6 Places Every Nature-Lover Should Visit On Tasmania’s East Coast
Travel
Good Life Permaculture founder Hannah Moloney in her Hobart garden.
The family has two adorable goats, Daisy and Darling!
The lush garden is full of natives, flowers, and fresh produce.
The family home has been painted a distinctive hot pink!
All it took was a one-month bike riding holiday in 2003 for Good Life Permaculture founder Hannah Moloney to truly fall in love with Tasmania.
‘We ended up staying for almost a year as we got heavily involved in campaigns to protect old growth forests,’ Hannah says.
‘I’ve been coming back ever since and have been based here with my husband and daughter since 2012.’
With its awe-inspiring landscapes and slower pace of living, the island state has been the ideal backdrop for Hannah and her family, who have set up their own slice of permaculture paradise on a three-quarter-acre block in Hobart.
‘We have a 100-year-old timber house we painted hot pink, and a large garden with veggies, orchards, flowers, natives, chickens, honeybees, two milking goats and our much-adored puppy, Olly,’ she adds.
Having grown up on an urban herb nursery in Brisbane, Hannah has always been passionate about sustainability and nature.
But it wasn’t until she left home and travelled Australia at 18 that she discovered the principles behind permaculture, which have since underpinned her life’s work as a solution-based activist, educator, advocate, author, and the Tasmanian host of ABC TV’s beloved Gardening Australia.
‘Permaculture is not just gardening or farming; it’s a holistic design framework that can be applied to every facet of life and society,’ Hannah explains.
Living in Hobart also means Hannah’s weekends are well spent camping, bushwalking, trail running, beaching, and exploring the best of the east coast.
‘It is eye-wateringly beautiful with small mountains, fresh waterholes, red rocks and a friendly ocean with sun rays cutting through wild and woolly cloud work — it takes my breath away every time.’
We asked Hannah for six of her favourite places to visit on a trip to Tasmania’s east coast. Find her recommendations in her own words below!
Okines Community House
One of my favourite community gardens and hubs in Australia is Okines Community House. It’s located in Tasmania’s south-east region, which makes it a great first stop when travelling from Hobart. I’ve been visiting this place since around 2014 and have watched it grow in every possible way since then. It is so loved and used by the local community, with edible gardens, a bike repair shed, pizza oven, food cooperative, community house and more. It’s a living example of what a community project can look like, and I always feel inspired after visiting.
Tasman Sea Salt harvests pure sea salt flakes using only clean energy.
Hannah chats with Tasman Sea Salt founders Chris Manson and Alice Laing.
The fresh harvest!
Tasman Sea Salt
Tasman Sea Salt is a local business run by Chris Manson and Alice Laing. I’m a big fan of their approach to life and their work, using only naturally occurring solar and thermal energy to harvest pure sea salt flakes in Little Swanport. The quality is top-notch, and they’re just good people! You can drop in for a taste testing at their Salt Cellar, or book tours and guided workshops to learn more about their sustainable processes.
The Burrows is a two-bedroom cottage in Swansea. Photo – Adam Gibson
The cosy 1860s home has been lovingly restored. Photo – Adam Gibson
The luxurious bathroom. Photo – Adam Gibson
The Burrows
For anyone looking to stay a few nights on Tasmania’s east coast, I’ve heard that The Burrows in Swansea is great. It looks perfectly secluded, relaxed, and full of vintage charm, as the 1860s stone cottage has been lovingly revamped. And waking up to views overlooking Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards of Freycinet National Park is pretty special. It’ll also be a perfect base for anyone keen to check out the ECHO Festival, which takes place in March 2027!
Honeymoon Bay is one of the most idyllic spots within Freycinet National Park.
It’s a great spot for snorkelling, swimming, sunset viewing, and picnics.
The bay is loved by visitors and locals alike.
Honeymoon Bay in Freycinet National Park
About a three-hour drive from Hobart, this place is a tourist highlight for a reason — it’s just so bloody beautiful. The colours, the energy, the ocean, and not to mention all the camping, walking, running, and boating activities available make it a heavenly spot.
You get the distinct feeling that people have been enjoying this place for tens of thousands of years, as it’s such a friendly place to hang out and explore. It’s abundant in life on the land and in the ocean; I like to think of it as a natural playground for all ages, and it never gets old.
Stop by Selkie Wellness for some rest and relaxation.
Enjoy a massage or some contrast therapy with views of the restorative garden.
The nearby beach in Bicheno.
Selkie Wellness
I’m not usually one for wellness places, but Selkie Wellness in Bicheno is unique. Immersed in a wellness garden, the space is built largely from salvaged and recycled materials, which makes it a homely spot to enjoy a massage, sauna, and ice bath. All the staff are so talented at what they do, and so lovely that you’ll want to keep them as your friends.
The Apsley Waterhole in Douglas-Apsley National Park is a must for anyone who enjoys a freshwater swim.
The swimming hole is enveloped by granite rocks and a dry eucalypt forest.
The natural pool is just a 10-minute walk from the southern car park at the Douglas-Apsley National Park.
Apsley Waterhole in Douglas-Apsley National Park
Freshwater swims are my favourite swims, and I’ve had some of the best swims of my life in the crystal-clear pools of the Apsley Waterhole. During winter and spring it’s incredibly cold, but mid-summer through to autumn you can spend long days hanging out in just your togs, swimming for hours, and playing with friends, snacking in between.
Got a taste for Tasmania’s east coast? There’s more to dig into. Discover Tasmania has the experiences, restaurants, events and local tips you didn’t know you needed. If you’re craving a regular dose of trip-planning intel, subscribe to their newsletter.