RACQ
Tasmania’s untamed North West
Discover Tasmania’s wild North West where rugged coastlines, quirky towns, and unforgettable characters make a memorable road trip.
Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake.
I am standing on the Edge of the World, horizontal rain and wild wind threatening to sweep me into the ocean below, where bleached tree limbs lie in tangled heaps.
It’s freezing, and my jumper isn’t cutting it.
Tasmania’s North West coast is off the beaten path, as proved by the wombat strolling across Arthur River’s main road, looking like he’d just finished a morning latte.
Here, locals surf mid-winter if the swell’s right, and steaks come from Cape Grim, just up the road.
This journey began in Launceston, Tasmania’s second-largest city and the gateway to the North West.
The region is known for raw coastlines, just-caught seafood, and plenty of eccentric characters.
The welcome is warm and the conversation lively, whether about politics or where to find the best chippies.
Despite multiple visits to Launceston, I’d never made it to the mythical Cradle Mountain. So, that was my first stop.
Unused to driving on roads where snow lines the edge, warnings of icy patches kept me cautious on the winding country drive.
By mid-afternoon, I reached Discovery Resorts Cradle Mountain Village under blue skies.
Reception staff advised me to head straight for the Visitor Centre, as the weather here can swing from sunshine to snow in minutes. Yesterday, the road into the park was closed until midday.
I jumped on the 3pm bus for a golden-hour glimpse of Dove Lake before the last return at 4pm. Miss that, and it’s a two-hour trudge.
The lake glowed in the late afternoon light, and I returned to our cabin content.
Even if tomorrow brought closed tracks, I’d ticked the box.
After a dinner at the resort’s Hellyers restaurant, I soaked in the spa bath, fire blazing, wondering what morning would bring.
Sun again, so I made a second trip to Cradle before taking the scenic Murchison Highway, leaving ice-warning signs behind.
Panoramic view of The Nut and Stanley.
Two hours later, I reached Stanley, wrapped around an ancient volcanic plug called The Nut.
In summer, there’s a chairlift to the top, but in winter, the 152m climb was a hard pass.
Instead, I checked into a luxury beach house at The Inlet, glass of Tassie red in hand, wallabies grazing outside.
It was almost enough to keep me in, but the lure of the Stanley Hotel’s oysters, abalone, flathead and crumbed scallops won.
Locals played pool, a jukebox blasted classics, and the fireplace roared.
Stanley’s quirks go back to the 1800s, with its standout being Highfield Historic Site, built in 1832.
Visiting here is like walking in the footsteps of the colonial founders.
The regency manor has sweeping coastal views and, if you’re lucky, or unlucky, ghosts.
I felt a chill upstairs and wouldn’t step into the basement.
Gardiner Point at the Edge of the World.
From Stanley, Arthur River, and the Edge of the World are just an hour away.
Stop at Smithton for a taste of La Cantara’s artisan Venezuelan-style cheese and a tour of the 24/7 robotic dairy.
It’s a revolution for dairy farmers, and the cows quite like it too.
Don’t miss a Cape Grim steak sandwich at the Marrawah Inn or surfers braving icy waters at Green Point.
Huge sheets of black, rubbery bull kelp sometimes wash ashore here.
That night, seafood still called, so Hursey Seafoods delivered briny oysters and fresh caught crayfish metres from their trawlers.
On the drive back, I detoured to white-sand Boat Harbour Beach for a Palawa cultural walk with Tunapri guide Jye Crosswell around the rugged headland.
Foraging between the rocks, I discovered edible plants and age-old practices.
Later, snuggled into a sand circle, I learnt how bull kelp can be transformed into practical and attractive traditional baskets.
Hursey Seafoods in Stanley.
This is another spot where it’s hard not to linger and luckily, I had booked Sol at Sisters Beach, an Airbnb holiday house with sauna, underfloor heating and decor straight from a glossy mag.
A short walk led to the magnificent Rocky Cape National Park coastline, where sunset painted the water in breathtaking hues.
The road to Launceston was peppered with a tulip farm, a pause at Penguin (a town), and a stop at The Truffle Farm, where Dougie the labrador unearthed truffles that later blanketed my pizza.
Back in Launceston, Peppers Silo, a hotel crafted from old grain silos, provided a quirky finale.
Its Grain of the Silos restaurant dished up regional fare, Tamar River views dazzled, and Archie, the resident dog ambassador, sealed the stay.
In Tasmania’s North West, every bend in the road feels like the start of another story, whether it’s a ghost in a grand old homestead, a wombat on his morning commute, or a fisherman hauling lobsters straight from the sea.
It’s raw, rugged and sometimes wild enough to blow you sideways, but it’s also welcoming in a way that lingers long after the journey ends.
Drive it once, and you’ll be planning your return before you’ve even unpacked the car.
CHTA, TTas, WxNW, RTOs……. what do all the acronyms mean?
CHTA, TTas, WxNW, RTOs……. What do all the acronyms mean?
Ttas - Tourism Tasmania
Every state and territory in Australia operates its own government tourism agency.
Tourism Tasmania is tasked with boosting demand for visits to Tasmania by conducting destination marketing, supported by robust research.
In addition to its marketing efforts, Tourism Tasmania forms commercial marketing partnerships with domestic and international carriers, media outlets, travel retailers, and brand partners. These collaborations help promote Tasmanian tourism experiences and drive holiday sales and bookings to Tasmania.
Department of State Growth
Within the Department of State Growth sits the Tourism and Hospitality Support Unit (THSU). The primary focus of the THSU is on encouraging investment in quality visitor infrastructure and building capability, capacity and community.
Events Tasmania
Events Tasmania offers a range of funding and development opportunities to encourage event organisers to stage their next event in Tasmania.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT)
This is the peak body that represents and acts for the Tasmanian tourism industry at a statewide level. TICT runs a number of initiatives to encourage continual business development including the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program, Tasmanian Tourism Awards, Tasmanian Tourism Conference and other workshops and forums. TICT engages fully with DST and Tasmania’s other regional tourism bodies in developing policies and coordinating advocacy and activities of statewide relevance.
Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs)
Tasmania's four Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) aim to increase regional dispersal by motivating visitors to travel more extensively, extend their stays, and increase their spending. These RTOs establish the strategic vision for tourism in their regions, outline annual priorities, and implement programs that involve local industry and stakeholders. They possess the independence to design and execute effective development and marketing programs for their regions and are accountable to their industry and key stakeholders.
Tasmania's RTO’s
- West by North West (WxNW)
- Destination Southern Tasmania (DST)
- Visit Northern Tasmania (VNT)
- East Coast Tasmania Tourism (ECTT)
West x North West (WxNW)
West by North West (WxNW) is one of four regional tourism organisations (RTOs) across Tasmania, each funded by the Tasmanian government to work with our tourism industry at a local and regional level; and with government at all levels. Our work forms part of the state's T21 Visitor Economy Strategy.
Local Tourism Associations (LTAs)
Local Tourism Associations nurture and strengthen local tourism businesses by encouraging local industry networking and by liaising with regional tourism authorities and state bodies on behalf of operators, to address issues at a more local level.
Circular Head Tourism Association (CHTA)
The objectives of the Association focus on promoting and enhancing tourism in Circular Head and its adjacent areas. Key goals include fostering an appreciation for the region as a tourist destination, increasing membership among local tourism stakeholders, and encouraging collaboration among members to boost their tourism-related knowledge, skills, and awareness. The Association aims to maintain high standards of quality in local tourism experiences and services, advocate for the preservation and enhancement of the area's scenic and cultural attributes, and heighten community awareness of tourism's benefits. Additionally, the Association seeks to engage with government bodies at various levels and cooperate with other organisations to strengthen its influence and effectively achieve its aims.
Local Government
Circular Head Council - who contribute to some running costs and specific marketing initiatives and other strategies. Local councils also advise on building, zoning, operating and health and safety issues that are necessary to consider when operating a tourism business or running an event. Local councils also advise on building, zoning, operating and health and safety issues that are necessary to consider when operating a tourism business or running an event.
Other tourism-related organisations
The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW)
Australia’s national platform for digital tourism marketing in Australia. Established in 2001, the ATDW is jointly owned and managed by all Australian state and territory government tourism bodies.
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI)
This is Tasmania’s peak business organisation with a statewide membership drawn from all industry sectors.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA)
The THA is the peak industry body for hotels, accommodation, restaurants, cafes, caterers, community, sporting and RSL clubs in Tasmania.
Brand Tasmania
Brand Tasmania is the first statutory place-branding authority to be established in Australia, created under the Brand Tasmania Act 2018. It is responsible for taking a best practice approach to ensure the Tasmanian brand is strengthened locally, nationally and internationally, and is promoted as a key asset of the Tasmanian community.
Business Events Tasmania (BET)
BET is the peak organisation for the business events sector in Tasmania.
Women in Tourism & Hospitality Tasmania
WITH Tas provides support, mentoring and networking opportunities to all women in the tourism and hospitality industry in Tasmania, through hosting events designed to inspire, motivate and inform as well as provide an informal way for new women in our industries to meet and connect with others in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Arts Tasmania
Arts Tasmania is the government agency responsible for policy and planning for arts and culture in Tasmania and for the development of the arts industry and movable cultural heritage sector.
Heritage Tasmania
The Tasmanian Heritage Council and Heritage Tasmania in the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, work with the community to identify and protect significant historic heritage places through listings on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
Tasmanian Visitor Information Network (TVIN)
TVIN is a network of Visitor Information Centres strategically located throughout Tasmania who can help promote your product and can also make bookings.
Wine Tasmania
This peak body for Tasmanian grape growers and winemakers and is focussed on building the profile of, and market for, Tasmania’s premium cool climate wines.Australian
Tourism Export Council (ATEC)
ATEC is a national tourism association, representing more than 850 members across Australia including large national and multi-national companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, many of whom are based in regional and remote parts of Australia.