A charming fishing port on Tasmania's east coast, which in recent years has grown in popularity as a holiday resort.

Where Is it?: Bicheno is 176 km south east of Launceston and 182 km north east of Hobart (via the Tasman Highway).

Visitor Centre: 41b Foster Street, Bicheno. Ph (03) 6375 1500



One of Bicheno's more well known coastal features is the town's blowhole, which is located near the Esplanade Reserve. Nearby is also the Rocking Rock, 80 tonnes of rocking granite, which has been rocking for thousands of years. The Bicheno Blowhole is located right next to the water, along the sandy and granite coastline.



Like most of Tasmania's east coast, Bicheno is noted for its distinctive red lichen on granite outcrops and its impressive blowholes. Granite coastal boulders can be found at the Blowhole and run north for 300m to a large block with more at Peggys Point.

Penguin tours are one of the town's most popular attractions, while the local wildlife park has a wide array of fauna, including kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and pelicans. Depending on the time of year, the penguins come home on most nights. Little Penguins travel extensively at sea to feed during the day and clamber over the rocks at sunset to their homes. They go out again at dawn.

Governors Island and Waubs Gulch

Situated right at the east of Bicheno, the picturesque Governor Island poses as an exemplary marine environment that deserves every tourist s awe. Mainlanders and foreigners from around the globe frequent the island for its rock formations 'Hairy Wall' and 'The Castle,' wildlife that includes Australian fur seal, penguins, silver gulls, kelp gulls and other island species, and diving spots prominent for the caves and swim throughs. Standing as the breeding nest of crested terns, Governor Island becomes an essential faction for marine reserve.

Marine life and seabirds abound in Governor Island Marine Reserve. In winter when diving is best, with water visibility reaching 30 metres and more, you may have the pleasure of diving amongst schools of dolphins or to swim alongside the whales who use Bicheno as a stopover during their migration. Stay dry in a glass-bottomed boat or scuba dive amid sheer rock walls, deep fissures, caves, sponges and sea whips. Bicheno is considered one of the best temperate water dive sites in Tasmania.

Peggy Point

Peggy Point was used as a base for sealers and whalers from 1803. Their settlement became known as Waub's Boat Harbour. The first permanent settlement began in 1849 after coal was discovered and began being mined at nearby Douglas River. More coal was discovered at Denison River in 1854 and a 7km horse-drawn tramway was constructed to the mine. Both mines fell into decline in the mid 1850s when the miners left to join the Victorian goldrush. Between the World Wars, Bicheno was revived as a cray (lobster) fishing and tourist centre.

East Coast Natureworld

East Coast Natureworld is a natural wildlife and Ecology park near Bicheno, on Tasmania s east coast. Experience the freedom to roam and relax in 160 acres of parkland and lagoon, or get involved and hand feed some of the free ranging Kangaroos.

The park is located north of Bicheno. Here, you can see native Australian wildlife up close, including Tasmanian Devils, Tassie Tigers (Snakes and cats of course), wombats, kangaroos, bettongs, koalas, pademelons, lorikeets, pelicans, Cape barren Geese, Eagles, Owls, Native and Exotic Parrots and much more, Natureworld also operates as a rescue, breeding and rehabilitation sanctuary for orphaned or injured wildlife. Other features include Devilworld, a state of the art, interactive interpretation center focusing on the Tasmanian devil. You can see over 200 snakes and lizards in Reptileworld and witness the after-dark habits of Australian native animals like the Spotted Tail Quoll and Ring-tailed possum in Nocturnalworld. Devil Feeding times are at 10am 12:30pm and 3:30pm each day.

The East Coast Heritage and Mining Display replicates an 1850s mine and rescued mining Equipment, while learning about coastal History. Natureworld also has a playground, Old McDonalds Farm, scenic lookout, and walk-through aviaries. Take a scenic flora walk through the forest, or enjoy homemade soup with damper and Devil Cream Teas  at the Devil'sl parkland and lagoons at 18356 Tasman Highway, north of Bicheno.

Diamond Island Nature Reserve

Just off the coast to the north of Bicheno is the Diamond Island Nature Reserve. It is possible to walk across from the mainland at low tide. The granite island is home to large numbers of fairy penguins. It is a popular walk for visitors.

Douglas-Apsley National Park

An inland reserve that lies between Bicheno and St Marys. The park includes three river catchments (Douglas, Denison and Apsley), gorges, cascades, rocky forested hills and a heath plateau. It has many points of interest - spectacular dolerite boulders and rugged hills including Nichols Cap, lower lying sandstones and historically explored and mined coal measures, sweeping coastal vistas, varied bushwalks, wildflowers, forested hills, waterfalls, swimming holes, abundant birds and wildlife.

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Freycinet National Park




In its own way Freycinet National Park is one of Australia's most interesting wilderness areas  where else in the world do you see red granite cliffs tumbling into the cold ocean? This 10 000 ha park is alive with unusual animals - Tasmanian pademelons, white-breasted sea eagles, red-necked wallabies - and in season offers spectacular displays of rare native flora, notably a wide variety of native orchids. It is fair to say that it is one of the country's most spectacularly beautiful areas and when the weather is perfect it is hard to imagine a more peaceful and awe-inspiring piece of coastline.

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Brief History




The town was named in honour of James Ebenezer Bicheno, the British Colonial Secretary for Van Diemen's Land from 1843 to 1851, with the name in use in 1851. The first historical reference to the place that was to become Bicheno was made by James Kelly during his circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land. He landed here (when it was known as Waubs Harbour) to dry his provisions.

Bicheno was proclaimed a township in 1866. Bicheno Post Office opened as a receiving house on 1 January 1855.

Waub's Harbour was the location for a number of shore-based bay whaling stations in the late 1830s and early 1840s. Near the tennis courts is the grave of Wauba Debar (after whom Waub's Harbour was named), an aboriginal who was stolen from her tribe as a teenager to become a "sealer's woman". Her bravery in rescuing two sealers in a storm is commemorated by a headstone. It is said that snowdrops bloom on her grave every spring.

The hinterland was established for farming in the mid-1840s, which continues today. Coal was discovered in 1848. In 1854, the harbour was expanded to provide port facilities for the coal mines at Denison River. The coal was transported to the port via a 5‑km horse-drawn tramway.

The use of Bicheno as a coal port was short-lived. The discovery of gold in Victoria saw most of the residents depart in 1855 and for nearly a century, Bicheno became a sleepy little fishing village. Fishing has continued to be the lifeblood of the town with substantial quantities of crayfish, abalone, scallops and trevally. In recent times it has become a popular tourist destination, with a range of accommodation, craft shops, two small aquaria, and a visitor centre. Visitors are also attracted to the little penguin colony on adjacent Diamond Island. A nearby point of interest is the Bicheno Blowhole. A famous resident is the world champion swimmer Shane Gould.

In September 2003, a memorial to the merchant navy was unveiled in Bicheno. Five months later, in February 2004, the town presented a freedom of entry charter to the Australian Merchant Navy, the first time any locality in the world has granted 'freedom of the city' to the merchant navy. Local primary school children have been appointed custodians of the memorial, built near Wauba Debar's grave.