Hazard Rating: 6/10 | Parking: Varied | from Hobart: 75 km | Faces: East into Pirates Bay | Length: ~ 4 km
Original name: Teralina | Original people: Nuenonne |
Eaglehawk Neck is an isthmus (neck) on the way to Port Arthur. Eaglehawk Bay is on the neck’s west side, and Pirates Bay is on the east side.
The east side has a wonderful sweeping beach with white sand facing out into Pirates Bay – the Tasman Sea and the next stop – New Zealand. Various access points and parking along its length. Toilets are at each end and an excellent boat ramp on the south end.
The beach has several headlands creating overlapping beach names, including;
- Eaglehawk Neck Beach | Pirates Bay Beach | Egg Beach | Quarry Beach | Descent Beach
The beach often has surf, generally better on the north end and more protected on the south end near the Blowhole. The north end has the Tesselated Pavement area, a geographical marvel worth a look. Views of Fossil Island on the south end, a whole new mystery!
The name Eaglehawk Neck combines Eaglehawks (Wedge-tailed Eagles) found in the area and its geographical Neck. ‘Teralina’ was the aboriginal name for Eaglehawk Neck. Pirates Bay was originally named Monge Bay by French explorer Baudin but was later renamed around 1822 when escaped convicts took possession of a transport ship called the Seaflower and thus became pirates!
The south end has a quirky town named Doo Town after properties each with a name called Doo-Something. In 1935, Hobart architect Eric Round started a tradition when he named his shack Doo I. The idea soon caught on with most of the town’s shacks now having “Doo” names – the likes of Doo Nix, Make Doo, Much-a-Doo, Doo-Me, Doo-Us, Just Doo It, Doo Drop Inn, Dr Doolittle, Make Doo, Gunnadoo, etc… you get the drift!
Great seafood takeaways at Doo-lishus near the blowhole on the south end (closed in winter). Food and accommodation can be found at the Lufra Hotel.
