Avoca and the journey here

Jen
Avoca and the journey here

City/town information

A small historic town that sits at the intersection of the St Pauls and South Esk Rivers. If the weather is warm there is a great swimming spot just before the bridge - head down Storeys Creek Rd to get there. There's also a magic old ruin, Bona Vista just over this bridge. Very beautiful with cows and mountains in the background. Around town there are some fantastic old sandstone building, such as the Parish Hall and St Thomas Anglican Church. A visit to the Union Hotel Avoca is a must! There is also the Avoca Roadhouse for almost everything you could think of, including fuel and food. An Art and craft store has recently opened, they have some beautiful felt animals made by the owner.
Avoca
A small historic town that sits at the intersection of the St Pauls and South Esk Rivers. If the weather is warm there is a great swimming spot just before the bridge - head down Storeys Creek Rd to get there. There's also a magic old ruin, Bona Vista just over this bridge. Very beautiful with cows and mountains in the background. Around town there are some fantastic old sandstone building, such as the Parish Hall and St Thomas Anglican Church. A visit to the Union Hotel Avoca is a must! There is also the Avoca Roadhouse for almost everything you could think of, including fuel and food. An Art and craft store has recently opened, they have some beautiful felt animals made by the owner.

Sightseeing

A great spot for a picnic. Short walk down to the falls with a picnic area at the start. Would be great on a hot day. Just be sure to download a map to get there as reception is not great on the way there.
Hardings Falls
Hardings Falls Track
A great spot for a picnic. Short walk down to the falls with a picnic area at the start. Would be great on a hot day. Just be sure to download a map to get there as reception is not great on the way there.
It's just so beautiful up here. There are a lot of beautiful beaches all the way up the east coast, but here is pretty special. Also a chance to check out Cake Lab follow them at facebook @cakestoorder. Tell me what they are like as I haven't go their yet!
26 locals recommend
Bay of Fires Conservation Area
26 locals recommend
It's just so beautiful up here. There are a lot of beautiful beaches all the way up the east coast, but here is pretty special. Also a chance to check out Cake Lab follow them at facebook @cakestoorder. Tell me what they are like as I haven't go their yet!
If you're going near Launceston on a Sunday this is a great market to visit. A bit of everything. Evendale itself is a beautiful historic town with a nice bakery and home stores. Well worth a wander around.
22 locals recommend
Evandale Market
8 Logan Rd
22 locals recommend
If you're going near Launceston on a Sunday this is a great market to visit. A bit of everything. Evendale itself is a beautiful historic town with a nice bakery and home stores. Well worth a wander around.
A great quiet spot for a swim on a warm day. There's a little sandy beach spot for swimming just a short walk away from the cottage. To get their head down Storys Creek Road until you come to the bridge. The easiest access is just to the left over the bridge, but there is also a good swimming hole to the left before the bridge. We love to drop the canoe in a few ks away from town and float all the way to the back door of Crooked Chimney. Well it's a little bit of up river paddle to get up the St Pauls River!
South Esk River
A great quiet spot for a swim on a warm day. There's a little sandy beach spot for swimming just a short walk away from the cottage. To get their head down Storys Creek Road until you come to the bridge. The easiest access is just to the left over the bridge, but there is also a good swimming hole to the left before the bridge. We love to drop the canoe in a few ks away from town and float all the way to the back door of Crooked Chimney. Well it's a little bit of up river paddle to get up the St Pauls River!
A hidden gem of a spot in Tasmania! It's a dirt road to the top but well worth the drive. Just remember in winter months you must carry chains when advised (but there is a shuttle as an alternative when in snow season). Avoca is at the bottom of the southern end of the National Park, though the road access is from the North.
14 locals recommend
Ben Lomond National Park
14 locals recommend
A hidden gem of a spot in Tasmania! It's a dirt road to the top but well worth the drive. Just remember in winter months you must carry chains when advised (but there is a shuttle as an alternative when in snow season). Avoca is at the bottom of the southern end of the National Park, though the road access is from the North.
This town is often used as a set for old movies as the streets are still quite true to the era! Very beautiful historic buildings. Right next to a lovely lake. There's a historic pub, the Kentish, an antique shop, homewares shops, the Imbibers cheese and wine and many more.
9 locals recommend
Oatlands
9 locals recommend
This town is often used as a set for old movies as the streets are still quite true to the era! Very beautiful historic buildings. Right next to a lovely lake. There's a historic pub, the Kentish, an antique shop, homewares shops, the Imbibers cheese and wine and many more.
A great way to learn the history of some of the main buildings that remain in town.
Avoca
A great way to learn the history of some of the main buildings that remain in town.
This is a satisfying short walk which has great views along the South Esk River and over the Fingal Valley towards Avoca. It is a little steep, but lucklily you can park halfway up at the tower. A very nice spot for a picnic. To get there head East towards Fingal on the Esk Highway for approximately 10km until you get to Leona rd. Once you cross the bridge over the South Esk there is a turnoff to your left about 200m along. Stay straight on this road heading up hill and it will take you to a small car park by a large communication tower. Park here and it is about a 20min or so steep walk up to the large rocky outcrop. No formed tracks so it's a bit of exploring to find the best view. I would suggest only going on a clear day as the drop offs are fairly steep on some of the rocks. If it is a hot day there is a spot near the bridge to access the river.
Castle Cary Regional Reserve
This is a satisfying short walk which has great views along the South Esk River and over the Fingal Valley towards Avoca. It is a little steep, but lucklily you can park halfway up at the tower. A very nice spot for a picnic. To get there head East towards Fingal on the Esk Highway for approximately 10km until you get to Leona rd. Once you cross the bridge over the South Esk there is a turnoff to your left about 200m along. Stay straight on this road heading up hill and it will take you to a small car park by a large communication tower. Park here and it is about a 20min or so steep walk up to the large rocky outcrop. No formed tracks so it's a bit of exploring to find the best view. I would suggest only going on a clear day as the drop offs are fairly steep on some of the rocks. If it is a hot day there is a spot near the bridge to access the river.
A nice easy walk to view a special little waterfall. There is also a track down to the river but I haven't done that yet. The road to get here is a dirt forestry road so can be a bit slow. We visited after rain and there were some good puddles on the road into the falls. It is good to tie a trip here in with a visit to Lake Leake and then head back to Avoca via Campbeltown. Lake Leake also has a great little pub which seems very popular, I'm yet to get a chance to go in, so let me know how it is!
Meetus Falls
Meetus Falls Track
A nice easy walk to view a special little waterfall. There is also a track down to the river but I haven't done that yet. The road to get here is a dirt forestry road so can be a bit slow. We visited after rain and there were some good puddles on the road into the falls. It is good to tie a trip here in with a visit to Lake Leake and then head back to Avoca via Campbeltown. Lake Leake also has a great little pub which seems very popular, I'm yet to get a chance to go in, so let me know how it is!
It's on my to do list to visit. It sounds intriguing. An overview from Tripadvisor : Museum of interesting things.m - ‘I tinker, therefore I am.’ (Henry Hoke) This quirky museum, operated by the banjo-playing and encyclopaedic Ian Summers, features train and mining memorabilia, vintage cameras, model ships, matchbox cars, kitchenalia, local history photographs, and much more! Suggested duration 1-2 hours
St Marys Cranks and Tinkerers
7143 Esk Highway
It's on my to do list to visit. It sounds intriguing. An overview from Tripadvisor : Museum of interesting things.m - ‘I tinker, therefore I am.’ (Henry Hoke) This quirky museum, operated by the banjo-playing and encyclopaedic Ian Summers, features train and mining memorabilia, vintage cameras, model ships, matchbox cars, kitchenalia, local history photographs, and much more! Suggested duration 1-2 hours
Some great history here. Run by volunteers it houses furniture, photographs and many other items that show case the history of Avoca and surrounds
The Avoca Museum and Information Centre
16 Blenheim Street
Some great history here. Run by volunteers it houses furniture, photographs and many other items that show case the history of Avoca and surrounds
Remains of the Stanhope Coal mine, started in the 1930's. The mine is just north of Avoca, accessed off Storeys Creek Road. Interesting structures from the mine remain, though are deteriorating. Old mine sites can be dangourous so do your research if you are thinking of visiting and stick to the roadways.
Stanhope Coal Mine
Stanhope Road
Remains of the Stanhope Coal mine, started in the 1930's. The mine is just north of Avoca, accessed off Storeys Creek Road. Interesting structures from the mine remain, though are deteriorating. Old mine sites can be dangourous so do your research if you are thinking of visiting and stick to the roadways.

Food scene

One of my favourite wines! Their cellar door is also a quaint old farmhouse. If you take the old coach road it's only about a 55min drive from Avoca. Springvale vineyard and Milton Vineyards and also in the area and worth a visit. Why not make a day of it and have a look at the beautiful seaside town of Swansea
22 locals recommend
Gala Estate Vineyard & Cellar Door - Wine TastingBookings Essential
14891 Tasman Hwy
22 locals recommend
One of my favourite wines! Their cellar door is also a quaint old farmhouse. If you take the old coach road it's only about a 55min drive from Avoca. Springvale vineyard and Milton Vineyards and also in the area and worth a visit. Why not make a day of it and have a look at the beautiful seaside town of Swansea
Great spot to stop for lunch or a snack. It's also a wholefoods store so you can grab a variety of foods here. I like to sit out the back and enjoy the garden. St Mary's is a lovely little town. Worth a walk around. A beaut op shop (behind the hall) and a market on the first saturday of every month.
8 locals recommend
Purple Possum Wholefoods & Cafe
5 Story St
8 locals recommend
Great spot to stop for lunch or a snack. It's also a wholefoods store so you can grab a variety of foods here. I like to sit out the back and enjoy the garden. St Mary's is a lovely little town. Worth a walk around. A beaut op shop (behind the hall) and a market on the first saturday of every month.
My favourite to grab some 'not' takeaway when I'm headed to Crooked Chimney Cottage. The meals are more like something your mum has made and feel like they are made with love. Best to check their facebook page for the nights menu if and if they are open. @tasmanianhandcrafts
Tasmanian Handcrafts on High
102-104 High Street
My favourite to grab some 'not' takeaway when I'm headed to Crooked Chimney Cottage. The meals are more like something your mum has made and feel like they are made with love. Best to check their facebook page for the nights menu if and if they are open. @tasmanianhandcrafts
The owners Lance and Fiona have spent the last couple of years slowly bringing the building up to its former glory. A mix of unique furniture and decore it is a welcoming retreat from the world. Great for a coffee or a drink. Occasionaly they have music or comedy nights. Not yet doing food but follow them @unionhotelavoca for up to date info
Union Hotel Avoca
20 Falmouth Street
The owners Lance and Fiona have spent the last couple of years slowly bringing the building up to its former glory. A mix of unique furniture and decore it is a welcoming retreat from the world. Great for a coffee or a drink. Occasionaly they have music or comedy nights. Not yet doing food but follow them @unionhotelavoca for up to date info
Coffe and and view! laze on the bean bags and dream of adventures up the coast.
15 locals recommend
Swims East Coast Coffee
1 Steel St
15 locals recommend
Coffe and and view! laze on the bean bags and dream of adventures up the coast.
Great selection of grazing platters for your pleasure
Gather and Graze Tasmania
53 Cambridge Street
Great selection of grazing platters for your pleasure