6 Best Lakeside Towns in Tasmania

Tasmania is filled with more than 3,000 lakes, tarns, and lagoons in its central highlands alone. There are thousands more across the state. Residents of some of the tiny towns here are lucky enough to have direct access to some of the best lakes. Tullah, for example, sits on Lake Rosebery, which is overlooked by Mount Farrell. Derwent Bridge sits between Lake Saint Clair and Switchyard Bay, while Bronte Park features the magnificent Bronte Lagoon, where anglers love to fish for trout. The water is the main attraction in these towns, but there are many other things to see and do on land.

Tullah

Tullah is just an hour away from Burnie, making it a great weekend destination for those who want to kayak or canoe on Lake Rosebery. Located at the base of Mount Farrell, the water is accessible from just about any point. The lake is also surrounded by forests, including eucalyptus forests, offering the opportunity for leisurely hikes. Those who want to see the lake from a different angle can take the trail up Mount Farrell, from where they can look out over the town, the lake and even Lake Herbert. Back in town, visitors can have a rustic dinner experience at the Lakeside Bar and Grill, the restaurant inside the Tullah Lakeside Lodge, before retiring to a room there or at The Tin Dragon, a self-contained holiday house set in a building that dates to 1912.

Rosebery

The town of Rosebery lies 12 minutes down the Murchison Highway from Tullah, close enough for a morning on Lake Rosebery, which holds both brown and rainbow trout. Rosebery has water of its own as well. Lake Pieman begins at the Bastyan Dam and runs west past the Primrose end of town, and it is another of the Hydro lakes that anglers work for trout. Visitors can take a boat out on the water before having a picnic on the shore. Rosebery is also the jumping-off point for the walk to Montezuma Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Tasmania at roughly 104 meters (341 feet). The walk follows an old rail line through the forest, and is one of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. After exploring the lakes and the trails, visitors can have a hot dinner at The Top Pub before heading back to their Tullah accommodation. Alternatively, there is the Rosebery Caravan Park for those traveling in caravans or RVs.

Miena

Miena is a tiny shack village where people can book a stay at the Great Lake Hotel before exploring the namesake lake. Great Lake is the second-largest freshwater lake in the country and is framed by snowfall in winter. During the summer, visitors can head out on the water to fly fish for trout. It is also one of the highest lakes in the country, as it sits on the Central Plateau at about 1,030 meters (3,380 feet) above sea level and is surrounded by shore trails and bird-watching spots. The main highway in Miena runs along the water, and there are plenty of places to stop and walk to the boat launches at Swan Bay and Cramps Bay. Those who stay at the Great Lake Hotel can have their meals at the on-site restaurant or at the Miena Village where country-pub meals are prepared fresh every day. There is also a bar and restaurant at the Central Highlands Lodge.

Derwent Bridge

Derwent Bridge is another pretty lakeside town, just an hour away from Miena, and it lies just five kilometres (three miles) from Lake St Clair. This is the deepest freshwater lake in Australia, and it lies on the south side of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The lake offers visitors the chance to take a one-way cruise across it, then hike back along a trail that stretches through the Tasmanian World Heritage Wilderness. This trail is also the last segment of the popular Overland Track. Visitors who plan to explore Derwent Bridge for a couple of days can also stop at The Wall in the Wilderness on the Lyell Highway, a wooden relief sculpture cut into Huon pine panels that depicts the history of the Central Highlands Region. In town, those who visit during winter can settle in front of the double-sided open fire at the historic Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel before sitting down for a hot dinner. And, for accommodation, there are the cabins and studios along the Lyell Highway at Derwent Bridge Chalets and Studios, or the suites that sit in the forest at the Lake St Clair Lodge.

Sheffield

The star of Sheffield, which lies half an hour inland from Devonport, is the artificial Lake Barrington. The lake was created by damming the Forth River in 1969. Today, it is host to an international-standard rowing course that hosts state and national championship regattas. Visitors can watch the regattas or make the most of their lake visit by kayaking or waterskiing. Anglers will also enjoy casting their lines to catch brown and rainbow trout. After exploring the lake and surrounds, visitors can take a stroll through Sheffield's streets to see some of the 140-plus murals painted on buildings and public spaces. Several footpaths take people up close to the artwork. Before heading to their accommodation for the evening, visitors can also stop by Bossimi's Bakehouse and Cafe for snacks and pastries. Accommodation options include the historic Station House or Sheffield Cabins.

Bronte Park

The last lakeside town on this list is Bronte Park, located in the Central Highlands, very near the north side of Bronte Lagoon. The town was built in the late 1940s by the Hydro-Electric Commission to house construction workers building power stations and dams in the area. Today, the lagoon is a major attraction for holidaymakers from across Australia, especially those interested in fishing. The waters are excellent for shallow-water fly fishing, especially in the summer when brown trout feed along the shoreline of Hut Bay and Woodwards Bay. In addition to fishing, visitors can take the Marlborough Highway to explore the surrounding trails. Those looking forward to a couple of snacks at the end of an adventurous day will find exactly that at the general store in Bronte Park before heading to their self-contained cottage at Highland Cabins and Cottages.

Experience the Tasmanian Lakeside Way of Life

Life moves as the water does in Tasmania's lovely lakeside towns. There is lots to see and experience, even if you just want to cast a line in Bronte Lagoon or paddle across Lake Rosebery. Apart from the water, there are also hikes to see and history to learn. Tasmania offers the full Australian experience beyond just the mountains and the sea, including the chance to see the island's wild landscape up close.