Cycling and Touring on the Tasmanian East Coast
The Freycinet Coast is a classic cycle friendly touring destination. The climate is on average drier and warmer than other parts of Tasmania, the roads are gently undulating and while summer (north easterly winds) and spring (south westerly winds) are popular times, autumn and winter provide ideal cycling conditions with many clear still days and the day time temperature rarely dropping below 13c degrees. Our idyllic coastal towns each have their own personality and are on average a comfortable fifty kilometres apart.
Despite the fact that many of the roads don’t have shoulders and carry minimal truck traffic, a highly visible cyclist will find the roads comfortable for touring. Plan your ride as an epic from Hobart to Launceston via the Freycinet Coast or use public transport or a car for a shorter trip. “Tassie Link” buses can get you and your bike to the Freycinet Coast and the “Bicheno Coach Service” can provide transport between Bicheno and Coles Bay, both need a day’s notice to carry your bike.
The Tour (South to North)
Buckland to Orford is a more hilly section of road, look for Pulchella Nursery and the Tasmanian Bushland Gardens as a place for toilets, water refills, a picnic lunch and botanical walks.
Triabunna is a departure point for the Maria Island Ferry. If you are kitted up for dirt road riding, take your bike to Maria Island National Park on the ferry and relish the opportunity to explore the island’s vehicle free roads for a day.
Stock up on your water for the 60kms between Triabunna and Swansea- a peacefully pleasant section with superb coastal vistas. Mayfield Beach makes a great spot to enjoy lunch and/or for a toilet stop.
Swansea to Bicheno takes you past vineyards and the largest walnut orchard in the southern hemisphere. Turn right at Gala Kirk to detour across the ford along pretty little Glen Gala Road (once the highway) at Cranbrook, before climbing to the viewing point on Cherry Tree Hill to take in the breathtaking Freycinet Peninsula landscape.
Continue on to Bicheno. The Coles Bay Road, 11km south of Bicheno will take you the 28km to Freycinet National Park and the township of Coles Bay. This road is predominately flat with a good shoulder. The road to Friendly Beaches is presently unsealed, but worth the 3km side trip. A few kilometres north of Bicheno there is the 6km, one way, dirt road side trip to the Douglas Apsley National Park. It’s also worth the detour before continuing on up the coast.
