Holiday houses in Scamander

Nestled at the mouth of the Scamander River in the Break O’Day region of Tasmania’s northeast coast, the low-key coastal town of Scamander makes the dream beach destination real. A popular seaside holiday spot, Scamander is blessed with long, white-sand beaches lapped by turquoise water. Overlooked by the Scamander Surf Life Saving Club, the beach south of the river mouth is generally the safest for swimming. Just behind the surf club, there’s a skate park and a kids’ playground. The Scamander River is a popular fishing spot, renowned for its southern black bream — a moist, white-fleshed fish great for barbecuing.

Other local attractions include Hendersons Lagoon to the south, known for its birdwatching, and the surf breaks between Beaumaris to the north and Bicheno to the south — this is Tasmania’s Surf Coast, after all. Scamander is also perfectly located for day trips to the Bay of Fires to the north, and Douglas-Apsley National Park and the Freycinet Peninsula to the south.

Scamander is primarily a summertime destination, with December to February generally the best months to hit the beach, and to tee off at Scamander’s nine-hole golf course. This is also the busiest time of year for Tasmania’s East Coast beach towns, however, so if you prefer a quieter scene you may want to time your trip for late autumn or early spring, when it’s still warm enough to swim. The cooler months are also ideal for walks and for exploring nearby national parks. If you’re visiting in June, don’t miss the Bay of Fires Arts Festival held across the Bay of Fires and Break O’Day regions. The Scamander has good bream fishing year-round, but some local anglers say November to March is the best time to throw in a line.

Douglas-Apsley National Park

Sixty kilometres (or around an hour’s drive) south of Scamander, Douglas-Apsley National Park is one of Tasmania’s lesser-known pockets of nature. But it’s well worth a visit, with the 5.6-kilometre-return Apsley River Waterhole and Gorge track (allow two to three hours) making for a great day out — don’t forget your swimwear. There’s also an easy, 1.2-kilometre-return loop track to the waterhole.

Hendersons Lagoon

Directly south of Scamander, Hendersons Lagoon is home to hundreds of varieties of native plants and around 80 species of marshland and woodland and birds. With seven kilometres of well-marked trails surrounding the clear, calm lagoon, it’s a great place to go for a leisurely stroll with your binoculars.

Binalong Bay

Known for the brilliant orange lichen that grows on the granite boulders lining its beaches, Tasmania’s Bay of Fires is home to some of Australia’s most beautiful stretches of sand. Just 30 minutes’ drive north of Scamander, Binalong Bay is the area’s main beach, with clear waters and offshore reefs making it great for snorkelling. There are also some beautiful rock pools to be found on the headland.