The pretty coastal town of Coles Bay is framed by the rugged pink-hued granite peaks of the Hazards mountains and the sheltered waters of Great Oyster Bay. This is an excellent base from which to explore Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay, or to take a few days to relax in a beach house or apartment and experience a true beach holiday. Take a swim in the clear ocean, go fishing or enjoy a long walk at one of the local beaches, including Richardson’s, Muirs and the incredible Friendly Beaches.
Freycinet National Park is a short drive from Coles Bay and can be explored in anything from a couple of hours to several days. Call in to the National Park Visitor Centre when you arrive to collect a map of the National Park and plan your visit. A must-do is the short walk to Wineglass Bay lookout, which offers gorgeous views of this world-famous bay, or, you can go a little further to walk on the sugar-white sand and take a dip in the sea. You can also choose from a range of longer walks in the national park—from half-day to multi-day bush walks.
Coles Bay and Freycinet is a hub for outdoor experiences—go sea kayaking, take a cruise to Wineglass Bay, join a luxury sailing and walking experience, take a scenic flight over the Peninsula or try a four-wheel drive or quad bike experience. Or, just pack a picnic and lose an afternoon on one of the Peninsula’s beautiful beaches.
Visit Coles Bay’s cafes and restaurants to enjoy everything from coffee and treats to a gourmet dinner of fresh local ingredients, or visit a local producer to sample mouth-watering East Coast produce–especially East Coast oysters, mussels, scallops and rock lobster (preferably accompanied by a fine east coast sparkling wine!).
Getting there
Coles Bay is 2hrs and 32min from Hobart and 2hrs and 16min from Launceston.
Must do’s
- Visit Honeymoon Bay, which is just a short walk from the Freycinet Visitor Centre, but feels like another world entirely
- Enjoy ocean swims and long walks on the local beaches, including Richardson’s, Muirs and the incredible Friendly Beaches
- A visit to Wineglass Bay Lookout can be a highlight or it can be less than ideal due to summer crowds. You can beat the crowds by arriving well before 12pm or after 3pm, or choose another one of the other walks with equally magnificent views and less people
- Or visit in Autumn, Winter or Spring for another experience entirely
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