RICHMONDTwenty minutes drive north of Hobart will leadyou to Richmond, the first place that the 'CoalRiver' could be bridged enroute to Port Arthur in1820. The village is home to over 50 beautifulsandstone buildings including Australia's oldestAnglican Church. The municipal gaol is stillsplendidly intact, complete with shared andsolitary cells, warden's house and flogging yard.Richmond also boasts Australia's oldest bridge,around which many ducks and geese loiter onthe riverbanks creating an idyllic rural scenereminiscent of a Constable painting. The Henry Jones Art Hotel,HobartThis historic factory has been restored impeccablyand opened for business in 2004. Hobart's mostluxurious hotel is a fascinating and unexpectedcombination of old and new. From its original andbeautifully crafted staircase to the restoredmachinery and all-glass atrium, The Henry JonesHotel reflects the fascinating influences of its richcolonial trading history and every room is unique asthe existing historic structure has been preserved inits entirety. The beguiling mix of textures fromoriginal stone walls, ancient beams, polished floors,leather sofas and art covered walls will have youwanting to explore every corner of the hotel beforeeven venturing into Hobart itself.TASMANIAREGION |75Salamanca MarketMillhouse on the Bridge,RichmondJohn and Suzanne Hall own this historic propertythat is consistently voted the best bed & breakfastin Australia by both national and internationalpublications. It is a wonderful mix of hospitality andhistory, character and comfort. Set on the lovelyriverbank next to the famous bridge in GeorgianRichmond, the building was built by convicts in 1853as a steam mill and is now listed by the NationalTrust. The bedrooms are charming, while the loungeand breakfast areas are roomy and inviting. Whatreally makes it stand out though is the personaltouch with which the hosts treat their guests. PORT ARTHURDescribed by Governor Arthur as a "naturalpenitentiary", the Tasman Peninsula isconnected to the mainland by 'EaglehawkNeck', an isthmus only one hundred metreswide that was guarded by a permanent line ofsavage dogs, wickedly sharp man-traps andlegend has it, waters baited to keep them sharkinfested! Port Arthur housed 12,500 convictsbetween 1830 and 1877. For some, this was ahellish place, however most convicts would earntheir probation for good behavior, whereupontheir prospects were actually quite good onaccount of the skills learned in Port Arthur'sthriving industries. Convict labour enabledTasmania to become initially self sufficient andthen a nett exporter. You can take a short boattrip to the poignant 'Island of the Dead', whereprisoners and civilians alike were buried, often inunmarked graves. Not surprisingly one of themost popular evening tours around Port Arthuris the 'Ghost Tour' which is packed withghoulish stories and anecdotal evidence. Forsuch a history-focused day out it is well worthconsidering the use of a guide who will enthrallyou with details otherwise missed.Henry Jones Art HotelMillhouse on the BridgePort Arthur

Cradle Mountain National ParkHUON VALLEYThe Huon Valley region is one of rich fertilevalleys, waterways, forests and mighty rivers.Many of the island's gourmet food producersare in this region, including numerous berry andfruit farms. Vineyards also abound and in thesheltered waterways Atlantic salmon farms canbe seen. Exploring deep into the Huon Valleywill lead you to the fascinating Tahune ForestAirwalk where you can stroll for nearly akilometre 40 metres up at treetop leveloverlooking the Eucalypt forests, rare Huonpines and the majestic Huon River. Head furthersouth and you will find the Hastings cavesystems that include a delightful glow wormcavern. After subterranean excursions you canenjoy a dip in the natural hot springs. MOUNT FIELDNATIONAL PARKAs you wind your way along the Derwent Riveryou pass vineyards offering cellar door tastingsand the historic Salmon Ponds and fly-fishingmuseum near New Norfolk. Beyond thisgateway to one of Tasmania's most visitedregions is lovely Mount Field National Park.Highlights include walking through man-fernsand wet eucalypt forest to the multi-tieredRussell Falls and visiting the secluded Styx Valley,where the world's tallest hardwood trees growin the 'Valley of Giants'. In this region you alsohave a higher chance of seeing platypus thananywhere in Australia and can see most of thestate's native species in wildlife sanctuaries. 76Franklin Manor,StrahanSituated on the edge of the breathtaking WorldHeritage wilderness of west coast Tasmania, FranklinManor is 500 metres from the centre of Strahan.The weatherboard building is set in attractivegardens just a stone's throw from the waterfront.Once inside, tasteful modern artworks andsculptures adorn the walls and stained glass windowsframe the beautiful staircase. There are two guestlounges, ten standard guestrooms, four suites andfour garden cottages. Co-owner MeyjitteHoughenout is a two star Michelin chef and thesmall restaurant is regarded as the best in westernTasmania, which makes pre-booking essential.STRAHAN & GORDON RIVERStrahan is located at the head of Macquarieharbour on the World Heritage-Listed west coastof Tasmania where there is nothing but vaststretches of wild ocean until the southern tip ofArgentina. In this hostile environment anisolated penal colony settlement was situated onSarah Island in the middle of Macquarie harbourand it was to here that the worst of the worstEuropean convicts were sent to work and diefelling Huon pine - so valuable for ship building- on the banks of the mighty Gordon River. Theharbour mouth is named `Hell's Gate`, becauseof the fearsome reputation held by the penalcolony within. Built up on the back of the localtimber industry, Strahan is now one ofTasmania's quaintest towns with its old timberbuildings, scenic port and natural backdrop ofweathered mountains and thick native bush.Taking a cruise out of Hell's Gate into theSouthern Ocean and upriver into the WorldHeritage-Listed Franklin-Gordon Wild RiversNational Park is an awe-inspiring visit to pristinewilderness: a real highlight of Tasmania. Strahanis also home to the restored 2896 railway whichsteams 22 miles across rivers and mountains tothe old mining settlement at Queenstown. LAKE ST CLAIR & CRADLEMOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARKLake St Clair and Cradle Mountain are twoiconic elements of this Tasmanian WorldHeritage area. The scenery is awe-inspiring, aseucalyptus forests give way to mountain sceneryreminiscent of Scotland's finest. Whether takinga gentle walk around the enchanting Dove Lake,a summit walk to Cradle Mountain peak or evenindulging in the six to eight day 'Overland Track'from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, you arehighly likely to encounter wallabies, wombatsand possums at close quarters. As well as thewalking you can visit the Waldheim Hut, hometo pioneer conservationist Gustav Weindorfer,the Wilderness Photography Gallery, experiencebountiful fly-fishing, horse riding and even seethe wilderness from the air on a spectacularflight across lakes and peaks from Cradle Valley.Franklin ManorHighland Plateau