Xanders Restaurant

Restaurant

Local seafood in the village of Stanley.

Anvers Chocolate Factory

Shop

Old-world chocolate in a quaint Tasmanian town.

Seven Sheds

Bar

Sip small-batch beer overlooking the hops.

Hellyers Road Distillery

Bar

Distilling since 1999, this is one of Australia’s finest whisky producers. Visit the panoramic site to taste peated and unpeated whiskies aged for up to 20 years. It also makes a cracking variety finished in former pinot noir barrels.

Cradle Mountain

This World Heritage Area in the centre of Tasmania is one of the state’s best-known natural attractions. Don a beanie and gloves and set off on an adventure on one of the many sign-posted walks around the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Be led through ancient rainforests, snow-covered alpine grasslands, icy streams and glacial lakes. You may even spot a few wallabies, quolls, echidnas and several bird species. Cradle Mountain is one of the highest peaks in Tasmania, so not all trails will suit all-ages, but there’s something for everyone. From short day walks of only a few hours, to the world famous Overland Track, an outstanding six-day walk that sends you through stunning mountain terrain (bookings are essential). To choose the most suitable track for you, check the visitor centre located on Cradle Mountain Road on the way to Dove Lake. Afterwards you can treat yourself to a massage at the Waldheim Alpine Spa or soak in one of Cradle Mountain Lodge’s outdoor hot tubs amongst the wilderness.

Gunns Plains Caves

Nestled under farmland just outside the small town of Heka, these caves were formed in limestone deposited about 450 million years ago. Take a tour through impressive clusters of stalactites and stalagmites.

Tarkine Drive

The takayna/Tarkine is a scenic three-hour drive from Launceston. Spanning 447,000 hectares, this north-pocket is home to globally significant rainforests, wild river landscapes and dramatic coastlines as well as a vast number of bird and mammalian species cohabiting among the leatherwood, pine, myrtle and eucalyptus forest. From Smithton in the top of the state, sidle down towards Roger River on the Tarkine Drive. Then take the mountainous loop road that encircles Sumac Lookout, Lake Chisholm, The Sinkhole, Milkshake Hills and Trowutta Arch. There’s also The Road To Nowhere (as it’s known to locals) – an isolated, beautiful drive that stretches from Arthur River (aka The Edge of the World) and finishes in Corinna. There are stunning sunsets to be caught at the aptly named Sundown Point and Nelson Bay on the coastal segment of the Tarkine Drive.

Stanley and The Nut

The remains of an ancient volcanic plug, The Nut is a spectacular windswept bluff that juts out into the waters of the Bass Strait. Rising 143 metres above sea level, it offers panoramic views of the northern coastline. Take the chairlift to the top and walk the leisurely two-kilometre circular track around the summit. From there you can take in the wild and beautiful beaches, green pastures, the Rocky Cape National Park and the historic village of Stanley – one of Tasmania’s prettiest coastal towns.

Thousand Lakes Lodge

Accommodation

A cosy retreat to explore the rugged Central Highlands.

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Accommodation

Luxurious suites at the base of Cradle Mountain.