New horse drawn carriage attraction to boost Geeveston after rough trot

A tourism savvy couple are bringing their renowned and unique style of tours to a breathtaking castle in a remote Tasmanian town — opening for the first time this week. DETAILS >>

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TWO tourism savvy couples are collaborating to bring special style of tours to a breathtaking castle in a remote town.

Steve Olive and Sharon Armstrong’s Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages have become a fixture at Salamanca, Hobart’s waterfront area and Battery Point.

Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages has launched a new tour in Geeveston where they live. Photographer: TANYA CHALLICE

The pair has now collaborated with another innovative couple to bring their carriage rides and stallions to Castle Phoenix in Geeveston, the town in which they live.

Mr Olive said a visit during the lockdown to the four-level fairytale castle, currently still under construction, inspired the bold move to work with castle owners Francis Shepherd and Christina Kent.

Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages has launched a new tour at Castle Phoenix in Geeveston. Photographer: TANYA CHALLICE

“During a Brand Tasmania evening at Geeveston we heard that Francis and Christina wanted to open the castle but had neither the time nor the expertise to do so,” Mr Olive said.

“That got us thinking and we were also determined to see our community rebuild after the double blows of the bushfires and COVID-19.”

The tours will begin on December 3, running Thursdays and Fridays.

A new tour at Castle Phoenix in Geeveston will be conducted by Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages run by Sharon Armstrong and her partner. Photographer: TANYA CHALLICE.

“Our tours will be two hours in duration including a return trip of one hour in our glass coach leaving from Geeveston,” Mr Olive said.

“We will then conduct tours of the castle.”

Castle Phoenix has 27 rooms and three verandas. The final rooftop stage of construction will commence soon.

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys congratulated the two couples on creating their new attraction, saying he hoped locals and domestic travellers alike would hop aboard for a trot around Geeveston.