Deloraine, Tasmania: Your Base Camp for Tasmania’s Northern Heartland
Most people skirt passed Deloraine, Tasmania, on the way to somewhere else. That’s a mistake.
This small town on the banks of the Meander River sits right at the foot of the Great Western Tiers, and once you’ve parked up and had a wander, you’ll quickly realise it punches well above its weight. Heritage buildings line the main street, platypus cruise the river at dusk, and some of Tasmania’s best walks are less than half an hour’s drive away.
Rather than treating Deloraine as a one-night stopover, we’d suggest settling in for a proper stay and using it as a base to explore the surrounding region. There’s no set number of nights you need here — it depends on your pace and how many walks you want to tick off — but three to four nights gives you enough time to see the town, stretch your legs on a trail or two, and still have a morning to sit by the river with a coffee and do absolutely nothing.
Deloraine Map
To aid in your planning, we have carefully prepared a map of the attractions around Deloraine. On the map are the campground locations, points of interest, and starting points for walks. You can toggle the layers for easier viewing. Note that this is the same map as for Sheffield.
Staying in Deloraine, Tasmania
You’ve got two solid options depending on your setup and budget.
Deloraine RV Rest Area
Located next to the town’s sportsground, this is a no-frills option that does exactly what it needs to. At $3 per night (at the time of writing), it’s hard to argue with the value. The catch is that you must be fully self-contained — there are no showers or powered sites. A dump point and water are provided. If your rig is set up for it, this is a quiet and convenient spot, a walkable distance from town. If you camp in the more open area at the rear, there is plenty of sun for your solar panels.
See our review for more details: Deloraine RV Rest Area.
Apex Caravan Park
If you want a bit more comfort, the Apex Caravan Park is the pick. It sits right on the Meander River in a prime position that most caravan parks would charge a premium for. Full amenities are on offer — showers, camp kitchen, powered sites — and the town centre is an easy walk across the footbridge. It’s the kind of place where you can park up, unhitch, and not touch the car for days. You should book in advance.
The Slow Lane: Town Attractions & Sightseeing
The Essentials
Deloraine’s town centre is compact enough to cover on foot in a morning, but there are a few spots worth making time for.
The Main Street
Emu Bay Road is the heart of town, and it’s worth a proper wander rather than just driving through. The streetscape has held onto its heritage charm — think sandstone buildings, wide verandas, and shop fronts that haven’t been swallowed up by chain stores. You’ll find a solid mix of antique shops, art galleries, local cafes, and specialty stores that reward a slow browse. There are sculptures dotted along the street and into the adjoining parkland, so keep your eyes open as you walk — they have a habit of popping up where you don’t expect them. Grab a coffee, duck into a few shops, and take your time. It’s the kind of main street that feels like it belongs to the locals, not the tourists, and that’s exactly what makes it worth exploring.
Yarns Artwork in Silk
Housed in the Visitor Centre on Emu Bay Road, this is one of those attractions that sounds niche until you actually see it. Yarns Artwork in Silk is a series of large textile panels created by over 300 local artisans, depicting the history and landscape of the Meander Valley through intricate silk and needlework. The craftsmanship is remarkable — even if textiles aren’t normally your thing, the sheer scale and detail of the work is worth the visit. It doubles as a good excuse to pop into the Visitor Centre and grab local maps and trail info while you’re at it.
Deloraine Folk Museum
A short walk from the main street, the Folk Museum covers the region’s pioneer history with displays spread across a heritage building and its surrounding gardens. It’s small but well put together, with a heritage garden out the back that’s pleasant for a wander. Allow about 45 minutes.
The Sculpture Trail
Separate from the pieces you’ll spot along the main street, the dedicated Sculpture Trail follows the banks of the Meander River through the heart of town. This art walk features a collection of sculptures and installations set among the trees and riverside paths. It’s not a long walk — you’ll cover it in 20 to 30 minutes — but it’s a lovely way to stretch the legs and see the town from the river’s perspective. Several of the sculptures are quite striking, and the setting does the heavy lifting.
Mole Creek & King Solomon Cave (Day Trip)
If you’re not planning to head further west and base yourself in Sheffield, a day trip to Mole Creek is well worth the 25-minute drive. The main drawcard is King Solomon Cave, a spectacular limestone cave system managed by Tasmania Parks. Guided tours run daily at set times (check the Parks Tasmania website for the current schedule, as tour times vary by season). Tours typically run around 45 minutes and take you through impressive chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and reflective pools. At the time of writing, adult entry is $26 and children $13.00, with family passes available. Bookings are recommended during peak season, as tour numbers are capped.
While you’re in the area, the little town of Mole Creek itself is worth a wander — grab a jar of local honey from one of the roadside stalls and call it a productive day.
The Active Recovery: Easy Activities
Short Walks
Meander River Walk
This one starts right in town, making it perfect for a morning or late-afternoon stroll. The flat loop follows both banks of the Meander River, crossing via a couple of suspension bridges that add a bit of character to an already scenic walk. The path is well-maintained and suitable for all fitness levels.
The real highlight here is wildlife. Platypus are regularly spotted in the river, particularly in the quieter stretches during the early morning or around dusk. Find a spot on the bank, sit still for a few minutes, and there’s a good chance you’ll see one. It’s one of those simple experiences that reminds you why you’re out here.
For more information, see Meander River Walk.
Liffey Falls (Upper Carpark)
About 30 minutes south of Deloraine, Liffey Falls is one of Tasmania’s most photogenic waterfalls — and the upper trailhead makes it accessible without a major commitment. Starting from the Upper Carpark, the walk is approximately 45 minutes return and follows a gentle descent through beautiful temperate rainforest to the main falls.
The track is well-formed, with the canopy closing in overhead as you drop down through moss-covered trees and ferns. It feels a world away from the open farmland you drove through to get here. The falls themselves cascade over several tiers into a pool below, and they’re particularly impressive after rain when the flow is up.
This is the version of Liffey Falls we’d recommend for most people. It’s short, it’s manageable, and it delivers the goods without leaving you legless.
More information is available at Liffey Falls Walk.
The Burner: Harder Activities
Challenging Walks
Liffey Falls (Lower Carpark)
If you want more than the quick upper trail, the alternative route starts at the Liffey Campground and follows the river upstream to the falls. This is a longer proposition — roughly 6 km return and around 3 hours — but it rewards you with a more immersive experience through the valley.
The track starts at the Liffey Falls Campground and traces the Liffey River as it tumbles over smaller cascades and through pockets of old-growth rainforest. You’ll earn the main falls on this route rather than just dropping in from above, and the sense of arrival is all the better for it. The gradient is more demanding than the upper track, with some uneven sections and moderate climbing, so wear proper footwear and carry water.
Quamby Bluff
This is the big one. Quamby Bluff is a Grade 3/4 hike that takes you to the top of one of the Great Western Tiers’ most prominent peaks, standing at 1,227 metres above sea level. The walk involves around 500 metres of elevation gain, and it doesn’t give it to you gently — expect steep sections, rocky scrambles, and a stretch of rock scree near the summit that requires careful footing and a degree of confidence.
The payoff is a 360-degree panorama from the top that takes in the patchwork farmland of the Meander Valley below, the rugged peaks of the Western Tiers stretching away in both directions, and on a clear day, views north towards the coast. It’s the kind of summit where you sit down, catch your breath, and just take it all in for a while.
Allow five hours for the return trip. Carry plenty of water, pack layers (conditions at the top can be markedly different from the car park), and start early — you don’t want to be picking your way down the scree in fading light. This walk is best suited to experienced bushwalkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
For more information, see: Quamby Bluff Walk.
Roadie’s Tip: Sunrise Trailers, Deloraine
If your rig needs attention while you’re in the area, look no further than Sunrise Trailers in Deloraine. These guys quickly and without fuss sorted out a trailer brake issue for us — the kind of problem that could have derailed our schedule if we’d been stuck waiting for parts or dealing with someone less experienced. The price was more than fair, the work was spot-on, and they clearly know their way around caravans and trailers of all types. If something needs fixing, adjusting, or just a once-over, they’re the ones to see.
Where to Next from Deloraine, Tasmania
Deloraine sits in a sweet spot on the map. Once you’ve had your fill, you’ve got three natural options depending on where your trip takes you next.
East: The East Coast & Beyond
Head east towards Launceston and then north-east to pick up Tasmania’s stunning east coast. You can join the route at St Helens and work your way south through the Bay of Fires, Freycinet, and the Tasman Peninsula before finishing up in Hobart. It’s one of the state’s classic runs, and Deloraine makes a logical starting point for the journey across.
If you take this route, ensure that you take the drive up Jacob’s Ladder at Ben Lomond.
West: Sheffield & the Road to Stanley
If you’re heading west, the next logical stop is Sheffield — the town of murals — just 25 minutes down the road. From there, you can continue on through the north-west to Stanley, a cracking little coastal town sitting beneath the iconic Nut. This route takes you through some of Tassie’s best farmland and quiet country towns that most visitors never see. See our Launceston to Stanley Itinerary for details of this trip.
South: The Central Highlands to Hobart
For something completely different, point the rig south into Tasmania’s Central Highlands. This route trades the green farmland for wild alpine country — lakes, trout streams, and wide-open highland plains. It’s a quieter, less-travelled corridor that eventually brings you down into Hobart, and it feels a world away from the coastal routes.
The road trip provides a much more interesting option than driving down the Midland Highway.
Wrapping Up
Deloraine is one of those places that grows on you the longer you stay. What looks like a quiet little town on the drive through reveals itself to be something more once you slow down and start poking around — a riverside walk here, a waterfall there, a main street that actually makes you want to linger rather than just grab supplies and move on.
It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to be. But as a base for exploring this corner of northern Tasmania, it’s hard to beat. You’ve got everything from a flat stroll along the Meander River to a proper summit push up Quamby Bluff, all within easy reach. And at the end of the day, you come back to a town with good coffee, a friendly pub, and platypus in the river. That’s a pretty solid deal.
Give it more than one night. You won’t regret it.
