Extending from Beauty Point to Orford, the Tasmanian North East Coast is a magnificent region with stunning coastal stretches, fishing villages, national parks and vineyards. Discover the only seahorse farm in the world, go cable hang gliding, ride along the Tamar bikeway, watch for birds on Flinders Island and explore Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park.
Towns in this region include: Beauty Point, Bicheno, Binalong Bay, Coles Bay, Flinders Island, George Town, Launceston, Orford, Scamander, St Helens, St Marys and Swansea. Stay in hotels, motels and apartments, holiday units, B&Bs and guesthouses, or experience the wilderness in camping areas or backpacker accommodations.

More Information

Tasmania – North-East Coast – Coles Bay Tasmania

Beauty Point information

Located 238km north of Hobart at the mouth of the Tamar River, Beauty Point is the oldest deep-water port in the area.
Previously established as a port for the Beaconsfield goldmines, Beauty Point today is still and important port, home to the Australian Maritime College and base for the seasonal fishing fleet.

Attractions and activities include Seahorse World, Platypus House and Beauty Point Marina. Experience safe swimming at Sandy Beach, fishing from Beauty Point Pontoon and rainforest walk at Notely Fern Gorge, picking your own strawberries at Hillwood Strawberry Farm, catching the Shuttlefish Ferry across the river to Georgetown and touring the Beaconsfield Goldmine Museum.

Accommodation options for visitors include caravan parks, cabins and cottages, B&Bs, motels and hotels.

Bicheno information

Located 182km north east of Hobart, Bicheno is a charming seaside resort town with excellent fishing facilities.
Previously established as a whaling centre, Bicheno today has a large fishing industry.

Attractions and activities include the fishing fleet moored in the harbour, the spectacular blowhole and Rocking Rock, penguins at Diamond Island Nature Reserve, Sealife Centre, Whalers Lookout and diving in the Marine Park.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, holiday units and apartments, B&Bs, cottages and holiday parks.

Binalong Bay information

Located 263km north east of Hobart on the Bay of Fires, Binalong Bay is a small seaside village with stunning blue water and beautiful white beaches.

Attractions and activities include Eddystone Point Lighthouse, Mt William National Park for its remote beaches, rock formations, wombats, wallabies and camping areas, and its abundant marine life lobsters, abalone and scalefish.

Accommodation options for visitors include cottages, beach houses and B&Bs.

Coles Bay information

Located 206km north east of Hobart at the foot of the granite mountains known as the Hazards, Coles Bay is the entry point to Freycinet National Park.
Previously established by seal hunters and whalers, Coles Bay is today a popular holiday destination for those wishing to explore the spectacular coastal scenery and wilderness area.

Attractions and activities include fishing, boating and bushwalking, sea kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking, windsurfing, sailing and abseiling, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing at Friendly Beaches, bird watching, scenic flights and sea cruises, golfing, Freycinet Oyster Farm tours and 4WD into remote areas of the National Park. Experience an evening wildlife observation tour to see quolls, wallabies, possums, wombats and Tasmanian devils.

Accommodation options for visitors include resorts, cottages and holiday units, B&Bs, holiday parks and retreats.

George Town information

Located 250km north of Hobart, George Town is an important historic town named after King George III.
Previously established as a port to prevent French occupation, George Town today is of economic importance today due to the aluminium industry at Bell Bay.

Attractions and activities include convict constructed Low Head Lighthouse, family beach at Lagoon Bay and surfing at East Beach, Pilot Station Maritime Museum, penguins coming ashore between Pilot Bay and the Lighthouse and panoramic views from Mount George. Explore The Grove and historic home, Comalco Aluminium site and the Old Watch House Interpretive Centre and Museum. Experience a cruise to Tenth Island for the seal colonies and Hebe Reef for snorkelling or diving.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, holiday units, B&Bs and cottages.

Launceston information

Located 198km north of Hobart at the head of the Tamar valley, Launceston is a garden city with elegant historic streetscapes.
Previously established as a port, Launceston today is the main centre for northern Tasmania.

Attractions and activities include cable hang gliding at Trevalyn, James Boag Brewery tours and cool climate wines, National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, Design Centre of Tasmania and Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Tamar river Cruises, Penny Royal Gunpowder Mills and Duck River Power Station Interpretation Centre. Visit Cataract George, cross the South Esk River on the world’s longest single span chairlift, walk above the rapids on the Alexandria Suspension Bridge, dine at the restaurant and hike to the lookout for magnificent views of the city. Explore City Park including the Senses Garden, Duck Pond and Monkey Island, Old Launceston Seaport with its extensive boardwalks, marina, pontoons, ferries and alfresco dining, ride through Royal Park on the Tamar Bikeway and follow the Tamar Valley wine route.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and apartments, villas, holiday units and guesthouses, B&Bs, lodges and backpackers, caravan parks and cabins.

Scamander information

Located 236km north east of Hobart at the mouth of the Scamander River, Scamander is a popular little resort town.

Attractions and activities include wide ocean beaches for swimming, lagoons north of Beaumaris for water skiing and good surfing spots towards Four Mile Creek, fishing for bream from the bridge, trout fishing further upstream and walking along the beach and to Skyline Tier Scenic Lookout. Visit St Marys at the head of the Fingal Valley for spectacular mountain and coastal scenery.

Accommodation options for visitors include caravan parks, cabins and motels, holiday units.

St Helens information

Located 253km north east of Hobart on Georges Bay, St Helens is a substantial seaside town and Tasmania’s largest fishing port. It has 50km of shoreline and ideal beaches for swimming.
Previously established by sealers, St Helens ‘s economy is today built around fishing, timber and tourism.

Attractions and activities include excellent game fishing, walks around St Helens Point and Hall Falls walk, St Columba Falls, diving the kelp forests and the fishing fleet anchored at the pier. Explore spectacular Peron Dunes and the Pyengana Dairy company.

Accommodation options for visitors include resorts, holiday units and motels, villas, B&Bs and caravan parks. villas and guesthouses.

Swansea information

Located 137km north east of Hobart on Great Oyster Bay, Swansea has superb views across to the Freycinet National Park.
Previously established as a military outpost, Swansea today is a popular holiday destination.

Attractions and activities include river, bay and ocean fishing, wetland areas at Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, horse riding, cycling and deep sea boat charter, walking track around Waterloo Point, berry farms and cool climate wine cellar doors, camping at Mayfield Bay Coastal Reserve, Bark Mill local history museum and colonies of mutton birds and penguins.

Accommodation options for visitors include caravan parks, guesthouses and motels, cottages, villas and retreats, cabins and B&Bs.

Orford information

Located 81km north east of Hobart at the mouth of the Prosser River, Orford is the mainland port for the Maria Island ferry.
Previously established by whalers, Orford today is a popular seaside village and fishing resort.

Attractions and activities include historic ruins, rugged cliffs and mountains, superb sea and island views on the cliff top track from East Shelley to Spring Beach and tall eucalypt forests and rainforests on the Wieglangta Forest Drive, picnic at Thumbs Lookout, stroll along the Convict Road and visit the fishing port of Triabunna.

Accommodation options for visitors include cottages, motels and villas, holiday units, cabins and B&Bs.

Flinders Island information

Located 390km north of Hobart lying between Wilsons promontory and North East Tasmania, Flinders Island was originally part of the land bridge linking Tasmania to the mainland.
Previously established by sealers, Flinders Island today has tourism, fishing and seasonal mutton birding as its industries.

Attractions and activities include bird watching for Cape Barren Goose, rock climbing in Mt Strzelecki National Park and excellent game fishing, golfing, diving around sunken wrecks and important historic indigenous sites, swimming at Trousers Point, beach combing for fossilised sharks teeth, whale bones, Nautilus shells and Killiecrankie diamonds.

Accommodation options for visitors include cottages, B&Bs and hotels, holiday units, motels and cabins.

Contact the Visitor Information Centre at Bicheno (03 6375 1500) for more information on the North East Coast, Tasmania.