The First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania: Where to Stay, Where to Eat and What to Do!

The Tasman Peninsula is a part of Tasmania that I’ve visited many times over the years, on school excursions, showing visitors to the state around and lately when visiting one of my friends who now lives there with her family. I took lots of photos on our last two visits back to Tassie (and visiting my friend) so now I can put together this guide including everything you need to know to have a wonderful first-time visit! Read on to find out all about this stunning part of Tasmania including the best things to see, places to stay and where to eat.

About Turrakana/the Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula, known as Turrakana in the local Aboriginal language, is a peninsula located in the south-east of Tasmania, about an hour’s drive from Hobart. There are a few small towns located on the peninsula, along with some incredible natural sights, but it’s most famous for the penal settlement of Port Arthur which was established in the 1830s. Fun fact, the first convict site in Tasmania was actually on Maria Island (which I’ve written about visiting here) but it was moved to Port Arthur as Maria Island was too easy for the convicts to escape from!

Today the Tasman Peninsula is a popular destination for both local and interstate visitors who want to relax in the beautiful surroundings, see Tasmanian Devils (and other wildlife) or learn more about the penal history of Tasmania.

The Coolest Things to See and Do on the Tasman Peninsula

The scenery on the Tasman Peninsula is incredible, with lots of gorgeous beaches and bushwalking trails to discover. There are also some great attractions worth checking out, all of which I’ll go into more detail here:

Port Arthur Historic Site

As I mentioned, the main tourist site on the Tasman Peninsula is probably the Port Arthur Historic Site, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that consists of the remains of convict sites in Tasmania, Sydney, Fremantle and Norfolk Island. There are many ruined buildings and information panels throughout the site where you can learn more about what life was like for convicts at Port Arthur, as well as night-time ghost tours for the brave!

In 1996, the Port Arthur Historic Site was also the location of Australia’s worst mass shooting event, so there are memorials to the victims of this awful massacre as well.

There’s also a very involved information centre on-site, along with a café, restaurant and quite a lovely gift shop. You can get tickets for Port Arthur when you arrive, or pre-book them online here.

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

The other main tourist spot, in my opinion, on the Tasman Peninsula is the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo. I’ve previously written about visiting it here, but basically it’s a lovely wildlife park that tries to model itself as much on the wild as possible, so the animals aren’t enclosed in cages like old zoos. This is one of the best places in Tasmania to see Tassie Devils, along with quolls, wallabies, kangaroos and plenty more cute critters!

They have interactive talks, the opportunity to hand-feed the wallabies/roos and even an underground dome where you can get face-to-face with a Tasmanian Devil if you’re lucky. There’s also a café on-site if you need some refreshment during your visit.

You can get tickets for the Unzoo when you arrive, or pre-book them online here.

The Dog Line

The Tasman Peninsula connects to the mainland of Tasmania via an isthmus called Eaglehawk Neck. This was the only real way off the peninsula for any convicts who might have escaped from Port Arthur, so it’s here that a Dog Line was established with fences, guards, traps and guard dogs across the 30-metre wide strip of land. These dogs were chained strategically across the Neck and would bark to warn of escaping convicts. Today there’s a statue of one of these dogs with a little plaque telling you about the Dog Line. If you follow the path behind the dog you’ll also come to a lovely beach which leads to the next famous sight on the Tasman Peninsula…

Tesselated Pavement

At the northern end of Pirates Bay Beach, you’ll find the Tesselated Pavement, a rare rock formation at the foot of the cliffs that has long straight lines similar to what you’d see on pavement. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon, but it can make for some pretty spectacular photos, especially if you visit at sunrise or sunset. Just be aware of the tide and waves, though, as the surf can sometimes get high here. It can also be very slippery so again, do be careful if you decide to walk on the rocks themselves.

The Blowhole and Doo Town

If you turn off from Eaglehawk Neck to Blowhole Road you’ll eventually arrive at the Tasman Peninsula’s natural blowhole, but first you’ll drive through the quirky little Doo Town. This tiny town features houses which all have the word ‘doo’ somewhere in their name, from “Make Doo,’ to “Doodle-Doo,” “Gunnadoo,” to “Dr. Doolittle.” Apparently, the whole thing started as a joke in the 1930s when a man named his house “Doo I” and a neighbour responded with “Doo Me.” Just make sure you drive slowly through here so you can chuckle at all the silly names!

At the end of the road, you’ll reach the car park for the blowhole, where there’s also usually a food van appropriately named “Doo-Lishus” where you can get some tasty seafood, drinks or snacks. If the surf is up then you might get to see the blowhole blowing water in the air, although the last two times I visited it was very quiet. There’s a nice little lookout walk just behind it though if you want to see some epic views.

Tasman Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen

Just a little further up the road from Doo Town and the blowhole you’ll come to another two tourist sites where you can look at some more pretty amazing rock formations. Because the ocean tends to smash into the Tasman Peninsula there are lots of interesting shapes created in the rocks by erosion, including these two gorges. The Tasman Arch has an arch, as you can see, while the Devil’s Kitchen (a little walk away) is now just a deep trench, although it features plenty of interesting rock patterns similar to those at the Tesselated Pavement. Just like the blowhole, both these spots are very impressive during blustery weather with the waves crashing below, but also quite epic on a sunny summer’s day.

Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry

One place you should stop as you drive down the Tasman Peninsula is the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry, located just before you arrive at the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo. This shop has a staggering amount of chocolate-themed goodies to purchase, from chocolate soaps to cute tea towels, along with all manner of delicious chocolate bars and other treats. This is an excellent spot to shop for Tasmanian souvenirs or gifts, plus you can sit on the chairs outside to enjoy some ice cream or whatever chocolate treats you’ve purchased!

Port Arthur Lavender

A little bit further down the road (after the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo) you’ll also come across Port Arthur Lavender, a lavender farm that’s also home to a visitor centre, café and gift shop with all manner of lavender-infused delights! You can wander among the lavender fields, which are picturesquely planted next to the waters of Long Bay, learn about the process of farming and distilling lavender and then eat something lavender-flavoured (or not, they also serve non-lavender flavoured food and drinks) either inside the cafe or while sitting on a purple beanbag outside. I actually found the informational displays very interesting and it was lovely to frolic amongst the fields of lavender, just watch out for bees!

Remarkable Cave

Another incredible rock formation created by waves on the peninsula is Remarkable Cave, where the waves rush in and out of a tunnel into a gorge. It’s reached by going down 115 steps, from which you can see some pretty gorgeous views as you go. On days when the surf is up then you might even get splashed by the incoming waves once you reach the viewing platform at the bottom. There are also some longer bushwalking routes that leave from the car park here, but we only really had time to see Remarkable Cave.

Coal Mines Historic Site

One site on the Tasman Peninsula that I haven’t actually visited for myself is the Coal Mines Historic Site, which is located on the western tip of the peninsula near the town of Saltwater River. These ruins were once a coal mine where the ‘worst class’ of convicts from Port Arthur were sent as punishment. It was also the first operational coal mine to be established in Tasmania so it would be interesting for any history buffs who want to learn even more about the state’s penal history.

Bushwalking

I’ve mentioned it in passing, but another one of the most popular activities for visitors to the Tasman Peninsula is bushwalking, or hiking, through the incredible scenery. Some popular day walks include the Cape Hauy walk (4 hours return) and the Cape Raoul walk (5 hours return) but you can also embark on a multi-day hike on the Three Capes Track which winds through the Tasman National Park. Of course, there are also plenty of shorter walks, like the ones that depart from Remarkable Cave, as you can see in the sign below.

Beaches

If you prefer sunbathing, swimming or surfing to hiking then you’ll still be perfectly happy on the Tasman Peninsula as it’s also home to many beautiful beaches. Pirates Bay Beach (pictured above) is one of the first you’ll see and is known for being a good surfing spot. You can also walk about 5 kilometres all the way from the Tesselated Pavement to Doo Town and the Blowhole. Roaring Beach on the western side of the peninsula is another very popular spot for surfing, but if you’re looking for something a little more quiet and secluded then head to Safety Cove Beach, a little further south from the Port Arthur Historic Site. If you visit in summer then you’ll be able to spend time enjoying the beaches, although be warned that in Tasmania the water can still be quite cold even when the temperature is hot! But even if you visit in winter, the beaches are still stunning for walking on.

Wildlife Cruises

If you want to see more wildlife, but of the watery kind, then you’ll definitely want to join a wildlife cruise! This cruise is a wonderful way to see some of the incredible scenery from the water (including cliffs, waterfalls, sea caves and epic rock formations) plus you’re more than likely going to get to see dolphins, Australian fur seals and maybe even whales along the way! And that’s not even mentioning the sea eagles, albatrosses and other birds you might spot. Just make sure to bring warm clothes, even in summer, as it gets cold out there in the wind.

Where to Eat and Drink on the Tasman Peninsula

I haven’t eaten at many places on the peninsula recently, mostly because the last two times we visited we had lunch with our friends at their house! But after asking my Tassie friends for their recommendations and doing my own research, these are the places I have on my list for next time that I’m pretty confident you will also enjoy.

• The Cannery: For some of the delicious fresh seafood that Tasmania is known for, make sure you stop off at the Cannery in Dunalley – which is incidentally, located across from the public jetty that was one of the filming locations for Deadloch!
• Bangor Vineyard Shed: Not far from Dunalley, before you get to Eaglehawk Neck is the Bangor Vineyard Shed for those who might want to taste some local wines from their cellar door. They also do food, with more excellent seafood as well as non-seafood dishes.
• Port Arthur Lavender: I already mentioned that the café here does some delicious food, but if you skimmed that section make sure you take note now! They also offer some lavender-flavoured sweet treats and beautiful views.
• The Fox and Hounds Restaurant: Even if you don’t stay at the Fox and Hounds Historic Hotel (more on that in the next section), you should at least have a meal in their cosy restaurant, with a delicious-looking lunch and dinner menu full of pub classics including burgers, salads, schnitzels, steak, seafood and more.
• On the Bay Restaurant: Another restaurant that’s part of one of my accommodation recommendations is On the Bay Restaurant which is part of the Stewarts Bay Lodge. They have some beautiful views served alongside the yummy meals, along with a fully vegan menu if required.
• Port Arthur Motor Inn Restaurant: While I didn’t put the Port Arthur Motor Inn in my hotels section as it’s pretty basic (but you can still check it out if you want!) their restaurant does look lovely, with views across the Port Arthur Historic Site, a terrace for summer and a wood fire in winter. They have some seafood dishes but a lot more other choices if you’re tired of seafood!
• Lucky Ducks Café: While they don’t have a website, this cute café in Nubeena looks like a great spot for breakfast or brunch (or lunch/dinner), with quirky rubber ducks decorating the space and some tasty looking meal photos on Google maps.
• The Pickers Pantry: Similarly to Lucky Ducks Café, the Pickers Pantry doesn’t seem to have a website but looks very beautiful. It’s located just 4 minutes drive away from Nubeena in a beautiful garden with lots of lovely pastries, cakes and a changing menu.

Where to Stay on the Tasman Peninsula

While it’s possible to explore the Tasman Peninsula as a day trip from Hobart, you’ll be able to see a lot more of the sights if you stay overnight, or longer. There are some lovely places to choose from as well, for all sorts of budgets.

Budget: While The Fox and Hounds Historic Hotel is very affordable it’s also absolutely gorgeous, built in a Tudor style with a choice of hotel rooms or self-contained apartments.

Mid-range: If you want to get up close and personal with Highland Cows while you’re on the peninsula, check out Ruby’s Cottage Farm Stay! This is a cute little two-bedroom cottage on a local farm, where the owners will even take you on a tour to meet their resident Highland Cows.

Luxury: For a bit of luxury (although it’s still not too expensive) the Stewarts Bay Lodge looks very lovely, with cute log cabins or spa-bath chalets nestled in bushland looking out over the water. The accommodation is self-contained but, of course, there’s the restaurant on-site for dinner, or a pizza lunch on Saturdays.

Tours of the Tasman Peninsula

If you won’t have access to a car it is still possible to visit the Tasman Peninsula on a day tour from Hobart. Here are the best ones available from GetYourGuide:

• Devils and a Wildlife Cruise: This day trip visits the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo and includes a 3-hour wilderness cruise as well as lunch.
• Richmond, Port Arthur and Devils: This packed day trip includes a visit to the town of Richmond (find out more about Richmond here) as well as time exploring the Port Arthur Historic Site AND the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo!
• Port Arthur and Peninsula Highlights: This tour visits the Port Arthur Historic Site and includes a cruise on the harbour and a tour of the Isle of the Dead. You’ll also get to stop off quickly in Richmond on the way and it also visits the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry and Remarkable Cave.

Map of the Tasman Peninsula

I’ve included all of the places I’ve mentioned in this guide on a map so you can more easily see where everything is and plan your own visit. I hope you have a great time!

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Have you visited the Tasman Peninsula before? Let me know your favourite experiences in the comments or pin one of these if you’re planning your own trip!