A sleepy, picture postcard Tassy town, surrounded by dramatic hills and mountains, once the world’s richest mining town – that’s Queenstown. Traces of its past are still visible in many quaint old buildings.
The main road out of town to the east is the highway to Hobart that runs right across Tasmania. Just a few kilometres from Queenstown, atop a hill, is a marvellous lookout spot that provides a lovely panoramic view of Queenstown and rolling hills, of several different colours, in every direction. Our 9X binoculars came in really useful!!
Iron Blow Lookout
In 1883, intrepid explorers found gold in West Tasmania at “Iron Blow”, a not-to-be-missed spot that lies just off the Lyell highway from Queenstown to Hobart. You will find a unique sight, a deep pit filled with azure water into which you can peer while standing on a dizzying cantilevered lookout point. Spectacular views! You might feel uncomfortable if you have ‘fear of heights’!
Copper was discovered in the area while the gold ran out, and the water probably is full of copper sulphate – hence the colour. In the distance you can see the remnants (binocs, please) of Gormanston, the town that lost out to Queenstown as the center of mining and was abandoned. Multi coloured rocks and soil all around have created a rugged but awesome landscape that bears testimony to the remnants of frenzied mining and mass logging of a century ago.
Horsetail Falls
A spot that we did miss, intentionally, was the nearby Horsetail falls, a seasonal waterfall that streams all of 50 meters down the mountainside. You can get near it by traversing a rickety looking boardwalk cum staircase that clings to the mountainside for quite a distance. Frankly, we were chicken to venture on this (undoubtedly safe) walkway and had to content ourselves with seeing it from the roadside, which was not bad at all!
Lake Burbury
Stay on the Lyell highway towards Hobart, and you will be driving alongside Lake Burbury, a very scenic man-made lake that offers beautiful views at a number of places, particularly from the bridge that runs over a narrow section of the lake. You can fish for wild Tasmanian trout, go boating, have a picnic or a barbecue, or you can just soak in the natural beauty of this serene place. From Iron Blow you can see the sunrise over lake Burbury, but that calls for a clear morning as well as the will to leave a comfy bed before dawn!!
Nelson Falls
Next on the highway comes the glorious cascading Nelson falls, deserving of praise for its approach path as much as the waterfall itself. A wide boardwalk takes you through a little rain forest with the Nelson River running alongside. The track is flat, no trouble at all, and only 700 meters to the fall, but we bet you will take much longer than the stated 20 minute walk to the falls because you will tarry at one spot after another, taking in the charm of the place.
The waterfall announces itself from a little distance away, and suddenly it appears, a wall of water 30 meters high, shaped like an inverted wine glass. In the sunlight the cascading water shimmers and sparkles. It is indeed mesmerizing! A noticeboard gives you a good tip – close your eyes and hear the water – the sound changes as you tilt your head up or down.
Well, a lovely day out, and back to Queenstown for the night in 40 minutes, or a loooong 4 hour drive to Hobart !!
What an interesting place! And beautiful photos
. I always really appreciate maps , so I can build a picture in my mind of where everything is in context, so thank you!
How beautiful! I was in Tassie years ago and mostly remember my friend getting a speeding ticket and going to Mt Wellington. Thanks for the share and beautiful photos.
How beautiful is Tasmania. I had to read twice and think back to when I was there many years ago. Did I visit this beauty? I am sure I didn’t so now I must go back one day. Thank you for sharing.
I have been to Melbourne four times already, Sydney 3, so I have no excuses for not getting to Tassie yet. And now a bunch more reasons to make it a priority. Love that waterfall you photographed, but I am with you on not going on the rickety bridge. I call us sensible, not chicken.
There’s nothing like some beautiful waterfalls! Will definitely keep your blog post pinned for some future Queenstown plans. Thanks for the suggestions!
Stunning pictures and beautifully written. Would love visiting Tasmania sometime.
Australia is so big and wonderful and our three weeks there was not long enough. It’s high on my list to return there and especially to get to Tasmania. Thanks for showing me some great ideas for my next itinerary.
Queenstown is that New Zeeland or Australia?
Either way, itl ooks beautiful! I would have loved to visit that little place called horsetail 🙂
Ann, This Queenstown is in Tasmania, Australia. 🙂
Wow! Such gorgeous waterfalls! I love areas that are green and lush like this. What a perfect outing. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t think I’d want to get too near the edge of that look out point! But the view does look spectacular. I bet the colors through the seasons are amazing.
My hubby and I want to spend a few months in Australia on an extended road trip, which is our favorite thing to do while traveling. There is SO much to see and it seems hopping in a car and exploring is the absolute best way to see more! This is a beautiful trip.
Your post on laid back towns of Australia make me tempt to book tickets now but cannot plan right now. This sleepy, picture postcard Tassy town which is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains is picture perfect and a very relaxing town. Good to know that once it was the world’s richest mining town – that’s Queenstown. I love such places and would love to visit when all opens.
We had one quick day in Tasmania. But a day trip from Queenstown looks lovely. Those views from the heights are stunning. And the copper explains that copper colour of the rocks. We are suckers for waterfalls so would not pass on a stop at the Nelson Falls. It would definitely take us longer than 20 minutes!
Lake Burbury and Nelson Falls both look like places I would love to visit! Tasmania seems to have so much natural beauty. I would love to travel here one day!
I love a good road trip, especially one that involves waterfalls! Totally looks like an inverted wine glass – great article!
Nelson falls looks amazing. I love waterfalls, so definitely would want to do this day trip from Queenstown.
I chuckled at your recounting of your Horestail Falls visit as I too, have chickened out a few times and stuck with the roadside views of a place instead. Looks like a beautiful area to explore!
Your photos are gorgeous and I love the way you describe your experience.
Great day-trip ideas. Horsetail falls looks stunning from a distance. I probably would’ve done the same as you if the path to it looked a bit unsafe. Thanks for sharing.