To get to your accommodation in Bicheno, Cod Rock Point, from Launceston to Tasmania’s East Coast …
Take all the signs for Hobart and the Midland Highway. You will pass the Launceston Airport turnoff and head south to Perth. This was a colonial staging post on the main road and the last stop before Launceston and there are some classical colonial homes around the village – but nowadays its known for a toy castle and windmill on the right going south – somewhat colourful to say the least.
Some 40 minutes south of Perth you come to Campbell Town where its time for a coffee – with Zeps, Banjo’s, a lollie shop, and Lake Leather. ( I try not to stop there as it is usually quite an expensive 10 minute visit – some exquisite things)
Go over the bridge about 400m travelling south and the turnoff to the Great Eastern Drive is well signposted and you turn left.
You will have about 40 minutes of driving to Lake Leake – a well renowned trout fishing venue – in the high midlands of Tasmania – and as you descend to the Coast there are some wonderful snapshots of coastline through the trees – but no real stopping points – you arrive on east coast Tasmania a little north of Swansea. Turn left.
You will next encounter a concentration of vineyards .
Starting with Milton (the Dunbabin’s) on the left, then Springvale on the right (the Lyne’s) and then Craigie Knowe (the Travers’) and Gala – at the hamlet of Cranbrook (The Grennhill’s) These are all terrific , personable cellar door experiences and please try any one of them.
Just after Cranbrook the large trees on your RHS are the last of the Walnut orchards on the East Coast.
After the flat, you wind up Cherry Tree Hill and after 7 or 8 kms of twisting road, you start your descent and after the major hairpin, the view is amazing as you have arrived at Devils Corner – take the right lane and drop in for fresh oysters or fish and chips from Freycinet Marine Farm, or wood fired pizza, coffee and treats from Tombolo – all amongst amazing architecture, a loo with a view and a pop up visitor centre. It’s an award winning piece of architecture around containers
Devils Corner is owned by Brown Bros from Millawa and this is a very big vineyard by Tasmanian standards, and they grow most of their Australian classic pinot here. Our favourite though is the Sauvignon blanc – but try all of them – its worth a fairly reasonable stopover here at their cellar door
You are now only 15 minutes from Cod Rock Point – sail past the turnoff to Coles Bay and Freycinet and you are almost home.
