If there’s anything better than exploring East Coast Tasmania, it’s exploring with your doggies. From short walks to mountain summits to beaches, there’s plenty of options for adventure-minded dog owners on the East Coast of Tassie.
Generally speaking, the coast is dog-friendly but finding a place to stay, camp, eat and walk with your furry pals can be restricted due to the abundance of National Parks and native wildlife (much of it protected), so we’ve created a bit of a list that might be helpful.
Each place has its own set of rules so do please check the website listings and direct questions to management where needed.
where to explore
beaches
Dog access to many East Coast Beaches can be seasonal depending on bird breeding areas along the coast. It is important to stay up to date. The below beaches is just a general guide however use the following links to ensure you are following updated Council regulations Break O’Day Council Dog Zones and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council Dog Zones.
- Orford – North Rheban Beach, Stapleton Beach, East & West Shelly Beach, Millingtons Beach, Spring Beach and Raspins Beach
- Triabunna – Boltons Beach
- Little Swanport – Saltworks Coastal Reserve
- Rocky Hills – Mayfield Beach
- Swansea – Spiky Beach, Cressy Beach, Waterloo & Coswell Beach and Nine Mile Beach [Dolphin Sands]
- Coles Bay & Freycinet – Sandpiper Beach and Muirs Beach
- Bicheno – Rice Pebble Beach and Denison Beach [Douglas River]
- Seymour – Seymour Beach
- Chain of Lagoons – Lagoon Beach
- Scamander – Four Mile Creek Beach, Mariposa Point, Scamander Beach
- Beaumaris – Beaumaris Beach, Beaumaris Beach North,
- St Helens – Stieglitz Foreshore & Harbourside and Peron Dunes, [Georges Bay]
- Binalong Bay – Binalong Bay Beach
- Bay of Fires – Suicide Beach [unfortunately-named], Cosy Corner [bit more-cheerful] and Swimcart Lagoon
Note, each location may have restricted hours for dog activity. Please refer to individual listings for more information.
parks, walks & forests
Dog access to many East Coast walks, parks and forests can change along the coast. The below walks and reserves are just a general guide however use the following links to ensure you are following updated Council regulations Break O’Day Council Dog Zones and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council Dog Zones.
- Old Convict Road, Orford – step back in time and walk the paths of the convicts along the banks of the Prosser River.
- Loontitetermairrelehoiner, Swansea – an easy circuit track with spectacular views across the bay to the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island.
- Bicheno Hills Reserve, Bicheno – an excellent off leash exercise area to let your poochies stretch their legs.
- Evercreech Forest, Mathinna – the short and easy ‘White Knights’ walk takes you through beautiful forest to the magnificent white gums of Evercreech.
- Halls Falls, Pyengana – a short forest-to-waterfall walk, with charming rock pools along the way [perfect doggo-selfie opportunities].
cafes (on leads for guest comfort, but very welcome)
- Granite Freycinet, Coles Bay – fresh hot bread, baguettes and sandwiches and the Tasmanian roasted coffee.
- Little Bay Patisserie, Bicheno – A boutique cafe featuring spectacular cakes and pastries.
- Tasmanian Coastal Seafoods, Bicheno – Fish and chips as fresh as it gets.
- Purple Possum Café, St Marys – wholefood store, a cafe and a mini-gallery plus a bric-a-brac shed all in one.
- Lifebuoy Café, St Helens – great coffee and the best home made scones in Tasmania.
- Pyengana Dairy Farmgate Café, Pyengana – home of Australia’s heritage farmhouse cheese.
- Weldborough Hotel, Weldborough – beers, ciders and wine from across Tasmania.
vineyards & cellar doors (on-lead)
- Darlington Vineyard, Orford – perched on a hillside overlooking Maria Island.
- Craigie Knowe Vineyard, Cranbrook – the oldest vineyard on the Freycinet Coast [let them know you’re coming, they will make sure their own dogs are away].
- Devils Corner, Apslawn – some of Tasmania’s best wine, food and 360° views [on-lead on the lawn areas].
- Priory Ridge Wines, St Helens – a boutique, family owned vineyard
where to stay
accommodation
- Thalia Haven, Little Swanport – 5km of secluded coastline and your own exclusive golden-sand beach.
- Freycinet Holiday Houses – choose from several pet friendly properties on the East Coast.
- Sandpiper Ocean Cottages, Bicheno – absolute beachfront self-contained cottages proudly pet friendly.
- Big4 St Helens Holiday Park, St Helens – only 300 metres from the waterfront of St Helens.
- And we’ve also curated a couple of AirBNB lists:
camping
Dog access to many East Coast camping areas can be seasonal depending on bird breeding areas along the coast. It is important to stay up to date. The below camp spots are just a general guide however use the following links to ensure you are following updated Council regulations Break O’Day Council Dog Zones and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council Dog Zones.
- Triabunna Caravan Park, Triabunna
- Freycinet Paintball and Campground, Coles Bay
- Scamander Tourist Park, Scamander
- Big 4 St Helens, St Helens
- Swimcart Beach, Binalong Bay
- Bay of Fires Conservation Area, Binalong Bay
- Humbug Point, Binalong Bay
- Policemans Point, Bay of Fires Conservation Area
- Weldborough Hotel, Weldborough
Remember always to be considerate of others, make sure your pooch has their best manners on and always clean up any “presents” they may leave behind. This will ensure that our furry mates will be received joyfully for years to come.
Thank you to our Photo Credits and Contributors: Pupsy, Liza-Jane Snowden, Molly the Border Collie Dog, Belinda Jones @ Craigie Knowe Vineyard, Good Girl Raine, Malisa + Co, Whale Song
