The East Coast

There are great caravan parks along this coastline, and if that is the type of accommodation your family is seeking, you won't be disappointed with their locations:

• Hillcrest Tourist Park St Helens
• St Helens BIG4 Holiday Park
• Friendly Beaches camping area (bush camping)
• Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park
• Bicheno Cabin Park
• Bicheno Caravan Park
• Seaview Holiday Park Bicheno
• Iluka Holiday Centre/BIG4 Iluka Freycinet Holiday Park - Coles Bay
• River and Rocks Campground, Coles Bay
• Swansea Holiday Park
• Mayfield Bay Conservation/Camping Area
• Gum leaves Bush Holidays
• Triabunna Caravan Park
• Maria Island Campground

There are a number of walks within this region. Details below are compliments of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife 60 Great Short Walks.

Apsley River Waterhole and Gorge - Bicheno

This walk crosses the Apsley River at the waterhole and then takes you away from the river on a walk through the dry, open forest before descending back to the river at the Apsley Gorge. 2-3 hour return (2.8km one way)Supervise children, slippery surfaces, and flowing waters.

Friendly Beaches, St Helens

This track is just 10m long and lands you on a long white sandy beach. From here you can explore for minutes or hours in either direction. Supervise children, unpatrolled beaches, swimming is not recommended

Cape Tourville

With stupendous coastal views of the Freycinet National Park, this very easy walk provides a great alternative for those who don’t feel inclined to tackle the steep hill on the Wineglass Bay lookout walk. 20-minute circuit walk (600m circuit). Supervise children, hazardous cliffs, stay within barriers

Wineglass Bay Lookout

The crystal clear waters and white sandy beach of Wineglass Bay are a tremendous sight. This is a steep uphill walk on a rocky, well-constructed track within the Freycinet National Park. 1 - 1.5 hours return (1.5 km each way). Supervise children, hazardous cliffs, stay within barriers, and steep tracks – not suitable for those with health issues or restricted mobility.

Loon.tite.ter.mair.re.le.hoin.er, Swansea

Right in the heart of Swansea is a walk that offers stunning coastal scenery. Named after the local band of Aboriginal people, this track takes you from Waterloo Beach to Shouten Beach. 40 - 60 minute return - return by the same route or circuit return via footpath route. (2.3 km circuit). Supervise children, unpatrolled beaches, unprotected track edges

Painted Cliffs, Maria Island

This walk is on Maria Island and can be enjoyed as part of a day or overnight visit to the island. The Painted Cliffs are best visited at or around low tide to allow safe access around the rock platform adjacent to the cliffs. Visitors can return via the Oast House where hop kilns were built sometime before 1845. 2 hours return, 4.4 km one way. Supervise children, unpatrolled beaches, unprotected edges at cliffs

Fossil Cliffs

Along the way to Fossil Cliffs, you will pass many reminders of the rich cultural heritage of Maria Island. The cliff exposure in the Fossil Bay area is recognised as the best example of lower Permian strata in Tasmania, if not the world.5 – 2 hours return, 4.5 km circuit. Supervise children, hazardous cliffs, and unprotected track edges.

If you love seafood you will be in heaven - the freshest oysters, scallops, crayfish and deep-sea fish are at your fingertips. Bicheno has a great seafood place down by the water that sells direct to the public. St Helens is a fishing town, so you'll find a huge range of fish on the menus and there is also a great spot by the water that sells direct to the public if your kids are the restaurant kind!

If you are travelling in a caravan or planning on self-catering, St Helens and Swansea offer the largest supermarkets. Bicheno comes in a close third. With the abundance of fresh seafood make the most of fresh fish and salads, particularly in the warmer months!

Most towns have a local hotel with meals. Both Bicheno and St Helens are yet to let us down, and Coles bay has some wonderful restaurants; two being at Freycinet Lodge right under the Hazards Mountains. You can have a meal there and look out into Great Oyster Bay; it's stunning and suitable for kids.

You'll find wineries galore through the east, many with great onsite cafes and local produce to take home. If you plan to use campfires or gas BBQs be sure to check with the local fire authority. On the East Coast, summer often has total fire bans.

The East has some of the world's most beautiful beaches and the friendliest wildlife! We often head through to St Helen's and head south along the coast from there. Freycinet is a special spot of ours and we tend to stay at Bicheno when exploring the region. Here are our top recommendations for activities:

Bay of Fires National Park.

This NP stretches over 50 kilometres from Binalong Bay in the south to Eddystone Point in the north and was named by Lonely Planet as the hottest travel destination in the world! The beaches are amazing, with many little coves and bays perfect for swimming. There are tours available as well, but more suitable for older children.

East Coast Nature World, Bicheno

150 acres of natural parkland and lagoons. From the moment you walk in the main door, the wildlife is at your feet. Features include a bird aviary, Tasmanian Devil enclosure, Wombats, Tiger Snakes, Possums, and many other Tasmanian species. They offer Devil shows and play a large part in preserving our native species through breeding programs, and contribute to the Save The Tasmanian Devil Program. Ask the staff about their two Eastern Quolls that were involved in the 'supermarket meat mystery', they can be very sneaky. Nature World also has a cafe and souvenir shop. Check out their website here.

Bicheno Blow Hole.

Located on the waterfront, a short walk from the centre of town. Water and air pressure build-up under the giant rock, pushing the water out through a tiny hole. The bigger the swell, the greater the blast! A great place to come and eat lunch, or visit before going on a Penguin tour.

Bicheno Penguin Tours.

The best way to see Little Penguins up close is in the twilight. Tours are held most of the year.

Friendly Beaches, Coles Bay

An all-time favourite camping spot of ours. The beach spans along the coast and is part of the Freycinet National Park. A great pit stop for families, kids can get out and run around, swim in the summer or simply beech comb for hours. A very beautiful spot.

Freycinet National Park.

Freycinet National Park offers a wide variety of activities. Most popular is the walk over to Wineglass Bay. The walk includes a lot of easy climbing, so not ideal for tiny legs. If you have a baby carrier it would be easily done. Cape Tourville walk near Freycinet Loge is perfect for young ones, with magnificent views overlooking the ocean. Wildlife is abundant, sea eagles are often seen soaring above. If your kids are of age we highly recommend a kayak around the bay.

All4Adventure Quad Bike Tours, Coles Bay

This is AMAZING! The quad bikes cater for individual riders as well as families, with 3-seater Polaris Rangers, (2 passengers). It’s the perfect way to get off the beaten track and discover some of Freycinet’s lesser-known beauty spots – plus it's great fun. The beaches they take you to are private and they also have some snacks included on the trip!

Freycinet Adventures Kayaking, Coles Bay

Kids as young as two can head out for a paddle, but they will need to be able to sit still for two to three hours. Their trips start in Coles Bay and head over towards the famous Freycinet mountains and coastline. Their Instagram pages boast visits from dolphins and seals, and they include stopovers at private beaches and bays. A trip we have done and it was wonderful. Click here for more.

Spikey Bridge, Swansea

Built by convicts in 1843, the bridge is just off the main highway heading south from Freycinet, 7.5 km out of Swansea. When built, convicts did not use mortar or cement and laid the field stones vertically, creating 'spikes'; which are claimed to keep cattle from falling over the side. There are also the remains of the Governor's cottage on the hill overlooking the unusual bridge. We tried to find the cottage but had no luck!

Maria Island National Park

Accessible only by ferry, Maria Island contains the most intact example of a convict probation station in Australia. There are a number of short walks to explore the buildings and ruins of Darlington – a ghost town with a convict and industrial past. Fossil Cliffs provides a fascinating close-up look at the many ancient creatures immortalised as fossils in the rocks and The Painted Cliffs at Hopground Beach are beautifully patterned sandstone shaped by the mineral-rich water and wind. Wildlife is abundant, with a number of Tasmanian Devils released onto the Island to protect the species from the Devil Facial Tumor.

Top playgrounds for the East Coast:

• Bridge Street Park, Esplanade, Swansea
• Harold Street Playground, Harold Street, Coles Bay
• Scamander Playground, Scamander Ave (near corner of Bridge Esplanade) Scamander
• Swansea Beach, Tasman Highway, Swansea
• St. Helens Marina Playground, Marina Parade, Saint Helens
• Foreshore Playground St Helens
• Lions Park Nature Playground, Tasman Hwy Saint Helens
• Village Green Playground, Main Road Binalong Bay
• Stieglitz Playground, St Helens Point Rd, Stieglitz
• Beaumaris Playground, Beaumaris Av, Beaumaris
• Scamander River Mouth Playground, Dune Street Scamander
• Community Centre Playground, James Street Falmouth
• Four Mile Creek Playground, Four Mile Creek Rd, Four Mile Creek
• Library Park Playground, Main Street St Marys
• Cornwall Park Playground, Alexander Street Cornwall
• Mathinnna Recreation Playground, High Street Mathinna

Check out Playground Finder for a list of spots to take the kids. This website includes a location map, and details if there are toilets, BBQs, if it's fenced, has shade, car parking or is near any other kid-friendly activities.

All major petrol companies are in Launceston. Fuel is expensive when compared to the mainland, so the purchase of an RACT United card can save you 6 cents per litre. Coles and Woolworths also offer their 4 cents off a litre through shopper dockets.

All major ATMs are available, with some smaller bank branch stores in smaller towns.

The Australian Government has a fantastic website called The National Public Toilet Map. It's fantastic. All you have to do is type in your location and it provides a map, address, facilities available and open times. Save it to your safari browser on your mobile. Right now.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has compiled a list of Babycare rooms around the state. It does not, unfortunate list any for the East Coast. There are a lot of places available in each main town, and with the coast's strong clean image, the majority of public toilet change areas are clean.

As for feeding - the coast offers one of the best views to look at! Find a quiet spot, with a great view and sit back and relax!

The main public transport along the coast is Calows Coaches. They run daily from St Helens to Coles Bay.

Alternatively, there is the Tassielink Bus from Hobart or Launceston.

St Helens have taxis, as does Swansea.

Most families have hired cars, and even though there are a lot of gravel roads throughout the East Coast, they generally are in good condition due to being the main thoroughfares to beaches and national parks.

The Following are times travelling from Coles Bay to:

Launceston - 167 km (2 hours), via Swansea and Campbeltown

Hobart - 185 km (2 hours 30 min) via Orford and Sorell

ST Helens - 110 km (1 hour 30 min), via Bicheno and Scamander

Bicheno - 35 km (25 min) direct

Port Arthur - 200 km (3 hours), via Orford and Spring Beach

Caravan Parks Tasmania has compiled a list of recommend green, environmentally friendly locations in order to protect Tasmania's environment. The closest points to the North East are the following:

• St Helens Caravan Park
• St Helens Sports Ground
• Bicheno Tasmania
• Swansea Duck Park
• Triabunna Visitor Information Centre