  What to do in the Far North East
■ Discover a peaceful, country retreat in Gladstone. A former tin and gold mining town, Gladstone is today the service centre for the Far North East and a good base from which to explore the magnificent coastline and heath lands of Mount William National Park. Make Gladstone your base – a range of accommodation is available, from pub and hostel-style to powered sites and self-contained accommodation. ■ Mount William National Park offers visitors pristine white beaches, turquoise ocean, lichen-splashed granite rocks and beautiful wild flowers. ■ Wildlife is abundant – take the Forester Drive at dusk or early morning for close encounters with wombats, wallabies and indigenous Forester kangaroos. ■ Visit Eddystone Point Lighthouse (c1889) at the southern end of the park – the granite houses are the oldest surviving lighthouse keeper’s quarters in Tasmania. ■ From Ansons Bay, return to the North East Trail via Gladstone. ■ South of Gladstone take a short drive to the amazing Blue Lake. |
