Wynyard, Tasmania

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Wynyard
state = tas


caption = Table Cape as seen at dusk
lga = Waratah-Wynyard Council
postcode = 7325
est =
pop = 4,812
pop_footnotes=
elevation= 12
elevation_footnotes= [ [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_091107.shtml Bureau of Meteorology] . Retrieved on 2007-11-17.]
maxtemp = 16.7
mintemp = 6.9
rainfall = 997.6
stategov = Braddon
fedgov = Braddon
dist1 = 317
dir1 = NW
location1= Hobart
dist2 = 163
dir2 = NW
location2= Launceston
dist3 = 66
dir3 = NW
location3= Devonport
dist4 = 18
dir4 = NW
location4= Burnie

Wynyard is a rural town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies convert|16|km|mi|0|lk=on west of Burnie on the Bass Highway at the mouth of the Inglis River

At the 2006 census Wynyard had a population of 4,812.Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL619400 |name=Wynyard (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=2007-11-17|quick=on] . It is part of the Waratah-Wynyard Council local government area and a major regional hub, servicing many of the surrounding rural districts.

Town centre

Free car parking and level walking, along with a wide range of facilities, make Wynyard attractive for weekly shopping. It is an increasingly popular retirement town for the same reason, with a number of new housing developments to suit the tastes of all kinds of households. Its clean beaches are particularly good for walking, thanks to firm quartz sand. There are sheltered spots for swimming at 'The Old Port', changing facilities and showers for bathers on the main beach, and good provision for children, including barbecue and picnic areas, playgrounds and a supervised swimming pool, open in the summer school vacations.

Tourism

Wynyard is an increasingly popular tourist centre. Visitors flock to see the local scenic attraction of Table Cape, a former volcano with views inland along the north coast. The mouth of the Inglis, with its well-used sailing club and anchorage for fishing vessels is the most most notable feature of Wynyard itself. It is popular with local people, whether for fishing from the quay or for swimming in the river water. The Inglis, though, is tidal and subject to fast and dangerous currents, so swimming is only possible at low tide when the flow of water from inland is modest.

The new Tourist Information Centre behind the main shopping area has a complete range of tourist information, its own parking area,and an attractive display. Tourists can book many trips inland from there.

Transport

Private flights may be booked from Wynyard's own airport (Burnie Airport), including tourist circuits to the Wilderness in the South West and around the locality. The airport is unusual in that the runway and a defunct railway line intersect each other.Fact|date=February 2007; Passenger train services run by "Tasman Limited" ceased in the mid-1970s. The line is now in a state of disrepair. Wynyard was once the main terminus with Hobart being the other. The service ran daily to and from Hobart, the main point for changing being at Western Junction, just south of Launceston. It was a narrow mostly single-gauge service. Fact|date=April 2007

Tulip Festival

The Wynyard Tulip Festival, renamed 'Bloomin' Tulips' in 2004 by the festival committee, is a popular event each year. The festival is one of the town's greatest attractions to tourists, whether from Tasmania itself or from the mainland. The tulip fields are well worth a visit. Most of these are on Table Cape, but others can be seen near the Bass Highway. The area is also famous for its lily fields.

Access

Within walking distance of the centre of Wynyard is Burnie Airport, run by the Burnie Port Authority. This well-used little airport serves the nearby city of Burnie, about 15 minutes' drive east and offers air access to Melbourne, King Island and Devonport. Buses and car-hire facilities are available as well as adequate car parking. The cafeteria and gift shop are close to the waiting area.

By car, Wynyard is approximately two hours' drive west of Launceston, along the Bass Highway.

Devonport, the southern terminus of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to the mainland, is 40 minutes east by car.

There are bus services to Wynyard from Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

References

External links

* [http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/home.cgi?oacID=10 Wynyard On Line]