EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

DELORAINE is a delightful hilly town, often shrouded in mist, even on summer mornings, and divided into two parts by the bubbling Meander River . Although the area was settled by Europeans in the 1830s, Deloraine didn't really begin to develop until after 1846, and today it's a National Trust-classified town. West Parade follows the river, facing the park; at no. 17 is the Georgian Bonney's Inn (1830), the town's oldest remaining building (now a B&B). At the next block, Westbury Place rises up steeply from West Parade; if you climb the hill you'll reach St Marks Church (1860), with its tall spire. At the top of the hill there's a scenic lookout that gives a panoramic view over the town and the Western Tiers to the south. Deloraine has a café culture, plenty of secondhand and antique shops, and a small, alternative arts-and-crafts scene, witnessed regularly at the market on the first Saturday of every month across the river opposite the Apex Caravan Park , and at the annual Tasmanian Craft Fair , a huge event held over four days in early November (contact the information centre for details).

Close to prime bushwalking areas in the Western Tiers, Deloraine is an established base for walkers. Popular tracks are the short walk to Allum Cliffs , overlooking the Mersey River Gorge (40min return), signposted on the road between Mole Creek and Chudleigh; a difficult walk to Quamby Bluff , renowned for its myrtle rainforest (6.5km; 6hr; beginning at Brodies Road, off the Lake Highway); the track to Liffey Falls (8km; 3hr; beginning at the picnic ground 5km west of the tiny community of Liffey), and the day-walk to Meander Falls through the Meander Forest Reserve, about 25km south of Deloraine, reached via the small settlement of Meander and Meander Falls Road (10km; 6-7hr; beginning from the picnic ground). There's a walker registration and information booth at the Meander Falls car park. A free leaflet issued by Forestry Tasmania, Visiting the Great Western Tiers , has a map of the Meander Forest Reserve and tracks; you can pick it up from the Deloraine information centre. If you're not confident to walk on your own, Taswalks lead personalized guided walks ($330 per day per group for small groups; tel 03/6363 6112, www.microtech.com.au/taswalks ); or Tiger Wilderness Tours (based in Launceston; tel 03/6326 6515) offer bushwalking tours of the Meander Valley (6hr 30min; $60) and Liffey Falls (5hr 30min; $55).

The western end of the Great Western Tiers overlooks MOLE CREEK , 24km southwest of Deloraine, where you'll find the slightly shabby Trowunna Wildlife Park (daily 9am-5pm; $12.50, children $6). You can buy delicious local honey at Mole Creek from Stephen's Leatherwood Honey Factory (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm). About 20km west of Mole Creek, are two rather spectacular underground caves: Marakoopa Cave , with huge caverns, streams, pools and glow-worms (daily 10am, 11.15am, 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm; 50-80min); and the smaller but more richly decorative King Solomons Cave , with stalactites and stalagmites (daily 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm; 40-60min); admission is $8.80 for each cave, or $13.20 for both. From the caves, you could take a winding route to Cradle Valley.