Which did we prefer in Tasmania, Penguin or Huon Valley?…Three days and counting…

Young woman riding a horse in the country in the Huon Valley.

As far as scenic beauty is concerned, both Penguin and the Huon Valley are stunningly beautiful. Although a common theme of the exquisite countryside is prevalent in both areas, the towns and local communities vary greatly.

If a traveler asked us which of the two would be most appealing for a holiday/vacation of one or two weeks, their personal tastes and preferred activities and expectations would be of first consideration.

Beyond that, there’s an obvious difference of scenery; Penguin has breathtaking ocean views and nearby beaches; in the Huon Valley, one only needs to drive about 40 minutes to arrive in beach towns with some of the whitest sand we’ve seen anywhere. 

The dirt road we traveled in the countryside.

Penguin has the opportunity for sea fishing and boating while in the Huon Valley fishing may be experienced on both the Huon River and out to sea as Tom experienced a week ago. It was his first time fishing on the ocean.

Regarding day-to-day easy activities such as walking, shopping, and perusing local business on a boulevard, Penguin has a lot more to offer. The center of Penguin is enchanting with its quaint shops, cafes, and beach town feel. 

However, there are a number of charming towns within a half hour drive from here in Castle Forbes Bay, such as Huonville, Franklin and Geeveston, all of which we’ve often visited for shopping, events and photo taking. 

There are many horses in Tasmania.

Huonville is the largest of the three towns where we’ve shopped during this past six wee, although there are some shopping options in Franklin and Geeveston.

If a tourist is interested in purchasing souvenirs in the area, the best spot would be at the Visitor’s Centre as we described in this post on February 5th when we stopped to check it out. We weren’t disappointed with their wide array of interesting items and of course, their Honey Pot which was over-the-top. This is a must-see spot when in the area.

In the Huon Valley, based on where we’re living in Castle Forbes Bay, it’s not as easy as heading out for a walk when our house is located close to main Highway A6. Walking on the winding narrow road is risky with many blind spotsHills and mountains to surround this part of Tasmania

There are many country roads and paths one may choose to walk, but since this is a “valley,” most of the walking  requires up and down steep hills that may not be suitable for all travelers.

We won’t get into all the various tourist attractions in either area. However, it’s easy to check out TripAdvisor for information on activities in Huonville and surrounding areas here. For options for Penguin, please click here.

Had we arrived a month or two earlier, the hilly countryside would have been a lush velvety green.

Many other tourist websites have endless options for exploring and experiencing scenery and indoor and outdoor activities in either of these two lovely areas.

As for friendliness, they both are some of the most friendly areas we’ve visited in our travels, comparable to Kauai, Hawaii, and Marloth Park, South Africa, our previously two favorites “friendly people” places.

Clear blue sky days are at a premium in the Huon Valley during the summer months making locals are giddy with enthusiasm on warm sunny days.

Tomorrow, we’ll share details of this lovely property with photos, links and the comfortable experience we’ve had staying in this well equipped and maintained property.

Have a lovely day!

Photo from one year ago today, February 26, 2016:

The pair of alpacas were placed in a smaller paddock for the purpose of mating. Notice the others looking on with considerable curiosity. For more about photos and a video of mating alpacas, please click here.