Things to do in Swansea, Tasmania

The best things to do in Swansea, Tasmania, include the Bark Museum and East Coast Heritage Museum. There are also several good beaches and wineries.

Swansea, Tasmania, is a small town on Great Oyster Bay. It’s between the major Tasmanian east coast attractions of Maria Island and the Freycinet Peninsula, but manages to be a holiday town in its own right.

The major appeal of Swansea, Tasmania, comes from its views across the bay towards the Freycinet Peninsula.

Things to do in Swansea, Tasmania: Beaches

However, there are some things to do in Swansea, Tasmania, starting with the beaches. Kelvedon Beach to the south and Dolphin Sands to the north are better, but Waterloo Beach and Jubilee Beach in the town itself are perfectly different. You might get some surf around the rocks and headlands, but the Freycinet Peninsula offers a degree of protection from full exposure to the ocean swell.

Things to do in Swansea, Tasmania: Bark Mill Museum and East Coast Heritage Museum

There are also a couple of cultural attractions in Swansea, Tasmania. The Bark Mill Museum is at the back of popular pub, the Bark Mill Tavern. It goes into the leather tanning industry, which was historically important in Swansea. Black wattle bark, which was milled here, was used in the tanning process.

There’s also the East Coast Heritage Museum, which is pretty good by the standards of local museums in Australia. The East Coast Heritage Museum flits between subjects somewhat, but the sections on Aboriginal culture and the east coast surfing scene are arguably the most interesting.

The East Coast Heritage Museum in Swansea, Tasmania. Photo by Maureen Martin Ferris.

Wineries near Swansea, Tasmania

There are also several good wineries worth visiting near Swansea. Good options with cellar doors include the Milton Vineyard, Devil’s Corner and Spring Vale Wines.

For Swansea accommodation, the Swansea Beach Chalets offer tremendous sea views, the Swansea Cottages and Motel Suites have plenty of character and the Swansea Motor Inn is the cheap, functional option.

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Tasmania things to do