Things to do: East Coast Tasmania with kids

The East Coast of Tasmania is the perfect place to travel with kids. Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, there are so many things to do right up and down the East Coast.

Read on to discover YOUNIQUE STAYS TOP 5 LIST of Things to do on the East Coast of Tasmania with kids:

YOUNIQUE STAYS TOP 5 LIST: THINGS TO DO ON THE EAST COAST WITH KIDS

1. Go to the beach!

It may sound obvious but the best thing to do with kids on the East Coast of Tassie is to hit the beach. With beaches right up and down the coast you won’t have trouble finding a spot to entertain your crew. For youngsters, head to Waubs Beach in Bicheno for an ideal child-friendly beach which is patrolled by Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club on weekends in Summer and has year-round access to Bicheno Beach Toy Library which is stocked with balls, frisbees, buckets, spades and other beach treasures for everyone to enjoy. If you have tweens to entertain, head to Peron Dunes just south of St Helens to explore the magnificent (and steep) rolling sand dunes which are ideal for boogie board sliding. Teenagers will love the surf breaks at Bicheno, Swansea or Orford. For those who don’t like to get wet, shell collecting and beachcombing will leave you well rewarded here on the pristine beaches of East Coast Tasmania; try Denison, Kelvedon or Rocky Hills.

Local tip: When the tide is right, don’t miss a walk along the tombolo (sand bar) at Redbill Beach out to Diamond Island.

2. Seek out wildlife adventures

East Coast Tassie has some hidden gems for wildlife loving kids. Head to Serpentarium Wildlife Park in St Helens for an up-close-and-personal encounter with pythons, anacondas, star tortoises, baby crocodiles and more with a daily keeper talk and opportunity to hold a snake (if you’re game!). East Coast Natureworld in Bicheno is home to ‘Devils in the Dark’, a not to be missed, after dark wildlife adventure seeing Tasmanian Devils in action, devouring a carcass right before your eyes. Bicheno Penguin Tours and Bicheno Glass Bottom Boat are great ways to experience seabirds and marine wildlife while supporting eco-initiatives.

Local tip: If you don’t want to join a tour or go to a nature park, there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife “in the wild” here on the East Coast of Tasmania. Winter is a magical time to spot migrating whales right up and down the coast and don’t forget to look up to be rewarded with eagle sightings.

3. Don’t underestimate a trip to the library

Tasmania’s regional libraries are a great place to visit on your next holiday. Pop into St Helens, St Marys, Bicheno, Swansea or Orford library to stock up on books, DVDs and audio books for your trip. Many of the libraries also run school holiday activities and are a great place to pick-up local guide books and ideas for things to do (don’t forget to check the community noticeboards for announcements about markets and other community events or playgroups to entertain the little ones).

Local tip: Did you know that you can return your books and DVDs to any Libraries Tasmania site? Don’t be afraid to take your books and DVDs home with you, or to your next stop and return them locally.

4. Hit the bike trails and skateparks

Our region is full of bike and wheel parks and some of the best mountain biking trails in Australia. The St Helens mountain bike trails should not be missed with bikes and helmets available for hire and trails for all levels and abilities. Skateparks in Scamander, St Marys and Bicheno are a hive of activity for all ages with skateboard and scooter riders welcome. For cycling, you can’t beat Maria Island (take your bike on the ferry from Triabunna). Also check out Swansea Cycle Tours for a guided cycling experience around the backroads, farm trails and beach tracks of Swansea. And if you like a bit more grunt? All4 Tours in Coles Bay will take you and your crew on an unforgettable quad bike experience in Freycinet National Park.

Local Tip: Didn’t bring your bike with you? St Helens is a great hub for cyclists and mountain bike riders with bike and equipment hire available.

5. Take the kids to… a winery!

It might sound counterintuitive, but many East Coast wineries are great places to take the kids (while the adults have an excellent time too!). Devil’s Corner in Apslawn (just south of Bicheno) is a great place to start with a stunning lookout tower for the whole family to climb and a huge paddock of open space in front of the vines for the kids to kick a ball or have a hit of ‘backyard’ cricket; pizzas, fish and chips and other meals are available daily. Craigie Knowe Vineyard in Cranbrook (just north of Swansea) is famous for its winery dogs who will never say no to a cuddle or to playing a game of fetch while Flora’s Restaurant offers a children’s menu if you want to stay for lunch. Mayfield Estate in Little Swanport often has a pizza van on weekends and encourages children to enjoy the wide open space or have a hit of croquet on the lawn while mum and dad taste some delicious East Coast Tasmanian wines.

Local tip: The wineries of East Coast Tasmania tend to have seasonal opening hours so check-out their social media or call ahead to see what’s on offer for the day. Grab a copy of the ‘East Coast Wine Trail’ guide from any tourist hub for a complete guide to every winery of the East Coast. September is a great time to visit to coincide with Great Eastern Wine Week events!