Car Rental Burnie Downtown

If you want a break from being busy, try Burnie for size. This laid-back port city of 20,000 locals sits on the peaceful shores of Emu Bay in the north-west corner of Tasmania. Burnie is a hop, skip and jump from a range of pretty villages and natural attractions sprinkled across the top of the Holiday Isle. Go for a quick break or take a longer trip to discover the many nooks and niches that make ‘Tassie’ towns and its famed wilderness unique. Think of Burnie as the gateway to a range of places and experiences made easy with your hire car. 

Burnie is a lively little city with fun to be had downtown. But it’s also a great place to relax and take some time out to smell the flowers. During springtime, neighbouring Wynyard comes alive with thousands of tulips, while the stunning Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens is a sprawl of 24,000-plus blooms and native flora on Burnie’s west side. For a bright idea, pay a visit in colourful autumn. Themed garden designs, lakes, waterfalls and gazebos make perfect backdrops for family snaps all year round. Take a break in the tea rooms on site. And before you leave, meet the resident native animals, including echidna and reptiles. Wild ducks, grebes and a whole range of local bird life also come here to roost. Classified as a plant museum, you can adopt a rare species or tree. And what’s more, kids can enter for free.

It’s super-easy to explore nature in Burnie’s backyard. Head to the nearby platypus sanctuary along Emu River at Fern Glade Reserve. Catch a glimpse of these naturally shy and unusual duck-billed mammals only found in Australia. Take the magical walking track through large tree ferns on the riverbanks, and spot dozens of native orchid species on the path. There’s also picnic and barbecue facilities if you’re keen to make an afternoon of it.

Downtown Burnie is a breeze in your hire car

Burnie is a real nature lover’s delight: a clean, green city surrounded by rolling hills with several waterfalls at its outskirts. An ideal place for unwinding with beachside strolls and bushwalks. The air is fresh, and the waters clear, and the once-dense rainforests have been left to regenerate now that the resident pulp and paper mill has closed its doors. 

Once a proud industrial centre, Burnie is rebuilding itself as a vibrant creative hub. The Markers’ Workshop is a must-see attraction. This spanking new building on the waterfront is filled with the studios of makers and creators, galleries and exhibition spaces. Be sure to check out the art deco character around the streets of downtown Burnie, among a handful of fine heritage buildings. Or, if you’re interested in architecture from an older era, Burnie Regional Museum has a replica Federation street that puts the spotlight on everyday Australian life at the turn of the 20th century. 

Discover the tastes of Burnie with the help of your hire car

Behind the hills of Burnie, the Hellyers Road Distillery is the talk of the town. Take a tour of Australia’s largest boutique whisky distillery, makers of award-winning, world-class single malt whiskies and cream liqueurs. Aged in American oak barrels, you can sniff the ingredients and inspect their latest batch. Make your visit more memorable and wax-seal your very own authenticated bottle to take away as a souvenir. Finish with coffee at the Distillery Café. Enjoy a superb lunch or tasting platter with a view of the Emu Valley countryside.

Burnie’s rich soils yield all kinds of high-quality produce. Their award-winning cheese owes its fantastic flavour to the best quality locally sourced milk. Northern Tasmanian aims to become the food bowl of Australia. In fact, the bulk of Tassie’s vegetables come from the region, and the seafood here is superb. Gourmet ‘foraging’ trails will take you from town to town. Further to the east, the Tamar Valley is renowned as one of the premier grape-growing areas in Australia, with wineries attracting international attention. This cool climate region is a pure foodie haven that you won’t want to miss. From Burnie’s Farmers’ Market to its fantastic restaurants and cafes, you’ll be well fed on your northern Tassie holiday.