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This guide brings together 20 things to do across the Derwent Valley, from slow browsing in New Norfolk and long lunches worth planning around, to short walks with big payoffs and drives that end at some of Tasmania’s most impressive engineering and wilderness landscapes. Some experiences take an hour, others take a day, but all of them offer a good reason to linger a little longer in a part of southern Tasmania that often flies under the radar.
Wildlife on our roads: Tasmanian wildlife is most active between dusk and dawn, and they have no idea about road rules. Avoid night driving where possible and slow right down in low light, scanning the verges as you go. If you find injured wildlife in Tasmania, call Bonorong Wildlife Rescue on 0447 264 625 (0447 ANIMAL), 24 hours. Keep the animal warm, dark, and quiet, and minimise handling to reduce stress.
Tasmanian Pademelon. Image Credit: LandoMarcel @lk_art_photography
New Norfolk is made for a slow wander. Start on the main drag and duck into the artHouse for a mix of gallery energy, creative bits, and the kind of place you’ll “just pop into” then lose half an hour.
A few doors away, The Drill Hall Emporium and its sister store Miss Arthur turn browsing into a proper activity, all beautiful objects and old world charm. Then swing past Flywheel, a stationery shop and letterpress studio that’s dangerously easy to justify as a souvenir stop.
If you like your golf with fresh air and a proper country feel, New Norfolk Golf Club is an easy win. It’s close to town, relaxed, and the kind of course where locals will often give you a nod and a tip about the best line off the tee.
Even if you’re not playing a full round, it’s worth stopping in for the scenery and the pace of the place. It’s a good “reset button” between bigger days out to Mount Field or Maydena.
The Derwent Valley does a great day of tasting, because everything feels close without feeling rushed. New Norfolk Distillery is a classic start, with tastings and tours that suit everyone from curious first timers to proper spirit nerds.
For a choose your own adventure day, pair a gin tasting at 7K’s New Norfolk tasting house with an afternoon at Derwent Estate at Granton, where the cellar door experience leans into both wine and history.
High in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, hidden at the end of a winding dirt road lies Meadowbank Wines, regarded as a Tasmanian pioneer and iconic vineyard
The Agrarian Kitchen is one of those places that turns a normal day in the valley into something you’ll talk about later. The restaurant is built around local produce and a set lunch, so you can settle in and let the kitchen do what it does best.
If you’re after something more casual, the kiosk is a top stop for house made pastries, lunch, and a picnic on the lawn. It’s also a nice way to experience the place without committing to a long lunch booking.
Salmon Ponds is a proper Derwent Valley classic: heritage hatchery, leafy grounds, and a museum that makes you realise how deep Tasmania’s trout fishing history runs. It’s an easy place to stretch your legs and take your time.
Then there’s the obvious move: Pancakes by the Ponds. Sweet or savoury crepes with pond views is a simple kind of happiness. From there, Plenty Cider is a great add on for a tasting or a relaxed session, especially if you like your day with a local produce theme.
Westerway Raspberry Farm is a real farm gate stop, famous for berries and all the good things that come from them. If you’re travelling with kids, or anyone who gets excited by jams, sauces, and seasonal produce, it’s a no brainer.
Just down the road, The Possum Shed Café is the kind of place you’ll be glad exists after a walk at Mount Field. Coffee, comfort food, and that riverside Derwent Valley vibe that makes you want to slow the whole day down.
Sitting inside the Mount Field National Park visitor centre, Waterfalls Cafe and Gallery is perfectly placed for a post walk feed, or a pre walk caffeine mission. It’s warm, easy, and ideal when the weather does its Mount Field thing.
It’s also a handy spot to pick up a memento without hunting around, plus you can plan the rest of your day with the latest track info from the visitor centre next door.
Russell Falls is iconic for a reason: it’s beautiful, accessible, and delivers that big rainforest payoff for a small effort. The track is well made and suits a wide range of walkers, making it one of the best “everyone wins” stops in the valley.
Once you’ve done Russell, keep going to Horseshoe Falls for a quieter waterfall moment in the same lush setting. If you’ve got a camera, you can happily spend longer than planned in here.
If you want one walk that feels like a proper half day adventure without going full expedition, the Three Falls Circuit is it. It links multiple waterfalls and gives you a real sense of Mount Field beyond the Russell Falls viewing platform.
A highlight is the Tall Trees section, where you’ll be walking among towering swamp gums that make you feel very small in the best way. It’s an easy way to see some of the valley’s biggest forest character in one loop.
From charming riverside cottages in New Norfolk to cosy lodges near Mount Field National Park, the Derwent Valley is packed with places that cater to every budget and travel style.
Up at Lake Dobson, Pandani Grove is a short loop with a totally different feel to the lower rainforest walks. The pandani are the stars, all spiky and prehistoric looking, and the whole area feels crisp and alpine.
It’s the sort of walk that suits almost everyone, and it’s especially good when you want something scenic without committing to a big climb. Pack a warm layer, because Lake Dobson can be chilly even when New Norfolk is feeling mild.
Tarn Shelf is where Mount Field turns dramatic: glacial lakes, high country atmosphere, and a sense that you’ve properly earned the view. The full circuit is a solid day out, and in winter the tarns can freeze, which adds a whole extra mood.
If you’re timing it right, autumn up here is special when the deciduous beech goes golden. This one is about preparation: weather, layers, and being honest about your fitness, because conditions can change quickly.
Railtrack Riders is one of the valley’s most fun “why not” experiences: pedal powered rail carts that turn an old rail corridor into a playful little adventure. It’s low stress, high novelty, and great if you’ve got a mixed group with different energy levels.
It also pairs well with a Maydena day, because you can stack it with a forest walk, a café stop, or a scenic drive without needing to go hard on logistics. Think of it as a light hearted circuit breaker between bigger walks.
Marriotts Falls is a rewarding forest walk near Tyenna, with that classic “walk beside the river, then boom, waterfall” structure. It’s a good pick when you want something less busy than the Mount Field headline walks.
Go in with decent shoes, take your time, and enjoy the riverside sections as much as the falls themselves. After rain, it can be particularly impressive, and the forest feels extra alive.
The Maydena Bike Park is a year round mountain bike and adventure park.
The bike park operates two uplift services, providing access to 90+ individual trails including beginner and family-friendly rides, wilderness trails, epic advanced trails and everything in between.
All trails capitalise on the park’s unique rainforest environment and massive 820m vertical elevation, offering trails of all types, for all abilities. The Park also offers; bike hire, a retail bike shop, a café, great food, a pump track, a bike school and new Wilderness ATV Tours.
Junee Cave is a short, easy walk that ends at the cave entrance where the Junee River rises to the surface. It’s a great little stop because it feels genuinely wild, without needing a big hike.
Worth knowing: the Junee Cave system includes Niggly Cave, recognised as Australia’s deepest cave. Even if you’re not caving, the track and the viewing area at the end are well worth the detour from Maydena.
The Twisted Sister is one of those wonderfully specific Derwent Valley sights: a big, character filled tree that people seek out because it simply looks unreal. The track is short, the payoff is instant, and it’s a fun one for photographers chasing something a bit different.
Pair it with a Styx Tall Trees visit and you’ve got a “forest greatest hits” day that doesn’t require huge walking distances. Bring a wide lens if you’ve got one, because this is all about shape, texture, and scale.
This one is ideal for families, curious kids, and anyone who likes a walk with a bit of story. The Creepy Crawly Nature Trail is about noticing the small stuff: bugs, fungi, forest detail, and all the things you’d normally walk straight past.
It’s also a handy option when you want something gentle near Maydena, or when the weather is being unpredictable. Short trail, big chances of spotting something interesting if you slow down and actually look.
The drive out to Strathgordon is part of the experience, taking you deep into Tasmania’s southwest where the road genuinely feels like it’s heading to the edge of the map. Strathgordon itself was built as a hydro construction village and now sits as a remote base at the end of the Gordon River Road.
Out here you’re in big landscape territory: Lake Pedder, Lake Gordon, and a whole lot of wilderness atmosphere. Give yourself time, because the best bits often happen between the stops, when the weather rolls through and the views keep changing.
Pedder Wilderness Lodge is a very welcome sight after the long drive, and it’s one of the few places out here where you can sit down for a proper meal without thinking too hard about logistics. It’s simple, comfortable, and feels made for refuelling before you head back.
Even if you’re not staying the night, lunch here turns the Strathgordon run into a more relaxed day trip. It’s also a good spot to check conditions if you’re planning short walks or viewpoints around Lake Pedder.
Gordon Dam is the big finale: a huge arch dam you can walk across, with a dizzying look down into the gorge. It’s one of those places that makes you quietly impressed, even if you’re not usually an infrastructure person.
It was completed on 25 November 1974, and it remains a major part of Hydro Tasmania’s Gordon Pedder system. If you’ve come this far, don’t rush it, have a proper wander, take the photos, and enjoy the feeling of being somewhere that’s both engineered and wildly remote.
Tasmania’s Most Haunted hosts History and Ghost Tours in some of Tasmania’s most iconic sites, including the Willow Court Asylum in the Derwent Valley.
Curating with nature since 2011, Tassie Bound Adventure Tours offer multi-award winning kayak trips uncovering secrets only locals know exist and adventures worthy of sharing.
The Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area is your front row seat to some of the tallest forests on Earth. The walks here are all about looking up, slowing down, and letting the scale of the place sink in.
It’s an easy add on if you’re already heading towards Maydena, and it’s a strong contrast to the open roads and river flats of the lower valley. Take care on the drive in, especially at dusk, because wildlife is part of the deal.
The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.
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