On the East coast

Let the east coast’s briny spray invigorate your Off Season spirit.

Make a break for Tasmania’s east coast and embrace winter’s grip along stretches of salty shore. Savour new pleasures during the colder months with an abundance of Off Season offerings to uncover.

Eat

Oysters fresh from the water? Say no more. A stop at Melshell Oyster Shack at Dolphin Sands is time well spent. Rug up beside the blue retro caravan and enjoy Great Oyster Bay’s favoured molluscs. Feeling adventurous? Try the self-cook kebab experience.

On your way to the Freycinet Peninsula, take a fruitful detour to the family-run Craigie Knowe Vineyard and Cellar Door. Tour the East Coast Wine Region’s oldest vineyard, then settle in with a board of Coal River Farm and Pyengana Dairy cheeses, and sample the region’s cool-climate wines.

Contemplate the rolling swell that has shaped these rugged shores then delve into a tour of clean energy salt flake harvesting at Tasman Sea Salt. Go deeper with The Salt Sommelier – a salt tasting journey highlighted by local ingredients.  

Stay

Don your jacket and beanie, and leave sandy footprints on your secluded stretch of Great Oyster Bay. At Thalia Haven, the crashing waves are your soundtrack as the roaring fire warms your feet. Relax in the sauna or soak in the outdoor tub with front row views of the ocean and the southern night sky.

Winter evenings are for sipping pinot noir, toasting marshmallows and playing board games by the open fire at Harveys Farm Bicheno, a sprawling oceanfront property. Breathe in the crisp sea air while devouring a platter of freshly shucked oysters on the grassy lawns. You may even be joined by an inquisitive wallaby or two.

Awake to an east-coast sunrise among coastal bushland at Little Beach Co – book a luxe bell tent or one of four villas with a private hot tub. At night, enjoy dinner in the rammed-earth barn or cook your day’s foraged produce in the glamping kitchen.

Longing for solitude? The Keep, sitting atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the forested north-east coast, provides far-flung winter decadence. Ogle the Blue Tier by helicopter, slip into the stone outdoor bathtub, or feast on a curated menu of seasonal produce prepared by a private chef.

PLAY

Head offshore with Freycinet Charters, cruising the perfect arc of Wineglass Bay, the quiet coast of Schouten Island, or take a bespoke jaunt of your choosing. Keep your camera handy as the cooler months are prime whale-watching time.

Want to stretch your legs? Pack a picnic lunch and spend a few hours in search of Evercreech Falls. Breathe in the rich scent of giant white gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) and keep your eyes peeled for ethereal fungi and lichen.

Blow out the winter cobwebs at St Helens Mountain Bike Trails, where you can ride from the mountains to the sea. There’s a series of stacked loops just south of St Helens, as well as an epic 42km wilderness trail, finishing on the white sands of the larapuna / Bay of Fires area. Standout views guaranteed for all levels of riding.

Salty Picnic Co will find a perfectly protected picnic spot and prepare it with rugs, cushions, low tables and tableware. Graze on a platter of Tasmanian produce while perched on a clifftop at St Helens, on the beach at Scamander, or within the cosy comfort of your accommodation.