Bronte Park, Tasmania: Travel guide and things to do

Located midway between Hobart and Queenstown (147 km north west of Hobart and 115 km east of Queenstown), Bronte Park is close to the geographic centre of Tasmania. It was once a Hydro-Electric Commission village. In recent times this tiny village, which is surrounded by excellent trout fishing lakes, has become a base for fishermen, canoeists and bushwalkers. The old HEC huts have been turned into a 'highland village' with chalet accommodation and, in turn, they have attracted other specialist accommodation to the area.

The 'highland village' consists of cottages and hostels. Meals, including picnic lunches, are provided. There is also a licensed picnic area.

Bronte Park is ideal if you want to go fishing. To give the village a European feel the chalets have been named after different countries so you can stay at Luxembourg, two Englands, Switzerland, Finland, or Italy.

Of particular interest is The London Lakes Lodge which is Australia's only International standard fly fishing lodge. It accommodates only fly fishers and their partners, or persons wishing to learn to fly fish. It welcomes all anglers. Most experienced fly fishermen need tuition in the short distance casting techniques required for the Tasmanian fishery.

The Lodge is small and private, handcrafted from Tasmanian celery-top pine logs and field stone with internal woodwork featuring exotic Tasmanian species. The Lodge accommodates ten persons in five twin-bedded rooms, each with its own bathroom. Built in 1984, the Lodge was refurbished in 1998 and is a welcome haven for International anglers seeking the very best of Tasmanian fly fishing, foods and wines. The team of ten London Lakes professional guides is friendly, courteous and professional.

Things to see

The Centre of Tasmania
To the east of the town is a monument at Trig Point 715 on the Lyell Highway which was erected in 1983 by Members of the Institution of Surveyors (Australian Tasmanian Division) to commemorate the early surveyors who explored and mapped the state. It is located near the geographical centre of Tasmania. It is designed to be similar to a cairn erected by James Sprit on Mount La Perouse during his trigonometrical survey 1833-35.