What to see & do

In the District

Our farm stay luxury accommodation is right in the heart of Tasmania’s stunning Derwent Valley and takes you from high lake country through ancient forests to charming, historic towns.

The tiny rural township of Gretna is an easy 15 minute drive from the 28 gates homestead. There you will find the Gretna Green Hotel which specialises in hearty, country meals and a friendly yarn by the fire over a drink or two (or a glass of wine or a freshly brewed coffee is also an option!).

The valley's town centre of New Norfolk which recently has been voted ‘Top Tourism Town in Tasmania’ and was settled in 1807, is a picturesque thirty-minute drive east along the Derwent River. Here you can find all the conveniences you will need such as supermarkets, restaurants and banks, as well as renowned antique shops and fascinating heritage and cultural land marks. Visit The Drill Hall, Miss Arthurs home goods and Flywheel for antiques and special gifts to take home and there is a fabulous market every Saturday. There are a few great cafes with really good coffee and food including Black Swan, Patchwork Cafe, Circle Coffee House, Glen Derwent Tea Rooms, Cheeky Little Place, The Art house, The cake lady cafe and Agrarian Eatery. Also there is a fabulous distillery well worth visiting and tasting, New Norfolk Distillery and The Welcome Swallow, a wonderful little quirky brewery. Plenty to see + do in the Derwent Valley.

The Agrarian Kitchen is Tasmania's first sustainable, farm based cooking school. This world-class school offers a range of classes led by Rodney Dunn, former food editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine and one-time apprentice to Australian Chef Tetsuya Wakuda. In June 2017 , The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery & Store opened in New Norfolk. Their vision is 'to create a space where local, seasonal produce is celebrated'.  The history of the building is fascinating (originally a mental asylum) and they have transformed it into a beautiful, light space. Bookings are essential and I highly recommend visiting!

Russell Falls National Park and Mt Field National Park are famous for their exquisite wilderness walks. The breathtaking Russell Falls are just a short, family friendly walk through stunning rainforest, while Mt Field above offers vast mountainous wilderness, magical tarns and snow skiing. Have a bite to eat at Waterfalls Cafe and have a look around at their gallery for fantastic Tasmanian gifts. Just beyond Russell Falls you will find the Styx Valley of the Giants - the tallest hardwood trees on Earth, up to 400 years old.

At the Salmon Ponds in Plenty, historic Trout hatchery (circa 1861), feed the leaping Tasmanian trout, find a platypus, lunch at the licenced restaurant and cafe, visit the museum of Trout fishing and Hall of Fame or rest beneath old English trees.

The town of Bothwell boasts Australia’s oldest golf course, Ratho and the Australasian Golf Museum, housed in the town’s historic schoolhouse and filled with memorabilia that tells the story of golf throughout the centuries.

The Wall - Artist Greg Duncan is creating a stunning sculpture at Derwent Bridge in the heart of Tasmania and carving the history of the Tasmanian Highlands using timber. 

Ask your hosts for more information, or visit derwentvalley.com.au.