New Norfolk: The Perfect Laid Back and Lush Location

With a wealth of natural resources, beautiful scenery and stunning vistas Tasmania is full of surprises as a touring destination. It is the most ideally situated state in Australia for a campervan holiday, and in fact there are few places in the world that can touch it in this regard. Over its relatively small surface are spread hundreds of natural attractions, from thick forests to rocky mountains to bright blue freshwater lakes and everything inbetween. For a relaxing and rewarding getaway many tourists are basing themselves in the picturesque town of New Norfolk, a secluded historic town surrounded by some of Tasmania's finest landscapes.

Just thirty minutes drive from Hobart, New Norfolk is perfect if you want the excitement and freedom of a campervan holiday but do not wish to spend countless hours behind the wheel. There is enough to do in the town and the surrounding regions to fill your holiday, and the great thing about Tasmania is that if you want a change of scene then new and fresh attractions will never be far away. New Norfolk is situated in the lush and green Derwent Valley, so between the amazing heritage attractions in the town and the natural attractions of the valley there is plenty to keep you entertained.

Being an established town with a long and rich past, New Norfolk is home to a number of historically significant heritage buildings. Willow Court is one such building, originally built as a military hospital in 1830. Many metres in length, but just one room wide, it is a unique building with a long and wide verandah and gabled two storey sections at either end and in the middle. Originally built to house invalid convicts, it is now part of the Royal Derwent Hospital.

The Oast House is also popular amongst tourists, and not just for the hearty meals it serves, or the well stocked gift shop. Built in 1867, it was a working Oast House from that year until 1969, and the old hops fields still surround the hill on which it is built. It now houses a museum where there are displays on old hops farming methods and the history of the Derwent Valley. It is a family run enterprise, so you are bound to be made to feel welcome while looking around.

Just out of town, in a small village called Plenty, lie the infamous Salmon Ponds. In operation since 1864, this was the first trout farm in Australia and it has been preserved in its working order. Boasting immaculately well-tended gardens, you can pass your time here in the Museum of Trout Fishing, or the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame. An on site restaurant also serves up the freshest trout you will ever encounter!

The Derwent Valley itself is home to a thriving yet relaxed community that are fiercely proud of their beautiful home. The Derwent River supports the lush vegetation of the region, and is the basis of all the settlement here. Spreading into a wide and majestic river when it reaches New Norfolk, it is perfect for water based activities such as kayaking and fishing, and the valley provides endless bushwalking opportunities and scenic walks. Early settlers planted hundreds of poplar trees in the valley, and in the autumn months their changing leaves create a sea of bright gold that visitors find dazzling and inspiring.

Mt Field National Park is located in the Derwent close to New Norfolk, and is probably Tassie's best loved park. It is especially renowned for its range of waterfalls, of which the mighty Russell Falls is the most visited. The trees in this park seem to tower higher than anywhere else in Tassie, and the giant ferns and the layers of moss that seem to cover everything lend it a mystical, fairy tale appeal. The vegetation on Mt Field changes the higher you climb up the mountain, from tall blue gums at the base to rainforest as you go higher and then to alpine vegetation near the top. This diversity adds to the appeal, and the array of wildlife you are likely to see only serves to increase this appeal.

So for your next holiday, be sure to give Tasmania some serious consideration. And when deciding where to go when you get there, remember New Norfolk and its beautiful surrounds will have something for the whole family, and is definitely worth a visit.

Gavin Wyatt is a journalist with a passion for travel. originally from Zambia he has traveled around the world to end up on the sunny shores of Australia. For more of his articles visit Discovery Campervans