Margate, Tasmania: Trails, History and Gardens

Margate in Tasmania offers a range of points of interest to help with travel planning: trails along the North West Bay River, traces of tramway history, a museum about the history of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and a garden featuring native Australian plants. If you’re planning a stay, you can consider whether landscape, heritage or gardens are especially important to your decision. The offerings differ in theme and character, giving you more than one starting point for planning your trip to Margate.

Trails with different highlights

The Dru Point Track is 1.8 km long, including the return journey. Its surface is wide, mostly level and made of compacted gravel. The trail follows the estuary of the North West Bay River and offers views across the estuary towards Mt Wellington. For planning purposes, the stated distance should therefore be understood as the total return distance. The trail’s surface and views give it a different focus from the history of the Margate Tramway Track.

The Margate Tramway Track follows a section of the original tramway. Coal was transported along this route from the mine at Kaoota to a now-vanished wharf at the end of Gemalla Road. The trail therefore focuses on a former transport link. A section created in 2024 allows trail users to continue on to Baretta Reserve.

The Snug to Margate Shared Path is a safe, nature-focused corridor between Snug and Margate. It is described as suitable for cyclists, people with strollers, walkers and joggers. By comparison, the Dru Point Track description focuses on distance, gravel surface and views, while the Shared Path description identifies its different user groups. These differences can help you assess the trails based on the aspects that matter to your travel plans.

Heritage and gardens

The Channel Museum presents the history and heritage of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in southern Tasmania. More than 24 individual displays illustrate the region’s exploration and settlement, as well as its industries and social life. The scope ranges from historical developments and work to community life. If you’re considering Margate for its regional history, the museum offers a distinct focus for that interest.

The Channel Museum café serves snacks, meals and drinks, prepared on site from local ingredients where possible. As this is a visitor amenity, it’s a good idea to check current availability before visiting.

At 9.5 hectares, Inverawe Native Gardens is Tasmania’s largest designed garden featuring native Australian plants. Its size and specialization in these plants give it a different focus from the museum’s historical displays. Margate therefore offers both heritage and designed landscapes as possible interests to consider when planning a trip. Together with the trails, these offer a range of themes to weigh up when choosing your destination.

Discover more destinations: Lauderdale, Clifton Beach, New Town, Montagu Bay, Sandy Bay, Berriedale, Kingston, Lindisfarne

For the broader travel overview: Hobart.