It is an engineering marvel, the world's steepest steam-operated railway. This is Tasmania's West Coast Wilderness Railway, and it is 28 tonnes of special. Today, passengers are moved by the same locomotives that began the run from Queenstown back in 1896. They take a comfortable 16-kilometre run through the wildlands, uphill through spectacular landscapes and down to a place called Dubbill Barrill, with stops for a little gold panning and sightseeing. These locos were originally built to move copper ore for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, delivering the mine's deep riches out of a massive, landlocked deposit at Queenstown to the port of Strahan, and from there, to the world. And every passenger is greeted by one of the line's original workhorses, a 28-tonne steam locomotive that's ready to roll — and guaranteed to raise a smile.

The Biodiversum Nature Centre, designed by acclaimed Luxembourgish architect Francois Valentiny, is an interactive starting point for a 2.5-kilometre nature circuit trail guiding visitors through the diverse flora and fauna of the region, with several bird-watching spots along the way.

The tulips from Tasmania's north west coast are so good that the bulbs are exported all the way back to Holland! Come and see the tulips in full bloom in Wynyard in October when the rows and rows of spectacular tulips adorn Table Cape.