Things to do in Devonport
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Umm Trattoria Pizzeria
Authentic Italian fare in East Devonport – wood-fired pizzas as well as pastas, risottos and tasty toasted paninis. A chalkboard announces the daily changing specials.
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Imaginarium Science Centre
This unexpected find in Devonport is a hit with kids. The Imaginarium Science Centre has all sorts of hands-on scientific displays: you won't be able to tear the young ones away from the tower puzzles, echo tube and air-message contraption. There are magnetic trains in the area for kids aged three to seven, and a dressing-up wardrobe that will transform your little darling into anything from police officer to pirate.
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Tiagarra
The absorbing displays here tell the story of Aboriginal culture in Tasmania from the time humans first crossed over the land bridge that's now under Bass Strait. There's a soberingly frank assessment of the decimation of Aboriginal society and culture at the time of European invasion. Outside, you can follow a trail around the headland to see Aboriginal rock carvings (petroglyphs); some are more than 10,000 years old.
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Mersey River Cruises
Mersey River Cruises operates the cruise vessel Centurion, which departs from the pontoon opposite the visitors centre. You'll head upriver towards Latrobe and views of Mt Roland, then edge out through the mouth of the river onto Bass Strait in search of dolphins. There are 1½-hour cruises daily at 13:00 and 15:00 (adult/child $22.50/11) and a three-hour dinner cruise at 18:30 ($60/30).
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Don River Railway
This railway is 4km west of town, just off the Bass Hwy. The entry price includes a half-hour ride in a diesel train (between 10am and 4pm), and you can hop on the puffing steam train on Sundays and public holidays.
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Central
The Hotel Formby’s popular bar Central, across the road from the river, is Devonport’s happening- est bar, done out in leather couches with concertina windows opening onto the river on warm summer nights. There are live bands on Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday arvo is saved for laid-back acoustic music.
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Home Hill
The National Trust–administered Home Hill, 3km south of town, is the former residence of Joseph and Dame Enid Lyons. Joe is the only Tasmanian to have been Prime Minister of Australia (1932–39), while Enid raised eyebrows in 1943 as the first female member of the House of Representatives.
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Kit Kat Cafe
This welcoming café offers hungry arrivals off the ferry big bacon-and-egg breakfasts and eat-ins or takeaways including juicy, delicious burgers, fish and chips, wraps and sandwiches. There's a play corner where the little tackers can keep busy while you break your fast.
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Perry Bros Bakery
Perry Bros Bakery specialises in excellent curry scallop pies, great lunchtime menus and good cakes for in between. After an early-morning ferry arrival you can fill up here: the excellent gourmet breakfasts come with hash browns, baked beans and the lot.
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House of Anvers
House of Anvers has become an essential stop on the road to Launceston. It produces Belgian-style chocolates and truffles. See shower-capped workers mixing chocolate vats, and visit the cafe and shop where you can sample and buy chocolates.
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Devonport Maritime Museum
This museum is in the former harbour-master's residence (c 1920) and pilot station near the foreshore. It has model boats from the ages of sail through steam to the present seagoing passenger ferries.
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Twist
Pan-fried wallaby sirloin served with pepperberry sauce perhaps? Thai-style trevalla with mango and Asian green salad? Twice-cooked duck? Twist is Devonport’s grooviest contemporary restaurant with creative new mains and a new twist on old faves.
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Renusha's
Indian curries and Italian pasta are definitely an odd mix, but Renusha's achieves the combination with confidence. It has a strong local reputation for being consistently good.
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Peelz Courthouse Cafe
There are freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, great coffees and fine chai lattés here. On Sundays you can enjoy a big brekky ($10.50) under the umbrellas outside. There are also good gourmet baguettes, burgers and pastas.
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Spurs Saloon
Serves you drinks in a Wild West setting with barrels for tables and the requisite stuffed animal-head menagerie on the walls. There's karaoke here Thursday night, and the eight-ball tables are popular with the young blokes.
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All Things Nice
Located near the ferry terminal with bakery items including gourmet chunky pies, scallop pies, cakes, sweets and a good strong cuppa.
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Devonport Regional Gallery
This excellent gallery houses predominantly 20th-century Tasmanian paintings, contemporary art by local and mainland artists, plus ceramics and glasswork.
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Essence
You’d hardly expect to find a top-notch restaurant in this suburban-industrial neighbourhood, but Essence offers excellent reasonably priced degustation-style dining to discerning Devonportians.
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Rosehip Café
Part of the Backpacker’s Barn complex, hip Rosehip does reliable coffee, healthy wraps, crisp salads, and good focaccias and soups with organic products.
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Warehouse Nightclub
This is one of Devonport's few clubbing hangouts and draws a young crowd to boogie to up-and-coming bands a few times a month and Saturday-night DJs.
reviewed
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Indian Affair
Spicy South Indian curries cooked with chutzpah ensure the round tables in this upbeat eatery are always busy.
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C-Max Cinemas
C-Max Cinemas screens recent releases. All Tuesday tickets $9.50.
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Devonport Entertainment & Convention Centre
This venue stages everything from children's concerts to ABBA impersonators.
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Tapas Lounge Bar
Everyone's talking about this cool new place upstairs in the Rooke St Mall. It's all done up in black leather, has funky music, and the tapas-style menu also has options for kids. After 9pm it morphs into a bar for over 25s with live music Friday to Sunday.
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Mersey Bluff
Lighthouse-topped Mersey Bluff is the most striking feature of Devonport. The red-and-white-striped lighthouse was built in 1889 to aid navigation into the expanding port, which still handles agricultural produce from northern Tasmania.
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