Eastern Tasmania

Eastern Tasmania encompasses much of the East Coast and the North Coast east of the Tamar River in Tasmania.

Cities

• 1 Launceston is the major city with an airport just 15 minutes out of town. Several flights come in and out everyday and there is a bus to the city centre.
• 2 Bicheno – a beachside town
• 3 Bridport is a "village by the sea" where the locals go to play in the summer. But it's fantastic in the winter too. No crowds on the beaches the winter climate is perfect for exploring and relaxing, fresh seafood from the wharf - what more could you want.
• 4 Campbell Town
• 5 George Town
• 6 Gladstone
• 7 Longford – home to the world-heritage Brickendon and Woolmers Estates
• 8 Perth – a small historic town south of Launceston
• 9 Ross - another of Tasmania's historic towns with many of the oldest buildings in Tasmania as well as one of the oldest bridges.
• 10 Scottsdale is the largest town servicing the rural area.This is the commercial centre, where you will find banks, electrical and furniture shops, plus all the other services you may require. The local council offices are here too.
• 11 Scamander
• 12 St Helens
• 13 Swansea

• 14 Coles Bay
• 15 Triabunna

Other destinations

• 1 Bay of Fires – known for its beaches containing orange-hued granite rocks
• 2 Ben Lomond National Park – Tasmania's main skifield
• 3 Douglas-Apsley National Park – a dry forest
• 4 Freycinet National Park – contains some of the state's finest beaches, including Wineglass Bay
• 5 Maria Island National Park – home to the Painted Cliffs and Darlington Probation Station
• 6 Mount William National Park

Get in

By car

There's three main routes to get to the East Coast. A4 from Campbell Town in the west, A3 from Hobart in the south, and A3 from Launceston in the north-west. All take about an hour and a half.

By bus

TassieLink provides bus services to some towns such as Scottsdale, Bridport, Derby, Launceston etc., but not all.

Get around

The major roads are paved to allow convenient moving from point A to point B but if you really want to explore you need to get off the beaten track up some of the gravel roads and get out of the vehicle and walk.

No public transport, as just like any other place in Tassie.

See

Brickendon Estate

Woolmers Estate

If there's one thing that is not to be missed on the East Coast, that is wildlife, in particular note, penguins. Yep, while most people associate Tasmania with the Tasmanian Devil, the East Coast is more popular for its penguins. Bicheno has penguin tours that run nightly. Some notes with penguins; Stay still, don't shine a torch on them or use flash photography. They have their route from the beach, and will stop or retreat if you are in their way. Back off to the side slowly. Control children.

The beaches in the East Coast are also nice too, and a bit different from the mainland. Be aware though, that it can get cold, but a jacket will largely do the job.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites here, both of them being Australia's eleven UNESCO World Heritage listed convict sites; the Brickendon and Woolmers Estates in Longford and the second in Maria Island.

Do

The two most done recreational activities done here are hiking and fishing, which the east has plenty of opportunities to offer for both.

Eat

Some towns like Bridport, Bicheno and Scottsdale have some lovely eateries, restaurants, takeaways, cafes and hotels. Launceston offers just what an ordinary Australian city would offer which might not be available in smaller towns, although that is not to say that the smaller towns do have a good variety of restaurants and cafes, but not as much as Launceston. But you can never say no to a local cafe here.

Additionally, seafood on the east is quite popular as one of the local industries here is fishing.

Drink

Most of the bars and pubs here are just like an ordinary Australian, except that they never get violent or anything like.