Local Attractions
Devonport sits the banks of the Mersey River and is Tasmania’s third largest city. It is one of the Island’s primary access points and home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
The city has a population of about 22,000 and is surrounded by rich, fertile soil that produces more than 40 per cent of Tasmania’s vegetable crops. The roadsides are lined with fields of potatoes, carrots and the yellow and white pyrethrum flower used as a natural insecticide, and paddocks of grazing Friesian cows.
You can explore Devonport’s coastline by walking or cycling along Victoria Parade to the Bluff, where Tiagarra Aboriginal Centre explains the areas Aboriginal history and nearby rock carvings.
Statues along the waterfront walk include those of Joseph Lyons, the only Tasmanian to have held the office of prime minister (1932–39), and his wife, 1940s Federal parliamentarian Dame Enid Lyons. Their National Trust residence at Home Hill is open to the public.
You must enable JavaScript to view this map.
Show:
Attractions
-
Farming, Food and Produce (1)
-
Don Village Market The Don Village Market is a country market near Devonport, north west Tasmania. The country village of Don is a short drive west of Devonport (five kilometres/three miles.
The market has a combination of 50 indoor and outdoor stalls selling handmade crafts and fresh local produce. Take home organic farm produce, home grown vegetables and fruits, fresh local honey, jams and preserves and tempting home baked cakes and pies. Fill your garden with cottage plants, bulbs and natives or choose a fresh bunch of cut flowers. There are stalls with homespun clothes, toys, bric-a-brac, stamps and collectables, hand made tools, woodturning and woodwork.
-
Galleries, Museums and Collections (4)
-
Devonport Regional Gallery The Devonport Regional Gallery is a regional public art gallery in North West Tasmania.
The Devonport Regional Gallery is housed in a converted 19th century church in the town’s centre. It features a permanent collection of fine and decorative art and craft, with a predominant interest in 20th century glass, ceramics and woodcraft. There is an emphasis on work by Tasmanian artists, and the Gallery sometimes hosts touring exhibitions throughout the year. An ongoing public art program includes workshops, artists’ floor talks, lectures and holiday art activities. The Gallery has exhibited work by a number of prominent Australian artists including Tasmanian painter David Keeling, West Australian artist Jonathan Kimberley and renowned Tasmanian printmaker Bea Maddock. Admission is free to the Devonport Regional Art Gallery and is open daily.
-
Don River Railway Passenger trains disappeared from Tasmania some time ago, except this one, a full size loco service from the Don Village Station to Coles Beach every day.
After leaving Don Village, the route of the Don River Railway winds its way along the Eastern banks of the picturesque Don River, passing Restoration Siding where old vehicles are awaiting their turn for restoration at the hands of the craftsmen. During the thirty minute return journey you will pass through a nature reserve and you will also see many places of historical interest.
-
Imaginarium Science Centre The Imaginarium Science Centre is located in Devonport, north-west Tasmania.
It provides visitors with exciting hands-on exhibits, travelling exhibitions, programs, services and unique displays which are regularly changed. The award-winning Imaginarium has a five-year licence arrangement with Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra, and offers one exciting exhibition each year. Additional interactive displays and programs are scheduled during each calendar year, such as National Science Week, super science shows and school holiday programs to provide visitors with different experiences.
-
Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum The Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum is located in Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast. Devonport is an hour’s drive from Launceston (101 kilometres) and half an hour from Burnie (49 kilometres).
Tiagarra (a Tasmanian Aboriginal word meaning 'keep' or 'keeping place') is an interpretation centre for the history and present-day cultures and art of Tasmanian Aboriginal people. The Centre is located on Mersey Bluff, a traditional Aboriginal sacred site on the Mersey River. It is one of the few Tasmanian sites where ancient Aboriginal rock carvings, (or petroglyphs) are still well preserved. A local schoolteacher discovered the petroglyphs in 1929, and over 200 engravings were subsequently found. Tiagarra was established at the site in 1976 in order to protect them.
-
Natural Attractions (2)
-
Lillico Beach Lillico Beach is a coastal reserve and penguin colony near Devonport, north west Tasmania. Lillico Beach is 10 minutes west of Devonport (10 kilometres/six miles), just off the Bass highway.
This narrow coastal strip is home to a colony of Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins). From the reserve’s viewing platform, you can watch the birds return to their burrows each evening after a day’s hunting in the open ocean. Local volunteers and Parks and Wildlife rangers are on site during the breeding season (September to May) and summer months (mid-December to Mid-February).
-
Tasmanian Trail The Tasmanian Trail is a long distance (480 kilometres) multi-purpose recreational trail extending from Devonport on the northern coast to Dover in the south.
The Trail passes through a wide range of environments including some of the most beautiful and facinating areas of Tasmania.
-
Sports and Recreation Facilities (1)
-
Devonport Golf Club The Devonport Golf Club—also known as Woodrising— is located on Tasmania’s north west coast. The Club is at Spreyton, a 10-minute (10 kilometres) drive south of Devonport and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal.
The Devonport Golf Club offers golfers a challenging, tree-lined, well-bunkered course that has excellent greens. Sitting on a peninsula of land extending to the Mersey River, the course has a fairly flat appearance with gently rolling fairways. The Club offers full catering facilities and a well stocked bar and can cater for functions of up to 200 people. Clubs, pull-buggys and golf carts are available for hire and there is a fully-stocked Pro Shop. In 2008, the Devonport Golf Club continues its role as the home of the annual Tasmanian Open Golf Championships.
Events
-
Festivals and Celebrations (1)
-
Forth Valley Blues Festival Twelve hours of blues music plus food, clothing and a bar, at the Forth Recreational Ground.
Relax at the State's premier Blues and Roots music festival, which has developed into a well-recognised format of 12 hours of music 1:00pm to 1:00am with most acts performing two sets, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
-
Markets (1)
-
Devonport Farmers Market - Fortnightly Fresh local produce on sale
Avoid the hustle and bustle of the supermarkets and visit the market for the freshest and the best of local vegies and seasonal fruits.
-
Performances (2)
-
Busting Out! An uplifting celebration of bouncy songs, wobbly jokes and thigh-slapping sketches
When Emma Powell and Bev Killick first met, they discovered they had two things in common. Huge smiles and a desire to flash them to the world!
-
Devonport Jazz Enjoy a great weekend of Jazz, whether you prefer traditional, contemporary, swing, Latin or be-bop, you will find it all in Devonport.
Featuring artists from interstate as well as Tasmania's leading jazz musicians, Devonport Jazz is a celebration of all jazz genres - both old and new.
Our Local Highlights
- Ulverstone History Museum: Step back in time and wander through a comprehensive display of artefacts, manuscripts, tools and photographs depicting the life of local pioneers. Open daily from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
- Ulverstone Miniature Railway: Maskells Road Ulverstone. Ride the only model railway in Tasmania with three separate track gauges and three separate track layouts. Operating every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from 10.30am to 4.00pm
- Ulverstone Water Slide: Beach Road Ulverstone. Approximately 60m of fibreglass chute ending in a warm pool. Open during summer school holidays.
- Woodcraft Gallery and Workshop: 109 Reiby Street Ulverstone. The North West Woodcraft Guild welcomes visitors to its gallery which houses quality woodwork displays by local craftsmen. Woodwork demonstrations, sales and private tutoring available. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Penguin Market: Located in Arnold Street, Penguin, the Penguin Market is northern Tasmanias largest market offering over 200 stalls all undercover.
Quality product lines include fine Tasmanian woodwork, jewellery, fashion, giftware, hand-made craft and home wares, as well as fresh produce. Try the international food court with its pasta, pizza, souvlaki, seafood, Asian cuisine, expresso bar, ice-cream bar, juice and health food. Operates every Sunday from 9.00am to 3.30pm
- Gunns Plains Cave: Gunns Plains Road, Gunns Plains - One of the best examples of its type in Tasmania, the cave is home to some of the largest limestone shawl formations in the Southern Hemisphere and features and underground stream and glow-worm display. Guided tours take approximately 40 minutes and are conducted daily at 10.00am, 11.00am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
- Kaydale Lodge: 250 Loongana Road, Nietta.
Two hectares of garden present a visual delight, with 30,000 daffodils at bloom in spring, summer displays of peonies and foxgloves and an autumn show of maples. Approximately 30 minutes drive from Ulverstone, visit for the day and enjoy the friendly hospitality.
- Leven Canyon: Loongana Road, Loongana. A spectacular 250m-deep ravine 41 km south Ulverstone, the Leven Canyon in a must-see for any visitor. From a well-equipped picnic area, follow the rainforest walk to the cliff face viewing platform and marvel at the breathtaking scenery.
- Leven Valley Vineyard/Gallery: 321 Raymond Road, Gunns Plains.
Taste the pinot noir and chardonnay wines produced by this boutique vineyard located just 20 minutes from Ulverstone. Set on a hillside, overlooking the picturesque rural landscape of Gunns Plains, a gallery also displays a selection of quality woodcraft, pottery and prints by local artists.
Open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm - closed Tuesdays.
- Preston Falls: Raymond Road, Gunns Plains. For locals and visitors alike, the falls are a popular scenic addition to any daytrip.
- Wings Wildlife Park: 137 Winduss Road, Gunns Plains. Something for all the family, with Nans tea-room, wildlife exhibits (includes the Tasmanian devil), trout dispaly and animal nursery. Get close to tasmanian snakes, lizards and frogs at the Reptile Centre - home to freshwater crocodiles and the rare Golden Tiger Snake. Open 10am to 4pm daily.
- Winterbrook Falls and Black Bluff: Smiths Plains Road, Nietta. Bushwalk through dense rainforest, comprising King Billy pines over 2,000 years old to Winterbrook Falls, cascading 200m off Black Bluff to the rainforest below. The falls are spectacular after heavy rain and when snows are melting, but are hardly visible during hot summer weather. This does not reduce their appeal, as the walking is attractive all year round. The return walk, with lunch stop, takes between four and five hours.
- Discover The Leven: Come aboard our cute little vessel Jus' Leven and experience the wilderness of the upper Leven River in Ulverstone Tasmania. The famous mirrored reflections of the Leven River due to the tea coloured water may be revealed during the cruise. These beautiful reflections have been admired and photographed for over 100 years. Tours are dependent on tide times and bookings are essential. Book exclusively through the Ulverstone Visitor Information Center ph 03 6425 2839