A small seaside village on the north coast of Tasmania that is a centre for scallop, trout and lobster fishing industries. Bridport has become a very popular holiday location with the population increasing markedly in summer. It has beaches, swimming, sailing and other water sports. A ferry operates from Bridport to Flinders Island. Commercial fishing operates from Bridport as well as sporting fishing from the rocks or small boats.

Events

CWA MARKET

Bridport. Trading: 2nd Saturday of the month  9am - 2pm
Type: General, Other. Phone: (03) 6356 1474

Where Is it?: Bridport is 85 km north east of Launceston, on Anderson Bay, Bass Strait.



Bridport, with a population of about 1,300, sprawls along Andersons Bay. Popular beaches include Mermaid's Pool, a tranquil cove that at high tide, provides a sheltered swimming hole. Mermaid's Pool is a short walk from the town centre and 500 metres from the popular Old Pier beach. Further along the beach road is dog-friendly Adam's Beach.

Streets in the northern half of Bridport have male person names and those in the southern half have female names.

There is a free brochure at the Pavilion Information Centre which lists the main places of historic interest in the town. Each place has a very detailed sign with interesting text and important historic photographs.

Bridport Walking Track History

Granite Point Conservation Area

Bridport Wildflower Reserve is part of Granite Point Conservation Area, where walking tracks lead through the reserve to Adams Beach. The flower reserve boasts one of the best displays of heath flowers in spring. The rocks of the Reserve are the same Devonian granites that occur from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, through the Furneaux Islands and down Tasmania s East Coast.

Flinders Island Ferry

A weekly ferry operates (departing Monday) from Bridport in Tasmania s northeast to Lady Barron on Flinders Island, continuing to Port Welshpool in Victoria on demand. A return trip to Flinders Island from Bridport costs $97 per person. To take a vehicle costs from $515 to $926 (including driver), prices varying with vehicle size. The journey takes 8 1/2 hours one way; bookings essential (four to six weeks in advance). Southern Shipping Company, Main St, Bridport. Ph (03) 6356 3333.

Pipers River wine region

With its red basalt soil and a cool climate moderated by the proximity of Bass Strait, the small but significant Pipers River boutique wine region (26 km east) was established in 1974. With a climate close to that of Champagne in France, it is known simply as Sparkling Tasmania . Many of Tasmania s premium sparkling wines originate here. It is particularly suited to the aromatic white varieties.

Barnbougle Dunes

Barnbougle Dunes (3 km north east) is a hidden gem and home to one of the world s top Links golf courses. The golf links, built on undulating coastal dunes, is the work of famed golf architect Tom Doak and Australia s Michael Clayton. The breathtaking landscape upon which the course has been created mirrors the wild coastal links courses of Scotland and Ireland and as Barnbougle continues to develop with age it looks set to follow in the footsteps of these great courses. Barnbougle Dunes has been ranked the No.1 public course in Australia and No.7 in the world.

Waterhouse Conservation Area

The Waterhouse Conservation Area in Tasmania's north-east contains many wetland communities, including three major permanent deep-water lagoons - Blackmans Lagoon and Big Waterhouse and Little Waterhouse lakes. Little Waterhouse Lake is listed under the Ramsar Convention as an internationally significant wetland. Waterhouse is popular place for camping, with several sites available. Other popular uses of the reserve include hunting, wildlife viewing, fishing, and recreational vehicle use. On the northern shore of Big Waterhouse Lake is a small camping area used mainly by duck shooters, but also sometimes by fishermen. No facilities are provided.

Bowood

Located 12 km from Bridport, Bowood is the oldest building in north-eastern Tasmania. A handsome Georgian stone, brick and pit-sawn timber dwelling it was built in 1838 for Peter Brewer. The building team comprised an ex-convict carpenter and an American stonemason who had deserted from his sealing ship. It was eventually sold to the Hurst family who, over generations, built the surrounding land from 15 acres (6 ha) of cleared land to a property of 33,000 acres (13,354 ha). When it was sold at auction in 2005 it was bought by a local potato farmer for $7.75 million. The house is not open to the public.