Bothwell

Bothwell is the gateway to the Central Highlands and was settled by Scottish pioneer farmers in the early 1820s. It has wide open streets, and lovely 19th century buildings. As you would expect, it sits on the Clyde River where Australia’s first herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle grazed, and, the first golf course was laid, in the mid-1830s. Today you can play Ratho’s nine holes and visit the Australasian Golf Museum.

Walking around the town is like walking back in time. More than 50 colonial cottages, houses and official buildings (the town’s first library opened in 1837) cluster around the trees and grass of Queens Park.

Curringa Farm

Curringa Farm is 25 minutes away between Hamilton and Ouse. Visit the sheep centre and immerse yourself in a working farm.

Contact Tim and Jane Parsons and book into one of their working farm tours.

Bookings essential - ph - 03 6286 3332

Ferry Ride At Lake St Clair

Enjoy a ferry ride on the deepest lake in Australia. Marvel at the unique scenery in this Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Perhaps cruise one way, and bushwalk the other way. The cool temperate rainforest walk showcases many unique plant species.

Lake St Clair

45 minutes from Tarraleah. The deepest freshwater lake in Australia (at over 170 metres/557 feet deep), Lake St Clair was scooped during several glaciations over the past two million years. The Lake forms the southern boundary of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and the finishing point for the Overland Track, one of the world’s best multi-day bushwalks. During summer and autumn (fall), rangers offer a variety of activities such as walks, talks and slide shows for adults and children.

There a number of short walks from the Interpretation Centre around the shores of the Lake at Cynthia Bay (Cynthia Bay is named for the Greek goddess of the moon). Some of the most spectacular walks take three to four hours or overnight – such as the walks to Shadow and Forgotten lakes. A pantheon of dolerite mountains – Mt Olympus, Traveller Range, Mt Byron and Mt Ida surround Lake St Clair; at the southern end is a drowned moraine – the tumbled rock remains after the glaciations. The Aboriginal people of the area called the lake Leeawuleena, meaning sleeping water.

Marriotts Falls and Junee Caves

Marriotts Falls and Junee Caves are nature reserves south of Mount Field National Park, southern Tasmania. Mount Field National Park is an hour’s drive from Tararleah.

Located near the township of Tyenna, Marriotts Falls offers a moderate short walk suitable for most fitness levels. A signposted turnoff just outside the town takes you to the Marriotts Falls walking track, which follows the Tyenna River. Your walk will take you through groves of tree ferns and immense swamp gums, the tallest flowering plants on earth. Crossing an open field, you’ll come to a section of rainforest to arrive at the Falls, surrounded by moss-covered fallen logs, ferns and rainforest plants. The total return distance to Marriotts Falls is around five kilometres (three miles).

A short drive further south from Tyenna is the Junee Cave State Reserve, five kilometres (three miles) west of the township of Maydena. A short nature trail leads to the entrance of Cave where the Junee River rises to the surface after travelling 30 kilometres underground through a system of almost 300 caves. Interpretive signs describe the Junee cave system, which includes Niggly Cave, Australia’s deepest.

Nant Distillery Bothwell

Nant Distillery, nestled in the Central Highlands north west of Hobart, produces handcrafted single malt Tasmanian whisky. Located on the Nant Estate in Bothwell, Nant Distillery honours traditional distillation methods to produce the Nant double and single malt whiskies. Incorporating only the finest local ingredients, this farm-based distillery uses pristine Central Highlands water. As part of the Heritage-listed farm complex, the distillery is housed in a convict-built sandstone flour mill (1823) which has been meticulously restored.

You can visit the Nant Distillery weekdays between 10am and 4pm and on weekends by pre-booking. Enjoy a distillery tour or for the true whisky enthusiast, you may wish to include a Masterclass and Tasting Plate. This includes the finest local gourmet produce on offer, specially presented to complement the Masterclass selection. Browse the distillery shop with its whisky merchandise and products, or why not select a dram from the large range of Australian and international whiskies on sale in the Atrium Lounge and Whisky Bar to enjoy while admiring the sweeping Central Highland views.

Prospect Villa and Garden

Prospect Villa and Garden is at Hamilton along the Rivers Run touring route, about 60 minutes north of Hobart. You can walk in the romantic colour-blended gardens, abundantly planted in classic designs and admire the elegant early-colonial architecture of the villa with its mellow stone walls. Prospect Villa gardens demonstrate what can be created in a garden in a dry part of Australia.

There are panoramic views of the surrounding valleys, rolling hills and sometimes snowcapped mountains. The live-in owners provide guided tours of the heritage-listed villa and gardens.

Open daily 1000 to 1600 September to April (other times by arrangement). Admission: AUD5 per person.

Real Tasmanian Ales

Take a drip trip to the Two Metre Tall Company for an amazing Tamanian Beer experience.

Here is what the owner says...
Tasmania’s Derwent Valley is the home of the Two Metre Tall Company. We have converted our shearing shed, located adjacent to the paddocks that grow the barley used in our ales.

We are a stone’s throw across the river from the Bushy Park hop fields (where 90% of the hops in Australia are grown), and are creating Australia’s first “Real Ale Farm”. Eventually we will serve our ales from a sandstone cottage nearby which was built circa 1820.

Bookings Essential

Russell Falls

Just 50 mins from Tarraleah within the Mount Field National Park are the magnificent world renowned Russell Falls.

These beautiful falls can be easily reached via a short track that takes you through the forest and lets you explore the ferns, fungi, trees and local wildlife at your leisure.

National Park fees apply.

The Bothwell Golf Museum

Explore Bothwell and the Tasmanian Golf Museum

Just 50 mins from Tarraleah, see the first golf course to be constructed in Australia and visit the Golf Museum.

While there, spend a little time looking around Bothwell. There are plenty of original stone buildings to see.

The Ouse Country Club

The Ouse Country Club has a nine-hole scenic golf course at Ouse in the Derwent Valley. The course is mainly flat with well mounded greens and a some bunkers. Sixteen tees add variety to this scenic 9 hole course. Combined with a bowling club to form the Ouse Country Club, this course is well worth a visit when in the area.

Visitors welcome.

Holes: 9 Par: 68 Length: 5059m ACR: 65

The Salmon Ponds

The Salmon Ponds, the Museum of Trout Fishing at Plenty, Russell Falls in the Mt. Field National Park.

The Salmon Ponds were established in 1861 to hatch and introduce trout to Tasmania, and from there, to mainland Australia and New Zealand. See the Museum of Trout Fishing and relax in the peaceful grounds with ponds containing magnificent display trout and salmon. Picnic and BBQ facilities available. Tea rooms/restaurant also available.

The Styx Big Tree Reserve

The Styx Big Tree Reserve is at Mount field National Park, about 1 hour from Tarraleah. In 2005, Australia’s tallest known living tree, at 97 metres (more than 300 feet), was protected in a new formal Forest Reserve. The Reserve also protects the tallest and largest known trees in the Styx Valley – such as Gandalf’s Staff (the site of the Greenpeace tree platform in 2004) and Bell Bottom ( 22 feet in diameter).

Some of these trees tower as much as 32 storeys and are more than 300 years old. They are the world’s tallest hardwood trees, known as swamp gums or mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and brown top stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua). Some of the walks already have raised wooden walkways and more are planned for the new reserves.

The Tasmanian Trail

This trail links up existing forestry roads, fire trails, country roads, and private land, allowing an exploration and discovery of bush, farmlands, mountain plateaux, and historic architecture. Walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders can join the trail at various points.
Check out the web site www.tasmaniantrail.com.au

Trip to Queenstown. The big day out!

Take a day trip to Queenstown to enjoy the 35-km ride on the rebuilt railway through wild rainforest, up the steep ABT rack section and down the rugged King River gorge to Strahan. Its 2 hours to Queenstown and the train is at 10:00AM train to Strahan, which arrives there at about 2:15PM. After some free time in Strahan, a bus is provided to depart Strahan at 4:00PM for Queenstown, arriving there at about 4:45PM.

Bookings are required for this very popular railway journey.

Waddamana Power Station

50 mins from Tarraleah is the Waddamana Power Station Museum, one of the first Hydro power stations to be built in Tasmania that still has all the equipment in working order. Great destination encompassing Tasmania’s pioneering heritage. It is immaculately presented and open for inspection 7 days a week, except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Admission is FREE!

Wall in the Wilderness

An ambitious project is being undertaken by Greg Duncan who is carving the history of Tasmania’s central bushlands in 100 huge panels of huon pine.

Greg is a renowned sculptor and you can see him at work on this magnificent project. Think Bayeux Tapestry but in wood!

Impressive place to visit on route to Lake St Clair, only 40 mins from Tarraleah.