| The run from Launceston in the north down to | | | | heritage. The most striking thing about Longford is |
| Hobart in the south of Tasmania is a brief two hour | | | | not the Racecourse Hotel, it is the Brickenden |
| affair down the Midland Highway if done without | | | | National Estate. This is an historic working farm that |
| stopping. This is an impossibility for campervan | | | | has been owned and run by the same family for |
| travellers though- our exploratory minds and our lust | | | | over two hundred years. With seven miles of river |
| for new sights and sounds just cannot fathom a | | | | frontage it is a popular destination for trout |
| drive down the centre of Tasmania without gleaning | | | | fishermen, and bushwalkers love making their way |
| some kind of appreciation for the scenery we are | | | | through the thick and lush bush that covers most of |
| passing through. And so we stop and we look and | | | | the estate. Speaking of trout fishing, the nearby |
| we take it all in - and it is harder to find a deeper | | | | town of Cresswell is seen as the trout capital of |
| sense of satisfaction than the one instilled in us by | | | | Tasmania because its waterways run thick with the |
| this drive known as the 'Heritage Highway'. The | | | | popular sport fish. Every August the Annual |
| expansive valley it passes through is a tapestry of | | | | Tasmanian Trout Exposition of Australia takes place, |
| fields, quaint historical settlements and crisp, clear | | | | so if you are keen on your angling then coincide your |
| rivers; slowly knitted together over time and | | | | motorhome adventure down the heritage highway |
| presented to you in its present form to explore, | | | | with this large festival. |
| enjoy and file under 'exceptionally beautiful' in your | | | | The next town as you head southwards is |
| scrapbook of campervan travels. | | | | considered the historical heart of Tasmania, and there |
| Heading south from Launceston the first stop-worthy | | | | are over one hundred buildings in the town that |
| village is reached after just 20 kilometres- Evandale. | | | | exceed a century in age. Stop and savour the many |
| A strong theme of this drive is the heritage classified, | | | | attractions in the town, which are spearheaded by |
| Georgian-style buildings that dominate the | | | | the Convict Brick Trail. This trail is dedicated to the |
| settlements you will drive through, and in this | | | | nearly 200 000 convicts that came to Australia over |
| department Evandale is an exemplary starting point. | | | | a 100 year period. Each brick is dedicated to a |
| There are over 38 gracious buildings in the town, | | | | convict, and has their name, their birth and death |
| many of them on the tree-lined main street. A half | | | | dates and a bit of information about them. Another |
| day in the town is a good time period to appreciate | | | | popular spot to visit is the Fox Hunters Return, a pub |
| the diversity of heritage it contains, and will also give | | | | that has been serving the public since 1840. Dont |
| you the opportunity to take a stroll down the banks | | | | miss The Grange either, a large manor-style building |
| of the South Esk River. If you happen to be in town | | | | standing in the centre of town. |
| on a Sunday then you will be fortunate enough to | | | | Continuing south, Oatlands is worth a look because of |
| experience the Evandale Markets, a great place to | | | | the large collection of colonial sandstone buildings it is |
| pick up a souvenir and some local fare. | | | | home to (the largest number in a village environment |
| Just a few kilometres south of Evandale is one of | | | | in Australia). Walking down the main street is like |
| the best preserved Georgian-style buildings in the | | | | stepping back into time - there are over 87 of the |
| country, Clarendon Homestead. Lying on the banks of | | | | sandstone buildings on the street alone, and a total |
| the South Esk River it was built in 1838 for a wealthy | | | | of 138 in the town boundaries. From Oatlands its a |
| wool and grain dealer, and besides the large porticoed | | | | leisurely 79 kilometres down to Hobart. You can |
| main building there are a number of farm buildings | | | | complete this in one hit, or if you have time call into |
| that have been superbly maintained. Its beautiful | | | | Pontville. 35 kilometres north of Hobart, this was |
| gardens are great for a picnic or a long walk, and if | | | | once an important stopping point and one of the |
| you find you have some extra time on your hands | | | | main suppliers of stone to Tassy. Today it is another |
| then pay a visit to the nearby township of Nile. This | | | | quiet town on the Heritage Highway, remarkable for |
| collection of heritage buildings on the banks of the | | | | the vestiges of its past rather than for any |
| River Nile is most notable for the impressive tower | | | | importance it has today or in the future. |
| of St Peters Church, which was built in 1839. | | | | And then its on to Hobart. With the spell-binding Mt |
| There is an interesting story about the Racecourse | | | | Wellington dominating the skyline here you can see |
| Hotel in the next town south, Longford. In this hotel | | | | Hobart as the cherry on the cake of your journey, a |
| a thieving woman who stole two gold sovereigns | | | | journey whose short distance takes in a great deal |
| from a pair of farmhands was tracked down by | | | | of the past and gives a stunning portrayal of the |
| them and murdered for her crime. A dark piece of | | | | Tasmanian countryside. You cant go wrong with this |
| history that should not be allowed to detract from | | | | campervan trip. |
| the beauty of the town, but rather add to its rich | | | | |