West Kentish

Lake Barrington gives a stay in West Kentish a clear focus. For planning, you can consider activities on the lake and accommodation separately: specific places to stay in West Kentish include Manna Hill Farm Cottages and Eagles Nest Retreat.

Lake Barrington: Rowing and leisure by the water

Lake Barrington was created in 1969 as a water storage reservoir for power generation and developed into a hub for water- and nature-based recreation in north-west Tasmania. The lake is Tasmania’s internationally renowned rowing course and hosted the World Rowing Championships. Rowing is therefore one of the defining activities at Lake Barrington.

Recreational activities include rowing, water skiing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, fishing, camping, picnicking and sightseeing. Alongside rowing on an international competition course, there are other activities to choose from at the lake. You can make whichever of these appeals most to you the starting point for planning your visit.

A 2024 brochure from the Inland Fisheries Service describes Lake Barrington as a Nature Conservation Area. The Inland Fisheries Service’s 2024 fishing advice also notes that fishing is available at the lake year-round. Check the current regulations before fishing.

Kentish Park is one of three key access points for recreational activities at Lake Barrington. The park has public toilets right by the lakeshore, on West Kentish Road in West Kentish. This identifies both a specific access point for activities at the lake and the location of the public toilets.

Holiday cottages and a retreat in West Kentish

Manna Hill Farm Cottages consists of two modern, self-contained holiday cottages in West Kentish. They are set on 50 acres of farmland and offer views of Mount Roland and the surrounding landscape. The focus of this accommodation is its self-contained cottages and their scenic setting.

Eagles Nest Retreat has four accommodation units. Each can accommodate 2 to 8 guests, with a total capacity of up to 18 people. Guest amenities include spas and on-site services such as a private chef or massages. These services are tied to a stay at the retreat and are not activities available independently of it.

The two accommodation options can be considered according to different features: Manna Hill is described in terms of its cottages and setting, while Eagles Nest Retreat is also described in terms of capacity and guest services. This lets you consider accommodation type and group size as separate choices.

Sparkling wine and picnics at Lake Barrington

Lake Barrington Vineyard in West Kentish specialises in sparkling wines and offers picnic platters featuring local produce. If you plan to order a picnic platter, check its current availability in advance.

The cellar door at Lake Barrington Vineyard opened in 1993 and offered views of Lake Barrington and Mount Roland. This historical detail describes the cellar door at the time; it does not make a claim about current visitor access.

Discover more destinations: Wattle Hill, Sheffield, Gravelly Beach, Rosny Park, Castle Forbes Bay, Chudleigh, Lake St Clair, Camdale.

For the broader travel guide: Tasmania.