Castle Forbes Bay: River Cruises, Fruit Growing and History

Castle Forbes Bay combines a history of fruit growing with experiences on the Huon River and opportunities for walks and culture. Its different themes give your trip its own focus: you might be interested in a river cruise, learning about local fruit growing, or making time for trails and events. When choosing a holiday rental, you can first consider which of these aspects of the town you would like to shape your stay.

From early apple trees to cherry growing

An important part of the town’s history dates back to 1856. That year, James Reid planted the first apple trees at Honeywood, now Castle Forbes Bay. Reid Fruits’ Castle Forbes Bay Orchard offers its own insight into agriculture: it covers more than 50 hectares and is associated with high-quality cherries. The history and present-day cherry growing offer different points of interest if you are curious about the town’s agricultural heritage.

Huon River Cruises: morning or afternoon

Huon River Cruises offers an afternoon trip on the Huon River. It departs from Heriots Point, a private vineyard on the riverbank, and includes a platter of local produce. This experience combines a trip on the water with a culinary component. For a different time of day, there is a morning trip with locally roasted coffee or tea; freshly baked scones are optional. If you like choosing activities according to the time of day, the two options differ in their departure times and the food and drinks listed for each.

Local history, art and music

Community spaces are also part of Castle Forbes Bay’s character. The Recreation Ground was gifted to the community in the 1920s as a cricket ground. The Castle Forbes Bay Recreation Club hosts a three-day arts and music event every year. If you want to include cultural experiences in your trip, you can consider this recurring event alongside the themes of the river and agriculture. The event brings its own focus: art and music are at its heart, while the cruises and fruit growing appeal to other interests.

Trails and nature at Harwoods Common

Two different trails are mentioned for getting outdoors. The Yellow Boot Walk is a walking trail listed in Castle Forbes Bay. Harwoods Common also has a trail to a waterfall at the top of the reserve. The description of the waterfall trail gives you a specific destination for an outing; no distance or walking time is provided. Weeds are also removed and trees planted at Harwoods Common to encourage native animals to return to the area. These efforts highlight another aspect of the place: alongside the nature experience, improving the area for native animals also plays a role.

More destinations: Nubeena, Hillwood, Mole Creek, Sorell, Penguin, George Town, Conara, South Arm Peninsula.

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.