Two Sams TravellingWe were lucky enough to be able to spend a few days travelling around the Huon Valley as part of our trip around Tasmania. The furthest South we had been previously was Bruny Island, so we were excited to be able to explore the area. Some of the highlights for us were:
Huonville
Huonville is a 40 minute drive South of Hobart and is one of the larger towns in the area. We were able to stock up on alcohol, get a tyre sorted, and even find some vegan doughnuts (they were delicious by the way). Wander down Main Street and check out the area. There is plenty of parking near the Huonville Foreshore Playground with areas to sit and enjoy some lunch.
Cider tasting
The Huon Valley is famous for its cider, and with a couple of us on the trip big cider fans, we had to stop and have a taste. We ate lunch at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed and also enjoyed a cider tasting while we were there. The food and cider were both delicious. You can also do a self-guided tour of the Apple Museum for a small donation. We also stopped in at Franks Cider in Franklin for a cider tasting and some food, again was fantastic. Unfortunately Pagan Cider in Cygnet wasn’t open when we were driving through, but it is somewhere I would like to visit.
Camping at River’s Edge Wilderness Camping
While in the Huon Valley area, we stayed a night at the River’s Edge Wilderness Camping, located in Lonnavale. The sites were huge and we had a spot right on the Russell River. It would be a great spot to swim in summer. Each site has its own firepit and you can order firewood when you check in and it gets delivered right to you. Reception also had some suppliers you could purchase and while we were there they had a woodfire pizza oven operating where you could purchase dinner. The spots on the river are a fair bit away from facilities but you can either drive up there or go for a walk (it wasn’t too far). You also had to pay $2 per five minutes for the showers but they were clean and modern, so definitely worth it. River’s Edge Wilderness Camping is great for families with plenty of activities and bike riding areas for kids. This was definitely a highlight for our trip and we would recommend staying there.
Tahune Adventures
Tahune Adventures is around an hour from Hobart and is wheelchair, stroller and pet friendly. While you are there, you can explore the airwalk, hang glide, kayak or go for a walk and explore the area. We went for a walk and explored the airwalk and got to see a lot of spectacular views. If you have a fear of heights, you can still experience the area without having to walk too high up. The area was affected by the 2019 bushfires with some parts of the area still being rebuilt, but Tahune Adventures has done a great job in rebuilding and showcasing the area even after the devastation the bushfires caused. There is a cafe and gift shop as well, with the cafe serving yummy ice cream and sorbet! A tip from us – If you are camping at Rivers Edge, make sure you head back out to Geeveston and then head to Tahune Adventures. We tried to go on a back road, got ¾ of the way in the journey and the road was closed so we had to turn around and drive all the way back…
Geeveston
Geeveston is another small town located around an hour from Hobart. We didn’t have too much of an opportunity to stop in there but it looked like a great area to explore, and we have heard great things about some of the restaurants in the area. The Geeveston Heritage Park has a great playground and bike track for kids to use, and plenty of space for parking.
Hastings Caves
Hastings Caves is just over 90 minutes from Hobart and provides you the opportunity to tour through Newdegate Cave. Due to COVID, tours are restricted to eight people and bookings are required to complete a cave tour. We recommend you book prior to going so you don’t miss out. You also need to get there around 45 minutes prior to your tour so you can collect your tickets from the visitor centre and drive up to the cave car park. If you are down this area, we definitely recommend this tour. The guide was engaging and very knowledgeable and the caves were spectacular. There were a few stairs as part of the tour but it was very manageable. Entry to the caves also provides you free entry to the thermal pool area. At the time we went the thermal pool wasn’t open but we have heard it is worth checking out. While you are in the area, stop at Southport and check out the most Southern township in Australia.
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek is the furthest point South that you can drive in Tasmania and is a two hour drive from Hobart. There are no shops in the area, only campgrounds and beaches, but it is a beautiful part of the world. Cockle Creek is a departure point for a number of short and long walks, and you can wander round and take some photos of the large whale sculpture. There are two separate camping areas, Southwest National Park and Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area. You can have dogs in the recreation but they are not allowed in the national park. This area is free camping and sites are not allocated so if you are looking to get a decent cspot, make sure you get there early. Also make sure you secure your items as we had a fishing rod stolen from our campsite right as we were inside the camper trailer…
The Huon Valley is so diverse with many things to see and do. Make sure you spend a couple of days exploring the area!
