New Norfolk sits astride the Derwent River on the Lyell Highway and is 19km from Hawthorn Lodge.

New Norfolk has a good Woolworths and a range of shops. There are three pubs, a Chinese Restaurant, a Bistro, several takeaways, an upmarket restaurant Tynwald, Subway, MacDonald’s and an RSL.  There are BBQ facilities by the river.

New Norfolk was first settled on the 9th of November 1807 with a group of 34 arriving from Norfolk Island on the Lady Nelson. 

Norfolk Island was one of two first settled areas in Australia. The other being Port Jackson better known as Sydney. Norfolk Island became a burden for the administration to run as there was no market for the product, mainly pork. By 1814 Norfolk Island was abandoned.

Over the next two years others joined persuaded by the offer of 4 acres of land for each acre owned on Norfolk Island. The first name for New Norfolk was "The Hills" matching the gentle hills that surround New Norfolk.

The first individual to construct a house at New Norfolk was Denis McCarty who had converted from convict to police constable and went on to build the road to Hobart in 1812.

In 1811 Governor Macquarie mapped out the town and named the location "Elizabeth Town" after his wife.Residents never accepted this name and wanted to remember their origin and used the name New Norfolk. In 1846 the first hop plants were introduced and this turned into a thriving trade producing in the traditional "New Norfolk" landscape of oast houses and windbreaks of Lombardy Poplars.

The Derwent Valley Railway opened in 1887 but now closed. Plans are being made to open the railway as part of the development of New Norfolk tourism.

The Derwent Valley in the early 1900’s grew fast due to the wealth of timber and fertile soils and the addition of the railway line.  River steamers making access to markets easy. A further boost in 1907 was the Hydro-Electric Power & Metallurgical Company operating at the Great Lake. 

Today New Norfolk is a thriving town and for the tourist the many antique shops are a draw card and the New Norfolk historical buildings..

'Willow Court' is a unique old stone building which was built as a military hospital in 1830-31 by Major Roger Kelsall. It was named 'Willow Court' because Lady Franklin planted a willow in the courtyard. Just one room wide, with wide verandas and gabled two storey sections at the corners and in the centre, Willow Court was initially planned by Governor Arthur as a location where invalid convicts could be located. Inside the area are antique shops and cafes.

One of the largest New Norfolk residences is Tynwald with views over the Derwent Valley. Now a restaurant and bed & breakfast and another place for New Norfolk accommodation. The location was initially used by John Terry, one of the district's initial settlers, who built the Lachlan River Mill close by. In 1898 the famous politician, William Moore, bought the house and added a tower and other features and renamed it 'Tynwald' after the parliament on the Isle of Man.

St Matthew's Anglican Church, built in 1823 and believed to be the earliest church in Tasmania. The church is opposite Arthur Square.  Consecrated in 1828 by Archdeacon Scott from Sydney. A tower was added in 1870.

Drill Hall Emporium is one of the original antique stores and housed in a former army drill hall. The same owners operate Flywheel a store with a vintage letterpress and operating studio. Pulpit Rock Lookout is the place to view the Derwent Valley and the town of New Norfolk. There are a few other antique shops.

Betty King's Grave in the Methodist Cemetery remembers Elizabeth Thackery who was the first white woman to set base on Australian soil on 26 January 1788. She died in New Norfolk on 6 August 1856, aged 93.  Convicted in Manchester on 4 May 1786, and sentenced to seven years' for stealing five handkerchiefs to a worth one shilling.

Ann Bridger established the Bush Inn in 1824 and is the longest serving licenced hotel in Australia. The Bush Inn for many years was where it all happened in New Norfolk and where plans for the first toll bridge to cross the Derwent were made in 1838 with completion in 1841.

The Bush Inn also enjoyed Vice Royal patronage with Sir John and Lady Franklin staying in this New Norfolk accommodation. William Vincent Wallace composed the theme song to his famous opera, "Maritana" as he sat on the hotel balcony in 1838. 

Downriver from New Norfolk is the large Australian Newsprint Mills at Boyer that were opened in 1941. The mill is the first in the world to produce newsprint from hardwoods.  Going up the river from New Norfolk is the small village of Plenty with its popular salmon ponds and the first rainbow and brown trout farm in Australia starting in 1864.

A pleasant walk is along the Derwent River.