This Tamar Valley Day Drive itinerary travels up the west bank of the Tamar Estuary to Bass Strait. Then it backtracks a little, crosses the Batman Bridge and returns via the Pipers Brook wine area and the Hillwood Berry Farm. Launceston sits 70 kilometres inland (43 miles), where the North and South Esk Rivers merge to form the Tamar Estuary. The Tamar is not a river, per se, but rather a fully tidal, saline estuary for all of its length. The Tamar was named after the river of the same name in Cornwall, England, this running beside the city of Launceston.
Until 1968, the only way to get by road from Beaconsfield on the west bank of the Tamar to Low Head, on the east bank, was to drive into Launceston, then all the way back up the Valley, a trip of some 140 kilometres (87 miles).
The opening of the Batman Bridge changed all that and made the Tamar a wonderful self drive area.
It is an excellent day drive to circle from Launceston, up the West Bank through Exeter and Beaconsifled to Beauty Point, then across the Batman Bridge and back down the East bank via such attractions as Low Head and the Hillwood Berry Farm.
While the Tamar is a major wine growing area, the day drive will include points of interest and activities that will allow for those not interested in wines or visiting vineyards.
Travel up the West side of the Tamar Valley, taking in the river frontage road. After Beaconsfield we will retrace our steps, cross the Batman Bridge and return to Launceston via the ast side of the valley.
