Hawley Beach: Coast, Trails and Bushland

Hawley Beach combines coast, trails, bushland and local history to offer a range of travel experiences. You can focus on its coastal character, consider the Coast Walk as a tour in its own right, or explore the wildlife of Aubrey Luck Reserve and the history of Hawley House. If you’re travelling with family, it may help to discuss in advance whether the group is most interested in the coast, nature, outdoor activities or history.

Beach and coastal walks

Hawley Beach’s main beach is 750 m long. A narrow reserve and the road run behind the beach, providing access along its entire length. If you want to make the coastal area a focus of your plans, this offers a clear point of reference when choosing between the beach and the named walking trails.

The Hawley Beach Foreshore Reserve Walk starts at the end of Hawley Esplanade and continues from Alexander Street. Its coastal scenery includes rock pools, rugged rocks covered in red lichen and crystal-blue water. As you explore this coastal setting, notice how the rock, lichen and water come together—so your attention is drawn not only to the route but also to the shapes and colours.

The Coast Walk differs in its route and trail conditions. It runs from the northern end of Hawley Beach, near Hawley House, through Hawley Beach to Port Sorell. Its approximate round-trip length is 6 km. The trail is poorly developed and crosses private land for a short section. Check trail conditions and land access locally before setting out. The walks offer a clear choice: the Foreshore Reserve Walk focuses on coastal features, while the Coast Walk is defined by its route, approximate round-trip distance and trail conditions.

Bushland and local history

Aubrey Luck Reserve is on Joyce Street in Hawley Beach. Its natural bushland includes she-oaks and blackwoods, and is home to Bennett’s wallabies, pademelons, eastern barred bandicoots, brown bandicoots, wombats and a diverse range of birdlife. Here, the focus is on a different aspect of nature than on the coast. If you’re travelling with children, you can use the different animal names as a conversation starter and consider together which aspects of wildlife interest you most.

Hawley House, dating from around 1878, is the original main house of the Rubicon Estate. Its approximate date and former function make it a tangible reference point for the history of the estate. Alongside the coast and wildlife, local history offers another distinct focus for your trip.

Choosing Hawley Beach as a destination

When looking for accommodation, considering what you want to focus on during your trip can help you decide whether Hawley Beach is right for you. Would you like to include coastal scenery and walking trails in your plans, or are you more interested in bushland, wildlife and local history? These themes offer different points of reference when choosing a destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hillwood, Port Sorell, Woodbridge, Somerset, Winkleigh, Wattle Hill, Quamby Brook, Port Huon

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.