Tasmania · Australia

Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

The peninsula of pink granite mountains and white-sand beaches on Tasmania’s east coast, featuring Wineglass Bay, the penguins of Bicheno, and the orange-hued rocks of the Bay of Fires.

Tasmania

In the photo: The Hazards, Freycinet National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Freycinet is a peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast, protected by Freycinet National Park, one of the island’s oldest parks, established in 1916. A range of pink granite mountains, the Hazards, separates Great Oyster Bay from the open sea and shelters white-sand beaches and clear water.

Wineglass Bay, a cup-shaped cove on the far side of the Hazards, is the park’s most famous image, visible from a lookout reached by a short trail. The village of Coles Bay, at the park entrance, concentrates accommodation, restaurants, and oyster farms.

To the north, the coast continues through Bicheno, a fishing village with a coastal blowhole and little penguins that come ashore at dusk, and St Helens, the base for the Bay of Fires, a stretch of beaches with granite boulders covered in orange lichen.

The east coast is Tasmania’s driest and sunniest area, and the roads link the villages in short stretches, which makes it possible to explore the region in a few days.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Coles Bay, Bicheno, St Helens.

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Where Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

✈ Hobart Airport (HBA), in Cambridge · 190 km to Coles Bay

✈ Launceston Airport (LST), in Western Junction · 175 km to Coles Bay

From Hobart Airport to Coles Bay is about 190 km, roughly 2.5 hours via the Tasman Highway; from Launceston Airport, about 175 km. Regional buses connect Hobart and Launceston to the east coast.

Suggested arrival point: Coles Bay

Tasmânia · Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania Suggested arrival point

Coles Bay

Village at the entrance to Freycinet National Park, on the shore of Great Oyster Bay, with views of the Hazards granite mountains. It has guesthouses, restaurants and oyster farms. It’s the base for the Wineglass Bay lookout walk, Cape Tourville Lighthouse and the park’s beaches, such as Honeymoon Bay and Friendly Beaches.

Tasmânia · Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

Bicheno

A fishing village on the east coast, about 40 km from Coles Bay, with beaches, a small harbour, and seafood restaurants. It’s known for the coastal blowhole and the little penguins that return to the beach at dusk. Near the village, the East Coast Natureworld park has Tasmanian devils.

Tasmânia · Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

St Helens

Largest town on Tasmania’s northeast coast, on Georges Bay, known for fishing and seafood. It’s the base for the Bay of Fires, a stretch of white-sand beaches and granite rocks covered in orange lichen that begins at Binalong Bay, about 10 km away. Inland, St Columba Falls drops roughly 90 meters into the forest.

The local experience

Things to do in Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

St Helens · Tasmania · Beach

Bay of Fires

A stretch of white-sand beaches, clear water and granite rocks covered in orange lichen between Binalong Bay and Cape Eddystone, on the northeast coast.

Bicheno · Tasmania · Rock formation

Bicheno Blowhole

An opening in the granite rocks on Bicheno’s coast where seawater shoots upward when waves enter a fissure.

Coles Bay · Tasmania · Beach

Wineglass Bay

Bowl-shaped bay on the far side of the Hazards, with white sand and clear water, viewed from a lookout reached by a short trail.

St Helens · Tasmania · Waterfall

St Columba Falls

A waterfall of about 90 meters in the South George River valley, roughly 25 km from St Helens, in a forest of tree ferns and myrtle beech.

See 3 more places in Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

Coles Bay · Tasmania · Lighthouse

Cape Tourville Lighthouse

Lighthouse on top of the granite cliffs of Freycinet National Park, with an accessible boardwalk and views of the coast and Wineglass Bay.

Bicheno · Tasmania · Wildlife viewing

Bicheno Penguin Tours

A guided dusk tour to see the little penguins, the smallest penguins in the world, returning from the sea to burrows on Bicheno’s coast.

Coles Bay · Tasmania · Beach

Friendly Beaches

Long, nearly deserted beach in the north of Freycinet National Park, with white sand, granite rocks and views of the Hazards.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from December to February, is beach season, with cold water even on warm days. Spring and autumn are mild and quieter. Winter is cold, but the east coast often has sunny days.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three or four days: two in Coles Bay and the park, one in Bicheno, and one in St Helens and the Bay of Fires.

Which city to stay in

Coles Bay has guesthouses, cabins, and a few hotels at the park entrance, with limited availability in summer. Bicheno has accommodation near the beach and the harbor. St Helens, the largest town on the northeast coast, offers a variety of options and is close to the Bay of Fires.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

How many days should you allow for Freycinet?

Three to four days for the park, Bicheno, and the Bay of Fires.

How do you get to Freycinet?

By car from Hobart, about 190 km, or from Launceston, about 175 km. Regional buses reach the east coast.

Do you need a car in Freycinet?

It’s the most practical way to get between villages and to reach the trails. In Australia, you drive on the left.

Is the sea water warm in Freycinet?

No, it’s cold even in summer, although the white sand and clear water resemble tropical beaches.

What time zone is Freycinet in?

Tasmania time, UTC+10, with daylight saving time (UTC+11) from October to April.

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Freycinet and the east coast of Tasmania

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip