by Mickey Jarvis | Aug 12, 2023 | Hobart +/- 20km, South East
Near Hobart |
Parking: Good + close | from Hobart: 5 km | Faces: East into the Derwent River | Length: 1 km
Original people: The Aboriginal Mouheneenner band lived in Cornelian Bay area for 8000 years – Shell Middens can still be seen in the top of the low cliffs of Cornelian Point (north) as well as other interesting geological features.
Cornelian Bay is close to Hobart with many attractions. While not recommended for swimming it has great foreshore walks, an excellent play gound, BBQ facilities and good amenities. It also backs onto an open oval for other activities. Great views of the bridge and river. Birds including ducks often present, but please do not feed them, like us, white bread and chips are not good for their diet!
Boathouse Restaurant and Kiosk. Definitely worth a visit and an ideal spot for a picnic with large open grass areas.
by Mickey Jarvis | Jan 10, 2023 | Low Hazard, South Arm Road, South East
South Arm Road |
Hazard Rating: 3/10 | Parking: Good + close | from Hobart: 27 km | Faces: East into Frederick Henry Bay | Length: 1.3 km
Original People: Moomairemener.
A great family beach with a sweeping gradual gradient beach. Amenities at the south end.
The name was changed to Cremorne from Pipe Clay in 1968 and named after Alfred Morrisby’s wife’s former home in Sydney.
Remnants of the SS Nubeena shipwreck are still visible at low tide.
by Mickey Jarvis | Feb 9, 2024 | Low Hazard, South, South East
Hazard Rating: 1-2/10 | Parking: Good + close | from Hobart: 80 km | Faces: SE into Port Esperance | Length: 2 km
Original people: Lyluequonny people of the Far South
Dover Beach is accessed from the township of of Dover, head down Station Road to the Esplanade and then Kent Road along it’s length.
Technically Kent Beach is separate to Dover Beach but I have grouped both beaches as one for simplicity.
A long safe beach with sandy areas and interesting shore rock formations for exploring. Ideal for kids – it includes a playgound, BBQ, grassy areas and toilets.
Dover was originally named Port Esperance by the French explorer Admiral Bruni D’Entrecasteaux, who charted the area in 1792 and named it after one of his ships. Originally used as a convict station and proclaimed as Dover in 1866, probably after the port of Dover in Kent, England. Dover is a Celtic word for ‘the waters’. The bay remains as Port Esperance. Dover developed as a port for shipping huon pine around the world from it’s many sawmills and become an important fishing port for salmon, abalone and crayfish.
3 islands can be viewed from its shore, Charity, the closest and to the right. Faith – the smallest (originally Dead Island) and Hope, the furthest and largest (about 4 km wide), each have their own interesting history. A camping, caravan and cabin park is opposite the beach.
by Mickey Jarvis | Mar 16, 2023 | South East, Tasman Peninsula
Hazard Rating: 1/10 | Parking: Good + close | from Hobart: 60 km | Faces: SW into Norfolk Bay | Length: 2 km
1 km just past Dunalley is Dunalley beach (south end called Carlisle Beach). The beach has a gradual beach shore and is great to explore particularly on a low tide. Close to main road with parking at the south end. Grab a takeaway from one of the excellent food venues in Dunalley and sit on the beach to eat.
Originally named East Bay Neck, the small settlement was changed to Dunalley in 1839 by an early settler after Henry Prittie, the third Baron Dunalley – a title from County Tipperary in Ireland. Located on the Arthur Highway on a narrow isthmus which separates the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas.
Overlooks Fulham Island to the north and Smooth Island to the south.
by Mickey Jarvis | Mar 31, 2024 | South East, Surf, Tasman Peninsula
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 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 name 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.
by Mickey Jarvis | Jan 28, 2023 | Low Hazard, South Arm Road, South East
South Arm |
Hazard Rating: 4/10 | Parking: Good + close | from Hobart: 41 km | Faces: South-ish into the Derwent River | Length: 800 m
Located near South Arm in Seacroft Bay between Johns Point to the north and Cape Deliverance to the south… accessed via Blessington Road.
Presumably named after Fort Direction which occupies a large part of the peninsula and is not accessible to the public (Army defense position).
A nice unknown beach with a small playground and rocky outcrops good for fishing, exploring and snorkeling. Usually safe but that can change.
Google map info is incorrect – it shows Fort Beach as Pot Bay. No amenities.
