Tasmania's Secret: The Best Aussie Beaches

Beaches - you're kidding,right?
Isn't this site about Tasmania?

Yep, it is - and this is one of the tip top
secrets safeguarded by the locals.

O'Possum Bay

They don't want you to know, so you must promise not to tell... but there is an astonishing assortment of seaside villages - all with bucket loads of charm, pure sand and the most crystal-like water you could possibly imagine. We were surprised (shocked, even!) when we managed to discover Tasmania had these little gems, like one of our new favourites at O'Possum Bay.

While touring from Hobart towards north east Tasmania, we had a stop-over at the township of Coles Bay, and did the hike up to the viewing platform over Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park.

Freycinet Peninsula, Aussie National Park

The dramatic coastlines of this stretch of the island - out towards the Tasman Sea from Swansea and Bicheno - are simply breathtaking, and by the time we reached St Helens we did wonder if there was anything that could beat it, really.

And then we took a casual little drive from our motel room overlooking the marina, to Binalong Bay.

The much revered Lonely Planet Guide has recently named this Bay of Fires coastline as “the hottest travel destination for 2009”. That's in the whole world! Apart from the tourism department, the locals are not happy with this blatant promotion showing complete disregard for their hush-hush, in-house seaside beauty.

Bay of Fires, North East Tasmania (Photo by Dan Fellow)

We read the review not long after we had been there, but the four of us had already taken a vote and unanimously agreed that Binalong Bay, with its sparkling water and whiter than white sand was the best of any beaches we had ever seen.

The boys found the whole panorama too tempting to resist, and despite having no bathers (!) or towels, went for a quick dip. This was in early May, but on this day, the Tasmanian weather proved unbelievably perfect for just such spontaneity.

If there's one thing that Aussies love, it's hitting  beaches like the Bay of Fires during hot weather - and hit them in droves they do. Although Tasmanian weather does NOT reach the dizzying heights of its more northern cousins; there is ample opportunity to laze the summer weekend away in warm sunshine - without having to fight for a patch of turf (or sand!).

They say that some people might even enjoy a bit more activity at the coast, and surfing in Tasmania offers some humungous waves for those that dare to challenge.

Beginners like the boys (including the old bugger) are still catered for though - they have joined the local surf life saving club and absolutely love the prospect of standing on a board and riding the waves. Envisage a few years down the track: checking the surf forecast, the cheap travel options and the selection of beaches available, then cruising off down the Tasmanian track to the chosen one...

Beach surfing in Tasmania (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Peron Dunes, St Helens Point, North East Tasmania

Tourism Tasmania has such a wealth of riches to promote, it must be difficult to squeeze in the odd comment about the beaches. But already we have seen:

• massive sand dunes that showed no signs of ever having entertained a sole before us;

• delights ranging from lighthouses perched on tiny islands just off the shore, to marine sanctuaries for scuba diving explorations; and then just this week...

• we enjoyed watching a pod of dolphins frolicking around a fishing boat coasting 100 metres from the water's edge.

That was so exciting that it almost eclipsed my former favourite vision: cruise ships sailing past the shoreline at twilight.

Tasmanian weather, perfect for cruise ship passengers

Life is a beach - a Tasmanian must have coined that phrase, surely?