Boat Harbour

Boat Harbour village is a short drive from Wynyard in the north-west. If your idea of heaven is a quiet bay with white sands and clear water, Boat Harbour is the perfect retreat. The area has two small population centres and the town, high above sea-level, and the beach community below, nestled between rocky headlands. From the winding road that descends to the water, views of the harbour are captivating. Bass Strait stretches to the horizon, its clear water ideal for swimming and diving. Bring your board for the days when the surf's up. The area between Boat Harbour and Rocky Cape near Stanley is a national park of rock pools, wildflowers and bushwalks to Aboriginal caves in rugged cliffs. The Postman's Track here was originally used to deliver telegrams to Sisters Beach and another great spot for swimming. Rocky Cape was named by Bass and Flinders in 1798 but Boat Harbour was not settled until the 1830s, when it was used as a port to transport potatoes to Burnie and Devonport. Today there is no evidence of its working past to compete with its serenity, and it has been voted one of Australia's top 10 beaches. Boat Harbour experiences similar weather conditions to Wynyard. A gentle coastal breeze is common, but the beach is protected from wind by the surrounding cliffs. The village is a 10-minute drive from Wynyard or a 30-kilometre (18.5-mile) drive west of Burnie. The beach is a further five minutes' drive down the C232.