Discover New Norfolk: railway heritage, food and the Derwent River

New Norfolk brings together a rich history and a range of experiences: railway and settlement history, a restaurant with a strong connection to its own garden, antiques, and river and landscape experiences. Its distinctive highlights range from Australia’s oldest Anglican church to a collection of steam and diesel locomotives that were once used on the main line. Depending on your interests, you can focus your trip more on culture, food or outdoor activities.

The history that defines New Norfolk

New Norfolk is Tasmania’s third-oldest settlement, founded by evacuees relocated from Norfolk Island. Other historic landmarks include St Matthews, Australia’s oldest Anglican church, and the Bush Inn, one of Australia’s oldest pubs. These two places represent different sides of history: church tradition and pub culture. Together with the story of the settlement’s founding, they give New Norfolk a distinctive historical character.

Railways, Willow Court and culinary change

The Derwent Valley Railway has an extensive collection of locomotives and other rolling stock in New Norfolk. Volunteer guides take visitors through the collection. The steam and diesel locomotives were once used on the Tasmanian railway network’s main line—a tangible point of interest for anyone interested in railway history.

Another layer of history is represented by Willow Court Asylum, Australia’s longest-operating psychiatric institution. Willow Court Asylum has been redeveloped to house The Agrarian Kitchen and its newly established cookery school. History and contemporary cuisine meet here, while the site’s distinct stories remain separate.

Food from the garden and distillery

The Agrarian Kitchen restaurant offers a set lunch menu. It sources more than 90 percent of its ingredients from its own on-site garden, making the ingredients’ provenance a defining feature of the restaurant. Booking details may change; check them before making specific plans.

The New Norfolk Distillery offers a different culinary experience. It is Tasmania’s only distillery specialising in rum, and offers distillery tours as well as tastings of rum, liqueurs and bottled cocktails. Bookings and availability may change. If a tour or tasting is important to your trip, check the latest details in advance.

Experience the Derwent River and its landscapes

At the edge of New Norfolk, Pulpit Rock Lookout offers views of the rolling agricultural landscape of the Derwent Valley and the Derwent River. The lookout reveals a different side of the area from its historic buildings and collections: the landscape that characterises the Derwent Valley.

A popular walking track follows the Derwent River from New Norfolk Caravan Park, passing through wetlands before reaching Tynwald Park. Wild ducks and platypuses can be spotted there, though sightings may vary. For a different way to experience the river, stand-up paddleboarding on the Derwent River in New Norfolk is available through Derwent Valley SUP. This activity’s availability may change.

These experiences differ in character: the Railway centres on a guided tour and historic vehicles, while paddleboarding is an activity on the river. The walk through the wetlands combines riverside scenery with the chance to spot wildlife. This gives you the choice of which kind of experience best suits your interests and trip.

Antiques and choosing the right focus for your trip

New Norfolk describes itself as Tasmania’s antiques capital and has more than a dozen established antique shops and dealers. The dealer scene may change. For antique enthusiasts, this offers a distinct focus alongside history, food and nature, different from guided tours and experiences on the river.

When choosing a hotel in New Norfolk, your preferred focus for the trip may be the deciding factor: historic places, culinary experiences, antiques or time outdoors.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kayena, Ouse, Deloraine, Taranna, Cygnet, Chudleigh, Rowella, Greens Beach.

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.