East Coast

ABOUT THIS REGION Tasmania's East Coast, with its natural beauty, spectacular landscapes and long beautiful beaches, offers a completely different Australian coastal experience. Here you'll discover the beaches of the beautiful Bay of Fires, one of Lonely Planet's top 10 regions in the world, along with historic townships, fresh seafood and friendly locals. The mild climate means the coastline is perfect for walking, kayaking, diving, sea cruises and relaxing. Five national parks spread along the coast including the stunning Freycinet National Park with its pink granite mountains, pure white beaches and crystal clear sea. The two largest towns on the East Coast are Bicheno and St Helens - both busy fishing ports, so expect some of the freshest seafood around. There's also some of the best game fishing in Australia. And for those interested in diving, there are sheer rock walls, deep fissures, caves, sponges and sea whips, not to mention world-famous kelp forests. Inland from the coast you'll find temperate rainforests, fresh grown produce and the rich heritage of the boom days of tin mining as well as fruits and berries from orchards and gardens and full-flavoured beef and lamb raised on seaside pastures. With this range of activities and adventures to choose from, it's no wonder the East Coast attracts visitors from around the world. At Mount William National Park, in Tasmania's north east, Forester kangaroos acknowledge visitors with casual indifference. Heading south, around the Bay of Fires, the sea is aqua and deserted shell-strewn beaches stretch for kilometres of silica sand. House-sized granite boulders reddened by lichens, are polished smooth by waves that thump and sigh as they crumple onto the shore. Just before the small fishing town of Bicheno, is the Douglas-Apsley National Park, a landscape of rugged river gorges, waterfalls, and gently flowing rivers. Nearby, occupying a whole peninsula, is spectacular Freycinet National Park, with Coles Bay at its entrance overlooking crystal-clear Oyster Bay, an ideal place for diving, snorkelling, kayaking, boating and fishing. The park is dominated by the pink granite of the Hazards Mountains and best known for the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay. Enjoy superb seafood of cray, scallops, oysters, salmon, and berries in Swansea, before the journey south and the first sight of Maria Island. The whole island is a national park, free of vehicles. It is a refuge for Forester kangaroos, wallabies and the round small pademelons. You can stay in the tiny settlement of Darlington, watch the Cape Barren Geese or any of the 130 resident bird species, and relax as you learn of the Aboriginal, convict and settler histories. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : East Coast Tasmania Regional Tourism Website : Discover Tasmania Research and Statistics : Tourism Tasmania Corporate Website Local Councils : Local Government Association Tasmania CREDITS Information Source : Discover Tasmania Image Credit : Wineglass Bay from Mt Amos : Tourism Tasmania : Rob Burnett Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda