7 Quirkiest Tasmania Towns You Didn't Know Existed
Located off the southeastern coast of Australia, Tasmania is Australia’s only island state. Its isolated location keeps it well away from pollution sources, providing the cleanest air on earth. However, that is just one reason more than a million visitors venture to the island each year.
Tasmania boasts many natural wonders, from some of the world’s oldest trees to the only wild population of Tasmanian devils on earth. A dense rainforest, over 1,200 miles of walking tracks, and over 15 national parks create a pristine environment, with 20% of the island deemed a World Heritage Area.
The island's appeal goes beyond its natural wonders. For travelers seeking the unusual and intriguing, Tasmania offers an eclectic mix of offbeat communities filled with wonders of a very different nature. Pack your bags and get ready to discover seven of the quirkiest Tasmanian towns you did not know existed.
Port Arthur
Love a spooky ghost story? Port Arthur has a history of unexplained events dating back to the 1870s. Whether you are a novice ghost hunter or simply cannot resist feeling chills up your spine, you will find the strange, nightmarish ghost tours of Port Arthur bizarrely satisfying.
Located on the Tasman Peninsula, the town is the continent’s largest convict settlement, featuring most of the original buildings still intact. This ups the odds for ghostly encounters. A lantern-guided tour of the sites known for the eeriest ghost stories hits the most infamous buildings, from the Parsonage to the Commandant’s Cottage and the Penitentiary to the Asylum.
On the quirkier side, Port Arthur’s Tasmanian Devil Unzoo offers encounters of a very different kind. The Unzoo is not designed for human entertainment. Instead, it is free of traditional enclosures to benefit the animals that live and interact with nature as they would in the wild.
If you are intrigued by the convict heritage of Tasmania, the Escape from Port Arthur tour takes an offbeat look at life in the penal colony. Discover the bizarre lengths some prisoners took to escape the horrific living conditions, from dressing in kangaroo skins to trying to avoid the vicious dog attacks. Feed your curiosity even further at the 1830 Restaurant & Bar, where the off-the-wall menu includes an upscale version of typical convict fare.
Evandale
Evandale is known for its colonial architecture dating back to the early 1800s, adding extra charm to its quaint high street. Just 15 minutes south of Launceston and sitting on the banks of the South Esk River, there is no denying the picture-perfect quality of the town. But what of its quirkier side?
The historic streets of Evandale are the perfect backdrop for the annual National Penny Farthing Championships. The penny farthing is an antique bike known for its distinct, massive front wheel. Evandale’s competition attracts enthusiasts from around the world and is recognized as the largest annual event honoring this awkward mode of transportation. Enthusiasts gather to watch the competitions running through the center of the village.
While the competition might be the main attraction, the annual Village Fair is nothing to yawn at. The entire town partakes in the entertainment, food, and festive ambiance in the true spirit of a typical colonial country fair.
Art lovers gather every March long weekend at the Falls Park pavilion to see who will claim the coveted John Glover Art Prize for landscape painting. John Glover was a renowned Colonial Evandale artist known for his 19th-century landscapes, often commissioned by clients as far away as England.
In the off-season, Evandale’s Sunday market in Falls Park is also worth a visit to sample the local produce and tempting creations at the food vans, browse great deals for secondhand books, and scout out the handmade crafts of local creatives.
Take a break, sipping brews and munching on hand-cut chips under the shady trees at the Clarendon Arms Beer Garden, where local musicians often provide live music.
Derby
This former tin mining town attracts avid mountain bikers to challenge themselves on the surrounding rugged hills and Blue Derby Trails. However, in-the-know mountain bikers choose the iconic Blue Derby Pods Ride Experience, where every trail ends in the lap of luxury. The offbeat designer “pods” poised on the secluded, rugged hillside feature comfy beds and large windows overlooking the awe-inspiring landscape. Accommodation includes indulgent meals with locally sourced, fresh Tasmanian produce, tantalizing your taste buds while providing plenty of fuel to tackle the next day’s adventure.
Derby’s offbeat side includes Australia’s first Finnish wood-fired “floating sauna” on peaceful Lake Derby. You can sweat it out and then take the plunge in the cool, fresh waters of Briseis Hole, whether you are recovering from a long day of mountain biking or love experimenting with new wellness experiences.
If you prefer driving to biking, head to Little Blue Lake to witness a product of the area's mining history. The high mineral content of the former mine hole accounts for the extraordinarily vivid aqua blue waters, but also makes the water unsuitable for swimming.
Travelers looking to relax find refuge in this quiet town where laid-back experiences are a given. The Hub is a casual spot with an inviting veranda to take in the natural beauty of the area while enjoying mouthwatering pizza prepared in a wood-burning oven. In the afternoon, The Hub’s beer garden offers the perfect retreat to sip drinks around a fire pit and become one with the beauty of the landscape.
Sheffield
Located on Tasmania’s northwest coast, Sheffield is an unassuming rural town that slowly transformed from a local industrial leader to a thriving arts community. In the mid-1980s, the town featured paintings embracing the beauty of the mountain and storied town history. Today, the collection continues to grow with over 140 murals, creating an inspiring open-air gallery.
A visit in April, when the annual International Mural Fest is in full swing, offers an opportunity to view the work of competing muralists. Each of the nine winners holds a coveted spot displaying their work until the next Fest begins.
Art lovers immerse themselves in the community, watching the creative process of local artists and craftsmen at The Working Art Space, from painters to photographers and wood crafters to pottery and glass makers. While there, don’t miss the intricate beauty of The Mosaic Pathway on Albert Street.
Not only of interest to wandering art enthusiasts, the “town of murals” boasts stunning views of Mount Roland. While in the area, a visit to the Mount Roland Conservation Area and Regional Reserve is a must for nature lovers. If you are up for a challenge, head up the summit to take in truly spectacular views.
Complete your visit to this quirky little town with a stay at the Barrington Church B&B. This unique accommodation is located in the recently renovated 1906 Jubilee Hall, with a dining area and lounge in the church built in 1885. Awake to your choice of a full-cooked or continental breakfast before heading home or onto your next Tasmanian adventure.
Promised Land
Located between sparkling Lake Barrington and the towering peaks of the Great Western Tiers, Promised Land has an a“mazing” offbeat vibe. Its singular attraction, Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot, is one of the largest maze complexes in the world. With eight mazes, this fun-filled adventure tests your navigational skills deep in the thick of things.
The mazes burst with creativity, including floral hedges made of viburnum and Chinese honeysuckle and an exact replica of London’s Hampton Court Maze. The offbeat Tasmazia is unabashedly politically incorrect with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor found at every turn. From the 1/5 scale Village of Lower Crackpot to the Crackpot Café, this is an unmistakably wacky adventure.
Sykes Sanctuary in nearby Railton was the refuge for eccentric recluse English World War 1 engineer Norman Sykes. The hermit left the land to the people of Railton with his sudden exodus to Melbourne. Offbeat sites here include two monuments constructed by his son and a wooden statue of Sykes on the iconic bike he rode into town on supply runs.
A little further out in Gunns Plains, you can tour a series of caverns. This bizarre subterranean experience explores cave formations surrounded by sparkling crystals. It is even more surreal during the summer when a local musician performs haunting interludes on the didgeridoo.
A short drive away, the Silver Ridge Retreat offers serene mountain views from a cozy cottage. You might spot a quirky platypus on an evening wildlife tour or witness the beauty of the Aurora Australis in the dark skies.
Wynyard
Wynyard’s claim to fame is the distinct landmark known as The Cape. Table Cape stands almost 600 feet above the Wynyard coastline as the last remains of a pre-civilization volcano. A visit on a crystal-clear day provides unexpected views of George Town's Low Head and mountain ranges over 100 miles away.
Where things get a little quirky is the unexpected appearance of acres of tulip fields bursting with colors at Table Cape Tulip Farm. Like a scene right out of Holland, this seasonal spectacular feels off-center atop this Tasmanian landmark, made all the more remarkable by the presence of the Table Cape Lighthouse appearing like a beacon in a sea of color.
Tipplers can tour the award-winning boutique distillery Alchymia and sample carefully crafted small-batch whisky, gin, vodka, and liqueurs.
The “sound walk” combines the sounds of the natural landscape with an original composition by Rachel Meyers. A mobile app tracks your walk as you take in the views of the landscape, triggering sounds and music based on your location.
Back in town, you can catch the creative vibe of Wynyard by exploring the eclectic exhibits at Wonders of Wynyard. Rotating art collections reflect the stories and creativity of local artists, while permanent exhibits feature a quirky vintage car collection and a local history museum.
The Wynyard Foreshore Market immerses shoppers in the town’s unique community, whether searching for hidden vintage treasures, sampling locally made foods, or finding one-of-a-kind handcrafted souvenirs.
Complete your visit with an exclusive stay at the Coastal Pods on the banks of the Inglis River. This off-the-wall cloister of self-contained waterfront apartments is made from upcycled shipping containers with “industrial chic” private quarters complete with bathrooms and kitchens. A cozy reading nook streaming with light offers a private space to relax, while the pod’s lounge and north-facing decks offer front-row seats to watch the river dotted with pretty sails and fishing boats returning after a day of hard work.
Ross
Located between the cities of Launceston and Hobart, Ross feels every bit the English settlement with its quaint architecture and homes reflecting the styles common to the Cotswolds. While strolling the main street, the distinct historic buildings feel anything but quirky until you hit the center of town. Here you will find the bizarre intersections of Temptation, Recreation, Salvation, and Damnation cleverly reflecting the opposing functions of the hotel, town hall, Catholic church, and what was once a jail.
And speaking of jail, the offbeat traveler can explore the darker side of the town’s history at the infamous “Female Factory.” The female prison served as a probation stop for female prisoners and their babies between 1847 and 1854. Other than the overseer’s stone cottage that is now a museum, little remains of the prison’s many buildings. The museum does feature a model of what the property looked like in 1859, based on an archaeological dig at the site.
Interestingly, the prison was initially used to house the chain gang brought in to build the town’s most famous landmark, Ross Bridge. The structure is a testament to the men’s labor, featuring 186 unique carvings made by the convict masons. In fact, their work was so impressive that they were set free once the work was complete.
The eclectic collection of sculptures on the Species Hotel Sculpture Walk was designed to encourage local woodland birds to nest. They also provide shelter and food for microbats, bees, eastern quolls, Tasmanian devils, and eastern barred bandicoots living along the banks of the Macquarie River.
If you are feeling a little peckish, follow the heavenly aroma wafting from the historic Ross Village Bakery. Bakers still use the original circa 1860 wood-fired oven to tempt locals and visitors with their sweet and crusty treats. Snap a picture of the colorful picket fence at the Little Lolly Shop before dining at the historic Ross Hotel for a heartwarming dinner and drinks.
An offbeat trip would not be complete without an unconventional overnight stay at The Ol’ Sunday School. Charmingly repurposed from the former Wesleyan Sunday School, the vintage private accommodations are cozy and inviting with the perfect touch of whimsy.
If you tend to follow the beaten path in your travels, these towns offer the chance to step out of your comfort zone and discover the authentic side of Tasmania. Whether you are an art lover, foodie, adventurer, or history buff, Tasmania’s quirky towns immerse you in the uniqueness of the island.
From the convict heritage of Port Arthur and Ross to the open-air gallery in Sheffield and from heart-pounding mountain biking and penny farthing races in Derby and Evandale to unexpected attractions in Wynyard and Promised Land, you are sure to feed your offbeat spirit touring these seven quirky towns of Tasmania.
