In a country know for its endless pristine beaches, here are some suggestions for must-see beaches if you’re spending a few days near Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart. If the weather’s not great (as it sometimes is in temperamental Tasmania) and/or you’re looking to do more than just “beach time”, make sure to also check out these other activities Hobart has to offer!
Pack your swimsuit, towel, snacks, and sunscreen and take a scenic drive down Tasmania’s picturesque South Arm Peninsula!
Best beaches in order of proximity to Hobart:
- Bellerive & Howrah Beaches (10 mins)
- Clifton Beach (30 mins)
- Calverts Beach (30 mins)
- Opposum Bay Beach (40 mins)
Bellerive & Howrah Beaches
Just a quick jaunt over the Tasman Bridge to the other side of the Derwent River lies Bellerive Beach and Howrah Beach. These two beaches are beside each other but separated by a bluff with a nice walking trail providing cliffside views. As part of the Clarence Foreshore Trail, which follows the shores of the Derwent River, you can easily meander from one beach to another.
These beaches have some great tidal pools where you can spy on coastal macroinvertebrates like sea stars, anemones, and all kinds of other neat ocean life (if I lived in Hobart, you’d probably find me here on the daily!). Specifically on Howrah Beach, you can find some neat sandstone crevices etched into the coastline along with some cool rock structures that are fun to climb on and make for great photo ops.
Since these beaches are near urban areas, they make for a nice walk and for some coastal discoveries, but I wouldn’t necessarily hang around here for a “day on the beach” per se (although you absolutely could!). For something a little more isolated and naturally wild, Clifton Beach and Calverts Beach are stunning alternatives. That being said though, these beaches are home to some beautiful houses of various architectural styles, so if you’re looking for a little creative inspiration or day-dreaming, then wandering down these beaches is a delight.
Clifton Beach
This beach, along with Calverts Beach, is one of my favourites! As part of the Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve, there’s a great mix of everything here; moderate hikes, picturesque sandy beaches, sedge-covered dunes, rugged cliffs, and all-around stunning views. This beach is expansive, easily making it feel like you have the whole place to yourself. This place is also a protected nesting area for the short-tailed shearwater muttonbird (Puffinus tenuirostris), with the area being home to about 8,000 burrows. Fun fact – these birds have a maximum recorded lifespan of 38 years old, and complete annual 30,000 km roundtrips to the Bering Sea (Alaska)!
Calverts Beach
This beach along, with Clifton Beach, is one of my favourites! This picturesque beach features beautiful clear blue water, soft fine-grained sand, and an extensive shoreline – upon which you could walk on for ages. Walking along this beach hearing the crashing waves of the turquoise ocean water while marvelling at the sedge-covered dunes and accompanied seabirds is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. At one end, is a cliff with a few tidal pools at its base which are great for inspecting intricate sea life caught within their borders. I saw some people snorkeling when I visited, so there must be some neat underwater features and wildlife here as well. The other cool thing about this beach is that it’s facing southeast, so by looking straight ahead, you can use your imagination to see Antarctica far, far off into the distance.
Opposum Bay Beach
This is a quaint little beach in a coveted urban area. In a small cove bordered by grandiose houses, this beach is ideal for swimming since it has calm, flat water due to it being situated on the shores of the Derwent River, and hence protected from the open ocean. On a busy day, it can feel a little crowded, since the shoreline is relatively narrow compared to other beaches, and either end is bordered by insurmountable rocks. Here, you’ll find scenic sailboats and a view of Mt. Wellington from the other side of the river.
