Old Beach on the Foreshore: Nature and Excursions

Old Beach invites you to experience the Foreshore on the move: the Foreshore Trail Network runs along the shore, beside saltmarshes and active wildlife. The easy 2.0 km trail provides a clear framework for a walk. The wider destination of Brighton Council offers a range of other interests, from colonial architecture to river trails, golf and wine.

Foreshore and Lennox Park in Old Beach

The Foreshore Trail Network combines a manageable trail length with a distinctive landscape. Along the Old Beach Foreshore are saltmarshes and areas with active wildlife. This makes nature and walking a specific focus for your stay, without the walk needing to take up the whole day. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can plan the easy trail as a separate activity.

Another practical consideration is Lennox Park: it has an area where dogs are allowed off leash. This rule applies to the designated area; check current local regulations before your visit. This lets you take into account whether the park is relevant to your plans with your dog, without applying the rule to the entire park.

Colonial history in the wider destination of Brighton Council

Pontville is a significant colonial-era village within the Brighton municipality. Its colonial architecture includes sandstone churches, a convict-built bridge, hotels, grand residences and workers’ cottages. St Mark’s Church in Pontville is a Romanesque sandstone building designed by convict architect James Blackburn; the church was completed in 1841. These buildings give the historical focus of the wider destination of Brighton Council a tangible character.

A walk along the Jordan River can also be combined with history: the Jordan River Trail is an easy route along the river and includes a detour into the historic district of Pontville. The Bridgewater Foreshore Trail offers a different focus. It follows the banks of the Derwent River around Bridgewater and Green Point to the East Derwent Highway Bridge. The shallow wetlands along the shore are home to a variety of birdlife, including black swans, cormorants, pelicans and white-faced herons. The two trails therefore differ in their described surroundings and focus; they should not be treated as one and the same route.

An augmented reality experience at the former Brighton Army Camp brings the site’s stories to life. These include Tasmania’s first commercial flights, trade between Aboriginal groups and training for the Second World War. The stories also cover the accommodation of Italian prisoners of war and Eastern European refugees, the temporary sheltering of Tasmanians after the bushfires of 1967, and refuge for Kosovars during the Balkan War. The camp thus offers another way to explore Brighton Council’s layered history.

More to explore: Animals, sport and wine

At Zoodoo Zoo, visitors can encounter a wide variety of exotic animals up close. Check the current name and access conditions before travelling there. For golf enthusiasts, Tea Tree Golf Club in the wider destination of Brighton Council offers a 9-hole course in a scenic, semi-rural setting. The club was founded in 1929; visitor access may vary.

Baskerville Raceway in Old Beach is set in a natural amphitheatre and opened in February 1958. Its location and history provide a different emphasis from the foreshore trails and colonial architecture. Wine enthusiasts will find vineyards and wineries in and around Tea Tree in the Coal River Valley, particularly those producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Local wine trails and vineyards are also highlighted for the Brighton area and beyond. Wine venues and visitor offerings may change, so it is worth checking the relevant conditions before visiting.

Old Beach is therefore a natural search destination, particularly if the Foreshore Trail and nature along the shore fit your plans. Brighton Council complements this local focus with Pontville, other river trails, historical experiences and a variety of leisure interests.

For the wider travel overview: Brighton Council.