Being an island, you would expect some pretty impressive beaches from Tasmania. Trust me, it doesn’t disappoint.

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Tasmania; it is the land of the devil, wombats, mountains and an abundance of fresh oysters. It isn’t necessarily the first place you would think to visit if you wanted a beach holiday. Not for its lack of coast line of course, but more due to the climate and the very impressive mountain and bush terrain that seems to take the limelight whenever anyone talks about Tasmania.

The bush land is incredible – don’t get me wrong – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a beeline for the beaches in Tasmania. If I could use just one word to describe the beaches we visited along the east coast, it would be ‘pristine’. For the most part, the waters in the bays are as blue as can be, and protected from harsh winds and chop; and the shore line varies between shell beaches and powder fine white sand.

If you have the chance, make sure you call in to these beaches on your Tasmanian travels!

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass bay in Freycinet National Park is one of the most talked about Tasmanian beaches for a very good reason; it is nothing short of spectacular. If you plan on visiting, be sure to pack your hiking boots as the only way to access the white, shelly sand and pristine blue water is via hiking trail (or by boat if you have the luxury). Just 15 or so minutes from the Wineglass Bay Lookout, Wineglass Bay is a fantastic spot to stop and reward yourself for all of your effort on the hiking trail.

We packed ourselves some sandwiches and snacks for the hike with the intention of a beachside picnic lunch. By the time we made it up and back down the steep climb to and from the Wineglass Bay lookout, we were desperately in need of a good feed! It felt so good to take our shoes off, wiggle our toes in the sand and enjoy a sandwich with a view. We even jumped in the water, despite it being a lot cooler than the waters we are used to here on the Western Australian coast. If you are going to make the trek down, don’t do as we did and make sure you pack your bathers (yes, we had to swim in our underwear!)

Binalong Bay

Binalong Bay is a pure white stretch of beach at the very south of the renowned Bay of Fires. The red rocks of Bay of Fires are much spoken about, but their beauty is nothing in comparison to the bay itself. The sand is so fine and white that it squeaks beneath your feet as you walk; and the water is the most brilliant shade of turquoise you have ever seen. The beach fronts what was once a fishing town. These days, Binalong Bay is predominately holiday homes.

We made it to Binalong Bay by about 11.30am mid-week. Being Jenny’s birthday, we decided to sit in the sun on the beach, enjoy a bottle of local white wine and listen to the sound of the waves. Considering we were in a tourist hot spot during peak season, it was surprising that we found a parking spot for our motor home immediately, and there was plenty of beach space per capita. In fact, I don’t think we had any trouble finding somewhere to pull in at any point along the Bay of Fires drive!

Hazards Beach

Wineglass Bay tends to steal the spotlight when it comes to beaches and bays in Freycinet; but Hazards Beach may pip it at the post when it comes to the title of ‘most picturesque beach in Freycinet’. At least we found it to be more beautiful at the time we were there! To be honest, it probably doesn’t get as much air time purely because it takes a bit longer to get to from the Freycinet carpark, and it is human nature to take the easy option. No matter which way you take the circuit, Hazards Beach takes longer to get to – approximately 30 minutes longer to get to from the carpark, and an additional 2 hours through bushland from Wineglass Bay.

The sea life along this beach was far more abundant than any of the above beaches and bays. As we walked the shoreline, we came across piles of scallop shells, clam shells and even hermit crabs (see my last photo for proof! The little guy was shy…). It was incredible to be led along the beach for a section of the trail! The water was just beautiful too – weirdly, slightly warmer than just around the bend at Wineglass.