Tullah
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Tullah is a small town of 202 (2021) in West Coast Tasmania, surrounded by Lake Roseberry and Lake Mackintosh and impressive mountains that form a part of the West Coast Range.
From an outsider's perspective, Tullah might seem small – and while it certainly is small, it's one of the four major settlements on West Coast Tasmania (with Zeehan, Strahan, and Queenstown being the other three – Roseberry is too insignificant to be considered one). It's very laidback, even more so compared to Strahan or Queenstown, but it has become more of a quick stopover point for those travelling on the A10.
Understand
Get in
Tullah is on the Murchison Highway (A10), and is only accessible via road. Before the 1960s, Tullah was only accessible by rail, but today, it's only accessible by road.
It's 52 km southwest of Cradle Mountain (via C132), 14 km northeast of Roseberry, 43 km from Zeehan and 84 km from Strahan (via B27). Assume that you're averaging 60 km/h – meaning it'll take you roughly 40–45 minutes from Zeehan, per se. Although the speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph), the windy nature of the road means that you won't be able to travel that speed.
Get around
The town is small enough to get around on foot, though you'll likely need to take a car to Mackintosh Dam.
See
- 1 Mackintosh Dam, Mackintosh Dam Rd. A hydroelectric power station that gives some impressive views of Lake Mackintosh (and no, it's not usually obstructed by fog) and a good photo spot. The dam is a 4-kilometer detour from A10 and parking is available at the dam.
- 2 Wee Georgie Wood Steam Railway, Murchirson Hwy (near the cnr of A10 and Mackintosh Dam Rd), ☏ +61 459 643 308. Oct–Apr: Sa Su 10AM–3PM (rides take about 20 minutes). A historic steam locomotive railway from the 1920s, used back when Tullah was a mining town. The railway lost its importance after the construction of the Murchirson Highway in the 1960s, a time when railways was on the decline in Tasmania (to the point where there are now zero passenger railways in the state today). $12 per adult, $6 per child, $25 per family (2 adults + 2 children), and $10 for concession holders.
Do
Buy
Eat
- 1 Tullah Cafe, 30 Farrell St, ☏ +61 3 6473 4377. M–F 9AM–5PM, Sa Su & public holidays 9AM–4PM. Tullah's only ordinary cafe with an emphasis on Tasmanian products. Otherwise, it's no different to an ordinary Australian takeaway cafe.
Drink
- 1 Tullah Tavern, Lot 11 Murchirson Hwy, ☏ +61 3 6473 4141. Daily 11AM–2PM, 6–9PM. The town's main tavern which also happens to be Tasmania's longest historical bar. Happy hour is on Wednesdays between 7 and 8PM.
Sleep
- 1 Tullah Lakeside Lodge, 56 Farrell St, ☏ +61 3 6473 4121, info@tullahlakesidelodge.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A lakeside lodge with impressive views of Lake Roseberry and snow-capped mountains during the off-season. Includes a licensed restaurant and a gift shop open 7AM–6PM.
Connect
Go next
| Queenstown ← Rosebery ← | SW A10 N | → C132 jct to Cradle Mtn → Somerset |
- Tullah is a stopover point towards Strahan, a town famed for its sunsets and its historic and brutal harbour.
- To learn more about the region's mining history, the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan is a good place to learn about West Coast Tasmania's mining history.