Travel Guides: Devonport
General Information
Tasmania's third largest city, Devonport is the gateway to the
island state, situated as it is in the centre of the north coast,
at the mouth of the Mersey River. It is the point of arrival for
car ferries from the mainland and it also welcomes visitors at its
modern airport. The city is three hours by road from Hobart on the
Midlands Highway. The city has a number of attractions for
visitors, including aboriginal rock engravings, a maritime museum
and a cycle/walking track which extends around the picturesque
foreshore from the city past the Olympic Swimming Pool to the
historic Don River Railway, which operates vintage and steam
trains. The city's central location makes it an ideal base for
discovering the wilderness experiences of northwest Tasmania,
especially the Mt Cradle National Park. Tucked between Mt Wellington and the River Derwent 12 miles
(20km) upstream of the river mouth, Hobart is the capital of
Tasmania, and boasts one of the world's most secure deepwater
harbours. The city is the essence of Australia's only island state
and represents the fountainhead of white island settlement. It was
established in 1804 and is saturated in colonial history. The main historical district, Battery Point, is characterised by
colonial stone cottages, tearooms, antique shops, restaurants and
pubs. The Narryna Van Diemen's Land Folk Museum at Battery Point
depicts 19th-century pioneer life. Here one also finds the Maritime
Museum of Tasmania. Like most Australian cities Hobart has plenty
of green space; the largest here is the Royal Tasmanian Botanical
Gardens, which are known for English-style plantings and trees, and
a Japanese garden dominated by a miniature Mt Fuji. Other amusements for visitors include steam locomotive rides,
guided tours of a former women's prison, tours of the Cascade
Brewery, gaming at Australia's first legal casino at Wrest Point,
taking a cruise of the harbour, or sampling the delights of the
fudge factory at Island Produce Tasmania. Mount Wellington, which
is a 13-mile (22km) drive from the city, offers extensive views
across alpine shrubs of the city below.
Getting Around
Activites
Cradle Mountain,Devonport
One of Tasmania's most popular attractions is the
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, placed on the World
Heritage list in 1982. Landscapes include ancient rainforest and
alpine heath lands, interspersed with button grass and stands of
deciduous beech trees. Trails winding through forests of King Billy
pines around the mountain offer superb day treks, and the 50 miles
(82km) trek from Cradle Mountain in the north to Lake St Clair in
the south is Australia's most famous bushwalk. The Park is equipped
with mountain huts that offer accommodation for long guided treks,
and Cradle Mountain Lodge offers log cabins in a tranquil setting.
Lake St Clair, a narrow 10-mile (15km) long waterway in the south
of the park, is Australia's deepest natural freshwater
lake.
Admission:
A$22 per vehicle; A$11 per individual
Opening time:
The Visitor Centre is open daily 8am to
5pm
Port Arthur,Hobart
In the far south of Tasmania, on the Tasman Peninsula,
is Port Arthur, which in the early 1800s was originally a timber
station. In 1833 it became a prison settlement for male convicts,
and quickly established a reputation as being 'hell on earth'.
Today Port Arthur lies among 40 hectares of English Oaks and
magnificent gardens as a memorial to Australia's convict past. The
Port Arthur historic site offers an inclusive all day ticket, which
includes a guided historical walking tour of the ruins and restored
buildings, a harbour cruise and access to the visitor centre and
interpretation gallery. One of the more popular features of a visit
to Port Arthur is the Historic Ghost Tour run at night. Port Arthur
is located 65 miles (100km) south-east of Hobart. Allow about an
hour and a half to enjoy the scenic drive along the Tasman and
Arthur highways.
Admission:
Site entry: A$28 (adults), A$14 (children 4-17 yrs);
After dark Ghost Tour: A$20 (adults), A$12 (children 4-17 yrs);
pass is valid for ½ a day to a full day (Bronze pass). Other
concessions available
Opening time:
The grounds and ruins open daily 8.30am to dusk. The
Visitor Centre opens 8.30am until after the Historic Ghost tours at
night
Flight Centre Unbeatable
As one of the UK's top travel agents operating through stores located across the country, we are here to help you arrange your holidays, flights, cruises and much more. It is not just finding you a cheap flight or holiday ticket, but extending the value we give through personalized service.
Top Destination Flights
In an effort to improve your experience on the website, we have generated a list of our most popular economy flight searches. These include cheap flights to New York - USA, flights to Sydney - Australia, flights to Johannesburg - South Africa, flights to Dubai - UAE or flights to Bangkok – Thailand. If you're looking for other types of flights such as Business Class Flights, Round the world trips, Student flights, or even Cruises, Flight Centre is here to make it easy for you. We'll help you pick the right deal for your needs and give you a personalized experience when you make a flight or holiday booking.
Most Popular Holiday Locations
In an effort to improve your experience on the website, we have generated an array of our most popular searches. These include cheap holiday to Maldives, holidays to Sydney, holidays to New York, holidays to Dubai, holiday to Marrakech, holiday to Thailand, holiday to Auckland, round the world travel and holidays to Singapore. Interested in holidays to any of the locations such as multi-stop holidays? Then contact us on 0844 800 8660 for a quote. Read about our Airlines and Tour Operators.
Flight Centre confirms availability by searching based on the exact itinerary, booking class & conditions as per the competitors quote. For full terms & conditions & the distinction between cabin class (first & economy) & booking class, click here. Offer is subject to change at any time.
