tasmania s north Where you do more than attend events...you live them 2015 Spring Events & Touring Guide of the North
JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL 2nd - 6th September 2015 Celebrating its 5th birthday in 2015, Junction Arts Festival has a program exploding with live arts, performances, site-specific installations and pop-up late night music clubs. For five full days and nights, expect to be blown away by the impressive line-up of international, national and local artists who take over Launceston with their newly created unique performances created specifically for Launceston and for an audience of one or one thousand. Junction turns Launceston into Tasmania s best playground. Showcasing playful performances, experiences and late-night happenings that unlock hidden spaces of the city, Junction offers audiences some of the most unique and rare experiences they will encounter in Tasmania. For the curious adventurer, the fun and playful, the family outing, the music night owl, or those looking for though provoking challenge, this year s program has something for everyone. www.junctionartsfestival.com.au Perfect location. Hotel room warn and cosy, staff so friendly and helpful! - Trip Advisor review for Hotel Grand Chancellor * Rate is non-refundable, subject to availability and excludes AFL week-ends. Offer includes breakfast in the restaurant only, and maximum parking for one car.
THE TASMANIAN TROUT EXPO 19th - 20th September 2015 The Tasmanian Trout Expo is a fun weekend for everyone, not just experienced fishermen! Families and groups of friends come from far and wide to spend time together fishing and checking out the rest of the Tasmanian Trout Expo. The Tasmanian Trout Expo is based around a competition where one lucky person could win $10,000. All you have to do is catch a specially tagged wild brown trout. It s not that hard to do... and this prize has been won in the past! The Expo also features exhibitors with fishing gear and other bargains as well as food and drink stalls. But don t let this stop you from packing a family picnic for the day too if you like. Registration for the event opens at 7am daily and the competition kicks off at 8am. www.tasmaniantroutexpo.com.au Valid Fri/Sat/Sun only, from 1/9/2015 to 30/11/2015. Subject to availability, and excluding special events.
ROCK & RODZ 4th October 2015 Rock and Rodz is a celebration of the 1950 s and 60 s! It is all about the nostalgia of that era, the cars, the music and the fashion. You will see some beautiful vehicles on display as well as a retro fashion parade and a tattoo competition not to mention art shows and dancing. While parents are going to love this eclectic event, there are also jumping castles and other family friendly activities too! There is also a great variety of food stands and a mix of local and national bands playing on the day. Please keep in mind that this crazy cool event also donates every cent of their profit to Camp Quality. Last year s event raised well over $20,000. So make sure you come along in 2015 to help them do it again! www.facebook.com/rockandrodz/
NORTH EAST RIVERS FESTIVAL 16th - 25th October 2015 The Derby River Derby has been an iconic Northern Tasmanian event since 1976. Every year, young and old tackle the windy, rapid laden Ringarooma River vying for trophies and local bragging rights. Saturday October 24th 2015 will see the small township of Derby come alive to thrills, spills and community magic of the Derby River Derby. This year will see the introduction of a Raft, Run, Ride Event at the Derby, making use of the river and the newly developed Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails. This event will cater for teams and solo participation. From Friday October 16th through to Sunday October 25th there will be 11 quite different festival activities across the entire North East of Tasmania. The first weekend highlights the opening night, a fishing competition and Pony Club Gymkhana. The second weekend brings on the excitement of spectating and participation with the Crowe Horwath Golf Challenge at Moorina Golf Course just past Derby, the Jackson Security Derby River Derby on Saturday followed by the Access Locksmith Bridport 10 Fun Run on the Sunday. OR if you are looking for something more relaxing; Pipers Brook Vineyard will host A Night at the Vineyard Friday evening October 23rd featuring local food and wine. www.neriversfestival.com.au * Discount only applies to people who mention the offer at the time of booking. Quote promo code SPRINGTNT. One brilliant ADRENALINE rush...safe for kids too! - Trip Advisor review for Hollybank Treetops Adventure
TOURING MAP to Melbourne to Melbourne TAMAR VALLEY Welcome to the Tamar Valley Wine Route one of the world s top 10 wine routes. With 16 vineyards many small and family-owned the growers themselves will often greet you and explain just how the wine is made... But there is so much more to the Tamar Valley than just wine. The Tamar Valley Arts Trail with local artists dotted from Legana through to Clarence Point is a unique space where you can meet the artist in their studio! Throw in a brief stop at Brady s Lookout, the home of the nineteenth century bushranger Mathew Brady to get a postcard photo opportunity. Now head to the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre, which shows the workings of the old mine, recalls the boom days of gold, the events of the 2006 mine rescue and Tamar Valley history. Only a few minutes up the road is Beauty Point where you can visit into Seahorse World and Platypus House. Return south, but this time cross the Batman Bridge. The Eastern side of the Tamar River is brimming with experiences not to be missed! You will find more wineries, the Hillwood Berry Farm, or further north you will find George Town where you can have dinner at The Cove restaurant at Peppers, York Cove. DEVONPORT Greens Beach BEAUTY POINT BEACONSFIELD Low Head Pilot Station GEORGE TOWN GREAT WESTERN TIERS Travel through Hagley and on to Westbury, renowned for its English country character with its variety of wonderful colonial architecture. Whilst in Westbury, visit Pearn s Steam World and the Vintage Tractor Museum. Near Westbury is Liffey Falls, a series of picturesque waterfalls in a beautiful rainforest setting, with easy walking tracks and good picnic facilities. Travel on to Deloraine which is a historic town well known for its classic Tasmanian crafts, artwork and quality, all available at local galleries. As an afternoon treat, sample raspberries at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and chesses at Ashgrove Cheese on the Bass Highway via Elizabeth Town. King Solomons Cave Cradle Mountain ELIZABETH TOWN Great Western Tier Marakoopa Cave s Route EXETER Brady s Lookout LEGANA DELORAINE WESTBURY MOLE CREEK Liffey Falls Tamar Valley Route Cataract Gorge LA P LONG Bric Woolmer C BOTHWELL For more information on Tasmanian itineraries www.discovertasmania.com.au/
EVANDALE ERTH FORD kendon s to Sydney LILYDALE AMPBELL TOWN to Brisbane Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm Bridestowe UNCESTON BRIDPORT Heritage Highway Route ROSS TO HOBART SCOTTSDALE North East Trail Ben Lomond KILLERCRANKIE WHITEMARK FINGAL FLINDERS ISLAND LADY BARON Blue Derby MBT DERBY Mount William National Park ST HELENS Bay of Fires NORTH EAST Say good morning to Lilydale with its distinctive painted electricity poles that line the town s streets. For those with a need for adrenalin, pop into Hollybank, for a Treetops Adventure or segway experience, five minutes from Lilydale. From here calm down at Bridestowe Lavender Estate, the largest commercial lavender farm in the southern hemisphere. Drive a further 15 minutes to Scottsdale for culture and coffee at the Scottsdale Art Gallery and Café! Drive 20 minutes north of Scottsdale to the coastal village of Bridport on beautiful Anderson Bay. Bridport is home to Barnbougle Dunes golf links, a challenging 18-hole championship course rated as Australia s No 1 public course. Next door is Lost Farm, an alternate 20-hole golf with luxury accommodation, restaurant and spa sanctuary. Follow the Trail of the Tin Dragon, a fascinating story of North East Tasmania s tin rush, to Derby s Corner Store @ The Tin Centre to watch the amazing story of Life, The Universe & Tin. The trail continues through Moorina and on to St. Helens. Derby, once a thriving mining town, is today a pretty place to stop with its original streetscape largely intact. Get up close and personal with Derby s beautiful wilderness starting right within the town! Hire a bike and ride the newly opened and widely acclaimed world class mountain biking trails - Blue Derby. HERITAGE HIGHWAY From Launceston the first stop is Evandale, a charming colonial village with buildings dating back to the 1820s. Then it s on to the gracious Clarendon homestead, 11km south on the banks of the South Esk River. BICHENO A short drive from Perth are two World Heritage listed estates Brickendon and Woolmers. Brickendon is an historic working farm continuously owned managed by the Archer family for almost two centuries, while the adjacent Woolmers Estate is a time Freycinet capsule of early nineteenth century life and home to the National Rose Garden. Continue on to Campbell Town, the historic heart of Tasmania, with more than a 100 houses over 100 years old. Just 10 minutes from Campbell Town is the timeless village of Ross with huge English elms lining the main street and the famous Ross Bridge (1836), built by convict labour and featuring 186 intricate colonial carvings. Why not check into Ross Motel and Caravan Park and spend the night then continue exploring this historic gem tomorrow?
ANNUAL STEAM SPECTACULAR WEEKEND PEARNS STEAM WORLD 31st October - 2nd November 2015 Every year Pearns Steam World holds a special Steam Spectacular Weekend on the first weekend in November, a long weekend in Northern Tasmania. They have many of their exhibits working and visitors can enjoy a ride on the traction engines, tractors or the miniature train. This of course is a people pleaser for young families and any other train enthusiasts. For the train fanatics out there you will be happy to know there are two miniature trains on exhibit; a steam train and a petrol engined train. Pearns Steam World also have a scale traction engine that runs rides! www.pearnssteamworld.org.au/steamspectacular-weekend Top 10 THINGS ARTS & HERITAGE TO DO in Northern TASMANIA 1. Trail of the Tin Dragon North East 2. Zaadstra White Church Gallery West Tamar 3. Woolmers and Brickendon World Heritage Convict Sites Longford 4. Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery (QVMAG) Launceston 5. Design Tasmania Launceston 6. Bass and Flinders Museum George Town 7. Low Head Pilot Station Low Head 8. Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre Beaconsfield 9. Ross Historic Village Ross 10. Red Bridge and Convict Brick Trail Campbell Town
TASMANIAN CRAFT FAIR 30th October - 2nd November 2015 Every year in Spring, Deloraine bursts into full bloom. For four days a year this already vibrant northern regional village is transformed with more than 30,000 visitors 10 times its population! From 30th October to 2nd November more than 220 exhibitors from across Tasmanian and Australia showcase their products, talents and techniques as part of what is now the largest working craft fair in the southern hemisphere. Highlights this year include boat builders from the Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin, stained glass artist, Pam Skurulis, and feather artist, Emily Valentine. This year sees the Tasmanian Craft Fair turn 35 and joining in the celebrations is Lark Distillery who have been coming to the Fair for 20 years. To commemorate this momentous occasion Bill Lark, the Godfather of Australian whisky, has created a special 20th Anniversary limited release available only at the event. Whether you re looking for fun day out with the kids, or searching for that unique treasure, there will be something to float your boat at this year s Tasmanian Craft Fair. www.tascraftfair.com.au Top 10 FOOD & DRINK 1. Tamar Valley Wine Route Tamar Valley 2. Boags Brewery Launceston THINGS 3. 41 Degrees South Salmon and Ginseng Farm 11 min from Deloraine 4. Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm café Elizabeth Town 5. Ashgrove Cheese Elizabeth Town TO DO in Northern TASMANIA 6. Harvest Market Launceston 7. Red Feather Inn Hadspen 8. Little Rivers Brewing Co Scottsdale 9. Saint John Craft Beer Launceston 10. Amelia Espresso Launceston
BOFA 4th - 8th November 2015 The Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air (BOFA) Film Festival is intimate, thought-provoking and fun. BOFA is a boutique festival with both a regional focus and international perspective. BOFA brings to Tasmania the world s best features and documentaries inspiring audiences to see their world differently it s truly a breath of fresh air. This year s BOFA will showcase films and experiences to suit all tastes and interests. There s Food and Wine BOFA where you can enjoy food films, wine tours, and parties every night... There s Family BOFA with kids films, a drive-in, and a short-film day celebrating 150 years of Aussie Rules Football in Tasmania... There s Offbeat BOFA with left-of-centre, quirky films... Then there s Eco BOFA and Ideas BOFA... BOFA is for everyone. Which BOFA will be your BOFA? BOFA welcomes you to join them in November. Immerse yourself in the festival, explore the wonders of the Tamar Valley and Northern Tasmania and enjoy a breath of fresh air. www.bofa.com.au Should be totally embraced by all Tasmanians!...and the rest of the world. - Facebook rating for BOFA # Quote SPRING to save 10% off best available rates. Rates are subject to availability until 31st October 2015.
FESTIVAL OF ROSES 15th November 2015 Awarded Best Community Event of the Year in 2014 the Festival of Roses will offer an opportunity to experience the beautiful grounds and gardens of Woolmers Estate, while also view the spectacle of over 5,000 roses in full bloom! This year, Celebrity Chef and Television Personality, Ben Milbourne will be a major attraction. He will be cooking up a storm, as well as challenging one lucky winner in a mystery box challenge. On top of this there will be a variety of food stalls on offer, including, wallaby hamburgers and kebabs, rabbit pies, wood fired pizzas, good coffee, as well as a selection of wines, cider and beer from local producers. Other attractions will include plant nurseries, craft and jewellery, displays of whip cracking, chainsaw art, vintage farm machinery and cars. There will also be plenty for the kids, with the likes of a jumping castle, face painting and balloons. Live entertainment will include the West Tamar Band, Don Ives, The Tassie Drum Circle as well as Tai Chi and belly dancing displays. www.woolmers.com.au I went on Rose Festival Day when the atmosphere was charming. Everyone was happy, the staff welcoming, the gardens and estate stunning wity no litter just groups of people of all ages enjoying themselves. The food from the restaurant was fresh, delicious and fitting for the day!! - Trip Advisor review for Festival of Roses * Not valid with any other offer
SPRING EVENTS CALENDAR Sept 2-6 Junction Arts Festival Launceston 6 Ross Marathons Ross 18-19 Swan Lake - Launceston Launceston 19-21 Tasmanian Trout Expo Cressy 22 Hamlet - Launceston Launceston 26 Lee Kernaghan - Launceston Launceston Oct 3 Rule Britannia! - Launceston Launceston 4 Rock & Rodz Longford 8-10 Royal Launceston Show Launceston 9 Frank - A Life In Song - Launceston Launceston 16 Flinders Island Agricultural Show Flinders Island 17 Longford Show Longford 17 Launceston Eye Institute Run For A Wish Launceston 17 Affinity - Launceston Launceston 18 Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase - Launceston Launceston 23 Col Elliot Live - Launceston Launceston 24 Derby River Derby North East of Tas 29-7 Mary Poppins - Launceston Launceston 30-2 Tasmanian Craft Fair Deloraine 31-2 Pearn s Steamworld Annual Steam Spectacular Weekend Westbury Nov 4-8 Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival Launceston 6-9 Writers Retreat with author Maggie Mackellar at the Red Feather Inn Hadspen 7 Westbury Show Westbury 13 Scottsdale Show Scottsdale 15 Festival of Roses Longford 21 Deloraine Show Deloriane 29 New Writing for Tasmanian Theatre Launceston MARKETS First Saturday of every month Deloraine Market (9am-1pm) Deloraine Every Saturday Harvest Launceston Farmers' Market (8.30am-12.30pm) Launceston Every Sunday Evandale Market ( 8am-1.30pm) Evandale Every Sunday Launceston Esk Market (9am-2pm) Launceston Second Saturday of every month Liffey Valley Market (9am-1pm) Liffey Second Sunday of every month Lilydale Village Market (10am-2pm) Lilydale Third Saturday of every month Avoca Market (9am-2pm) Avoca Third Sunday of every month Ross Sunday Market (from 9am) Ross Last Sunday of every month Campbell Town Market (8am-3pm) Campbell October 17th My Closet Market (12pm-3pm) Launceston November 14th Baby and Kids Market (9am-12pm) Launceston For a full list of events visit www.northerntasmania.com.au/events Tourism Northern Tasmania would like to thank the following talented photographers and organisations for their images: Chris Crerar, Rob Burnett, Dan Fellows, Neil Richardson, Sean Robson, The Examiner and AFL Media.