Meandering in rivers and caves

The streets of Deloraine are lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings classified by the National Trust, making this arts-minded town a fascinating place to stroll. The Sculpture Trail - Great Western Tiers features a collection of 23 works dotted around town, creating an hour-long walk along the banks of the Meander River and Emu Bay Road, past galleries and boutiques.

Swing by the Deloraine Deli for lunch, dining in or gathering treats for a riverside picnic.

Spend the afternoon shopping unique arts and crafts at the likes of Steve Howells - Watercolour, Art as Mania and Divine Objects.

Relax over dinner at Cycles at the Empire, a cafe-restaurant in a corner of the Empire Hotel, Deloraine's tallest building and a former bike factory, and spend the night at Blakes Manor.

Everyone loves a waterfall, and you’re spoiled for choice around the Great Western Tiers, the short walks capital of Tasmania. Take an easy 2km walk to beautiful Liffey Falls, or a two-hour return trek through eucalypt forest and ferns to the secluded Westmorland Falls. 

To see the forest from a different perspective, try shooting the Meander River on a sledging trip, a bit like rafting solo through the river rapids, with Meander Wilderness Experiences.

Having worked up an appetite, go grazing in Elizabeth Town. Start savoury at the Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door, trying luxe cheese toasties, a truffle fondue or a cheesy flight, and move on to dessert at either (or both of) Van Diemens Land Creamery, with 24 flavours of ice-cream, or Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm (don’t miss its popular chocolate-coated raspberries).

Before travelling to this region, please contact businesses directly to confirm opening hours.

Return to Blakes Manor.

Caves, critters and cliffs will easily fill most of a day around Mole Creek. The surrounding Mole Creek Karst National Park has about 300 caves – head underground into Marakoopa Cave, featuring glow-worms and fantastic limestone formations. Wild Cave Tours can have you squirming more adventurously through a cave.

Stop for some lunch in Mole Creek at the Wandering Trout Taphouse (may be closed in Winter), and then delve into the world of Tasmanian devils and a cohort of other wildlife at Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Take a short walk with a deep view to Alum Cliffs, where a lookout shadows the Mersey River as it bends through a gorge. This was a place of social and spiritual significance to palawa, Tasmanian Aboriginal people, because of the ochre found in the area.

An easy way to explore the area is to take a cultural walk with a local Aboriginal guide from Kooparoona niara Tours.

Head for Cradle Mountain, and link up with the Western Wilds drive journey and our Waterfalls and Wilderness Walks itinerary.