The Southern Midlands is a journey through ancient pathways, historic villages and wide-open landscapes. Wander through streets lined with beautifully preserved heritage buildings, discover grand Georgian architecture and charming country towns, and uncover stories of early settlers, bushrangers and the people who shaped this remarkable region.
Here, every season offers something different. Wake to glinting frosts and crisp clear mornings, enjoy long summer days beneath wide Tasmanian skies, experience the colours of cool autumns and discover the quiet beauty of winter — when snow occasionally dusts the hills and historic rooftops.
For nature lovers, the landscape stretches from rolling hills and river valleys to wetlands and waterways. Follow the Jordan and Coal Rivers, explore the shores of Lake Dulverton and Craigbourne Dam, or simply take time to appreciate the wildlife and peaceful rural scenery along the way.
Take the scenic route. Slow down. Explore the historic towns, admire the architecture, discover local stories and experience the changing landscape.
Main Route - Highway 1
Journey South Along the Heritage Highway
Follow Highway 1, the Midland Highway, south from the historic village of Ross and discover a string of charming country towns, historic settlements and scenic landscapes as you make your way towards Hobart.
Your journey takes you through:
Tunbridge → Woodbury → Antill Ponds → Oatlands → Jericho → Melton Mowbray → Kempton
Take time to explore Oatlands, one of Tasmania's most historic towns, before continuing south through the rolling Midlands countryside to Jericho and Melton Mowbray.
For a more scenic alternative, leave Jericho and travel via the Lower Marshes and Apsley before rejoining the route at Melton Mowbray.
Continue to Kempton, a historic village once known as Green Watering Holes and Green Ponds, before returning to the Midland Highway and travelling south through Dysart to Bagdad.
Discover Chauncy Vale
From Bagdad, take a detour to Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary, a peaceful reserve rich in natural beauty and history. The valley was the setting for Nan Chauncy's much-loved children's adventure story They Found a Cave.
Turn onto Chauncy Vale Road and follow the signs to explore the sanctuary before returning to the Midland Highway.
Onwards to Brighton and the Coal River Valley
Continue south through Mangalore to Pontville and Brighton. Alternatively, take the scenic route from Kempton via Elderslie and Broadmarsh before arriving at Brighton.
From Brighton, turn onto Tea Tree Road and enter the picturesque Coal River Valley — a landscape of vineyards, rolling farmland and historic villages.
Continue to Campania, with the option to travel north to Colebrook, or head south towards the historic village of Richmond.
From heritage towns and historic buildings to wildlife sanctuaries, vineyards and sweeping rural landscapes, this journey offers plenty of reasons to slow down, explore and make the most of the road south.
Take the scenic route. Discover the stories. Let the journey become part of the adventure.
Alternative Route 2
Take the Scenic Route from Oatlands
Just 11 kilometres south of Oatlands, leave the Midland Highway and take the B31, Mud Walls Road, towards the historic village of Colebrook, once known as Jerusalem.
As you leave Colebrook behind, the road winds through the peaceful countryside towards Craigbourne Dam, where the landscape opens into the picturesque Coal River Valley.
Continue south through rolling farmland and quiet country scenery to Campania, a charming rural township surrounded by the valley’s distinctive landscapes. From here, continue your journey to the historic village of Richmond, or travel onwards to Brighton.
With historic villages, scenic waterways, open farmland and changing rural landscapes, this is a wonderful route for those who enjoy taking the road less travelled.
Leave the highway behind, slow down and discover the Southern Midlands at your own pace.
Alternative Route 3
Take the Road Less Travelled
At the southern end of Oatlands, before rejoining the Midland Highway, turn onto the C312 and discover a quieter side of the Southern Midlands.
Wind your way through the picturesque country communities of Parattah, Mount Seymour, Baden, Tunnack and Stonor, where peaceful roads, rolling farmland and expansive rural views showcase the changing character of the Midlands.
Continue via Rhyndaston towards the historic village of Colebrook, once known as Jerusalem, before travelling onwards to Campania and the scenic Coal River Valley.
From Campania, continue south towards the historic village of Richmond, or head onwards to Brighton.
This is a journey for those who enjoy slowing down, exploring country roads and discovering the smaller communities and landscapes that lie beyond the main highway.
Take the scenic route. Discover the country towns. Make the journey part of the adventure.
Alternative Route 4
Explore the Country Roads North of Oatlands
For a quieter journey through the heart of Tasmania’s rural landscape, leave Oatlands behind and take the C307 north towards York Plains, Pawtella and Lemont, before continuing to Andover.
From Andover, you can return to Oatlands or keep exploring eastwards through the countryside. Continue through Stonehenge and Whitefoord to Woodsdale, where the open farmland and winding country roads offer a glimpse of a quieter side of Tasmania.
From Woodsdale, choose your next direction. Head towards Buckland and join the Tasman Highway (A3), or continue through Levendale to Runnymede.
From Runnymede, the road opens up a range of possibilities. Travel north towards Orford and Tasmania’s East Coast, head south towards Sorell, the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur, or make your way onwards to Hobart.
With peaceful country towns, sweeping farmland and plenty of opportunities to take the scenic route, this is a journey made for curious travellers who enjoy getting off the beaten track.
Leave the main road behind, follow the country roads and see where the journey takes you.
Learn more about the Heritage Highway Region
Embark on a leisurely journey along Tasmania’s Heritage Highway, the picturesque stretch between Hobart and Launceston that beckons travelers to slow down and savor the delights of this historically rich region. The Midland Highway may span a mere couple of hours’ drive, but within this short distance lies an extraordinary wealth of heritage and culture waiting to be discovered. Learn more about the Heritage Highway here.
