Live the high life

During the 1920s and 1930s, Tarraleah was a bustling town filled with hundreds of hydro-electric workers, complete with a police station, church, golf course and some 100 houses. The workers were developing one of the country’s first hydro-electric schemes in the central highlands.

The wooden dwellings, each hand built, have been restored into a grand wilderness resort. At the heart of the development is Tarraleah Lodge, the art-deco centerpiece. This luxury lodge enjoys the elegance of its former days, across a nine-bedroom small luxury hotel. Stay at the lodge and you can swing a club on a course tended to by local wallabies or soak in a cliff top hot tub.

In the language of the local Aboriginal people, Tarraleah means Forester kangaroo. Along with these kangaroos, Tarraleah is home turf to plenty of wildlife including wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls, wallabies and platypus.

Sitting on the edge of World Heritage Area, Tarraleah is nearly in the centre of Tasmania, neighbouring with Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park. Hop in the saddle of a mountain bike or take a guided fly-fishing or kayaking tour. The enormous water pipes that run down the valley are a constant reminder of the town’s beginnings.

Tarraleah is about two hours’ drive from Hobart. Be sure to dress warm; being a highland village the elevation can bring with it some cooler conditions. Come evening, be lured by the warmth of the friendly pub and one of the best selections Tasmanian whisky on the island.

• Try spotting local wildlife including Tassie devils and echidnas walking through the town at night
• Look out for the huge water pipes tumbling down the side of the valley
• Play a round at Tarraleah Golf Course – the highest in Tasmania
• Kayak on secret lakes
• Take a guided tour to explore pioneering history, life in the highlands, wildflowers, wildlife and birding
• Take the kids of the Big Tree Walk
• Trout fish in over 30 lakes and more than six streams
• Take a cooking class with local chefs
• Make friends with the highland cows
• Take the Tarraleah Falls Walk

Live the high life

During the 1920s and 1930s, Tarraleah was a bustling town filled with hundreds of hydro-electric workers, complete with a police station, church, golf course and some 100 houses. The workers were developing one of the country’s first hydro-electric schemes in the central highlands.

The wooden dwellings, each hand built, have been restored into a grand wilderness resort. At the heart of the development is Tarraleah Lodge, the art-deco centerpiece. This luxury lodge enjoys the elegance of its former days, across a nine-bedroom small luxury hotel. Stay at the lodge and you can swing a club on a course tended to by local wallabies or soak in a cliff top hot tub.

In the language of the local Aboriginal people, Tarraleah means Forester kangaroo. Along with these kangaroos, Tarraleah is home turf to plenty of wildlife including wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls, wallabies and platypus.

Sitting on the edge of World Heritage Area, Tarraleah is nearly in the centre of Tasmania, neighbouring with Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park. Hop in the saddle of a mountain bike or take a guided fly-fishing or kayaking tour. The enormous water pipes that run down the valley are a constant reminder of the town’s beginnings.

Tarraleah is about two hours’ drive from Hobart. Be sure to dress warm; being a highland village the elevation can bring with it some cooler conditions. Come evening, be lured by the warmth of the friendly pub and one of the best selections Tasmanian whisky on the island.

• Try spotting local wildlife including Tassie devils and echidnas walking through the town at night
• Look out for the huge water pipes tumbling down the side of the valley
• Play a round at Tarraleah Golf Course – the highest in Tasmania
• Kayak on secret lakes
• Take a guided tour to explore pioneering history, life in the highlands, wildflowers, wildlife and birding
• Take the kids of the Big Tree Walk
• Trout fish in over 30 lakes and more than six streams
• Take a cooking class with local chefs
• Make friends with the highland cows
• Take the Tarraleah Falls Walk