Beyond the icons

Experience the peninsula from the water with Wineglass Bay Cruises. Go off the beaten track on a quad bike with ALL4Adventures. Or enjoy an idyllic paddle or snorkel into an underwater paradise with Freycinet Adventures.

St Helens Mountain Bike Trails offer family friendly rides. There's also a range of experiences in the area from fishing and biking, to guided walks and boating, including the Bay of Fires Eco Tours.

You won't want to leave Darlington Vineyard without a bottle of their cool-climate pinot noir. Or dine on the waterfront at Spring Bay Seafood Restaurant and Café.

The Fish Van is as fresh as it gets and guaranteed to please the entire family. Travel on to Little Swanport to visit Boomer Creek Vineyard for wine, local produce and breathtaking views.

Coffee and art lovers will love the exhibits at Artifakt Gallery and Café, or indulge at Tellers in the courtyard or in front of the fire. A few minutes away you'll find Melshell Oyster Shack. 

A wine lovers heaven. Visit Milton Vineyard, Spring Vale Wines, Gala Estate Vineyard and Craigie Knowe Vineyard. Travel over Cherry Tree Hill to be greeted by amazing views at Devils Corner Cellar Door and on to Freycinet Vineyard. A short drive away, the kids will love an ice cream at The Pondering Frog.

Get your caffeine fix at Granite Freycinet, fresh seafood at Freycinet Marine Farm and enjoy local produce and amazing views at Freycinet Lodge in the national park.

The Farm Shed Wine Centre is hard to beat for tasting local gin, whisky or wine. For seafood lovers, Tasmania Coastal Seafoods and The Lobster Shack at The Gulch are a must-do.

The Purple Possum Café is a great stop for a bite to eat, while the St Marys Hotel entices many a weary traveller to take a load off.

Swims East Coast Coffee is a favourite, and the beach and playground across the road are perfect for the kids.

Located in a 1920s shearing shed, Priory Ridge Vineyard Cellar Door offers tastings and sales daily. Enjoy the delights of award-winning Furneaux Restaurant.

The Pyengana Dairy Company continues its 130-year cheesemaking heritage. The café is jam-packed full of goodies. Just nearby meet Priscilla, the beer-swilling swine that calls the Pub in the Paddock her home.

Mayfield Bay Coastal Reserve offers beautiful camping spots overlooking Great Oyster Bay. A short drive north is Kelvedon Beach for shell collecting and stretching cramped legs.

Spend your day rock hopping on easily accessible, uncrowded beaches, or explore the many walks through the Freycinet National Park.

Walk, surf, paddleboard and play at Redbill Beach, while at Waubs Bay you can walk the entire coastline in one loop. If you’re in the area during whale season, keep an eye out for these beautiful creatures passing by. Discover what’s lying beneath the surface on Bicheno’s Glass Bottom Boat. Spot penguins and learn about conservation with Bicheno Penguin Tours, while East Coast Natureworld is home to Tassie devils, kangaroos, wombats and many other furry or feathered locals in need of care. Explore waterholes and diverse rainforests at Douglas Apsley National Park.

The journey through Elephant Pass is an experience in itself. The winding, narrow roads and the change of smell from salty goodness to luscious rainforest transport you to another world. Marvel at panoramic views of forest, coastline and the Tasman Sea at St Patricks Head and South Sister Peak. Drive to the Fingal Valley to Evercreech Forest Reserve to visit the White Knights, the tallest white gum trees in existence.

The Serpentarium Wildlife Park is a treat for all ages, complete with a café serving coffee and light snacks.

Visit St Columba Falls, the highest waterfall in Tasmania.

Stay in boutique accommodation at Twamley Farm, hosted by the Turvey family who’ve been working on the land since 1842. Meet the animals, explore the farm and admire the historic buildings. Ye Olde Buckland Inn is another stunning building, built around 1841. Entering the pub is akin to stepping into 1970s country Tasmania, complete with local characters and a roaring fire.

One of the many ways to fill your days is a bush walk along Old Convict Road which runs beside the Prosser River to the ruins of the Paradise Probation Station.

Don’t forget to stop at the convict-built Spiky Bridge. Can you see why they call it spiky?

Travellers enjoy way more time than anticipated at the St Helens History Room. The Warship & Marine Corps Museum features a collection established in 1960 with over 10,000 catalogued items.