Best Beaches in Tasmania: Hidden Shores Away from the Crowds
Tasmania has 29 beaches listed on BeachCheck, and most of them get a fraction of the visitors that hit comparable beaches on the mainland. The water is cold (14 to 18 degrees Celsius in summer), the weather is variable, and the coastline is genuinely remote in places. These are not complaints. They are exactly the reasons the beaches are worth visiting.
Tourism Australia has flagged slow travel as one of the defining trends of 2026: fewer, longer trips to places that require more intention to reach. Tasmania fits that framing well. You fly into Hobart or Launceston, hire a car, and spend a week covering ground that most interstate visitors skip entirely.
Here are the best beaches in Tasmania, based on BeachCheck ratings and review counts.
1. Binalong Bay Beach, Bay of Fires
Binalong Bay beach | 4.8 stars, 243 reviews
Binalong Bay is the southern gateway to the Bay of Fires, a 30-kilometre stretch of white sand and orange-lichened granite boulders on Tasmania's north-east coast. The beach at Binalong Bay itself is calm, clear, and backed by the small town of the same name. It is the highest-rated beach in Tasmania on BeachCheck.
The orange granite boulders are the defining feature of the Bay of Fires coast. The colour comes from a slow-growing lichen called Caloplaca. The contrast between the white sand, turquoise water, and orange rock is unlike anything on the mainland.
Getting there: Binalong Bay is 280 kilometres north-east of Hobart (3 hours), or 85 kilometres east of Launceston (1 hour). There is no public transport. A hire car is essential for the Bay of Fires.
What to do: The Bay of Fires stretches north from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. You can walk sections of it, camp at Swimcart Beach and other designated campgrounds, or take a guided multi-day walk with Bay of Fires Lodge (one of the better luxury walk experiences in Australia).
Water temperature: 14 to 17 degrees Celsius in summer. Cold but swimmable. Many people come for the scenery rather than swimming, but the water quality is excellent.
2. Godfreys Beach, Stanley
Godfreys Beach | 4.7 stars, 21 reviews
Godfreys Beach sits at the base of the Nut, a 143-metre basalt rock formation that rises directly above the town of Stanley on Tasmania's north-west coast. The Nut is a former volcanic plug and the most distinctive landmark on this part of the island.
The beach curves around a sheltered bay below the Nut. It is calm, well-protected, and one of the more accessible beaches on the north-west coast, which tends to get overlooked in favour of the east and south.
Stanley is 420 kilometres from Hobart and 150 kilometres from Devonport (the Spirit of Tasmania ferry port). It makes a natural stop on a west coast itinerary that includes Cradle Mountain and the Tarkine wilderness.
The Nut: A chairlift runs to the top, or you can walk the zigzag track (30 minutes return). The views from the summit take in Godfreys Beach, the town, and the coastline in both directions. It is worth doing on a clear day.
3. Narawntapu National Park
Narawntapu National Park | 4.6 stars, 647 reviews
Narawntapu is Tasmania's only dedicated coastal national park, on the north coast between Devonport and Launceston. The park covers 4,000 hectares of beaches, wetlands, and coastal heath. It is one of the better wildlife-watching locations in Tasmania, with wombats, wallabies, and Tasmanian devils present in the park.
The beaches inside the park are long, empty, and backed by the kind of coastal heath vegetation that is specific to the southern Australian coast. Bakers Beach and Griffiths Point are the main swimming spots. Neither is patrolled.
Getting there: The park entrance is near Bakers Beach, off the B71 road, about 60 kilometres from Devonport or Launceston. Day-use fee applies (covered by a Tasmania parks pass, which is worthwhile for a week-long trip).
Wildlife: The best time to see wildlife is dawn and dusk. Wombats and wallabies graze the open areas near the campground. Tasmanian devils are present but nocturnal and rarely seen.
4. Blackmans Bay Beach, Hobart
Blackmans Bay Beach | 4.7 stars, 88 reviews
Blackmans Bay is the best beach within easy reach of Hobart, 18 kilometres south of the CBD. The beach faces east into the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds that make many Hobart area beaches uncomfortable.
It is a local beach: used by the surrounding suburb, not by tourists. The sand is clean, the water is calm, and the surrounding headland walks give good views down the channel and across to Bruny Island.
Bruny Island: The ferry to Bruny Island departs from Kettering, 10 kilometres south of Blackmans Bay. Bruny has its own good beaches, particularly Adventure Bay and Cloudy Bay on the south island. A day trip from Hobart is feasible; an overnight stay gives you more time.
5. Paper Beach, Tamar Valley
Paper Beach | 4.6 stars, 34 reviews
Paper Beach is on the Tamar River, 25 kilometres north of Launceston. It is not an ocean beach. It is a freshwater beach on a tidal river, which makes it unusual in Australia. The water is calm, the beach is sandy, and the surrounding Tamar Valley wine region makes it a good combination with a wine tour.
The area is part of the Tamar Valley wine route, with around 30 cellar doors within 30 kilometres. Paper Beach itself is free, uncrowded, and genuinely pleasant for a picnic or swim on a warm day.
6. Howrah Beach, Hobart
Howrah Beach | 4.6 stars, 43 reviews
Howrah Beach is on the eastern shore of the Derwent River estuary, 8 kilometres from Hobart CBD. It faces west across the river, which means good afternoon light and views back toward the city and Mount Wellington (kunanyi).
The beach is a local swimming spot with a boat ramp, picnic area, and easy parking. It is not a destination beach but works well as a close option when you are based in Hobart and want somewhere to swim without driving far.
7. East Beach, St Helens
East Beach | 4.7 stars, 99 reviews
East Beach is the town beach of St Helens, the largest town on Tasmania's east coast. St Helens sits at the southern end of Georges Bay, and the beach runs along the eastern edge of the bay in a long, gentle curve.
St Helens is the practical base for exploring the north-east coast. It has supermarkets, fuel, accommodation, and restaurants. The Bay of Fires is 30 minutes north. Bicheno and the Freycinet Peninsula are 1 to 2 hours south along the coast road.
The east coast drive: The B34 from St Helens to Hobart via the east coast (Bicheno, Swansea, Orford) is one of the better road trips in Tasmania. The coast is largely undeveloped, with small towns every 30 to 50 kilometres and multiple beach access points along the way.
8. Taroona Beach, Hobart
Taroona Beach | 4.6 stars, 96 reviews
Taroona is a suburb 10 kilometres south of Hobart CBD, and the beach here is a sheltered pebble-and-sand beach on the Derwent River. It is used by locals for swimming, kayaking, and as a launch point for paddling across to the eastern shore.
The adjacent Taroona Shot Tower (built 1870) is a heritage landmark worth a quick stop. It is one of the tallest shot towers in the world and operated until 1908.
Planning a Tasmania Beach Trip
When to go: December to February for the warmest weather and longest days. March and April are good shoulder months: fewer visitors, still reasonable weather, and the tourist infrastructure is still operating. Winter (June to August) is cold, but some coastal areas are spectacular in storms.
Getting there: Flights to Hobart from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane run multiple times daily. Devonport is served by the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne (overnight, 9 to 11 hours). Flying is faster; the ferry is useful if you want to bring a car without the hire cost.
Hire car: Essential. Public transport does not reach most of the beaches listed here. Book early in summer as hire car availability in Hobart gets tight.
Parks pass: A Tasmania Parks Pass covers entry to all national parks and is worth buying if you plan to visit Narawntapu, Freycinet, or any other park. Annual or 8-week passes are available.
Water temperature: Do not expect warm water. Summer temperatures range from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius. A wetsuit extends the season considerably. Many Tasmanians swim year-round without one, but mainland visitors often find it a shock.
Browse all Tasmania beaches on BeachCheck. Also see: best hidden beaches in Australia, best family beaches.