed restaurant - $85-116.
Edgewater Motor Inn, 2 Thomas Street, East Devonport, 6427 8441. 29 units,
licensed restaurant - $59-69.
Hotel Formby, 82 Formby Road, 6424 1601. 23 rooms (some with private facilities),
licensed restaurant - B&B $40-75.
Barclay Lodge Motel (serviced apartments), 112 North Fenton Street, 6424
4722. 19 one & two bedroom units, heated swimming pool, half-court
tennis, bbq - $86-140.
Caravan Parks
Devonport Vacation Village, 20 North Caroline Street, East Devon-port,
6427 8886. (No pets allowed) - powered sites $17 for two, cabin section
$45-70 for two.
Abel Tasman Caravan Park, 6 Wright Street, East Devonport, 6427 8794. (No
pets allowed) - powered sites $16 for two, on-site vans $33-40 for two.
Lakeside Caravan Park, Lakeside Road, Eugenana, 6427 2343. (Pets on application)
- powered sites $16 for two, cabin section $55 for two.
Mersey Bluff Caravan Park, Mersey Bluff, 6424 8655. (No pets allowed) -
powered sites $18 for two, on-site vans $44 for two, cabin section $50-65.
Eating Out
Devonport has a good selection of restaurants, and several hotels have
counter meals. Coffee shops abound, as do takeaway outlets. Here are
a few you might like to try.
Golden Panda Restaurant, 38 Formby Road, 6424 9066 - open Sun and Tues-Fri
noon-2pm, Sun-Thurs 5-9pm, Fri 5-10.30pm, Sat 5-11pm.
The Cove Waterfront, 17 Devonport Road, 6424 6200.
Autographs on the Beach, Mersey Bluff Road, 6424 2204.
Tooska Restaurant, 19 Steele Street, 6423 5456.
China Garden, 33 King Street, 6424 4148.
El Mecciko, 24 King Street, 6423 5455.
Renusha's, 153 Rooke Street, 6424 2293 - Indian cuisine.
Rendevous, 142a William Street, 6424 7157 - restaurant and coffee lounge.
KFC, 26 William Street, Devonport, 6424 2285.
Pizza Hut, 132 William Street, 6424 9344.
McDonalds, 1 Best Street, 6424 9400.
Points of Interest
The Victoria Bridge connects East Devonport to Devonport, and it is 2km
downstream from the Abel Tasman Terminal. To get to the bridge follow
Formby Road along the river bank.
Walking and bicycle tracks circle the city and are found along the eastern
shore. Bicycles can be hired at Mersey Bluff during the season, and the
Showcase can advise of places at other times.
Mersey Bluff is one of only thirteen major sites where rock carvings by
the Tasmanian Aboriginals can be viewed.
Tiagarra Tasmanian Aboriginal Culture and Art Centre at the Bluff headland
has dramatic dioramas of the way of life of these people. It is hopen daily,
except for July when it is closed for renovations, 6424 8250. The Tasmanian
Aboriginals were physically different from their mainland counterparts.
Some scientists believe they were originally an African or Polynesian people
who drifted to Tasmania on primitive rafts, but a more plausible explanation
is that their ancestors crossed over from the mainland when Tasmania was
still joined to it. An unfortunate part of Australian history began when
the first European settlers reached the Derwent in 1803. They began wiping
out the Aboriginals, and by 1876 the entire race of full-blooded Tasmanian
Aborigines had disappeared.
The Devonport Maritime Museum, Gloucester Avenue, was formerly the Harbour
Master's residence and Pilot Station, built early 1920. It now has exhibits
of Devonport and North West Coastal Maritime History, with fine detailed
models from the days of sail and steam to the modern passenger ferries,
6424 7100.
Devonport Gallery and Arts Centre is in the middle of the city at 45-47
Stewart Street. The lovely old converted church has the latest exhibitions,
and is open Tues-Fri 10.30am-4.30pm, Sat 9.30am-noon, Sun 2.30-4.30pm,
6424 8296.
Victoria Parade is a scenic garden walk which follows the river and sea
to Mersey Bluff. There is a good swimming beach, children's playground,
kiosk and public toilets.
Taswegia, 57 Formby Road, 6424 8300, is an Historic Printery and Craft
Gallery, and is hopen daily 10am-5pm. It has one of Australasia's largest
heritage collection of print technology dating from 1852, and all in working
condition. Taswegia specialises in the production of early colonial charts,
convict documents, paintings, maps and paraphernalia. It also has an exclusive
range of gift ware including printed linen, fabrics, wood-crafts, ceramics,
pottery, posters, books and many other interesting and decorative items.
Home Hill, 77 Middle Road, was the family home of Prime Minister Joseph
Lyons and Dame Enid Lyons, Australia's first woman member of the House
of Representatives, and the author of several books. Dame Enid passed away
in 1981, and the home is now operated by the City Council in conjunction
with the National Trust. Home Hill is as Dame Enid left it and contains
many interesting and historic mementoes. Phone 6424 8055 for opening times.
The Don River Railway, 6424 6335, off Bass Highway (road to Ulverstone)
is an operating railway museum, and is hopen daily throughout the year
with steam trains running hourly every Sunday and public holiday afternoons.
The museum has the largest collection of steam locomotives in Tasmania,
dating from 1879 to 1951, and the largest collection of passenger carriages
dating from 1869 to 1961. There are many other interesting exhibits, a
souvenir shops, and a refreshment outlet.
Festivals
January - Devonport Cup Carnival.
February - Food and Wine Frolic. Dahlia Show.
March - Mersey Valley Festival of Music.
October - Annual Show of the Devonport Orchid Society.
November - Agricultural & Pastoral Society Show.
Facilities
There is ample scope for skin diving and sea, river and lake fishing. Angling
for trout is popular in the Mersey, Forth and Leven Rivers.
A tennis centre is situated near Mersey Bluff, and there are also courts
at Wright Street, East Devonport.
At the western end of Steele Street there is an aquatic recreation centre
with an olympic pool and water slide set in natural parklands.
Other sports catered for are lawn bowls, golf, greyhound racing, trotting,
horse-racing and squash.
Outlying Attractions Ulverstone
Situated in the centre of Tasmania's Holiday Coast, Ulverstone is a seaside
town on the Leven River, 18km (11 miles) west of Devonport. It is in rich
agricultural country reaching south from the sea to the mountains. Safe
and extensive beaches and river, woodlands, parks and mountain resorts
provide ideal conditions for people to stay a while.
The town is the Woodchopping Centre of Australia, and the sport had it
beginnings here in 1870 when two bushmen got into an argument in a local
pub about who was the best man with an axe. With a wager of $50 at stake,
they adjourned to a nearby paddock to settle the matter and the sport was
born. In 1974, the world championship was held in Ulverstone.
In the main street there is a large unusual War Memorial, which consists
of 17m pillars joined by bronze chains.
Caves and Gunns Plains and the spectacular Leven Canyon at Nietta are some
of the chief attractions of the Ulverstone district. A round trip to Gunns
Plains, which is the site of a new hop industry, also traverses magnificent
rural, mountain and river scenery.
Your first stop should be the Ulverstone Visitor Centre, Car Park Lane,
(03) 6425 2839.
Penguin
The town of Penguin, 12km (7 miles) further west, is situated on three
bays which provide safe beaches for bathing and picnicking. It is best
to take the Scenic Drive (old Bass Highway) between Penguin and Ulverstone
for the superb views of rugged coastal scenery, including the off-shore
islets which are bird sanctuaries. A feature of the Penguin Municipality
is the ambitious Penguin Sports Club Dial Regional, 6437 2767, catering
for most sports, plus bushwalking. Visitors are most welcome.
Latrobe
Situated 10km (6 miles) east of the Bass Strait ferry terminal, and 5km
(3 miles) south of Pardoe Airport, Latrobe was one of the first towns
established on the North-West Coast. The Mersey River with its willow-lined
banks flows through the town.
Sheffield
The town is the gateway to the Mersey-Forth Hydro-Electric Power Development
with seven power stations and seven man-made lakes, including Lake Barrington,
a venue for rowing events. The lake is accessible by bitumen road which
goes through some of Tasmania's most rugged mountain scenery. If you
have your own equipment, Lake Barrington is ideal for a range of water
sports including rowing, water skiing, power boating, canoeing and model
yachting. There are launching ramps on both sides of the lake. It is
necessary to book the rowing course with the ranger.
The recreation area of the park is open daily from 8am until dusk, and
facilities include a large day visitor shelter with wood barbecues, seats
and tables, and a kiosk which is only open on weekends throughout the
summer season.
Standing guard over Sheffield and dominating the skyline is 1231m (4039
ft) Mt Roland.
Cradle Mountain/
Lake St Clair National Park
The northern end of this 1280 sq km (494 sq miles) park can be reached
from Sheffield via the Claude Road, or from Forth via Wilmot. Both roads
join a 30km (19 miles) stretch that leads to Cradle Valley. The last 10km
(6 miles) are unsealed. If coming from the west coast, take the Cradle
Mountain Link Road from the Murchison Highway north of Que River.
The Visitor Information Centre is just inside the northern boundary of
the Park, and is open daily 9am-5pm, and after hours for special events,
(03) 6492 1133. The Centre has a model of the Cradle Mountain, children's
exhibits, maps, books, posters, registration for day walks and Overland
Track, toilets, electric barbecues and picnic shelters. Other day visitor
facilities are a day-use hut and toilets near Waldheim, firesites by Ronny
Creek, and toilets at Lake Dove. Walkers are requested to enter details
of any walk in the walker registration book, and to de-register at the
end of their walk, which is just as important.
Accommodation is available at the Cradle Mountain Tourist Park, 6492 1395,
2km outside the park boundary, and a daily transport service operates from
there to Lake Dove. Camping is not permitted in Cradle Valley. The Cradle
Mountain Lodge, situated on the park boundary, also provides accommodation,
meals, bar, petrol and basic food supplies, (03) 6492 1303.
Visitors should not forget that this beautiful area is a mountain wilderness
where the weather can change abruptly and without warning. For people without
experience and the right equipment, it can be a dangerous place in which
getting lost is all too easy. Hiking clubs throughout Australia arrange
parties to walk through the National Park to Lake St Clair, along the 85km
(53 miles) Overland Track from Waldheim, and unless you are a very experienced
hiker, you should go with one of these parties. For those who haven't the
time or the inclination to hike, charter flights are available from Devonport,
and you should enquire at the Information Centre.
Deloraine
The township of Deloraine is on the Bass Highway, 45km (28 miles) from
both Devonport and Laun-ceston. It is nestled in a valley surrounded
by Quamby Bluff (1226m - 4022 ft) and the Western Tiers. Historical and
natural features mingled with rich farmlands make Deloraine a worthwhile
stopping place. Among the many attractions in the district are the King
Solomon and Marakoopa Caves near Mole Creek.
These world renowned limestone caves are open every day, but you will need
to be book with the Mole Creek Guest House, Pioneer Drive, Mole Creek,
(03) 6363 1399. Inspection times are -
King Solomon Cave - 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.
Marakoopa Cave - 10am, 11.15am, 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm.
There are several walking tracks in the area catering for both the well
equipped and experienced walker, as well as those desiring more relaxed
yet equally scenic walks. For further information, contact the Deloraine
Museum and Visitor Information Centre, 98 Emu Bay Road, (03) 6362 3471.
Port Sorell
The port is 19km (12 miles) east of Devonport on the picturesque Rubicon
River estuary. It is a popular holiday resort with prolific native flora
and fauna, and good swimming and boating are available at nearby Hawley
Beach.
