The Best Things to See and Do in the Huon Valley

Discover this stunning part of Tasmania, from the rugged wildernesses to the cosy accommodation and places to eat.

Hike Hartz Mountain

The rugged reaches of Hartz Mountain National Park fall within Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area and, as such, receive a lot of attention for their staggering natural beauty. Over the centuries, Ice Age glaciers have carved pristine lakes and cirques into the landscape, which are best seen by strapping on a pair of hiking boots. The 3.4-kilometre return track to Lake Esperance, which is mostly boardwalk, is a great route for beginner hikers and families.

Take a jet-boat ride

As the only white-water rapids jet boat in Australia, expect a unique experience aboard the lightning-fast Huon Jet, which will be back up and running in September. The exhilarating boat slicing through the pristine, mirror-smooth waters of the Huon Lake is a sight to behold and a blood-pumping adventure if you’re on board, with the wind whipping through your hair and the scent of the Huon pine trees in the air. 

Say cheese (and vodka!)

Sheep’s whey may be a standard element in cheese but at Hartshorn Distillery in Birchs Bay, it’s also a core ingredient in the vodka and gin. The team at the family-owned cheese factory of Grandvewe and its attached Hartshorn micro-distillery has found a way to harness the complex sugars of the previously discarded whey to turn out award-winning spirits – and they go perfectly with cheese. 

The best place to stay

In the heart of the Huon Valley, Big.Shed.House offers a roaring fire, well-stocked pantry with local produce and some seriously chic interiors.

The best breakfast

It’s a little corner of Turkey in Tasmania at Cinnamon and Cherry (3416 Huon Highway, Franklin). Here, breakfast options span a Middle Eastern meze and lamb börek, while the delicious coffee is the Turkish kind.

The best all-rounder

Yes, a picklery-cum-café-cum-gallery is a thing and Geeveston’s fabulous Harvest and Light doesn’t disappoint in its unique offerings. Pick a grazing platter that’s plump with preserves and peruse the art on the walls.

SEE ALSO: Explore Kangaroo Island Like a Local