Austins Ferry: Nature, Play and History

Austins Ferry’s reserves offer both scenic beauty and a sense of history: Poimena Reserve focuses on walking, native vegetation and panoramic views, while Roseneath adds opportunities for play and traces of the past. These different features offer practical guidance as you consider which experiences you want to shape your days. Choose hotels in Austins Ferry based on whether nature, play or culture is the deciding factor for your trip.

Wide Views and Activity at Poimena Reserve

Poimena Reserve offers panoramic views of the Derwent River to the east and kunanyi/Mount Wellington to the west. The contrast between the two directions makes the panorama tangible and gives the landscape experience a clear frame. If you enjoy taking in scenery while travelling, these named landmarks are a special reason to spend time at the reserve.

Visitors can walk through the diverse landscape of Poimena Reserve, which includes native White Gum, Peppermint and Blue Gum trees as well as landscaped parkland. Both native tree species and designed parkland are part of the walking experience. The reserve brings these different landscape features together, rather than limiting a visit to a single viewpoint.

Poimena Reserve is also home to southern Tasmania’s only disc golf course. This means two different activities are available side by side: walking through the landscape and playing disc golf. This is a practical distinction for planning your visit if you’re deciding whether you’d rather go for a walk or take part in a sporting activity. As recreational facilities can change, check the current status of the disc golf offering before you visit. Access to the reserve is via Wakehurst Road in Austins Ferry; also check local conditions before your visit.

Play and History at Roseneath

Roseneath Reserve offers a different focus. Modern play equipment invites children to climb, swing, explore and play. The play area is fenced, giving children a defined space to play. For families, this is a practical addition to a stay otherwise focused on walking and scenery. If you want to include a playground in your travel plans, you can take these facilities into account when choosing your activities. As the facilities can change, check the latest information about the play equipment before visiting.

Roseneath is also a historic site and is now a public park; rudimentary remains of a stone bridge can be found there. A larger stone bridge, carrying the main road to Austins Ferry and beyond, was completed around 1847. The approximate date places this structure in the history of the area; its function as a road bridge makes its connection to transport history concrete.

Another aspect of the area’s heritage is the Hestercombe Church open-space parcel in Austins Ferry, which is reserved or provided for the protection of European or Indigenous heritage. The stone bridge remains and this area set aside for heritage protection represent different ways of engaging with local heritage: through built traces and through the protection of heritage.

Discover More Destinations

Deloraine, Lake St Clair, Triabunna, National Park, Nubeena, Bream Creek, Bagdad, George Town

For the overarching travel guide: Tasmania.