OBSERVATORIES PLANTARIUMS CASTLE FORBES BAY

Walk among the giants of the forest. Experience the power of nature at southern Tasmania's must-see attraction, the Tahune AirWalk. With breathtaking views of the forest canopy, spine-tingling swinging bridges across the Huon and Picton Rivers, and Tasmanian food and wine in the licensed café, there's a full day of fun for the whole family. Whether you're looking for a peaceful forest ramble or are up for a more challenging hike, one of Tahune's trails is sure to fit the bill. Pick your own path to the AirWalk by taking time out to enjoy one of the many forest walks en route, all clearly signposted along the Arve Road. Did you know that some of the tallest trees in the world grow in southern Tasmania? Can't fit it all in one day, stay overnight in the AirWalk Lodge. It all adds up to an action packed day in the great outdoors for everyone, located only one hour and twenty minutes from Hobart.

The Arve Road Forest follows the valley of the Arve River, with wet eucalypt forest and rainforest. The Forest and Heritage Centre in Geeveston - introduces you to the forests and the areas heritage. There are rafting and canoeing tours down the Picton River at the Tahune Forest Reserve. Please, note , tours need to be pre-booked by calling (03) 6273 7722. The Picton River with its reflections is perfect for photography, painting and fishing, as well as rafting and kayaking.

The Wooden Boat Centre is a boat building and visitor centre at Franklin, in Tasmania's south. Franklin is an historic Huon Valley town, 40 minutes' drive south of Hobart (45 kilometres). Sitting on the banks of the Huon River, the Wooden Boat Centre comprises the Wooden Boat Discovery Centre and Wooden Boat School. In the Discovery Centre you can see displays interpreting the history of wooden boat building and water transport along with maritime tools and artefacts. A number of small vessels are on display and you can also see some of Tasmania's unique boat building timbers including Huon pine, King Billy pine, celery top and Tasmanian blue gum. There is also a gift shop where you can choose from a range of nautical gifts and Wooden Boat Centre merchandise.Tea and coffee is available. The Wooden Boat School offers boat-building courses ranging in length from one day to full-time certificate courses. The Certificate in Wooden Boat Construction teaches traditional wooden boat-building methods and focuses on the construction of large timber vessels through all stages from lofting to launch. You can watch the students and boatbuilders working on current projects from the viewing platforms in the Centre, which is open daily for guided tours, except Christmas Day.

Makers on Church St, in Tasmania's forest town, Geeveston, is an enchanting creative gallery. Makers on Church St, opened in March 2012, is home to a vibrant, local artistic community. Artisans work from their studios in an innovative, interactive and colourful environment producing a wide variety of products and gifts, including woodcraft utilising local specialty timbers, children's handmade clothing, art in many mediums, local food produce, paper craft, revamped fashion and hats. A significant collection of paintings, Tasmanian timber furniture, handmade jewellery, photography and prints framed in huon pine, sassafras, blackwood and myrtle also take pride of place in the gallery. This is the place to meet the artists, appreciate the creative processes used to create the product and gain some local knowledge of the Huon Trail attractions. You can visit every week day, with artisans working on site most days. This is a must see when visiting Geeveston which is only a 45 minute drive south of Hobart. The Forest and Heritage Centre is located across the road and you may even be lucky enough to view a platypus in Heritage Park.

Stanley's Studio and Gallery - Fine Art and Craft are located in Cygnet, Southern Tasmania. Stanley's Studio and Gallery resides in one of the first general stores in Cygnet, circa. 1905. A vast open space with high ceilings gives room for large canvases and drawings, artworks and glass jewellery. Meet Richard Stanley, resident artist and talk about his work. Listen to ambient music as you peruse his paintings and limited edition prints. The Gallery is located in a beautiful rural setting with mountain and river views. Richard offers a unique experience to art and craft lovers. All work is Tasmanian produced with the majority being made on the premises by Richard himself. Works include original oil and pastel paintings, limited edition framed and unframed prints, cards and bookmarks. Artworks are based on landscapes in Tasmania with emphasis on the South. Richard also produces dichroic glass jewellery in pendant, hanging earring, stud earring and brooch form which sells in his gallery. Richard is also a stained glass artist having done many commissions throughout Australia. You can see his work in the front Entry Doors of his Gallery. Cygnet is a 49 minute drive (55 kilometres /34 miles ) South of Hobart.

Elsewhere Vineyard is situated just 45 minutes from Hobart and only six kilometres west of Cygnet. The vineyard produces six different wine styles: A traditional method Sparkling made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, a still Pinot Noir, still Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner. These are all dry grown on the 12.5 ha vineyard and made by Terry Doyle who is a qualified winemaker. The vineyard is in a beautiful setting just off the banks of the Huon River which is over two kilometres wide in front of the vineyard. The snow capped Hartz mountains form the western backdrop to this lovely part of Tasmania. A tour of the vineyard can be arranged.

Enchanted Woods is a gallery and shop at Castle Forbes Bay in Tasmania's Huon Valley. Castle Forbes Bay is a 10-minute drive south of Huonville (16 kilometres) and an hour from Hobart (64 kilometres). Enchanted Woods features work by Tasmanian wood-turner Sue MacBeachen. You can browse the range of individually-crafted pieces, made from Tasmanian specialty timbers including Huon pine, black heart sassafras, myrtle and blackwood. The shop also offers a range of crafts including stained glass, wood craft and collectables. Enchanted Woods is rimmed by gardens and an apple orchard and has views of the Huon River, Mount Wellington (1270) and surrounding mountains. There are a number of artists and galleries in the Huon Valley and D'Entrecasteaux Channel area. You can see examples of fine timber furniture at the Southern Design Centre in Geeveston; visit the studio of potter John Martin at the Woodfired Pottery in Glen Huon and see quality Tasmanian art and craft at The Regnan's Gallery at Peppermint Bay, near Woodbridge.

The Southern Design Centre is a furniture and craft centre at Geeveston, in Southern Tasmania. The Southern Design Centre specialises in designing and making fine timber furniture. Native Tasmanian timbers, including Huon Pine, Blackheart Sassafras, Myrtle, Blackwood, Celery Top Pine and Tasmanian Oak are used to create hand crafted furniture. You can see examples of Tasmanian timber furniture in the centres showroom and pieces can also be made to order. The work of local artists and craftspeople is displayed at the Southern Design Centre and there are artisan studios onsite also. H R Factor - Howard creates jewellery in many materials and Rino specialises in fine glass work. Mathew Anderson - woodturner, Majestic Rythmics - dance, gymnastic and ice skating costumes, Zoran Lee - Tattoo Artist. Juey Bazaar is a recycled fashion shop that supports an orphanage in Cambodia. Quillwood Pens manufacture pens from Tasmanian timbers of many designs which make great gifts. With something for everyone Southern Design is open daily. The café is open weekdays only. Gluten Free menu items always available. We are happy to cater for any dietary requirements. Geeveston is a 53 minute drive (60 kilometres / 37 miles) south of Hobart.

The Cygnet Public Golf Course is a nine-hole country course in the Huon Valley. The course overlooks Port Cygnet Bay and the township of Cygnet, and is a 50-minute drive south of Hobart (66 kilometres/41 miles). The Cygnet Public Golf Course offers nine diverse holes and a layout that makes the most of the course's natural landscape. No two holes here are the same and the natural hazards, including dams and creeks, make for an interesting round of golf. Green fees give you access to the course for the day and club and buggy hire are available - bookings for hire equipment are recommended. Change rooms and refreshments are also available. Holes: nine, Par: 33, Length: 1,760 metres

Located in Cygnet, Tasmania is Lovett Gallery operated by the Huon Exhibitions Group. HAEG is primarily a group of local artists that initially got together to support each other and organise exhibitions. They now run their own gallery "Lovett Gallery" to display and market the work of their members. The Gallery is located at the rear of the Town Hall, Mary St, Cygnet and open every weekend, Fridays during daylight savings and most public holidays from 1000 to 1600 HAEG now have 120 members and coordinate two major biennial exhibitions - 'Watermark' and 'Southern Exposure' as well as mini exhibitions for member artists. Works at Lovett Gallery are constantly changing and include paintings in all genres, photography, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery. Some members also produce greeting cards. Works can be viewed anytime on the website. Many tourists and local visitors on the Huon Trail also use the visit to enjoy the cafe culture now blossoming in and around Cygnet. Cygnet is 50 minutes' drive (55 km / 34 mile) south of Hobart.

Panorama Wines is a vineyard and wine centre in Tasmania's Huon Valley. The vineyard is located at Cradoc on the eastern shore of the Huon River, a 40-minute drive south of Hobart (65 kilometres). Panorama's 12 hectares (30 acres) of vines include riesling, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, gewürztraminer and pinot noir. You can sample Panorama's range of award winning, cool climate wines in the wine tasting room. Try the elegant pinot noir, medal-winning riesling, oaked and non-oaked chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and a refreshing, family-recipe pear liqueur. You can relax with a picnic in the gazebo and gardens or enjoy Panorama's seasonal program of concerts and live music. Cellar door sales are available at the vineyard. You can also purchase Panorama Wines at the Apple Valley Teahouse at Grove, north of Huonville.

Tas-Saff, at Glaziers Bay, southern Tasmania, is Australia's first commercial saffron grower. Glaziers Bay is located in the Huon Valley, 50 minutes drive south of Hobart (70 kilometres). Tas Saff is a family-owned, multi-award winning Tasmanian business. Established in 1991 on three acres of land overlooking the sea at Glaziers Bay, Tas Saff is now a thriving commercial saffron producer and has developed a network of 40 growers throughout Australia. You can visit Tas Saff by appointment to discover the process of growing fine quality Tasmanian saffron. Saffron is the name given to the dried, red stigmas of the flower of the Crocus Sativus plant. It is treasured for adding flavour, colour, and aroma to food, and also has medicinal qualities. Growing and harvesting saffron is a labour-intensive undertaking. Each crocus plant produces just one flower, and each flower grows three stigmas. The plant flowers over a 35-day period in autumn and the delicate process of picking, stripping, weighing and packing the filaments is all done by hand. Around 220,000 flowers are needed to produce each kilogram of Australian saffron.

Geeveston Golf Club is a nine-hole country golf club at Geeveston in the Huon Valley. Geeveston's location in the southern forests dictate its weather pattern. It may be slightly cooler at any time of the year, so always make sure you have a warm jacket and wet weather gear. To reach Geeveston from Hobart, take the Highway A6 to Huonville and continue through Franklin, home of the Wooden Boat School, to Geeveston.

Held the last Sunday in every month
10:00am - 2:00pm

The Franklin market is a lively country market, it has a great atmosphere and you’ll always find a few treasures. Stallholders range from home grown produce, hand-crafted products, quality secondhand and antique items, home-baked cakes, barista coffee, organic cafe and lots more. Thee is live music and lots of friendly faces, come and join us!