Freycinet & the East Coast
Tasmania's east coast is a run of white-sand beaches, pink-granite peaks and clear turquoise water — crowned by Freycinet National Park and its perfect curve of Wineglass Bay, and lit by the flame-orange boulders of the Bay of Fires. It's the island's sunniest, most swimmable coast, and a superb self-drive. Here's how to explore it.
Wineglass Bay & the Hazards
Freycinet National Park is the east coast's star — the pink-granite Hazards rising above white sand and aquamarine sea. The classic walk climbs to the Wineglass Bay lookout (about 1–1.5 hours return), with the option to descend to the flawless beach beyond. Add the Cape Tourville lighthouse loop, sea-kayaking, and freshly shucked oysters at the marine farm. It's one of Australia's most beautiful national parks. See our Freycinet travel guide.
Bicheno, the Bay of Fires & Maria Island
North of Freycinet the coast keeps giving. Seaside Bicheno has its blowhole and evening little-penguin tours; historic Swansea looks over Great Oyster Bay; and beyond St Helens lies the dazzling Bay of Fires, where orange-lichened boulders meet white sand and turquoise sea. Offshore, car-free Maria Island is a wildlife and convict-history sanctuary — wombats, Cape Barren geese and painted cliffs. Together they make the east coast unmissable. See our east coast guide.
Driving the east coast
The east coast is a classic self-drive between Hobart and Launceston. Freycinet is about 2.5 hours from Hobart; give the coast 2–3 days to enjoy Freycinet, Bicheno and the Bay of Fires without rushing. Book Freycinet accommodation and any lodge walks well ahead in summer, start the Wineglass Bay walk early, and watch for wildlife on the roads at dusk. See our getting around guide.
Freycinet & the east coast: your questions
Freycinet National Park is Tasmania's coastal jewel — pink-granite peaks (the Hazards) above white sand and turquoise water. The signature walk climbs to the Wineglass Bay lookout (about 1–1.5 hours return), or continue down to the beach itself. Add the Cape Tourville lighthouse loop, kayaking, oysters at Freycinet Marine Farm, and scenic flights over the bay. See our Freycinet travel guide.
Wineglass Bay is reached on foot from the Freycinet car park. The lookout is a moderate climb of about 1 to 1.5 hours return over a saddle in the Hazards; to reach the beach itself, continue down the far side (a steeper 2.5–3 hour return in total). You can also see the bay from a scenic flight or a cruise. Wear proper shoes, carry water, and start early in summer to beat the heat and crowds.
The Bay of Fires, on the north-east coast, is famous for its striking contrast of flame-orange lichen-covered granite boulders, blindingly white sand and clear turquoise sea. Stretching from Binalong Bay north to Eddystone Point, it's one of Tasmania's most photographed and beautiful stretches of coast — perfect for beach walks, swimming and camping. Base near St Helens to explore it. See our east coast guide.
Beyond Freycinet and the Bay of Fires, the east coast strings together the seaside town of Bicheno (with its blowhole and little-penguin tours), the fishing port of St Helens, historic Swansea on Great Oyster Bay, and — offshore — Maria Island, a car-free wildlife and convict-history haven. It's a superb self-drive coast of beaches, seafood and wildlife, easily linked between Hobart and Launceston.
Freycinet is about a 2.5-hour drive (190 km) north-east of Hobart up the east coast, making it an easy leg of an east-coast road trip or an overnight from the city. The Bay of Fires is further north again (around 3 hours from Freycinet). Many visitors drive the east coast between Hobart and Launceston over a few days, stopping at Freycinet, Bicheno and the Bay of Fires. See our getting around guide.