Tasmania's northwest gateway blends maritime heritage with wild hinterland — home to ancient Aboriginal rock carvings, a striped lighthouse on volcanic headland, and some of the world's best platypus spotting, all within easy reach of Cradle Mountain.
Devonport is a pier port — no tendering required — but your berth location (East or West) determines how you reach the city center.
💡 Pro move: Tasmania has strict biosecurity laws — do not take fresh fruit, vegetables, honey, meat, or plants off the ship. Sniffer dogs operate at the gangway and fines are immediate.
Devonport uses the East Devonport commercial wharf for most cruise calls; a shuttle or the historic Torquay Ferry bridges the river to the city center.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines | East Devonport wharf (Berth 1E / 2E)📍 | Docked |
| Boutique / expedition ships | West Devonport berth (near CBD)📍 | Docked |
Devonport punches above its size as a base: Cradle Mountain World Heritage wilderness is 1.5 hours inland, while heritage trains, chocolate factories, and platypus ponds are all within 20 minutes.
The crown jewel of Tasmanian wilderness — jagged dolerite peaks reflected in Dove Lake, roaming wombats, and ancient pencil-pine rainforest. It's a 1.5-hour drive each way, so book a cruise-line excursion to guarantee ship-time compliance.
Find Cradle Mountain tours →Volunteer-run heritage railway that steams through bushland along the Don River to Coles Beach. Features a historic locomotive museum and working carriage workshop — one of Australia's best small railway heritage sites.
Find heritage railway tours →The 120-hectare Tasmanian Arboretum in Eugenana (15 min drive) is one of the world's most reliable spots to see wild platypuses. Visit the Platypus Pond in the late afternoon for best sightings among the elusive monotremes.
Find wildlife tours →Explore the treacherous history of the Bass Strait crossing through interactive exhibits — including a ship simulator where you can attempt to navigate a steamer through the Mersey River channel.
Find maritime tours →Drive 10 minutes to Latrobe for House of Anvers, a Belgian-style chocolate factory with free tastings and a chocolate museum. The surrounding region is also known for its cheese producers and farm produce.
Find food tours →Iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse on a volcanic headland above Bass Strait. The path along the bluff passes ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs — one of the best free cultural sites in Tasmania.
Find lighthouse walks →Devonport's flat Coles Beach Coastal Pathway connects the river, lighthouse, and beach in one easy 3.5 km stroll.
Walk west from the CBD along the river foreshore, past the Bass Strait Maritime Centre, and out to the dramatic red-striped Mersey Bluff Lighthouse. Along the way, look for the Aboriginal rock carvings on the headland. Return the same way or loop via Bluff Beach.
Continue past the lighthouse along the flat coastal track to Coles Beach — a long stretch of Bass Strait sand popular with surfers. The Don River Railway also stops here if you want a one-way ride back.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Devonport, Tasmania, Australia (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F / 22°C | 56°F / 13°C | 9 |
| Feb | 71°F / 22°C | 55°F / 13°C | 7 |
| Mar | 68°F / 20°C | 53°F / 12°C | 9 |
| Apr | 63°F / 17°C | 49°F / 9°C | 9 |
| May | 58°F / 14°C | 45°F / 7°C | 11 |
| Jun | 55°F / 13°C | 43°F / 6°C | 11 |
| Jul | 54°F / 12°C | 42°F / 6°C | 15 |
| Aug | 55°F / 13°C | 41°F / 5°C | 12 |
| Sep | 58°F / 14°C | 43°F / 6°C | 11 |
| Oct | 61°F / 16°C | 46°F / 8°C | 10 |
| Nov | 65°F / 18°C | 49°F / 9°C | 8 |
| Dec | 69°F / 21°C | 52°F / 11°C | 9 |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)