View of kunanyi from Howrah Beach

Some of Tasmania’s Best Beaches near Hobart

View of Park and Carlton beaches from Spectacle Head

Tas Beach recommend and thank the following sites…

 TASMANIAN SURF BEACHES

Tasmania is a small island that has some of the best surf beaches and breaks in the world.  From the fabled Shipstern Bluff and insane Pedra Branca to popular surf beaches that provide consistent surf (some of which are patrolled and ideal for beginners), such as Clifton Beach  & Carlton Beach.

There are a wide range of surf breaks in Tasmania, mostly no more than 3 hours away from anywhere.  There are many great surf locations including Bruny Island, Tasman Peninsula, East Coast, West Coast, North Coast and South.  Each surf location is affected differently depending on weather, wind direction and swell.

 WHAT IS A BEACH

Defined as:  ‘An expanse of sand or pebbles along a gradually sloping shore’.  A more detailed definition can be found on Wikipedia.

Sand forms when rocks, over thousands and millions of years, break down due to rain, ice, wind, heat, cold, weather, erosion and even plants.  Often starting a long way from the ocean they travel down rivers and streams to the seashore, constantly breaking down along the way.

Beach sand is more than just minerals from land, it can also originate from the ocean.  Shells and other hard pieces from marine organisms wash up on shore and pounding waves break them into smaller, sand-sized pieces adding to the mix.  Most sand is mainly made of of quartz (silica) and feldspar which are particularly tough.  The composition of the sand will determine the colour. 

 TASMANIAN COASTLINE

Tasmania is an island at the bottom of Australia surrounded by water with a coastline around 2,200 km.  There are about 1270 beaches in Tasmania that has more beaches in relation to area/distance than anywhere in Australia.  You can find a beach that suits you… family and kid friendly, secluded, great surf, pristine, interesting features, it can all be found in Tasmania.

The west-coast is exposed to the westerly winds of the ‘Roaring Forties‘, while the east-coast is somewhat protected. The south-east and south coast have many bays, harbours and protected beaches.  The north and north-west have many great beaches.

Our site mainly focuses on beaches that are easily accessible for most people, but we do include other outstanding beaches like Wineglass Bay, Shipstern Bluff and other significant beaches that are less accessible.

 WATER COLOUR

The ocean water colour is generally blue because light from the sun is absorbed by water which filters colors in the red, orange and yellow (long wavelength light) part of the light spectrum.  This leaves behind colours in the blue part of the light spectrum (short wavelength light) for us to see .

The ocean may also take on green, red, or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water.  Oceans look more grey on cloudy days as light has already been absorbed by the clouds. 

CONTACT US

Ugh!! the legal stuff…

We cannot guarantee the correctness of any information provided as it changes over time and varies even within individual beaches.

Swim at a beach based on your own assessment of the conditions on the day.

 Photos for personal use may be shared provided you show the ‘yellow feet’ logo in the bottom right and acknowledge us.

Commercial use please contact us – we are happy to share.

  If you decide to use a photo, letting us know would be great.   Happy beaching…