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Boat Harbour

Boat Harbour (pop ~100) is a small town in the centre of the north-west coast's farming district. The closest major town is Wynyard.

Boat Harbour is best known for nearby Boat Harbour Beach, which used to be dotted with shacks (holiday houses) Tasmanians would occupy during the pleasant summer weather. In recent years, Boat Harbour has become a major attraction in its own right, and now has its own four-star accommodation in addition to provision for backpackers.

The beach itself has white sand and the blue (but cold) waters of Bass Strait. It has good surfing with board hire available. At low tide, marine life pools form toward the eastern end of the beach.

There are several craft shops along the Bass Highway, including Shannondoah Cottage (also a tearoom), leather and leadlighting shops. West of Boat Harbour is the Rocky Cape National Park, which contains some of the best Aboriginal caves in Tasmania. On the edge of the park are the Birdland Native Gardens, featuring a nature trail and aviaries.

In the Directory

• Accommodation [1]

Photos

Boat Harbour Beach - Photo courtesy of Mark Newman

Boat Harbour Beach - Photo courtesy of Mark Newman

Sunset at Boat Harbour Beach - Photo courtesy of Mark Newman

Underwater Recommendations

Recommendation: This part of the North West Coast of Tasmania offers a wide variety of good shore and boat dives. The cooler waters of the Bass Strait offer rocky reefs, pinnacles and extensive kelp beds with an abundance of temperate marine life such as rock lobsters, cuttle fish, leatherjackets etc.