Weldborough: Rainforest and mining history

Rainforest and traces of the tin-mining era

Weldborough is surrounded by the Blue Tier rainforest and was once a thriving tin-mining town. Nature and mining history give the place two distinct sides: you may be interested in staying here to experience the forest, or to follow the area’s historic traces. This distinction is useful when planning your trip, as the experiences described range from a short walk to a mountain bike trail and an old pioneer road.

The Blue Tier Heritage Trail follows an old pioneer road to the settlement of Weldborough. Along the way, it passes the remains of numerous water races that once supplied the Moorina power station. The trail thus connects the route to the settlement with visible traces of earlier work and infrastructure. If you are interested in the area’s history, you can look out for these details as you explore the trail. The old road and the water races tell different parts of the same local past: one defines the trail’s route, while the others point to the power station’s former water supply.

The town’s history extends beyond tin mining, too. Weldborough was once a thriving tin-mining town with a Chinatown district and Tasmania’s first casino. Another historical connection can be found at the Bakker Cottages at 51 Main Road. This small group of buildings was originally associated with mining in the area. Together, the town’s history and the group of buildings are a reason to consider not only the landscape during a visit, but also the development of mining in Weldborough.

For a short nature walk, there is the Weldborough Pass Rainforest Walk: a ten-minute walk into the rainforest, right next to the Tasman Highway. Its explicitly short duration sets it apart from a longer outing such as the Blue Tier Heritage Trail. If you’re looking for a manageable walk in the rainforest, you can weigh this option differently when planning your day from a tour focused on the historic traces along the old pioneer road.

Little Chook offers another, more active way to experience the area. This easy mountain bike trail is near Weldborough, is 2.5 kilometres long and has a stated duration of 10 to 30 minutes. The distance and time help you fit this activity into your day as a separate option. You can then decide whether a short walk, Little Chook or the historically focused Heritage Trail better suits your travel interests.

If you choose Weldborough as your destination, you can decide in advance what you’d like to focus on: rainforest, mountain biking or the history of this former tin-mining town. This is also a useful guide when searching for holiday accommodation in Weldborough, as choosing the right place to stay starts with the experiences you want to make the focus of your trip.

Discover more places

If you’d like to explore more places: Falmouth, Plenty, Scottsdale, Sandford, Sisters Beach, Lalla, Ringarooma and Kayena.

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.