Coles Bay

Coles Bay is a hamlet of around 300 permanent residents on the western side of the Freycinet Peninsula, about 195 kilometres north-east of Hobart. The settlement sits in a sheltered bay looking west across Great Oyster Bay to the Tasmanian mainland, with the pink granite Hazards mountains rising directly behind it. The combination of mountain, sea and light makes it one of the most visually striking small settlements on the Australian coast.

The town exists primarily as the access point for Freycinet National Park. The park entrance is a five minute drive from the centre of Coles Bay, and the Wineglass Bay car park and trailhead are a further 10 minutes beyond that. Most visitors to Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula will stay in or pass through Coles Bay, and in peak summer the town's small infrastructure can feel stretched. Booking accommodation well in advance for the December to February window is essential.

Beyond its role as a gateway, Coles Bay has its own appeal. Muirs Beach, on the edge of the village, is a gentle arc of sand facing the sunset across Great Oyster Bay. Richardson's Beach, closer to the park entrance, is even more sheltered and popular with families. Honeymoon Bay, a few minutes further into the park, is a tiny cove of spectacularly clear water enclosed by orange granite boulders that has become one of the most photographed spots on the east coast.

Sea kayaking from Coles Bay is outstanding. Several operators offer half-day and full-day tours that paddle along the base of the Hazards, into sea caves, and around to Wineglass Bay from the water side. The water clarity in these sheltered bays rivals anything in the Mediterranean, and dolphins, seals and sea eagles are regular sightings.

The Coles Bay food scene is small but notable. The Tombolo Freycinet cafe and the Edge of the Bay resort restaurant both serve good Tasmanian produce-driven food. The Freycinet Marine Farm, a short drive out of town on the highway, sells fresh oysters, mussels and sea urchin direct from the farm gate and is a must-stop on the drive in. The Saffire Freycinet luxury lodge, perched on the ridge above the town, is one of the most acclaimed luxury lodges in Australia.