Exploring The Natural Highlights of Freycinet National Park and Bicheno

South of Bay Of Fires, the orange boulders slowly turn to pink granite mountains. Ringed by The Hazards, Freycinet National Park is a little parcel of coastal wilderness on the East Coast with scenic hikes and secluded bays. Wineglass Bay is the headline act, but nearby Bicheno is a worthwhile base, with many coastal attractions of its own.

Devil’s Corner Cellar Door

Devil’s Corner’s recent renovations have made it a must stop winery on the East Coast, offering a winning trifecta of wine, food and views. A central courtyard with local businesses selling wood-fired pizza (Tombolo Freycinet) and seafood (Fishers of Freycinet) create a casual, village-like atmosphere. There are excellent views of the The Hazards mountain range and the wetlands of Moulting Lagoon from here, but you can also go up the purpose designed lookout tower. Book ahead to try their cool climate wines in the Hazards Tasting Room or if you’re less organised, you can always purchase a self-guided tasting paddle. On a weekend, you may even have some live music to round out the good vibes.

Wineglass Bay Lookout + Hazards Beach

As I said, Wineglass Bay is the headline act, so you can’t visit Freycinet National Park without doing the 3km (return) walk to this viewpoint. The view of the crescent shaped bay is iconic Tasmania. Unfortunately the romantic name doesn’t come purely from the shape of the bay – its origins are actually linked to the whaling industry. In the early 1800s, whales would be killed here, turning the bay wine red with blood.

You can choose to extend this walk by descending down to Hazards Beach, but if you do, be prepared for the uphill climb back. It might be worthwhile if you’re planning for a swim on a sunny day, but otherwise at eye level this beach is no more beautiful than others far more accessible. If I could choose again, I would have spent the time climbing Mt Amos instead, to take in the view of Wineglass Bay from there.

Honeymoon Bay`

In my eyes, Honeymoon Bay is the most beautiful spot in Freycinet National Park. It requires no special effort to get here, but the calm water and mountain backdrop is really something special. This is the spot to park your car, bring your picnic and spend some time. Honestly, this place still appears in my dreams.

Sleepy Bay

This was a short walk we tacked on because we had a little extra, but not a lot of extra time in the day. To get to Sleepy Bay is about a 15 minute walk each way, or 30 minutes return. We loved this dramatic little spot for its crashing waves and unusual rock formations around here. For even more impressive views, scramble up the rocks around the right hand edge of the cove for an elevated perspective.

Cape Tourville Lighthouse

The Cape Tourville Lighthouse was built in 1971 and has always been an unmanned, automatic lighthouse. It’s not particularly spectacular, but it only takes about 15 minutes to do the full loop of the boardwalk. Although short, the circuit is quite scenic and is a good place for spotting whales and dolphins, so keep an eye on the water.

Freycinet Marine Farm

The Freycinet Marine Farm was purchased by a couple back in 2005, who had the desire to showcase the best of Tasmanian seafood to their visitors. They grow their very own oysters and mussels in Coles Bay, and bring in other seafood produce from all around the island. They serve oysters in a variety of styles including natural, kilpatrick, nam jim and the freycinet special (cucumber, native finger lime and bloody mary dressing). Oyster Bay Tours also depart from the Freycinet Marine Farm which includes a 2 hour tour of the farm, a shucking lesson and of course, oysters and wine! If we had a little more time up our sleeve, we would have liked to do this.

Lobster Shack

Overlooking ‘the Gulch’ in Bicheno, you can enjoy seafood with waterfront views at Lobster Shack. They deliver ‘ocean to plate’ freshness with the owners launching their boat just metres from the front door to secure their catch on a daily basis. From the name, I’m sure you’ve deduced that lobsters are their speciality! Order a half lobster if you’re willing to splurge, but my hot tip is to save your money and get the lobster rolls, they are less expensive and more delicious! We almost went back for seconds and would highly recommend this spot for lunch.

Bicheno Blowhole

Not far from the Gulch, you’ll find the Bicheno Blowhole. Here the pressurised waves erupt thought a hole in the rocks, to put on quite an impressive show. The water erupts in a big spray and is quite fun to watch. If you’re close enough to get wet, do be careful not to slip and definitely steer clear when the waves are on the rough side.

Waubs + Redbill Beach

Staying in Bicheno is great, as there are plenty of beautiful spots to swim. We personally explored Waubs Beach and Redbill Beach, but there are more at your fingertips. Waubs Beach was my favourite of the two, as it was a more protected little bay with inviting, turquoise waters. The whole region of Bicheno was originally named Waubs Bay, after an Aboriginal women of that name rescued two sealers from a shipwreck. The township has since been renamed, but the beach keeps this little piece of history alive.

Diamond Island

Diamond Island is just off the coast of Bicheno. Sometimes it’s an island and sometimes when the tide is low, you can walk the sandbar to get to it. Even when the tide is up, it’s interesting to observe, because you have waves coming in from two different directions. If you intend to cross over to the island, make sure you leave enough time to come back. You can check the timing of the tides here to plan your visit. The island is also a penguin rookery, so if you’re lucky, you may spot some!

Want to explore more in Tasmania?
Freycinet is often part of an East Coast road trip that includes Bay of Fires.