RUBICON
ESTATE + WILDLIFE
Hawley House (circa 1878) is the original homestead of Rubicon Estate, a 150 hectare wildlife sanctuary, garden and grazing paddocks for our friendly horses.
Wildlife abounds in the coastal heathland on the windswept escarpment overlooking Bass Strait. The Estate straddles the peninsula of Point Sorell and offers stunning views of the North-west coast all the way to Table Cape & Stanley to the west (200km away) and the Narawntapu National Park, Badger Head and Bakers Beach to the East, on the opposite banks of the Rubicon River.
Point Sorell is home to the largest Fairy Penguin and Muttonbird rookeries on the Tasmanian mainland.
GARDENS + WETLANDS
Set on a peninsula into the Southern Oceans, and buffeted by the salt-laden Roaring Forties, the tranquil oasis of a chain of small lakes down to a sandy beach and overlooking the pristine ranges of the Narawntapu National Park. A detailed map of the gardens is found in the main entrance hallway.
These gardens, which have been literally scraped from the bedrock, now encompass an extensive range of exotic plants from cool temperate through to sub-tropical plants.
VISIT THE HORSES
You can take a short walk to get a panoramic view of the Estuary from the top of the hill near the Hill House. Meet our friendly horses Trojan, Juno, Persia and Phantom.
POINT SORELL & PENGUIN ROOKERIES
Venture to the beach in front of the house, either by meandering through the gardens or down the driveway. Turn left and follow the walking track which starts at the end of the beach. The foreshore track takes about 20 minutes each way, and past the historic Larooma Homestead (c.1875), Spy Island and the Carbuncle, both of which can be reached at low tide for those more adventurous souls. Fairy Penguin and Muttonbird rookeries inhabit the Point, and in summer months it is possible to watch the penguins coming ashore at dusk. 45 min return walk.
