Tasmania’s Quaint Queenstown

 

Queenstown is a charming town in Tasmania, Australia. Steeped in rich mining history, the town offers an enticing array of attractions and destinations that are sure to prove delightful to every sapient traveler. In this guide, you will find a host of fantastic, must-have experiences and stellar sights of Queenstown that will compel you to head to this alluring getaway of contrasts.

One look at its hilly landscape and you will be transported right back in time to the Wild West. Given the looming air of yesteryear mining, it is no surprise that the town is dubbed as the gateway to the West Coast of Tasmania.

One of the best ways of exploring the remarkable heritage of the town and a must-have experience for history buffs is taking a mining tour. Although, a quick search for attractions near me will reveal a small litany of museums, galleries and theaters too.

The arid mountains rising over the townscape stand testament to the centuries-old mining history of the town. Prospectors first flocked the land in search of the elusive yellow metal. When the hunt became difficult, they swiftly moved to the more readily available copper. Increased felling of trees resulted in acid rain and severe erosion, which have left their traces on mountain slopes. Today, tourists scour the land along the many mine tours to witness the devastation and subsequent rehabilitation firsthand.

If apocalyptic terrains are your thing, the parched slopes of Mount Lyell and Mount Owen must be your next stop. A short trek along the winding gangway here will bring you face to face with a challenging sight of the scale of human-enforced destruction.

After all these barren sights, it is natural for you to yearn for a pleasant, verdant parcel of land. This is when you can head to the Horsetail Falls Walk. Located right at the start of the Nelson Falls Nature Trail, this route pierces the heart of a dense, Gondwana-era rainforest and leads to a splendid, cascading waterfall. The sheer contrast of vistas will not only soothe your senses, but will also restore your faith in the force of nature and its many ethereal gems. Do search for restaurants and cafes near me to replenish and head to your next historic adventure.

It is now time to hop onto yet another remnant of the mining era—the West Coast Wilderness Railway. Due to increasing demand for mining goods, a rail line was constructed that would easily ascend the mountain slopes and save precious time. This 19th-century rail route is operational even today, allowing visitors to sail in the midst of breathtaking environs and atop the deep King River Gorge.

If the lashing rapids of the King River below entice you, do consider indulging in thrilling river rafting. The somber history of the river once being one of the most polluted waterways of the country may yet again conjure apocalyptic visuals in your mind; however, the now-healed river not only welcomes water sports enthusiasts but also stands as a symbol of nature’s regenerative forces.

Author Name Divya Kabadi