Towns
PATHS ARE MADE NOT FOLLOWED
Queenstown
People of the valley
Nestled in a valley between Mount Lyell and Mount Owen, Queenstown is the largest town on the West Coast.
Surrounded by dramatic hills that provide stark evidence of a history that once made it one of the richest mining towns in the world.
Today, Queenstown is experiencing a rebirth with a growing tourism and arts culture.
Population
1804
Not for the faint hearted
West Coast Wilderness Railway, Lynchford Station
Like the look of Queenstown ?
Plan your trip around this place
The drive into Queenstown from the South is nothing short of spectacular - if not a little stomach churning as you wind your way down the 99-bends of the Gormanston Hill.
Mount Sedgewick and Mount Owen are the two largest mountains that surround the town. At sunset their summits blaze with orange and pink and by day they resemble a cratered moonscape - created by a brutal mining past.
Queenstown is the home of the ABT Railway - opened in 1897 to transport copper to Strahan - the only way to get the ore to market. This railway was the only access through to Queenstown until 1932 when the road to Hobart was opened. Visitors can now journey along the same tracks on board the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Spend your time visiting art galleries, museums, lookouts and surrounding Lake Burbury (created in in the 1980s after the flooding of the King River) whilst taking the time to delve a little deeper to learn it's history - there's always a local keen to share a story.
Suggested Itineraries:
Popular in and around Queenstown
Franklin River Nature Trail
Perhaps the best-known river within the World Heritage area, this walk through cool temperate rainforest will give you an idea of the beauty that lies within this wild river wilderness. This walk along the banks Franklin River will take approximately 25 minutes return (1km).
from Queenstown
Iron Blow Lookout
The Iron Blow is the site of the earliest major mining venture at Mount Lyell, back in 1883. The lookout gives a vertigo-inducing view of a landscape scarred by historical mining activity. Walk out onto a cantilevered lookout offering fantastic views over the former open cut mine and the Linda Valley.
from Queenstown
Spion Kop Lookout
Enjoy fantastic views of Queenstown after a steep, short walk - with mining heritage exhibits along the way.
Places to stay near Queenstown
Empire Hotel
Built in 1901 the Empire dates back to the wealth of the mining era at the turn of the 20th Century. It is the grand old lady of the West Coast and has a prominent facade in the town streetscape. Inside is a National Trust listed staircase made from Tasmanian Blackwood.
Penghana Bed & Breakfast
Stately guest accommodation in a National Trust Mansion overlooking Queenstown. "Penghana' has an amazing history, built to be the home of mine General Managers.
West Coaster Motel
West Coaster Motel has a friendly atmosphere with affordable rates. Enjoy our warm hospitality in one of our 60 newly refurbished accommodation rooms. These spacious guest rooms are comprehensively and comfortably equipped with all modern conveniences.