Bicheno

Bicheno is a small coastal town in Eastern Tasmania, home to a colony of fairy penguins and a good base for visiting Freycinet National Park.

Get in
Bicheno is on the Tasman Highway. North from Hobart, take the signposted turn at Campbell Town if coming from Launceston or Devonport.

There is a daily bus from Hobart to Bicheno.

Get around
There is a waterfront track all the way from Diamond Island, past the Gulch, and up to the blowhole. Probably over an hour to walk from end to end.

There is a cycleway from town out to Diamond Island, and the beach.

Of course, you can drive anywhere you want to go as well. Careful of penguins on the road after dark, particularly around the Diamond Resort section of the Tasman highway.

See




Do

 * Dive. There are a couple of sites for snorkeling and scuba around the rocks and beaches. There is a large marine reserve on the far side of the Gulch.
 * Swim. The weather can be mild during summer, but the water is cold. A short dip can be fine, but most locals wear wetsuits to swim or surf.
 * Diamond Island lies just off the coast, and its possible to walk there through shallow water at low tide, or take a surf ski. Careful of currents and tides. The island has clear rock pools, and is a penguin sanctuary.
 * Walk up to the

Buy

 * Local produce includes wine, cheese, seafood and fruits. Makes a perfect spread for a picnic.
 * There is a supermarket, that sells a good range of products, open 7 days. Fuel is available at reasonable prices from a major chain.

Eat
Food is available at the one of two cafes, the bakery, the pub, the winery, and a handful of other restaurants. There is also a French/Australian restaurant on the main street. Quite a lot of fresh seafood is available. The local speciality is what the locals call crayfish, but is actually southern rock lobster. Caught locally.

Many of the hotels, motels and resorts have restaurants. The IGA supermarket has some ready to eat meals but closes at 6:30PM.

Drink
There is a pub, with water views, on the high (western) side of the Tasman Highway.

Connect
Only Telstra offers mobile service in Bicheno. Internet access is available at the pancake restaurant in the middle of town, or there is a paid WiFi hotspot at the motel at the end of the main street (White Dog cafe).

Go next

 * Coles Bay, the gateway to Freycinet National Park
 * Swansea
 * Douglas-Apsley National Park