As every traveller knows, it’s not just the destination that matters but also the journey. Most visitors to the Huon Valley in Tasmania take the Huon Highway (A6) south of Hobart but there are alternative routes passing through some of southern Tasmania’s charming towns, natural wonders and tourist attractions.
A second option to the Huon Valley is to take the turn off in South Hobart to Sandy Bay and follow the Derwent River on the Channel Highway (B68) through Taroona to Kingston, perhaps stopping at Tasmania’s historic Shot Tower. From Kingston you join the Huon Highway and proceed to Huonville, or you can stay on the Channel Highway following the coastline and proceed through Margate, Kettering (the ferry point for Bruny Island), Peppermint Bay and the eclectic town of Cygnet before joining the highway at Huonville.
The third choice is to take the Huon Road (B64) through the foothills of Mt Wellington where you could consider stopping at the famous Cascades Brewery before proceeding into the mountain ranges above Hobart, perhaps taking the side journey to Mount Wellington. Even without the Mt Wellington side trip, this drive will display breathtaking views of the valleys and waterways of southern Tasmania. This drive joins the highway just south of Kingston and enables a stop off at Tasmania’s famous Willie Smith’s Apple and Cider Café or Home Hill Winery that has won the prestigious Jimmy Watson trophy.
South of Huonville there are also alternatives to the Huon Highway (not that it is really a highway!) The Huon Highway follows the magical Huon River through the beautiful river town of Franklin with its famous Wooden Boat School and the timber town of Geeveston (from where you access the not to be missed Tahune Forest Airwalk). One alternative is to by-pass Geeveston and take Scotts Road to enjoy a scenic country drive through the farms of southern Tasmania.
Another option is to turn off the Huon Highway onto Police Point Road heading back towards the Huon River to take in the spectacular vistas of the river and beyond. It takes you past the salmon pens and through Roaring Beach and the Lilliputian Little Roaring to Blubberhead Road, the entrance to the Peninsula on the eastern point of Esperance Bay. It is a windy road so if you are prone to car sickness, be warned.
Whatever route you take to our luxury accommodation at The Peninsula Experience, be sure to enjoy the picturesque countryside of southern Tasmania on your journey. The forests in the south of Tasmania have been preserved to a greater degree than the northern and eastern forests making the drives through the south breathtaking with a heady brew of mountains, forests, magnificent waterways, quaint little towns and beautiful farms. With The Peninsula Experience as your luxury base, all that Southern Tasmania has to offer is at your doorstep and waiting to be explored!
One final option for those looking to indulge and travel to your luxury accommodation in style is to fly over the stunning southern Tasmanian countryside in our helicopter/limo fly/drive package.
