BOAT HARBOUR

(pop ~100) is a small town in the centre of the north-west coast's farming district. The closest major town is Wynyard. Boat Harbour is best known for nearby Boat Harbour Beach, which used to be dotted with shacks (holiday houses) Tasmanians would occupy during the pleasant summer weather. In recent years, Boat Harbour has become a major attraction in its own right, and now has its own four-star accommodation in addition to provision for backpackers.

CRADLE MOUNTAIN

(1545 metres) is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania, especially amongst those looking to get "away from it all". The Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, which encompasses Cradle Mountain, is by far the most popular National Park in Tasmania, but at the same time retains its isolated and wild character.

KING ISLAND

is located off the north-west tip of Tasmania, and mirrors the diversity found in Tasmania as a whole. The north and east coasts of the island feature wonderful sandy beaches, while the jagged cliffs to the south make it easy to see why this area has claimed more shipwrecks than anywhere else in Australia.

MAWBANNA

is a small town south of Stanley in Tasmania's north-west. The main attraction near Mawbanna is Dip Falls (pictured), a double-waterfall which cascades into dense rainforest. Some of the largest trees in the state are located near the falls; also in the area are the Milkshakes Reserve and Black River Reserve picnic areas.

MT OSSA

(1617 metres) is the tallest mountain in Tasmania. It is located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, approximately 25 km south of Cradle Mountain.

PENGUIN

Penguin (pop ~3000) gained its name from the fairy penguin colonies which dot the coast in this area of Tasmania. There are twilight viewing sessions of the rookeries, where the penguins clamber ashore to return to their nests after a day of feeding in Bass Strait. The best time for viewing is during the summer breeding season (November until March).

ROSEBERRY

(pop ~1600) is one of the larger towns on Tasmania's west coast. Gold, lead and zinc mining once fuelled Rosebery's growth, but now only the zinc mine remains. The mine, which is open for public inspection, sends its zinc to Hobart for processing.

SMITHTON

Smithton (pop ~3500) is the largest and oldest established town on Tasmania's far north-west coast, known as the Circular Head region. Smithton is in the forefront of the area's dairy farming and vegetable growing activities, and processing of these products is an important part of the local economy. Other industries on which Smithton is based include forestry and fishing. Smithton is also known for its blackwood forests to the north-east, and forestry reserves to the north and west. There are many recreational opportunities on offer, including bushwalking and a playground area at Wombat Tarn, or (for the extremely adventurous) travel west to Marrawah and surf the Indian Ocean. There are also fishing and boating opportunities in the area.

SOMERSET

Somerset (population 3200) is located 10 kilometres east of Wynyard at the Cam River (an early port and small ship building centre). Somerset has several plant nurseries including a state of the art tree seedling nursery producing several million seedlings annually. A timber veneer mill also provides local employment. The town is attractively set out with many residencies enjoying views over Bass Strait.

STANLEY

(pop ~600) is a historic town on the far north west coast of Tasmania. The major attraction of Stanley is The Nut, which affords a great view right along the coast. In its early days, Stanley was known for wool production and fishing; the latter is still the predominant industry.

STRAHAN

(pop ~550) is the only safe anchorage on Tasmania's west coast. It is located on magnificent Macquarie Harbour, which is the second largest harbour in the southern hemisphere after Sydney.

ULVERSTONE

Ulverstone (pop ~10,000) is one of the larger towns on the north-west coast of Tasmania. It is situated at the mouth of the Leven River, about 15 min drive west of Devonport. The area's economy is dependent on agriculture and tourism, with the extensive beaches affording safe swimming and fishing.Ulverstone itself is known for its many parks, each offering something unique. ANZAC Park has a good children's playground and barbeque areas; Fairway Park has a bird sanctuary and water-slide; Shropshire Park has a footpath inscribed with Royal Australian Navy history; and Legion Park has great coastal views. In addition there is Tobruk Park, the Boer War Memorial, and Queens Gardens.

WYNARD

Wynyard (pop ~5000) began life as a fishing port. Its location, a short distance from many attractions, has turned it into a tourist centre with excellent accommodation facilities. Burnie Airport, located in Wynyard, is the north-west coast's major airport, with regular flights to Melbourne and sightseeing flights over the west coast. Wynyard offers trout, fly and sea fishing; has two golf courses, and several public gardens and walks. From Gutteridge Gardens, located near the centre of Wynyard and the visitor information centre, there is a board walk along the banks of the Inglis River to Fossil Bluff, or to West Wynyard. Also near Gutteridge Gardens is the Wynyard wharf, where it is possible to select from the fishing fleet's catch.

ZEEHAN

(pop ~1200) is 30 min drive from Queenstown in Tasmania's west. Silver-lead deposits resulted in a boom period for the town late last century; at one stage it had a 26 hotels and a population of around 10,000, making it Tasmania's third largest town.