The teeny tiny town of Poatina is a beautiful spot for a relaxing getaway. Get in touch with nature, nurture your creative spirit, and gently unwind with a great range of activities.
Poatina Village is less than an hour’s drive from Launceston, or a two hour drive from Hobart. We’ve listed seven things to do when you visit.
1. Learn about the town’s history
Poatina was built in the 1960s to house the region’s hydro-electricity workers. By 1995, it was almost a ghost town, with only five families left. Fusion Australia, a not-for-profit Australian Christian Youth and Community Organisation, bought the entire village, and today around 100 people live there. Find Poatina’s impressive recycled glass monument and discover fascinating stories about the village.
Image: @the_paper_daisy/Instagram
2. Take in the stunning scenery and majestic views
Poatina is nestled amongst some top Tassie scenery. The village is surrounded by bushland and pasture, spectacularly framed by the Great Western Tiers, and is right on the edge of Great Lakes country (aka trout fishing paradise). Go exploring along the local walking tracks, immerse yourself in nature, and take in the awesome views.
Image: @carla_saftc/Instagram
3. Nurture your artistic side
Poatina is a real arts hub. The Althea Mountain Retreat Arts Centre provides studio facilities and training for local artists and offers popular workshops, summer schools, artistic retreats and residencies. For a special experience, visitors can make an appointment to see a live glass blowing demonstration at the Hot Glass Studio. That’s not all though—Poatina is also home to a metal fabrication workshop and a recording studio!
Image: @alarneecreations/Instagram
4. Work your way through all the activities
For a small town, there are an awful lot of activities! Play a round of golf, splash in the pool, challenge someone to a tennis match, go cycling or tackle the mountain bike tracks, explore the labyrinth, go bushwalking (keep an eye out for friendly wildlife), and discover impressive waterfalls. You can even head to Great Lakes country and try your luck at trout fishing!
Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy op-shopping, perusing the village gift shop, and checking out the amazing work in the Poatina Tree Art Gallery. Families can unwind on the Village Green, and make use of the playground, barbecue and picnic areas.
Image: @manda_dewis/Instagram
5. Watch (or enter) the Poatina Mountain Race
The Poatina Mountain Race is on annually in December, and attracts a host of tarmac rally and race cars. The single day event combines a European-style long-course hillclimb with a sprint format tarmac rally competition. The course begins at Poatina Village and winds 10.2km up Mount Blackwood. There are several categories for participation, but with all the excitement and the amazing scenery, we reckon everyone is a winner!
Image: @rlandherr/Instagram
6. Treat yourself to some tasty food (with views)
You won’t go hungry in Poatina Village! The View Cafe and Restaurant is a great place for a hearty lunch or quiet dinner, and is perfectly named, with spectacular views towards pasture, bush and mountains. The Tiers Tea Lounge is another lovely spot to treat yourself.
Image: @czarnajulka/Instagram
7. Get comfortable and stay awhile
With so much to do and that amazing fresh country air, you might not want to go home! Poatina offers a variety of accommodation options, including comfy motel rooms at the Poatina Chalet, delightfully rustic self-contained mountain cottages, and fully-furnished three bedroom houses. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly, head to the backpacker hostel or make use of the camping and campervan facilities (available on request).
Image: @bluepillow/Instagram
We love it when you share your adventures with us!
Tag @MidlandsTasmania and use @MidlandsTasmania or #HeritageHighway and we’ll share our favourite photos on @MidlandsTasmania, Facebook, and in our Blog.
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Our Guide: Chasing the Aurora Australis Along the Heritage Highway
Header image:
@supraluv98/Instagram
Words:
Isabel Galloway
