Northeast Tasmania

Northeast Tasmania

  • For whatever reason we’d never visited the far northeastern corner of Tasmania. With COVID-19 confining us to the state, but government control measures allowing us to move freely within our island state boundaries, we decided it was the time to head in this direction.
  • We stayed in a cottage on the Ringarooma River in the town of Branxholm. It’s quite close to the former tin-mining town of Derby which has recently boomed as a mecca for mountain bikers. It suited us to stay in a quiter place yet have access to the amenity that Derby now provides.
  • On our first day we sought out the ruins of a tin mining site called Anchor Stampers which has mostly been reclaimed by rainforest. After lunch at the Pyengana dairy farm we visited St Columba Falls.
  • Next day we drove into the far northeast corner of Tasmania.
  • First stop was the lovely Tomahawk Beach, where the Furneaux Islands feel almost within touching distance.
  • We pushed on to Musselroe Bay, stopping for a picnic lunch and checking out the bird life.
  • The Mount William National Park covers a large area from Musselroe Bay south to Ansons Bay. We had a little taste by visiting the ‘Top Camp’ campsite. It’s a gorgeous spot and we’ll make time for a longer stay sometime in the future.
  • On our way back to Branxholm we stopped at Little Blue Lake, near South Mount Cameron. It’s a remnant of tin mining operations in the area. The colour is spectacular, though the water is definitely not for drinking or swimming.