Day-tripping: Discovering nature’s finest south of Hobart
Let the picture perfect Huon Valley lead you to Tasmania’s world-class wildernessDay-tripping
Discovering nature’s finest south of Hobart
Tasmania is blessed with light traffic, brilliant roads and world-class views. Whether you chose to start your drive from Launceston or Hobart, it’s a day-tripper's heaven, where the journey is often as good as the destination itself.
Unless of course, you’re heading south from Hobart to the Tahune Forest Airwalk... then be prepared for something truly incredible.
Today we’re guiding our Ford Kuga midsize SUV through the Huon valley to reach our end point, the Tahune Forest. It’s an easy 90km run south of Hobart and most of the drive looks like a scene from a romantic holiday flick.
Take the A6 out of Hobart, and follow the signs to Geeveston; you can’t go wrong.
With the Huon River as its backdrop, the route through Huonville is postcard perfect and it gets better the further south you drive.
Don’t let Tasmania’s rally reputation intimidate – you don’t have to be hitting redline to appreciate these roads – quite the opposite in fact.
The Kuga is perfect for this job. The high-placed driving position affords everyone a great view and it’s family friendly in terms of size and equipment.
In places like Tasmania when you can strike a wide range of road and weather conditions in just a few hours the all-wheel grip of the top-of-the-range Titanium is a bonus.
This is a well-mannered SUV that inspires plenty of confidence through the glorious bends of our chosen route. Maybe set your speed limiter, just in case enthusiasm sees you caught up in the moment (if you know what I mean).
The region supports a diverse agricultural base and is a haven for fresh produce; you’ll find salmon, honey, mushrooms, stone and berry fruits but it’s the apples that take the cake, so to speak.
It makes sense that the Apple Isle has an abundance of cider producers. Keen to find out more, you’ve got to stop at Willie Smith’s Cider House and Apple Shed Museum. At the bustling Willie Smith’s you can match a tasting with some brilliant food, too. Or maybe save that for an afternoon grazing on the way home.
Around 60km into the trip you’ll arrive at Geeveston – and with it, a few unexpected gems including the quietly famous Masaaki’s Sushi, the Old Bank Cafe and the Wall of Lollies (child-friendly alert). There’s something for everyone!
The road from Geeveston to the Tahune Forest Airwalk (C632/C631) is 30km of motoring bliss – thank us later. The glorious winding roads are flanked by towering trees and lush forest the whole way. You can’t help but feel you’re entering somewhere quite special. Because you are...
The Tahune Airwalk is undoubtedly the best way to fully appreciate this region. It’s breathtaking.
Located on the edge of the Tahune Forest Reserve, it forms part of Tasmania’s World Wilderness Heritage, which encompasses around 1.6m hectares. That’s one fifth of the entire state!
Added to the World Heritage Listing in 1985, it is one of the last true untouched wilderness areas left on earth.
The Airwalk round-trip takes about 50 minutes, depending on your fitness and pace. It offers good surfaces and safe passage for all ages. They’ve also got disabled transport facilities on site upon request.
At 48-metres high, the cantilever is the high point, literally. There’s world-class views of the Huon River as it divides to form the Picton River. It is a definite challenge for the height-averse, but push as far as you can for an experience you’ll never forget (for good reasons, we hope).
We’d suggest you take a guided tour to fully understand the clout this region holds on the world stage. It’s mesmerising and a little overwhelming.
Our guide was as fascinating as the region, sharing wonderful stories of the site’s heritage – and a few unforgettable tourist tales, too.
There’s more to this place than a walk, however; thrill-seekers might try the mountain bike tracks, the swinging bridges or The Cable Eagle ‘hang-glider’...
Your respect for the marvel of nature will reach new levels. You won’t want to leave, but some masterful bends await as you head home exactly the way you came... Because it is just so beautiful.
Fast facts
The trip – Hobart to Tahune Forest
Distance – 180km round trip
Top 3 – Tahune Forest Airwalk, Willie Smith’s Cider House, Huon Valley
Top Eat – Willie Smith’s Cider House, The Old Bank at Geeveston
Top Tip – take the Airwalk’s guided tour.
Quick links
Tahune Forest Airwalk
Willie Smith’s Cider House
Handy car tech for your next road trip
Check out more in our series of one-day escapes
Perth: beer, bread and a hint of the good life
Sydney: head to Avalon. Now!
Melbourne: getaways on the city's doorstep
Adelaide: grapes and more in McLaren Vale
Brisbane: dream of a different world and head for the hills
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