Summer is the most popular time to visit Tasmania, and it’s not hard to understand why. With warm, dry days, an abundance of fresh seasonal food, and numerous activities and attractions within easy reach, you can be confident of a relaxing and enjoyable time.
The East Coast, and the Freycinet Peninsula in particular, are much loved by locals and interstate visitors alike. Coles Bay can feel like a sleepy little village in the middle of winter, but it becomes a bustling town in the summer season, with families, couples and solo travellers all flocking to enjoy the beaches and walks.
Located just a short drive from Coles Bay, Freycinet Resort offers guests the best of both worlds. It’s close enough to the town that you can take full advantage of everything on offer during the day, but secluded enough to allow quiet, restful evenings in our beautiful bush surroundings.
Tasmania’s great outdoors
Summer is the perfect time to explore the walking tracks in and around Freycinet Resort, and because the days are stretching out you can start early and finish late. There are a number of trails that leave directly from the property – check out the information board or speak to our friendly staff for more details.
Freycinet Resort is located right at the edge of the Freycinet National Park – Tasmania’s oldest and best-known National Park – and there are a wealth of walking trails within the park to suit all ability levels. To buy a Parks Pass, pick up a walking map, or seek advice from the knowledgeable Park Rangers, head to the Visitor Centre – it can be accessed by driving straight through the Coles Bay township and following the signs.
Hopefully you’ve planned to spend at least a few days around Freycinet, but if you’re short on time our recommendation would be to take the 20-minute walk up to Cape Tourville lighthouse. This is a flat and even track suitable for all – much of it on boardwalk – and you’ll be rewarded with magnificent coastal views.
The water around the Freycinet Peninsula is a little warmer during the summer months, so it’s a great time to try swimming, diving or kayaking. Fishing is also a very popular activity. You can hire a charter at Coles Bay, or simply try your luck from the banks of the Swan River, just north of Swansea.
If you’d rather admire the beautiful clear seas from a distance, there are plenty of beaches where you can spread out a towel and find a spot without ever needing to jostle for position. The dazzling white sands of Friendly Beachesare easily accessible from the Resort, or head to Honeymoon Bay for an evening stroll with the Hazards as your spectacular backdrop.
Indulge in delicious Tasmanian food and wine this summer
Tasmania’s reputation for high quality food and drink has grown spectacularly over the last few years, and with good reason. The East Coast’s mild climate creates the perfect growing conditions for all kinds of produce, including wines, cheeses, berries and seafood.
Whether you’re looking for packed lunch supplies to take ona walk, a picnic for the beach, or just a light supper to enjoy sitting on your deck at the Resort, there are plenty of cellar doors and farm gates in the area that are perfect for stocking up.
Around Cranbrook and Apslawn, you’ll find a cluster of cellar doors offering premium Tasmanian wines. Milton, Craigie Knowe and Devil’s Corner each have very different styles and approaches, but their wines are equally delicious and the vineyards are all worth a visit.
We can also recommend the oysters from Freycinet Marine Farm, just across the road from the Freycinet Resort entrance. For something really special, sign up for an Oyster Bay Tour where you can learn more about the process of growing oysters and taste them fresh out of the water.
If you make it as far up the coast as Bicheno, be sure to stop in to The Lobster Shack for more deliciously fresh seafood, while a little closer to home the Coles Bay Ice Creamery is another must. They serve 24 flavours of Tasmanian ice cream – including lavender, which is as beautiful as it is tasty!
Don’t forget that all our room bookings also include a complimentary gift hamper with a bottle of Tasmanian bottled water and sparkling wine from the Freycinet region.
Summer events and activities in Tasmania
If you like to include a few more structured activities during your stay, there are plenty of options on the Freycinet Peninsula.
Wineglass Bay Cruises are always a popular option, sailing daily out of Coles Bay. The cruise offers a wonderful opportunity to see the area from the water, with wildlife sightings a common occurrence.
Booking a tour with All4Adventure is another good choice – a quad bike tour that provides access to some very special hidden tracks – or you could take a scenic flight with Freycinet Air and enjoy spectacular aerial views of the beach, bush and mountains.
The nightlife on the East Coast is also pretty wild in summer… head to Bicheno to watch Little Penguinscoming ashore each evening with Bicheno Penguin Tours, or join in a Devils in the Dark tour at East Coast Nature World.
Alternatively, just sit quietly on your deck at Freycinet Resort and keep your ears and eyes peeled for some of the native creatures who live in our remote wilderness surroundings. We have possums, pademelons, quolls, echidnas and even Tasmanian Devils who all call the resort home.
***Due to ongoing COVID19 restrictions, please check local listings before planning your visit.
– Ruth Dawkins ( commissioned by Freycinet Resort)