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

Penguins. Penguin tours run nightly. Book ahead during summer as the tour is capped at 120 people / night. In summer up to 800 penguins come ashore nightly, but this falls off to almost none over winter. $20 / person, includes a minibus from town Be nice to penguins

Stay still, don't shine a torch on them or use flash photography. They have their route from the beach, and will stop or retreat if you are in their way. Back off to the side slowly. Control children.

Blowhole. The blowhole blows regularly, even in relatively calm weather. In really rough storms with high tides, the waves can crash over the top of the blowhole. The area is unfenced. Take care.
Aquarium. There are two aquariums in Bicheno. One on the highway, and one by the Gulch.
Apsley Waterhole. This waterhole provides the water supply for Bicheno. Its a pretty spot, around 10km from the town centre. Take the signposted turn at the northern end of the town. You can swim there. It is cold, but still possible. They ask that no sunscreen be used when swimming, so appropriate water clothing. You can snorkel there too.
Bicheno Motorcycle Museum & Restoration, 35 Burgess Street, +61 3 6375 1485, motorcyclemuseum@bigpond.com. 9AM–5PM. Display of over 60 bikes. 2016-02-25
Waubedebar's Grave. 2016-02-27

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 Whalers' Lookout. 2016-02-27
Bicheno Glass Bottom Boat, Esplanade, The Gulch, +61 407 812 217, +61 3 6375 1294. Daily 9:30AM–3PM. Tours start from the Gulch. They also go out to the marine reserve when the weather is right. 2016-02-27

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.

Budget

Pork's Place, 69 Burgess Street, +61 3 6375 1020. Take away and eat in. A decent spot to grab some fish and chips to eat near the beach. 2016-02-25

Drink

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

Vineyards

Devil's Corner Vineyard, +61 3 6257 8881. 2016-02-27
Milton Vineyard, +61 3 6257 8298. 2016-02-27
Freycinet Vineyard, +61 3 6257 8574. 2016-02-27
Spring Vale Vineyard, +61 3 6257 8208. 2016-02-27

Sleep

Bicheno by the Bay, -41.87594°, 148.30680°, +61 3 6375 1171, info@bichenobythebay.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Houses ranging from one to three bedroom one block from the ocean, and one block from the town centre. Small pool for swimming, small lake for canoeing, and tennis court. All free for guests.
Diamond Island Resort. Modern villa accommodation, large garden area, immediately on the beach adajacent to Diamond Island. Coffee shop and restaurant on the premises. At the end of the cycleway from town, about 2km from the town centre.
Bicheno Gaol Cottages. Three self-contained cottages set in a private garden. The gaol house itself offers 2 bedrooms and an open fireplace in the kitchen / living room. Check-In (and Internet access) is available from the neighboring motel. $135/night stand-by rate
Wintersun Gardens, 35 Gordon Street, +61 3 6375 1225. Located 300 m from Redbill Beach. Facilities include a 12.5 m swimming pool, BBQ area, children's play area, guest laundry, wifi. All rooms non-smoking. 2016-02-25
Bicheno Backpackers Hostel, +61 3 6375 1651. 2016-02-27
Bicheno Caravan Park, +61 3 6375 1280. 2016-02-27
Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park, +61 3 6375 1999. 2016-02-27

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

Bicheno - town in Tasmania, Australia