Spring is a wonderful time to visit Tasmania’s East Coast. The days begin to stretch out, the landscape bursts into new growth and, as the weather warms, there are more opportunities to spend long days outdoors.
At Freycinet Resort, you don’t need to travel far to make the most of the season. Set within 1,200 acres of private nature reserve, the resort offers plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy the landscape at your own pace. Take a quiet walk along our private bush trails, keep an eye out for local birdlife and wildlife, or simply settle in somewhere with a glass of locally produced sparkling wine and enjoy the view across Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards.
Afterwards, you can return to the comfort of your accommodation before enjoying dinner at our award-winning Mount Paul Lounge. It’s perfectly possible to spend a day – or even a long weekend – doing nothing more than relaxing, recharging, and reconnecting with nature.
If you’re staying with us for a little longer, and discover that you’re ready for something busier, Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park are right on our doorstep. From bushwalking and kayaking to fresh seafood and excellent coffee, there are plenty of ways to fill a spring day.
Explore Freycinet National Park on foot
No visit to Coles Bay is complete without spending some time in Freycinet National Park, where pink granite mountains rise above clear blue water, sheltered coves and white-sand beaches.
The best-known walk is to Wineglass Bay Lookout, a 2.6-kilometre return track that climbs through coastal woodland to one of Tasmania’s most recognisable views. Allow around 1–1.5 hours for the return walk, or continue down to Wineglass Bay itself for a longer adventure.
If you have more time and energy, the Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach circuit extends the experience into an 11-kilometre loop, passing through forest and along two beautiful beaches.
There are gentler options too. Honeymoon Bay is a lovely spot for a picnic or a quiet pause beside the water, while the easy Cape Tourville circuit follows an elevated boardwalk around the lighthouse, with expansive views along the Freycinet coastline. Spring is also an excellent time to keep an eye out for wildlife from the headland, including seabirds, dolphins and migrating whales.
A valid Tasmanian Parks Pass is required to enter the national park, and it is always worth checking current track and weather conditions before setting out.
See Freycinet from a different perspective
Walking isn’t the only way to explore this coastline. For a completely different perspective, Freycinet Adventures offers guided sea kayaking tours departing from Coles Bay. Their half-day paddles travel along the sheltered coastline beneath the Hazards, with the chance to encounter seabirds and marine wildlife along the way.
Freycinet Paddle Boards is another good option if you’re confident on the water: they offer half day or full day equipment hire, including stand up paddleboards, body boards, surfboards, snorkelling gear – and even a wetsuit if required.
If you would rather let someone else steer while you just sit back and enjoy the scenery, Wineglass Bay Cruises runs half-day cruises from Coles Bay. The journey takes in the granite coastline, beaches, sea caves and wildlife of the Freycinet Peninsula before reaching Wineglass Bay from the sea.
For visitors who haven’t got steady sea legs, it may be better to opt for an adventure on dry land. ALL4 All Terrain Tours operates small guided all-terrain vehicle tours, providing access to some lesser-seen parts of the Freycinet landscape.
For an even more spectacular perspective, Freycinet Air offers scenic flights over the peninsula, taking in Wineglass Bay, the Hazards and the surrounding coastline from above.
Freycinet Resort guests can make the experience particularly special with the exclusive Sea and Sky Indulgence Experience, which departs by helicopter directly from the resort. Enjoy a glass of Tasmanian sparkling wine in the lounge before your flight, then return to a dozen fresh, locally sourced oysters prepared by the Mount Paul Lounge kitchen.
Eat and drink in Coles Bay
All that fresh air tends to build an appetite, and Coles Bay has a good collection of relaxed places to refuel.
For breakfast or coffee before heading into the national park, Geographe Restaurant and Espresso Bar sits in the heart of Coles Bay with views towards the Hazards. Open throughout the day, it serves breakfast and brunch in the morning before moving into lunches and woodfired pizzas later on.
Nearby, Granite is another popular local option for coffee, breakfast and lunch. On selected evenings it transforms into a relaxed pizza and wine bar, making the most of its position overlooking Muirs Beach.
Seafood lovers should make time for Freycinet Marine Farm, located almost directly across the road from Freycinet Resort. The farm gate is an opportunity to enjoy Tasmanian seafood close to its source, with oysters a particular speciality alongside other locally caught and farmed seafood.
For something simple and casual in town, Iluka Tavern is a long-standing Coles Bay option for a relaxed lunch, dinner or drink after a day outdoors.
New for spring 2026 is WADE, opening at Wineglass Bay Estate in mid-late September. The restaurant will showcase Tasmania’s exceptional produce through seasonal menus shaped by local growers, fishers and artisans, with a focus on generous hospitality and the simple pleasure of sharing a meal around the table.
Opening hours can change with the seasons, so we always recommend checking directly with individual businesses before making plans.
Make the most of the longer days
One of the pleasures of spring in Freycinet is that there is no need to choose between activity and relaxation.
You might start the morning slowly at Freycinet Resort, enjoying the sunrise and a leisurely breakfast, before driving to the National Park and spending a few hours walking to Wineglass Bay Lookout. Pick up some fresh seafood on your way back to the Resort and enjoy an al fresco lunch on your outdoor deck, or one of the beautiful outdoor spots around the resort. There should be plenty of time for another adventure in the afternoon – perhaps a winery visit or a beach walk – before you return again to the peace and quiet of the resort as evening settles over Great Oyster Bay.
But, of course, there is nothing wrong with deciding that a good book and the view from your accommodation is enough for the day.
That balance is part of what makes this corner of Tasmania so special. Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park offer plenty to see, taste and explore, while Freycinet Resort gives you the space to retreat from it all when you are ready.
In spring, with warmer days ahead and the evenings growing lighter, there is every reason to take your time.
– Ruth Dawkins ( commissioned by Freycinet Resort)