East Coast, Tasmania
The east coast of Tasmania, which begins at Cape Portland, at the the north-east corner of the state, features wide sweeping beaches punctuated by headlands of granite, much of which is covered in orange lichen. The crystal clear waters, the ribbons of clear white sandy beaches and the brightly painted rocks that punctuate them, have led to these beaches being ranked internationally among the best in the world.
Tasmania's East Coast is really as beautiful as photographs of it suggest. It therefore comes as no surprise that its most popular attraction, Wineglass Bay, has been labelled one of the world's top ten beaches. Recognised as one of Tasmania's most iconic destinations, Wineglass Bay is located on the stunning and pure Freycinet Peninsula, an area full of turquoise waters, scenic surrounds and a cool, crisp atmosphere that invigorates the soul. To the Peninsula's south is Maria Island, a unique location where the visitor feels they have left civilization behind and stepped into another world. The whole place is a treat for the senses, and an opportunity to experience something civilisation lost more than a century ago.
A broad and sheltered bay which opens onto the Tasman Sea in its south, Great Oyster Bay is one of the most scenic stretches of water in Australia. The Tasman Highway runs close to the West Coast of the bay with spectacular views of the rugged granite peaks of the Hazards of the Freycinet Peninsula which are incorporated in the Freycinet National Park, and Schouten and Maria Islands to the south. Sea kayaking in the sheltered waters on the east side of the bay from Coles Bay is very popular, with many small and isolated beaches on the Freycinet Peninsula to explore. Recreational fishing is also popular activity in the bay with flathead, Australian salmon, trevally, trumpeter and squid regularly caught. Dolphins and Australian Fur Seals can often be seen and whales often frequent the bay in winter.
In stark contrast is the hinterland, a mountainous area where once miners extracted tin and gold from the ground, but today farmers plough patchwork quilts of rich dark soil, where bountiful crops grow alongside verdant pasture. But the untamed natural majesty of the region's rugged mountainous terrain is never far away, encircling the farmlands are deeply wooded rainforests where the White Knights, the world's largest eucalypts, grow in abundance, rivers flow over waterfalls and wildlife abounds.
A small historic coastal township that has gained notoriety as a centre for deep sea and river fishing. Swansea sits on Great OysterPointing west across Ringarooma Bay, Cape Portland is the north eastern tip of Tasmania. It was named after the Duke of Portland by Matthew Flinders during his 1798 circumnavigation of the island in the sloop Norfolk with George Bass. It is an important bird breeding area for the Cape Barren Goose, Chestnut Teal and the threatened Hooded Plover. There is a small fishing community at Cape Portland.
Time has stood still at Ansons Bay. This small fishing village on the far north eastern coast of Tasmania hasn't changed since the 1940s. The temporary fibro houses, the tinnies waiting to be pushed off in search of fish and the quiet and sleepy holiday ambience make it one of those wonderful secrets which is known only to the locals and a select group of anglers. Fishing is spectacular around Ansons Bay. The best time to visit is in October and there are plenty of great fishing spots. The Bream fishing is especially good and the best bet is to fish in around 2 foot of water around the weed patches. There are also plenty of great Australian Salmon to be caught on the Anson River.
The Bay of Fires, a beautiful piece of wilderness coastline in the north-east corner of Tasmania, stretches from Eddystone Point in the north to Binalong Bay in the south. Characterised by stunning blue water, fishing lagoons, spotless white sandy beaches and orange lichen covered granite boulders, the area is often mentioned internationally in lists of the world's top beaches.
10 minutes north of St Helens is the little community of Binalong Bay, which marks the beginning of the Bay of Fires. Originally a fishing hamlet, the town is now a village with a large proportion of holiday dwellings. Noted for its rock and surf fishing, it is here that visitors first see the bay's large expanse of untouched coastline, lined with clean, white beaches punctuated by picturesque granite outcrops covered in orange lichen. With an array of accommodation, fishing and diving facilities, and a general store and cafe, Binalong Bay is an idyllic location for those seeking a 'holiday in heaven' and an ideal starting point for walks along the coastline.
Situated on Georges Bay, St Helens is the largest town on the north-east coast of Tasmania. A popular resort for fishing, swimming and other aquatic activities, its position makes St Helens a good base from which to explore the whole north-east corner of Tasmania. The town is famous for its crayfish, scallops, abalone and flounder. The Scamander River is noted for its bream.
A popular holiday town and its beaches are ideal for swimming, surfing and fishing. The Scamander River is noted for its bream, while beach fishing and gamefishing in the deep waters offshore are also popular. Scamander is also northern Tasmania's major surfing centre. Located at the mouth of the Scamander River, Scamander is sited on a particularly beautiful and quiet stretch of coastline, noted for its secluded beaches which are popular with surfers and surf fishing enthusiasts.
Explore The Hinterland
Little Swanport is a small village on the shores of Great Oyster Bay, between Swansea and Triabunna. It takes its name from the Little Swaqnport River and sits alongside the little river's mouth. Just north of Little Swanport is Mayfield Bay camping area, a popular spot among caravanners looking for a little seaside camping and fishing. The beach also has boat-launching access. If you are not into fishing, there is a lovely beach that offers good snorkelling, wonderful views across Great Oyster Bay to Freycinet Peninsula and the 1845 convict-built Three Arch Bridge is nearby. The reserve has shady trees and toilet facilities but you'll need to bring your own drinking water and camping gear.
Situated in the Esk Valley, Fingal is the centre of Tasmania's coal mining industry. Evercreech Forest Reserve in the Fingal area is the home of the famous White Knights, the tallest white gums in the world. Finga's wide main street features several impressive 19th Century buildings. The Holder Brothers Store dates from 1859 and nearby is the old Tasmania Hotel, constructed, in part, from the stones which were originally used to build the Prison Barracks in the 1840s. It became a hotel in the 1850s and is now the local Tourist Centre. It sells arts and crafts from the district.
Cornwall is a small, strangely-quaint coal mining town in the Fingal Valley. The Blackwood mine, also known as the Cornwall colliery, is run by the Cornwall Coal Company. It is the only supplier of coal mined in Tasmania. The major consumers of Tasmanian coal are currently the Cement Australia plant at Railton and the Norske Skog newsprint mill at Boyer. Production of raw coal in 2009 and 2010 totalled 646,148 tonnes, with 372,441t of saleable coal produced.
Somewhat of a ghost town today, Mathinna was once the scene of an important gold strike. After gold was discovered at Mangana, Mathinna was for a time was the third largest town in Tasmania. The Mathinna goldfield started, like many others, with the discovery of alluvial gold in Black Horse Gully. The area contains one of Tasmania's largest gold mines, the New Golden Gate. The area is riddled with abandoned mines, prospects and old workings, and is mostly crown land, meaning fairly easy access.
Pyengana is a rural farming region with sites of such significant natural beauty and it is well worth leaving the highway that bypasses it, and stopping to savour a little of what it has to offer. Not far from Pyengana is St Columba Falls, one of Tasmania's highest waterfalls, with water plunging 90m from the Mt Victoria foothills to the valley of the South George River. There is a delightful walk from the car park to the falls through one of the most captivating rainforests you will see in a long time.
East Coast Central, Tasmania
Bicheno is a charming fishing port on Tasmania's east coast, which in recent years has grown in popularity as a holiday resort. 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.
Situated at the northern edge of the Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay is the service town and entry point for the wonderful Freycinet National Park. As such it is well served by accommodation, caravan sites and camping facilities. It is one of the justifiably famous wilderness beauty spots on Tasmania's east coast. The town came into being in 1934 when it began to become a popular haunt for fishermen and bushwalkers. Coles Bay is also the major tourist centre on Tasmania s east coast and though it has plenty of holiday accommodation, the increased popularity of the Freycinet Peninsula as a tourist destination has meant you need to book ahead if you intend staying here overnight or longer.
Jutting out between The Tasman Sea and Great Oyster Bay on Tasmania s east coast, the Freycinet Peninsula is a rugged and beautiful stretch of land, noted for its white-sand beaches, secluded coves, panoramic vistas, rocky cliffs and excellent bushwalks through the Freycinet National Park. In its own way Freycinet National Park is one of Australia's most interesting wilderness areas. 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 hard to imagine a more peaceful and awe-inspiring piece of coastline.
Schouten is a rugged island with the highest point, Mount Storey (400 metres). Mt. Daedalus is the summit peak of a substantial granite area on the island and small tin workings can be seen in the vicinity. The island is surrounded by cliffs, broken by sheltered bays. A north-south fault line divides the island where the eastern part of the island is composed of granite while the western part is dolerite overlying sedimentary and supergroup rocks.
A small historic coastal township that has gained notoriety as a centre for deep sea and river fishing. Swansea sits on Great Oyster Bay and gazes across at the rugged mountains of the Freycinet National Park. It is a pretty setting and it boasts a very substantial number of historic homes and buildings which give this fishing and holiday destination a distinctive charm. Swansea is 134 km from Hobart; 133 km from Launceston; 67 km from Campbell Town on Great Oyster Bay.
Little Swanport is a small village on the shores of Great Oyster Bay, between Swansea and Triabunna. JThere is a lovely beach that offers good snorkelling, wonderful views across Great Oyster Bay to Freycinet Peninsula and the 1845 convict-built Three Arch Bridge is nearby. ust north of Little Swanport is Mayfield Bay camping area, a popular spot among caravanners looking for a little seaside camping and fishing.
A prosperous fishing port and timber town located on the shores of Spring Bay, Triabunna began life as a whaling base in the 1830s. The townsite was once a garrison town for the Darlington convict settlement on nearby Maria Island. The town is today driven largely by its fishing industry (it is known for its scallops and abalone) and the huge woodchip mill at Point Home (it can be clearly seen from the ferry across to Maria Island). Triabunna is the starting point for tours and/or visits to the island and the many wilderness beauty spots on Tasmania s east coast.
Maria Island is a unique location where the visitor feels they have left civilization behind and stepped into another world. There are no noisy cars or machinery, just the sound of the wind rustling in the trees and the occasional bird calling to another. The air is clean; the only smells that accost the nose are the perfumes of the plants in the bushland and the salt in the air, blown off the sea which surrounds you. The whole place is a treat for the senses, and an opportunity to experience something civilisation lost more than a century ago.
Situated on a substantial coastal inlet called Prosser Bay, Orford is an attractive coastal hamlet. The village is centred around the mouth of the Prosser River. Beyond Prosser Bay are the waters of the Mercury Passage, with the strong relief of Maria Island providing a spectacular backdrop to the view. Orford has several clean, picturesque beaches - including Raspins, Millingons, Spring and Rheban - with a popular campsite at Raspins Beach. Nearby is the well-regarded 9-hole Orford Golf Course and the Darlington Vineyard.
The district around Buckland was originally known as Prosser Plains. It was settled in the 1820s and the oldest house in the district 'Woodsden', which lies north east of the town, was built in 1826. In 1846 Governor Franklin renamed the tiny settlement Buckland, after William Buckland, Dean of Westminster (1845-56) who as a noted geologist (he had been appointed Professor of Mineralogy at Oxford University in 1813) had tried to reconcile geology with the Bible. The Buckland timber mill operated from 1948 until 1981.
The small village of Nugent is notable for its local hall, in which many small gatherings occur for the locals only, maybe extending to nearby towns such as Sorell, Buckland and Dodges Ferry. It is a stereotypical "small country town", an ever shrinking group of small establishments. Nugent is 46 km north-west of Hobart and 35 km west of Richmond.
East Coast Southern, Tasmania
Forestier Peninsula is connected to the mainland at East Bay Neck, near the town of Dunalley at its northern end. At Eaglehawk Neck, the southern end of the Forestier Peninsula is connected to the Tasman Peninsula. The peninsula measures about 20 by 15 kilometres. By far the most well known feature of Forestier Peninsula is the Tessellated Pavement, situated a short distance from Eaglehawk Neck on the shoreline below the Lufra Hotal. This unusual geological formation gives the rocks the effect of having been rather neatly tiled by a giant.
The small village of Nugent is notable for its local hall, in which many small gatherings occur for the locals only, maybe extending to nearby towns such as Sorell, Buckland and Dodges Ferry. It is a stereotypical "small country town", an ever shrinking group of small establishments. Nugent is 46 km north-west of Hobart and 35 km west of Richmond.
An extremely scenic part of Tasmania that is dominated by rolling pastures and heavily timbered hills and surrounded by dramatic coastline of sheer cliffs, towering rocky outcrops, sheltered bays and sea caves. Walking tracks and kayaks give access to the area's more isolated corners. And if that isn't enough to entice you to jump on a plane to Tassie and go see it for yourself, there's the added bonus of the peninsula being steeped in Australia's convict history; it contains some of the country's most important convict heritage sites, the jewel in the crown being the Port Athur settlement.