Orford, Tasmania: Things to do and attractions

The best things to do in Orford, Tasmania, include Raspins Beach, Spring Beach, the Three Thumbs State Reserve and walking the Old Convict Road.

Orford, Tasmania, is where the Prosser River meets the east coast of Australia’s smallest state. It’s a classic Australian holiday town. Or, as Tasmanians call it, a ‘shack town’.

The phrase shack town shouldn’t encourage images of slums – the shacks in this context are holiday homes. Orford is the sort of place people from Hobart and Launceston come to for their holidays.

For most overseas visitors, Orford is the departure point for Maria Island – although the Maria Island ferry leaves from Triabunna just to the north.

Things to do in Orford, Tasmania: East Shelly Beach and Spring Beach

Much of Orford’s appeal lies in its beaches. There’s a great 2km cliff walk connecting East Shelly Beach and Spring Beach. The ocean views are predictably magnificent, but you can also peer down into the historic sandstone quarry. Melbourne’s law courts were built with stone hewn from this quarry. Spring Beach has sand that’s easily as white as the more famous Wineglass Bay.

Spring Beach in Orford, Tasmania. Photo by Pete Harmsen.

That said, Raspins Beach north of the town centre is arguably the most impressive of the Orford beaches.

Things to do in Orford, Tasmania: Old Convict Road & Three Thumbs State Reserve

If you want a riverside walk, amble along the Old Convict Road. As the name suggests, this road was built by convicts who put in often back-breaking stints to hammer out the rock. For more walking, the Three Thumbs State Reserve to the south of Orford has a good four kilometre trail.

The Three Thumbs Track is mainly easy-going, but has some steep sections. It follows ridgelines around the hills, but the best views are from the Three Thumbs Lookout right next to the car park. From here, you can see out across the ocean to Maria Island.

What to do in Orford: Spring Bay Distillery & Darlington Vineyard

If all that walking has made you thirsty, there are a couple of interesting choices for a drink in Orford, Tasmania. The Spring Bay Distillery makes single malt whiskies and the Darlington Vineyard makes cool climate wines.

Hobart to Orford, Tasmania

The drive from Hobart to Orford is 84km long, making for a Hobart to Orford driving time of around one hour and 20 minutes. The drive from Launceston to Orford is longer – about 192km and two hours and 22 minutes.

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