Somerset is a small township on the Cam River estuary located roughly halfway between the township of Wynyard and the city of Burnie on the North West Coast of Tasmania.

Understand

The current population of Somerset is just over 3,000.

History

Somerset River Cam Post Office opened on 5 November 1864. It was renamed Somerset Cam around 1934 and shortened to Somerset in 1963.

Climate

In summer the temperature ranges from 12.5°C to 21°C, with around 16 hours of sunlight. In winter the temperature ranges from 6°C to 13°C, with around 8 hours of sunlight.

Get in

By car

Somerset is connected to other coastal towns along the North West Coast by the Bass Highway. Somerset is also connected to the West Coast by the Murchison Highway which begins beside the Cam River.

• From Hobart it's roughly 330km and 4h away. Redline Coaches operate to/from Burnie once or twice a day ($80). Buses via Launceston take longer.
• From Burnie or Wynyard Metro Tasmania buses operate regularly.
• From Devonport you can catch a Mersey Link bus to Ulverstone and then catch a Metro Tasmania bus to Burnie and hence to Somerset. Redline also run coaches to Burnie once a day for about $13. Either way the distance is about 55km and will take at least an hour.
• From Launceston, Redline operates coaches to Burnie once or twice a day at a fare of around $40.

Regional Express Saab 340A on the tarmac at Burnie/Wynyard Airport.

• From Queenstown, the Murchison Highway begins at Zeehan and ends at Somerset. Another alternative is the Ridgely Highway which joins the Murchison Highway at Fingerpost. Either way, it's more than 170km and between two and three hours.
• From Smithton, Redline operates daily to and from Burnie which is about 80km away and costs around $20 taking approximately one hour.

By plane

Burnie/Wynyard Airport (BWT), which is located in Wynyard, is the nearest airport to Somerset. Flights from Melbourne (economy) cost $120-180.

The Spirit of Tasmania which operates daily between Melbourne and Devonport.

• Regional Express Airlines operates services to the airport, flying to and from Melbourne at least four times per day using Saab 340 turboprop aircraft.
• Sharp Airlines also offers flights from King Island and Launceston twice daily using 19 passenger Metroliners.

By ship

The Spirit Of Tasmania is a passenger and vehicle ferry which operates between Melbourne and Devonport. Crossings take approximately 12 hours and depart daily.

Get around

• Walking
• Bicycle

See

• ANZAC Park
• Somerset Beach, which stretches along the full length of the Somerset coastline from the River Cam to the far western outskirts.
• The Cam River

Do

The beach at Somerset, looking west with Table Cape in the distance

• Swim. Consult the Beachsafe website for conditions.
• Ride a bicycle along the bike path to Burnie.

Buy

• 1 Commonwealth Bank, Wragg St. 
• 2 IGA Supermarket, Wragg St. 

Eat

• VJ's Bakery, Wragg Street. Delicious fresh bakery snacks. 
• Two Oaks Café, 116 Bass Highway, ☏ +61 3 6435 1431. Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. Made from local native wood with terrific gardens to relax in, it's a destination in its own right. 
• Jetty Restaurant, 9 Murchison Highway, ☏ +61364351106. (updated Jan 2016)
• Pink Pepper Cafe, Wragg Street. (updated Jan 2016)

Drink

• Somerset Hotel, 25 Wragg St. 
• 1 Village Milkbar, Wragg St. 

Sleep

• Somerset Beachside Caravan Park, 15,235 Bass Hwy, ☏ +61 3 6435-2322. Internet café and barbecue space. Wood-lined en suite cabins are also available with a full kitchen including fridge, microwave, stove and pots, pans and cutlery. RV or tent spaces $16 and up, Cabins $80 and up. 
• Seabrook Hotel, Bass Highway, ☏ +61 3 6435-1209. Beach is close and rooms are large with a friendly host. There's both a restaurant and bar downstairs, but a cooked breakfast can be delivered to your room. $69 and up. 

Connect

Press

The local newspaper for North West Tasmania is the Advocate, which is produced and printed in Burnie.

TV

ABC, SBS, WIN and Southern Cross digital TV stations.

Go next

Looking north west from Solomon's Throne - Walls of Jerusalem National Park

• Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park One of Tasmania's biggest icons.
• Walls Of Jerusalem National Park A beautiful less visited national park. You'll need to make careful preparations for a true bush experience since there's no direct road access and no visitor facilities. Landscapes are as lyrically beautiful as are some of their names: The Damascus Gate, Heralds Gate, King Davids Peak, Solomons Throne, The Pool of Bethesda, Lake Salome and Solomons Jewels.