South past Huonville |
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 Dover, head down Station Road to the Esplanade and then Kent Road along its length.
Technically Kent Beach is separate from Dover Beach but I have grouped both beaches for simplicity.
This is a long, safe beach with sandy areas and interesting shore rock formations for exploring. It is ideal for kids, and it includes a playground, 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 worldwide from its many sawmills and became 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 interesting history. A camping, caravan and cabin park is opposite the beach.
