Road Trip Tassie’s Iconic East Coast
Beaches, wineries, quaint coastal towns, national parks and more famous landmarks than you can handle – Tasmania’s east coast is the best place to hit the road. Pick and mix your own day trip itinerary from our must-visits, or knock off the lot over a leisurely multi-day meander along the coast.
▼
ORFORD
Begin your road trip in the pretty seaside hamlet of Orford. If the weather’s warm, go for a dip at one of the area’s lovely swimming beaches - Raspins , Spring, Millingtons and Shelly Beaches are all linked by a two-kilometre coastal track. Stock up for your road trip at Spring Bay Distillery for gin and whisky, or grab some cool climate wine at Darlington Vineyard.
Orford (image: Lisa Kuilenburg)
MARIA ISLAND
If you’ve got time in your itinerary for a full day trip offshore, Maria Island National Park is a must-visit. Accessible via ferry at Triabunna, this car-free island is full of picturesque hikes and bike trails, white-sand beaches, fascinating history and, of course, adorable wildlife. Keep an eye out for the resident wombats who emerge early in the morning and again towards dusk.
Bonus stop: The quirky convict-built Spiky Bridge just outside of Swansea.
Maria Island (image: Sarajayne Lada)
WINEGLASS BAY
It’s a tourist rite of passage to visit Wineglass Bay, and although it may seem cliché, it’s worth seeing this iconic vista for yourself. Situated in Freycinet National Park, there’s lots to do outside of snapping pics from the lookout. Hike all the way down and go for an icy-cold dip, then complete the 11-kilometre Hazards Beach circuit to really stretch your legs.
Bonus stop: Pizza and wine at Devil’s Corner Cellar Door just north of Freycinet.
Wineglass Bay (image: Jason Charles Hill)
BICHENO
The coastal town of Bicheno is the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring. Head to Lobster Shack for the freshest seafood you’ve ever tasted, in the form of classic fish and chips or one of the Shack’s famous lobster rolls. Animal lovers will get a kick out of visiting Natureworld for a Baby Devil, Echidna, Wombat or Sugar Glider Encounter by day, and spotting little penguins waddling ashore after dark.
Lobster Shack (image: Jasper Da Seymour)
DOUGLAS-APSLEY NATIONAL PARK
If you’d like to squeeze in a third national park on your trip, this one’s a beaut. A hidden gem as far as Tassie’s parks go, Douglas-Apsley is light on tourists and heavy on natural beauty – think tranquil eucalypt forests, deep river gorges, and pristine (freezing) swimming holes to plunge into.
Bonus stop: The unassuming Lease 65 in St Helens for the best oysters in Tassie.
Douglas-Apsley National Park (image: Harrison Candlin-Vagary)
BAY OF FIRES
The white sand, impossibly blue water and orange lichen-covered rocks of the north-east coast are famous for a reason, and with its relatively mild climate, the Bay of Fires region is visit-worthy even in the depths of Tasmanian winter. Grab food and coffee in the friendly little town of St Helens, then begin your adventure in Binalong Bay, beach-combing and rock-hopping your way 50 kilometres up to Eddystone Point. You won’t get sick of the views, we promise.
Bay of Fires (image: Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett)
▼
