Geeveston was named after William Geeves, an English settler who was given a land grant by Lady Jane Franklin in the area then known as Lightwood Bottom.

The settlement Geeves set up was renamed Geeves Town in 1861, and the name eventually became Geeveston.

It is the centre of Tasmania's apple and fruit-growing industry, and has also been highly reliant on the timber industry since the late 19th century.

A pulp mill was opened in the town in 1962, and was Geeveston's largest employer until the plant closed in 1982.

15 km inland from Geeveston is the Hartz Mountains National Park a fascinating combination of glacial features and unusual fauna and flora.

There are a number of walking tracks and nature trails in the park and the Arve Loop Road, which leads to the park, passes through some of the most dramatic rainforest country in Australia.

Today the town is home to the Forest and Heritage Centre which features displays on forest management and products.

North of Geeveston along the Huon River is the Panorama Vineyard.

To the east are river cruises at Port Huon, and to the south is a daffodil and bulb farm, some of the varieties sold being unique to the farm.

Further west along Arve Road Forest Drive (Highway C631) is the Tahune Forest Reserve and the Tahune Airwalk.

The Tahune AirWalk is an exhilarating nature-based experience set in one of Tasmania's most world-renowned forests, the Tahune Forest Reserve. One of the most visited Tasmanian attractions, the AirWalk offers spectacular views of the state's famous Southern Forests.

The Tasmanian Forest Festival is held in the area every March.