Swansea - heart of Tasmania's East Coast and gateway to Freycinet

The Freycinet Coast ia a spectacular 120 kilometre coastal strip from Bicheno in the North to Buckland in the south, along the way taking in the towns of Coles Bay, Swansea, Triabunna and Orford; as well as the world renowned Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay and Maria Island.  Swansea makes a good base for touring, being under two hours' drive from Hobart, Launceston or Port Arthur, and the beautiful Freycinet Peninsula is less than an hour away. Swansea enjoys temperate weather all year round, with an average maximum of 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. Check the current weather here weather.meredithhouse.com.au/ There are so many things to see and do on this part of the coast that many of our overnight guests state that one night was just not enough!
Heritage Walk Leave the car behind and take a walk around town to admire the fine examples of colonial architecture; pick up a copy of the Heritage Walk booklet available locally as a guide to the many Georgian buildings and fascinating history of our town.  You may want to combine this with a visit to the Heritage centre to learn about the early east coasters, aboriginal inhabitants, French exploration and colonial settlement.
Waterloo Point Make time to take the scenic walk around the Loontitetermairrelehoiner track, or to give it its English name, Waterloo Point. This was the site of the first settlement and military garrison in Swansea and offers spectacular views across the bay to The Hazards, Schouten Island and Freycinet Peninsula. Swansea's scenic 9-hole golf course backs on to The Point.
Kate's Berry Farm Kate's Berry Farm is proving increasingly popular with visitors and locals alike. Centred on a strawberry farm with magnificent views of Great Oyster Bay to Freycinet, it sells outstanding berries, jams, and Devonshire teas, home made cakes, great coffee and ice cream.  Kate’s latest innovation is handmade chocolates incorporating single origin chocolate and the finest local ingredients.
Beaches galore South of Swansea are some of the most beautiful coves and beaches found anywhere in the world, and the best bit? they’re all deserted; Kelvedon, Cressy and Spikey Beaches have easy access off the main highway and parking is available. Just north of town is Dolphin Sands and Nine Mile Beach, an uninterrupted vista of white sand, azure waters and fresh air.
Food Swansea has an eclectic and exciting mix of cafes and restaurants, most within easy walking distance of Meredith House. From award winning fine dining at Banc or Piermont restaurants, to café/gallery style at The Ugly Duck Out. Call into the providore and cafe bar Onyx for lunch; or sample the freshest of seafood at Oyster Bay Seafood. For pub lovers there is the Bark Mill Tavern.
Wine A day spent enjoying the rugged beauty of Freycinet can be combined with a visit to one (or more) of the award-winning local vineyards. Tasmania is acclaimed for its cool climate wines, with the east coast recognised as a premium growing area for Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay varieties. Spring Vale and Milton cellar doors are a 15 minute drive from Swansea, and Freycinet Vineyard is another 15 kilometres north.  Going south you may want to stop at Darlington Vineyard at Orford.
Swansea Bark Mill Swansea Bark Mill complex, incorporates the Tavern, Bakery and Bark Mill Museum.  This unique, restored working display and pioneer exhibition is a State and National award winner. The Tavern serves beers, wines, spirits, and delicious food, including wood-fired oven pizzas. There is also an on-site bakery serving delicious breakfasts, lunches, bread and confectionery.
Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay Freycinet National Park is a peninsula of pink granite mountains, pure white beaches, coastal dunes and dry eucalypt forests on the Island's east coast. French explorer Nicolas Baudin named the land mass in 1802 after one of two Freycinet brothers, who were officers on his ship. The highest peak in the Hazard Range is Mt Freycinet at 620 metres (2,034 feet). US magazine Outside has named Wineglass Bay one of the top 10 beaches in the world.
Friendly Beaches The turn off to Freycinet Peninsula is a 30 km drive north of Swansea.  Once on the peninsula, you will see a road to your left to Friendly Beaches; this is well worth taking and leads to a car park which is only 50 metres from the stunning white sandy beach. Dolphins and migrating whales can sometimes be seen from here.
Cape Tourville From Tasman Highway (A3) take road C302. Once inside Freycinet National Park, follow the main road, and then turn left onto the Cape Tourville Road. The 7km Cape Tourville road is sealed and is suitable for all vehicles. Toilet, picnic and electric barbecue facilities are 7.5km away at Ranger Creek and Honeymoon Bay. 20-minute circuit walk. The boardwalk around the lighthouse is wide with even surfaces and gently graded slopes. It may suit wheelchair users, who have someone to assist them, and walkers with strollers. There are steep cliffs surrounding the lighthouse so please remain behind the safety fences and supervise children.
Wineglass Bay The walk to the lookout and back takes 1–1½ hours up some quite challenging terrain, but the reward at the end is worth the effort, especially the sight of the white sands and turquoise waters which qualify this as one of the world’s best 10 beaches. The walk down to the beach is recommended.
See it by Sea Only 1% of visitors to the Freycinet National Park have the rare opportunity to see the stunning Freycinet coastline, which includes the world famous Wineglass Bay, take a fully guided cruise there with Freycinet Sea Cruises. From the safety of your seat, explore the rugged coastline with towering pink granite cliffs plunging into the Tasman Sea and, at Wineglass Bay, enjoy the spectacular surroundings, recognised as one of the world’s top ten beaches, while enjoying the flavour of freshly shucked oysters still dripping from the sea, served with a sample of Tasmania’s finest champagne and cheese.
See it by air One of the best ways to experience the more inaccessible parts of the National Park is by taking a scenic flight with Freycinet Air, located at an airstrip on the Friendly Beaches road. The flights provide unparalleled views of the beautiful Wineglass Bay, the Hazards and the Freycinet Peninsula with its many lagoons, Schouten Island and miles of unspoilt white sand beaches with turquoise water.
Kayaking with Freycinet Adventures Kayaking with Freycinet Adventures is listed as the #4 must-do experience in Australia, on this relaxed, three hour guided tour of the Freycinet coastline; you’ll glide beneath pink granite mountains, past pristine sandy beaches and across waters so crystal clear you feel like you can touch the marine life below. The award-winning tour blends adventure and serenity with a deep appreciation of an incredible environment; it is an unforgettable way to discover the Freycinet Peninsula.
Seafood Delights No visit to Freycinet would be complete without a visit to Freycinet Marine Farm at Coles Bay to savour freshly shucked Pacific and local Angassi Oysters and Tasmania Blue Mussels. Our tip, buy some to take on your walk to Wineglass Bay, pick up some bread from the Coles Bay bakery and enjoy them with a glass of cold Sauvignon Blanc from Milton or sparkling Salute from Spring Vale.
Bicheno and surrounds
Bicheno Penguin Tour Bicheno Penguin Tours takes you to see fairy penguins at dusk on Tasmania’s east coast. The nightly evening tours offer a rare and thrilling chance to visit a private rookery. You can watch the fairy penguins emerge from the ocean and head for their homes. Established by Bicheno locals to protect the penguin population, the tour lets you get close to the penguins without disturbing their nightly journey. Tours operate daily except Good Friday and Christmas Day. Tours depart at dusk and penguin numbers vary seasonally. Bookings are essential for penguin tours Phone: 03 6375 1333 www.bichenopenguintours.com.au
East Coast Natureworld East coast Natureworld is a premier wildlife and ecology park near Bicheno, in Tasmania’s east coast. The park is located on 65 hectares (150 acres) of natural parkland and lagoons, north of bicheno. Here, you can see free-ranging native Australian wildlife up close, including wombats, kangaroos, bettongs, koalas, pademelons, lorikeets, pelicans and swans. Natureworld also operates as a rescue, breeding and rehabilitation sanctuary for orphaned or injured wildlife. www.natureworld.com.au
Maria Island A special place with something for everyone - historic ruins, sweeping bays, rugged cliffs and mountains, and remarkable wildlife.  Set just off the warm East Coast, the island is easily accessed by ferry from Triabunna. For current timetable and fares, contact Maria Island Ferry on 0419 746 668 or see www.mariaislandferry.com.au. There are no motor vehicles and no shops on the island, so take everything you need with you. The whole island is a national park, free of vehicles. It is a refuge for Forester kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons. You can stay in the tiny settlement of Darlington, watch the Cape Barren Geese or any of the 130 resident bird species, and relax as you learn of the Aboriginal, convict and settler histories.

Swansea restaurants and cafés

Swansea has a wide choice of restaurants & cafés including -

Restaurants

Banc Licensed Restaurant 7 Maria Street, Swansea. Phone 6257 8896. Bookings essential. Lunches by arrangement. Dinner from 6pm. Closed Tuesday.  Award winning Chef: John T. Bailey, Sublime service from Lee Bailey & team.

Kabuki  Tasman Highway. Phone 6257 8588.  Approx 15 mins (10km south) of Swansea. Great views, Tasmanian fare with Japanese flair. Lunch daily. Summer - dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm.  Winter – Friday and Saturday only.  Bookings are essential year round.

Piermont Restaurant Tasman Highway, Swansea. Phone 6257 8131. Approximately 4 kms south of Swansea. Stunning location, beautiful venue, and fantastic menu.  Bookings essential. Open Thursday – Tuesday from 6 p.m. The latest addition to Swansea’s high-end culinary delights.

Home Cooking / Country Style

RSL Club Noyes Street Swansea. Phone 6257 8188. Licensed Club - Bistro open Tues to Sat: Hours 5:30pm to 8pm.

Viewpoint Maria Street, Swansea. Phone 6257 8656. At Amos House & Swansea Ocean Villas. Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes. Dinner from 6pm. Reservations required for dinner.

Waterloo Inn, Franklin Street, Swansea. Phone 6257 8577. Motel style restaurant.

Pub / Bistros / Licensed Cafés

Swansea Bark Mill Tavern Tasman Highway. Swansea.  Phone 6257 8094. Bookings recommended in summer. Pub style menu, wood fired pizzas, fish & chips and roasts. The Tavern is open 10am until late; Lunch 12- 2pm, Dinner 5:30 – 8:30pm.

The Ugly Duck Out.  Franklin Street, Swansea. Phone 6257 8850.  Winner of the "I Love Food Awards" Favourite Vegetarian / Vegan Restaurant in the state of Tasmania for 2 years running. Modern style bistro and gallery, licensed. First restaurant in Australia to be Climate Action Certified to Innovator Level with Eco Tourism Australia. The seafood is local, thereby supporting sustainable fishing practices. Chef Robyn Klobusiak. Open 08:30 am. to 8:00 pm.

Onyx Providor and Café Bar Franklin Street Swansea. Phone 6257 9095. Nikki and Wayne welcome you to Onyx. Serving snacks and lunch. Licensed, welcoming café. 

Cafés

Bark Mill Bakery Phone 6257 8094. Open from 6 am for breakfast, and all day for snacks, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Part of the Bark Mill complex, outdoor play area for the kids. Great (as in huge) cakes!

Kate’s Berry Farm Phone 6257 8428. Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. What can we say about Kate’s that has not already been said? The woman is an east coast legend. No visit to Swansea is complete without a visit to world renowned Kate’s Berry Farm; it’s worth it just for the stunning views across the bay; but do try the homemade ice cream, fruit liquors, jam and home baked goodies or a delicious Devonshire tea. 

Oyster Bay Seafood, cnr Maria St / Franklin Street (next to Post Office/Newsagency). Phone 6257 8998. So much more than just a fish & chip shop! Open every day 11:30am to 7:30 pm. Great selection of seafood, not just fish & chips (in-season – Crayfish, Oysters, Mussels, Scallops and seasonal catches).

The Horny Cray Phone 6257 8266 Franklin St (next to the Town Hall) Open 7a.m. – 7p.m. 7 days a week.  The welcome return of The Pier Cafe in a new guise as 'The Horny Cray' serving Fish and Chips, Burgers, Oysters and Crayfish in season.