Swansea Motor Inn Swansea Tasmania

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Things to do in Swansea TAS

Historic Swansea, Tasmania's oldest seaside town, was first explored 1798 and was settled in 1827.

Located 134 kilometres northeast of Hobart on the pristine east coastline, Swansea has a population of 530. The area is ideal for fishing, swimming and diving, or relaxing on the beach overlooking Great Oyster Bay and the beautiful Freycinet National Park. Play golf on the scenic Swansea Golf Course, bowls next door or indulge in a glass of wine on the balcony at sunset.

Take a walking tour of the historic sites of Swansea including Meredith House, Schouten House and Morris's General Store. Enjoy local wines and produce including walnuts, berries and olives.  Fresh local seafoods include oysters, mussels and crayfish (in season December to May).

The Swansea Bark Mill was established in 1885 and continued operation until the early 1960s. The restored bark mill museum is now an award winning attraction. Take a tour of the working mill to see how bark from local black wattle trees was once crushed and exported worldwide for its tannic acid used for tanning leather.

Kates Berry farm is found 3km south of Swansea and is a must see and taste! The farm sits high above the coastline looking out across Great Oyster Bay to the Hazard Range.  From November to April you can buy freshly picked berries from Kate's garden.  At any time of the year you can buy luscious creamy icecream, tantilising jams, mouth watering devonshire tea and a great selection of wine.

Bicheno, 35 minutes north of Swansea, is a traditional Tasmanian fishing villiage with rocky coastline, blow hole and pleasant walk to town.  In Bicheno, you can take a penguin tour, get up close to the marine life in a glass bottom boat, or visit the Sealife Centre and Aquarium. Also at Bicheno, East Coast Natureworld is set amongst 150 acre of natural parklands and lagoons and is the perfect place to experience Tasmania's unique and amazing animals, birds, reptiles and plantlife. Natureworld has an animal rescue centre, with special emphasis on the threatened Tasmania Devil.

Take a beach or nature walk at Freycinet National Park with its rugged granite peaks surrounded on three sides by sparkling blue bays and white sand beaches, most famous of which is Wineglass Bay. As you enter the park, the view of the  Hazards peaks are dramatic.

You can choose a scenic flight over the area, take a leisurely sea cruise to Wineglass Bay, adventurous walking  tours or kayak and canoe to your heart's content.

To the south of Swansea, Maria Island is accessed by passenger ferry leaving from Triabunna.  Maria Island National Park is a great place to experience kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, Cape Barren Geese and other wildlife in their natural habitats.  There is also an historic township, convict settlement and other historic buildings and artifacts to see. 

 Tasmania surprises visitors and a common comment of 'if only we knew...........' is heard every day.