Launceston to Stanley

Featured stops | Woolmers Estate | Brickendon |

From Launceston, take the Midland Highway south to Bredalbane and, instead of going to the Launceston Airport, stay on the Midland Highway through Perth and continue on towards Hobart.

Watch for the C520 Woolmers Lane on the right, and turn west and drive across the very attractive farmland to Woolmers Estate.

As the road passes some woodland and then starts to curve down to the Macquarie River, watch for the turnoff to Woolmers Estate on the right.

Set high above the Macquarie River, Woolmers Estate was first established in the 1820s. The buildings have all been restored and the whole estate gives a good feel for the history, farming and lifestyle of the area.

A feature is the fabulous rose garden with over 180 varieties of old roses. The ancient trees and hedges give Woolmers a very rural feel. Woolmers Estate, and its neighbour, Brickendon Estate, have both been recognised on the Australian National Heritage List due to their historical significance.

Featured stops  | Longford | Hagley | Westbury | Pearn’s Steam World | Deloraine | Ashgrove Cheese Outlet |  

Leaving Longford, turn left onto the B52 Illawarra Road and then turn left onto the Bass Highway.

Watch for the turnoff to the right onto the B54 and after leaving the Bass Highway, take a hard left onto the old road that is the main street of Hagley.

The road runs back under the Bass Highway before coming to Westbury.

These old villages were established in the early 1800s and you can get an excellent feel for the lifestyle of the area.

Pearn’s Steam World

Pearn’s Steam World, on the right as you drive through Westbury, is worth a visit by those interested in old steam driven machinery.

This is widely regarded as the finest collection of steam driven machinery in the Southern Hemisphere.

The park on the left just before the road dips down across the river is an interesting stop. Rather than return to the Bass Highway, stay on the B54 Meander Valley Road as it winds its way into Deloraine.

Cross the Meander River at Deloraine, consider a short pitstop at the Riverside Park for a few minutes, and climb the hill through this rather pretty, historic township.

Staying on the main street, there is a full supermarket on the left as you come up Emu Bay road if you need supplies.

Stay on Emu Bay Road, until it rejoins the Bass Highway, and continue on towards Devonport and Burnie.

Ashgrove Cheese

After driving through Elizabeth Town, watch for the Ashgrove Cheese Shop on the left. A delicious selection of local produce awaits for foodies.

The scenery in this part of Tasmania varies from open farmland with mountains on the horizon, to natural woodland and plantations that are part of commercial timber growing operations.

It is an area of rolling hills, gentle valleys and pleasant scenery.

Featured Stops | Devonport | The Don River Railway | 

From Elizabeth Town, stay on the Bass Highway past Latrobe and cross the Mersey River at Devonport. Devonport is a port city built on the banks of the Mersey River.

It is the Tasmanian hub for the Spirit of Tasmania ferry across Bass Strait.

If you plan to stop and look around Devonport, take Formby Road off to the right and follow it through town and along the Mersey River to its mouth for some pleasant coastal scenery as the river meets Bass Strait.

Return to the Bass Highway and head for Burnie.

Don River Railway

As you leave Devonport, watch for the turnoff lane to the right to Don, and the Don River Railway and Museum.

If you’re interested in railways and railway history, this working museum and railroad is well worth a visit.

Featured Stops | Penguin | 

Stay on the Bass Highway as it head down towards Bass Strait and then follow the coastline towards Burnie.

At Ulverstone, leave the Bass Highway and drive through the township on Main Street, cross the river and then turn right to West Ulverstone and follow Penguin Road along the shores of Bass Strait to Penguin.

At Penguin, stay on the Old Bass Highway road as it winds along the coast before rejoining the Bass Highway at Sulphur Creek.

This is a worthwhile diversion from the more direct, but far less scenic Bass Highway route that bypasses Penguin.

Featured Stops | Lactos Cheese Factory | Burnie | Table Cape | Port Latta | The Nut and Stanley

The Bass Highway follows the coast into Burnie. Continue on through Burnie and out to Stanley.

The countryside varies between farmland, with its incredible deep brown soil, and forests that stretch inland to the hills.

As you come along the coast, you will see The Nut dominating the horizon ahead and to the right.

The Nut is the backdrop to Stanley. Turn off onto the B21 and follow it out to the Nut and the old whaling and fishing township of Stanley.