Best of the East Coast Tasmania

There’s showing off, and then there’s the East Coast of Tasmania — nature’s version of a humblebrag in high definition. While the rest of Tassie quietly gets on with being spectacular, the East Coast swans about with its flawless beaches, wombat traffic jams, and seafood so fresh it might still blink at you.

It’s the kind of place where a “quick photo stop” becomes a two-hour life reset.

The views – Where the land meets the “bloody hell that’s pretty”

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, but Wineglass Bay reckons that’s underselling it. With its iconic crescent curve and the rugged Hazards Range looming like nature’s fortress wall, it’s no wonder it’s the most photographed spot in Tasmania. Every bend in the Great Eastern Drive delivers a new “we should pull over” moment — especially near larapuna and the Bay of Fires, where bleached white sands and glowing orange rocks look like someone cranked the saturation to eleven.

And if you’re the kind who likes their panoramas extra panoramic, point your boots to wukalina / Mount William. From up there, it’s just you, the wind, and views stretching all the way to the Furneaux Islands — which sounds exotic because it absolutely is.

The walks – Trails that’ll work off last night’s seafood

One of the great joys of East Coast Tasmania is that you can be knee-deep in a wild national park by breakfast and ordering scallop pie by lunch. Freycinet National Park has a smorgasbord of walking tracks, from the short-but-scenic Wineglass Bay lookout stroll to the “maybe pack a head torch” multi-day circuits.

Apsley Gorge offers a gentler path to glory, complete with a waterhole perfect for a post-hike dunk. Over near Pyengana, the short track to St Columba Falls is all reward for little effort, delivering one of Tassie’s tallest waterfalls with minimal uphill grunt.

The wildlife – Wombats, devils and penguins, oh my

If Tasmania had a mascot, it’d probably be a wombat caught mid-waddle with a guilty look and a blade of grass hanging out its mouth. On Maria Island, they own the place — along with wallabies, Cape Barren geese and a few curious devils who lope about like they’re late for a meeting.

Come dusk in Bicheno, the penguins clock off from sea duties and parade home through the dunes like a tiny marching band of fluff. And speaking of Bicheno — swing by East Coast Natureworld if you fancy seeing Tasmanian devils up close without needing to explain any missing socks later.

The seafood – The freshest feed you’ll ever wrap your laughing gear around

Oysters in Tasmania aren’t just food — they’re a rite of passage. Great Oyster Bay lives up to its name, and if you’ve never eaten one fresh out of the water with salt still clinging to the shell, then mate, you haven’t lived.

Pull into a marine farm and load up on abalone, scallops, and local fish. Or go full East Coast and order a lobster roll from a food van, take a seat on a sun-baked boulder in Bicheno, and watch the cray boats bob into harbour like floating lunch deliveries.

The verdict – Why East Coast Tassie is the full package

The East Coast of Tasmania doesn’t try to be something it’s not — it already knows it’s a knockout. It’s where the scenery makes your jaw drop, the animals roam free without caring who’s watching, and the seafood is so fresh it probably signed a waiver.

It’s got the bush, the beach, and the best bloody bakery pies in the country (that’s you, Bicheno). If you’re chasing that perfect balance of nature, nourishment, and a few penguins to round out the day, this coast will deliver it with a wink and a wombat.

Practical Information

  • Best time to visit: October to April for warm weather and wildlife spotting
  • Getting there: Drive from Hobart (2.5 hours to Freycinet), or fly into Launceston and head east
  • Dress code: Layers – the coast can swing from toasty to brisk in a heartbeat
  • Safety tip: Watch out for wildlife on roads at dawn and dusk
  • Park fees: Required for Freycinet and Maria Island – buy passes online or at visitor centres
  • Penguin viewing: Bicheno Penguin Tours runs nightly (book ahead)
  • Boat and dive tours: Available from Coles Bay and Bicheno

More information