Things to Do
Wine tasting, Fishing, Surfing, Boating, Kayaking, Swimming, Scuba-diving, Boogie-boarding, Bush walking, Mountain-biking, Bird watching, Wildlife Spotting, Golfing, Photography & Exploring Maria Island National Park and Australia's Convict History and Trails are all popular activities to do in the area. If none of the following appeal then you can perhaps just take a leisurely stroll or swim on one of the beautiful beaches close by or simply 'kick back', relax and unwind with a good book and a glass of award winning Tasmanian wine - Life can't get much better than that!
Maria Island National Park
Spring beach, Orford and Triabunna are the bases from which to explore historic Maria Island National Park with its lovely walks, picnic spots, beautiful beaches, rainbow cliffs and abundance of wildlife. Maria Island is also now a designated disease free refuge for endangered Tasmanian Devils. Darlington convict settlement is a world heritage listed site.
Information about Maria Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Island
www.discovertasmania.com.au/attraction/mariaislandnationalpark
http://www.tasmaniaseastcoast.com.au/pages/maria-island-national-park/
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3499
Ferries and Cruises
www.eastcoastcruises.com.au
www.mariaislandferry.com.au/the-ferrywww.mariaislandferry.com.au
Walks
Maria Island also offers a multi-award winning eco walking adventure: http://www.mariaislandwalk.com.au
http://greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/walks/maria-island/
Another walk is also advertised
http://www.lifesanadventure.com.au/maria-island-walk-and-walking-holidays-tasmania/
Accommodation
Old Penetentiary Accommodation and Camping. Rustic/Youth Hostel Style Accommodation and Camping is available on Maria Island National Park (bookings essential).
www.parks.tas.gov.au/camping#ma.
http://www.mariaislandferry.com.au/maria/accommodation-on-maria/
*Tourism Information Centre is Located at Triabunna for advice and bookings.
East Coast Wineries
Freycinet National Park (Wine Glass Bay) and East Coast Wineries. The East Coast is renowned for its boutique wineries producing some of the best of Tasmanian wines. Darlington Winery is in Orford, the others in Cranbrook between Swansea and Bicheno a 40 - 60 minute leisurely drive from the Beach House with plenty of sightseeing to enjoy on the way. The Tasman Highway is a single lane road and even in the height of the tourist season is not busy!
Information about East Coast Wine Trail & Freycinet National Park & Wine Glass Bay
http://www.wineglassbay.com
http://winetasmania.com.au/wine_routes/east_coast_wine_routehttp://www.winecompanion.com.au/wineries/tasmania/east-coast-tasmania
http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/gt-wine/wine-features/2014/9/great-wine-drive-tasmania/http://www.winesouth.com.au
The Wineries
www.darlingtonvineyard.com.au
www.kelvedonestate.com.au
miltonvineyard.com.auwww.freycinetvineyard.com.au
Coombend Vineyard: http://www.visitvineyards.com/tasmania/north-east-tas/wine/vineyards-wineries/info/coombend-estate
Award Winning Boutique East Coast Walking Experience
http://www.freycinet.com.au
East Coast & Eating Out
Unfortunately there aren't many eating out options for evening meals near Orford/Swansea along the East Coast! BUT would recommend Piermont Restaurant between Orford and Swansea for a special occasion AND Orford's own Gateway Cafe who with an award-winning chef on board in 2014 is about to start catering weekend evenings over summer (Bookings Essential) *The Gateway do good coffee and breakfasts/lunches and is situated opposite the Prosser River. It is also the cellar door for a number of East Coast Wineries. There is also the Spring Bay Seafood Company close by - so why not barbecue up a storm?!
http://www.gatewaycafeorford.com.au
http://www.piermont.com.au/
www.springbayseafoods.com.auhttps://www.facebook.com/ArtifaktGallery
www.visitswanseatasmania.com.au
http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/regions-of-tasmania/east-coast/swansea
At Coles Bay
Tombolo Cafe (opposite Coles Bay Post Office), Seafood Van near Friendlies Beaches OR Freycinet Lodge
Historic Richmond & Coal River Valley Wineries
www.richmondvillage.com.au
http://www.richmondvillage.com.au/vineyards.html
http://www.winesouth.com.auhttp://www.gourmettasmania.com.au/wine-trail/
http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=902
Selection of the Wineries:
www.coalvalley.com.au
www.pooleywines.com.au
www.meadowbankwines.com.au
www.puddleduckvineyard.com.au
*There are more wonderful wineries in the region, these are simply my recommendation!
Hobart
Darlington is less than one from Hobart with its major draw cards: internationally renowned MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMag), its famous food and art scene, funky cafes, award-winning restaurants, Salamanca Markets (Saturday mornings until 2pm), Pretty Harbour, stunning historic Battery Point, convict built heritage buildings, all nestled protectively in the arms of majestic Mount Wellington.
Eating Out: Check out: www.facebook.com/TasmanianFoodGuide
My favourites in Hobart are: Ethos Eat Drink, Garagiste and Smolt!
Also a must (if time) a trip to Peppermint Bay near Woodbridge for lunch by the water!
Airport
Darlington Beach House is only a 45 minute drive from Hobart airport yet in a beautiful , peaceful coastal region.
Wine tasting, Fishing, Surfing, Boating, Kayaking, Swimming, Scuba-diving, Boogie-boarding, Bush walking, Mountain-biking, Bird watching, Wildlife Spotting, Golfing, Photography & Exploring Maria Island National Park and Australia's Convict History and Trails are all popular activities to do in the area. If none of the following appeal then you can perhaps just take a leisurely stroll or swim on one of the beautiful beaches close by or simply 'kick back', relax and unwind with a good book and a glass of award winning Tasmanian wine - Life can't get much better than that!
Maria Island National Park
Spring beach, Orford and Triabunna are the bases from which to explore historic Maria Island National Park with its lovely walks, picnic spots, beautiful beaches, rainbow cliffs and abundance of wildlife. Maria Island is also now a designated disease free refuge for endangered Tasmanian Devils. Darlington convict settlement is a world heritage listed site.
Information about Maria Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Island
www.discovertasmania.com.au/attraction/mariaislandnationalpark
http://www.tasmaniaseastcoast.com.au/pages/maria-island-national-park/
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3499
Ferries and Cruises
www.eastcoastcruises.com.au
www.mariaislandferry.com.au/the-ferrywww.mariaislandferry.com.au
Walks
Maria Island also offers a multi-award winning eco walking adventure: http://www.mariaislandwalk.com.au
http://greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/walks/maria-island/
Another walk is also advertised
http://www.lifesanadventure.com.au/maria-island-walk-and-walking-holidays-tasmania/
Accommodation
Old Penetentiary Accommodation and Camping. Rustic/Youth Hostel Style Accommodation and Camping is available on Maria Island National Park (bookings essential).
www.parks.tas.gov.au/camping#ma.
http://www.mariaislandferry.com.au/maria/accommodation-on-maria/
*Tourism Information Centre is Located at Triabunna for advice and bookings.
East Coast Wineries
Freycinet National Park (Wine Glass Bay) and East Coast Wineries. The East Coast is renowned for its boutique wineries producing some of the best of Tasmanian wines. Darlington Winery is in Orford, the others in Cranbrook between Swansea and Bicheno a 40 - 60 minute leisurely drive from the Beach House with plenty of sightseeing to enjoy on the way. The Tasman Highway is a single lane road and even in the height of the tourist season is not busy!
Information about East Coast Wine Trail & Freycinet National Park & Wine Glass Bay
http://www.wineglassbay.com
http://winetasmania.com.au/wine_routes/east_coast_wine_routehttp://www.winecompanion.com.au/wineries/tasmania/east-coast-tasmania
http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/gt-wine/wine-features/2014/9/great-wine-drive-tasmania/http://www.winesouth.com.au
The Wineries
www.darlingtonvineyard.com.au
www.kelvedonestate.com.au
miltonvineyard.com.auwww.freycinetvineyard.com.au
Coombend Vineyard: http://www.visitvineyards.com/tasmania/north-east-tas/wine/vineyards-wineries/info/coombend-estate
Award Winning Boutique East Coast Walking Experience
http://www.freycinet.com.au
East Coast & Eating Out
Unfortunately there aren't many eating out options for evening meals near Orford/Swansea along the East Coast! BUT would recommend Piermont Restaurant between Orford and Swansea for a special occasion AND Orford's own Gateway Cafe who with an award-winning chef on board in 2014 is about to start catering weekend evenings over summer (Bookings Essential) *The Gateway do good coffee and breakfasts/lunches and is situated opposite the Prosser River. It is also the cellar door for a number of East Coast Wineries. There is also the Spring Bay Seafood Company close by - so why not barbecue up a storm?!
http://www.gatewaycafeorford.com.au
http://www.piermont.com.au/
www.springbayseafoods.com.auhttps://www.facebook.com/ArtifaktGallery
www.visitswanseatasmania.com.au
http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/regions-of-tasmania/east-coast/swansea
At Coles Bay
Tombolo Cafe (opposite Coles Bay Post Office), Seafood Van near Friendlies Beaches OR Freycinet Lodge
Historic Richmond & Coal River Valley Wineries
www.richmondvillage.com.au
http://www.richmondvillage.com.au/vineyards.html
http://www.winesouth.com.auhttp://www.gourmettasmania.com.au/wine-trail/
http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=902
Selection of the Wineries:
www.coalvalley.com.au
www.pooleywines.com.au
www.meadowbankwines.com.au
www.puddleduckvineyard.com.au
*There are more wonderful wineries in the region, these are simply my recommendation!
Hobart
Darlington is less than one from Hobart with its major draw cards: internationally renowned MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMag), its famous food and art scene, funky cafes, award-winning restaurants, Salamanca Markets (Saturday mornings until 2pm), Pretty Harbour, stunning historic Battery Point, convict built heritage buildings, all nestled protectively in the arms of majestic Mount Wellington.
Eating Out: Check out: www.facebook.com/TasmanianFoodGuide
My favourites in Hobart are: Ethos Eat Drink, Garagiste and Smolt!
Also a must (if time) a trip to Peppermint Bay near Woodbridge for lunch by the water!
Airport
Darlington Beach House is only a 45 minute drive from Hobart airport yet in a beautiful , peaceful coastal region.
