Complete Guide to Cradle Coast and North West wine region

Where exactly is the North West wine region, and how do you get there?

When we talk about North West Tasmania, we could be talking about a huge area.

In terms of vineyards, however, the North West wine region is spread across a restricted area roughly framed, to the north, by the towns of Burnie, Ulverstone and Devonport on Tasmania’s northern coast. Inland, the region reaches towards Cradle Mountain (hence the region’s alternate name, the ‘Cradle Coast’) and Deloraine. Wineries are concentrated around the inland towns of Sheffield, Gunns Plains, Sassafras and others, while the coastal portion of the region extends east past Devonport, towards Hawley Beach and Port Sorell.

How to get there 

By car: It’s just 35 minutes from Launceston to Deloraine along National Highway 1, and less than an hour from there onto Ulverstone, Gunns Plains, and all wineries within the region.

By boat: The Spirit of Tasmania ferry (from Melbourne) docks at Devonport, only a short drive from many of the wineries listed here.

By plane: Devonport has a small regional airport, while Launceston Airport has regular services with multiple bigger cities.

North West wine varietals

Tasmania is known for its outstanding cool-climate wine-making conditions, and the North West and Cradle Coast wine region is no different. Like other parts of the state, Pinot Noir dominates here, with hefty plantings of Chardonnay close behind, as well as plenty of Pinot Gris, Rosé and Sparkling wine to be found. On a smaller scale, there are some unique, lesser-known varieties being grown that aren’t grown elsewhere that manage to do well in the North West. This is particularly so for red varieties, including Baco Noir, Nebbiolo, and others. 

The best North West Tasmania wineries and cellar doors to visit 

Ghost Rock Wines

Cellar Door: 12-3:30pm, Wed-Sun (11am Sat-Sun)

Set up by pioneering Cradle Coast wine-makers Cate and Colin Arnold way back at the turn of the Millennium – when there was only a scattering of vines around and no such thing as a North West Tasmania wine region – Ghost Rock has steadily gone from strength to strength over the past 20 years. Pinot Noir has always been the backbone of their plantings and production, although they’ve been more experimental in recent years and are always trying to push things in new directions (including, since 2016, transitioning the vineyard to fully organic production). They have a huge Cellar Door and restaurant, with phenomenal views across the surrounding hills towards Bass Strait, and they even host a popular local concert every year. There’s a large, family-friendly outdoor area, plenty of exquisite food choices, and of course no shortage of fantastic wines to taste. From the multiple core-range Pinot Noir releases to a number of experimental Rosés and several Brut Cuvée vintages, there’s surely something to suit every mood and meal.

La Villa

Cellar Door: 11am-4pm, Sat-Sun

Visiting this Spreyton winery makes you feel like you’ve suddenly slipped into Tuscany. A sun-baked terracotta villa sits at the centre of emanating vines, where a fantastic range of Italian-influenced wines have been produced since founders Marcus and Gail Burns returned from 26 years in Italy to start their dream of artisan wine-making in 2010. The Italian influence doesn’t end at the décor – which includes a Cellar Door bar backed by a replica of Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling – either, with plantings of, among other classic Italian varieties, Piemontese Nebbiolo, which is put into in an intriguingly tannic yet delicate Sparkling Rosé. There’s a more classic Tasmanian selection of quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, of course, as well as some brilliant artisan ciders made from the Burns’s third-generation apple orchard.

3 Willows Vineyard

Cellar Door: 12-4pm, Thu-Sun

This is a beautiful winery to visit in the Meander Valley, just a 40-minute drive from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal at Devonport. 3 Willows produce a very robust Pinot Noir and an outstanding Sparkling Rosé. But what really sets them apart is that they grow a unique, French-American hybrid grape variety known as Baco Noir, which they use (along with Pinot Noir grapes) to make a distinctive Augustus – the only wine of its kind in Australia. This is a deep, smokey red, with rich tobacco and vanilla notes over a spiced-berry body. It’s an ideal fireside wine, and pairs great with local grass-fed steak (another specialty of the North West). The Cellar Door has an outside patio area and great views over the dam. Plus, they also offer stylish accommodation on site, if you fancy hanging around.

Leven Valley Vineyard

Cellar Door: By appointment only (check website for latest)

A boutique winery where the grapes are hand-picked by a gang of enthusiastic locals and supportive friends each year, Leven Valley only put out small-batch releases. However, if you can get your hands on them, they’re well worth a try. Leven Valley wines showcase a distinct expression of the region’s clay-loam soil (overlaying limestone base), which can get a little bit lost within larger production of other Cradle Coast vineyards. The Cellar Door is fun and friendly, and it allows B.Y.O. picnic gear and food. The wine production is focused exclusively on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, although being able to taste multiple releases from such a boutique (1.5-hectare) producer lets you really taste the differences from one year to the next, reflecting ever-changing conditions and factors affecting North West Tasmanian wine making. The winery is surrounded by views across the Gunns Plains and Leven River, and it’s only 20 minutes from the town of Ulverstone. 

Eastford Creek Vineyard

Cellar Door: 10:30am-4:30pm, Thu-Sun

Eastford Creek has a chic, stylish, modern Cellar Door and function venue occupying a superb spot atop a rocky outcrop, overlooking the vines, river and surrounding countryside. However, the real point of difference at this popular winery may well be the full vineyard tours. These can take up to two hours (depending on the vibe) and give you the full rundown on the process, including stopping for as many as five ‘in situ’ wine tastings at different points of the process along the way. The winery is run by a family with multiple generations of experience farming crops on the land, who first planted vines in 2018 and invited acclaimed winemaker Andrew Gaman on board to spread his wings. The results so far have been impressive, with a full range of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Sparkling, and more to come. There are also some hefty platters available, showcasing local gourmet produce.

Where to stay when visiting the Cradle Coast and North West wine region

Deloraine

A cool, artsy town known as the “Craft Hub of Australia” for hosting the country’s biggest artisan craft fair every year, Deloraine is a pretty rural town with Georgian and Victorian shop fronts straddling the aptly named Meander River.

Port Sorell

Port Sorell is a quaint seaside town that explodes with sports, activity and nature lovers throughout certain seasons. Beautiful Shearwater and Hawley beaches are nearby for golden sands, the estuary and river mouth offer excellent fishing opportunities, and the Narawntapu National Park is right on its doorstep.

Ulverstone

A vibrant, family-friendly seaside town on the mouth of the river Leven, Ulverstone offers plenty of different hiking, cycling and walking trails, the panoramic Zigzag Garden and Lookout, the famous Ulverstone Waterslide, Tasmania’s largest planetarium, and the state’s only dedicated Science Centre, located inside the impressive Hive Tasmania cultural complex. 

Sheffield

Best known either for its world-class dairy products or its iconic public Mural Park and Garden, Sheffield is a busy rural hub and colourful gateway to the Mount Roland Conservation Area. It’s also well placed between the heart of North West wine country and the wilderness of both Cradle Mountain and Black Bluff Nature Recreation Area.

What else is there to see and do on the Cradle Coast and around the North West wine region?

Visit Cradle Mountain 

Hike straight up to the summit of Tasmania’s most iconic peak, partake in a night-feeding Tasmanian devil tour, take on the multi-day Overland Track (65km) all the way to Lake St. Clair, or simply enjoy the lush surroundings and phenomenal views at one of Tasmania’s most popular natural attractions.

Walk the Wilderness: Tarkine Forest and the Great Western Tiers

Enjoy the timeless, pristine beauty of Tasmania’s ancient callidendrous forests, on foot, through one of many different trails through the Tarkine – the world’s second-largest cool temperate rainforest. Or, skirt the edges of the Great Western Plateau and take in the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Great Western Tiers, a succession of World heritage-listed mountain bluffs.

Regatta Point Station + Rainforest Train Ride

A must for history lovers, train buffs and nature seekers alike, this historic railway experience lets you explore deep into Tasmania’s western rainforests on a historic diesel engine departing from Strahan. Although not strictly in the North West wine region, this iconic West Coast Railway landmark is well worth a visit while on the West Coast.

If you’re ready to start planning your visit to the North West and Cradle Coast wine region of Tasmania, but still have a few questions or queries, don’t worry. Head over to First Light Travel’s dedicated Tasmania blog page, which has articles and guides on everything you might need (or want) to know before you go. In terms of booking, you can find a range of self-drive Tasmanian tour itineraries on the FLT website. Or, contact FLT’s Tasmanian travel experts, who can help you sort out your customised itinerary!