Burnie
Town
Population 77408
The first European pioneers believed the Burnie area to be agriculturally rich, but high rainfall and dense forests covering the surrounding hills made farming virtually impossible. The deep waters in Emu Bay, however, rescued the community by providing an ideal port for the local industries of tin and timber. Today Burnie, Tasmania's fourth largest city, is a vibrant city with beautiful parklands and charming heritage buildings.
Visitor Information
Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, Civic Centre Plaza, off Little Alexander St; (03) 6434 6111
www.tasmaniantravelcentre.com.au
Nearby national parks
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Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is an unforgettable landscape of rugged peaks, perfect lakes, icy cascades and alpine...more -
Mole Creek Karst National Park
Over 200 caves make up the Mole Creek karst system. The national park comprises a dozen separate blocks, creating a park almost as complex...more -
Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Walls of Jerusalem, the fourth largest and the most remote national park in Tasmania, is a stunning landscape of huge rock faces, ancient...more
Nearby towns
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Penguin
This northern seaside town was named after the little penguins that shuffle up the beaches, and images of the iconic bird are peppered...more -
Wynyard
This small centre at the mouth of the Inglis River has charming timber buildings and is located on a stunning stretch of coastline in an...more -
Ulverstone
At the mouth of the Leven River on the north central coast, Ulverstone is renowned for its fine sweeping beaches and waterfront parklands....more
In Town
Burnie Park This park has lawns, shaded walkways, diverse native flora and animal enclosures with ducks, swans, wallabies, emus, peacocks and rabbits. Burnie Inn, the city's oldest building, is in the park and has been restored as a teahouse. A brochure is available from the park information centre. Bass Hwy.Pioneer Village Museum: re-creation of old Burnie town that houses almost 20 000 items from the late 1800s and early 1900s; Civic Centre Plaza. Little Penguin Observation Centre: free guided tours Oct–Feb; Parsonage Point; 0437 436 803. Creative Paper: recycled-paper art with demonstrations and activities; tours available daily; Old Surrey Rd. Walking track: 17 km track that skirts the city; start at boardwalk. Australian Paper: mill tours held 2pm Mon–Fri; Bass Hwy; bookings on (03) 6430 7882. The Cheese Tasting Centre: dairy samples and other specialty produce; Old Surrey Rd. Hellyers Road Distillery: makers of single malt whisky; tours, tastings, sales and licensed eatery; open 9.30am–5.30pm daily; Old Surrey Rd, adjacent to Cheese Tasting Centre. Burnie Regional Art Gallery: impressive collection of Australian contemporary prints; open 10am–4.30pm Mon–Fri, 1.30–4.30pm Sat, Sun and public holidays; Wilmot St.
Nearby
Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens Considered the city's floral emblem, the rhododendron has pride of place in Burnie. These gardens have over 9000 wild and hybrid rhododendrons on display in a natural 12 ha amphitheatre, and host the floral festival in Oct. Open Aug–Feb; off Cascade Rd; 6 km S.Fern Glade: tranquil reserve on Emu River with walking tracks and picnic areas; off Old Surrey Rd; 5 km W. Annsleigh Garden and Tearooms: voted one of the 10 best gardens in Australia and comprising 2 ha of beautiful gardens and novelty buildings, plus souvenirs and food; open Sept–May; Mount Rd; 9 km S. Upper Natone Forest Reserve: popular picnic spot; Upper Natone Rd; 30 km S. Lake Kara: good trout fishing; signposted from Hampshire; 30 km S. Bushwalks and waterfalls: many in area, but Guide Falls (near Ridgley, 17 km S) is most accessible.
Fishing spots near town
Little Pine Lagoon 120 km
Little Pine Lagoon is not much to look at, but is highly regarded by fly-fishers for its springtime tailing trout and summer dun hatches. Some anglers rate it Tasmania’s premier fly-fishing water. This small water... Find out moreGreat Lake 122 km
A year-round trout fishery, Great Lake is one of Tasmania’s best known waters and a thriving centre for holiday homes. Brown trout were first released here in 1870 and they still dominate the fishery with an... Find out moreArthurs Lake 131 km
Tasmanians claim that ‘even novices can catch trout in Arthurs Lake’. This probably explains why this waterway is Tasmania’s most popular trout fishery, hosting more anglers than any other water... Find out moreLake River 134 km
‘Tasmania is in drought, we simply don’t have enough water,’ said my guide Roger Butler as we departed Hobart for Lake River, which joins the Macquarie River south of Launceston. We reached our... Find out moreBronte System 136 km
Trout anglers probably already know that Tasmania’s Central Highland lakes are among the best in the world. Many offer fly- fishers an opportunity to sight-fish for tailing trout around the lake margins.... Find out moreSt Helens 201 km
Most mainlanders once regarded Tasmania’s east coast seaport of St Helens as a gamefishing destination, and little else. Anglers came here to head offshore in search of marlin, tuna and sharks. However, the... Find out moreSalmon Ponds 208 km
Most Australian trout anglers regard Tasmania as the nation’s premier trout destination. It’s like Tasmania was purpose-designed for trout, with hundreds of lakes and a cooler climate. Mother Nature... Find out moreFlinders Island 218 km
Flinders Island is halfway across Bass Strait. Air travel to the island is limited but it’s worth the effort. Most anglers who visit the island and sample the fishing return full of praise for the place. Flinders... Find out moreThe Springs 235 km
Visitors to Hobart who are short on time can get a trout fix less than 20 mins’ drive from the CBD at an exclusive fishery called The Springs. It is a year-round fishery and is restricted to a maximum of two... Find out moreTwin Lakes 240 km
I always thought the title of John Gierach’s entertaining book Where the Trout are all as Long as your Leg was a little farfetched, until I realised it related to a time when he was five years old. I am a little... Find out moreEco-friendly activities around town
Hiking the Penguin to Cradle walk 15 km
If you want to embark on a little-known, but highly varied Tasmanian bushwalk, try part or the entire 80-kilometre Penguin to Cradle walk. It starts at the coast, goes through a mix of rural areas, woodlands, canyons,... Find out moreGiant crayfish research, near Ulverstone 26 km
Tasmania has the largest freshwater crayfish in the world, and they can grow up to a metre in length, with claws that could cut a person’s hand off. You can go out on a research trip with the world’s expert... Find out moreGunns Plains Cave 27 km
Located just south-west of Gunns Plains (some 23 kilometres south-west of Ulverstone), this is yet another great limestone cave. It has one of the largest shawl formations in the Southern Hemisphere, glow worms aplenty... Find out morePlatypus Encounters, Latrobe 48 km
Three brothers almost single-handedly turned an old quarry site into one of the most reliable places in the world to see wild platypus. In fact, the guided tours have never failed to encounter a platypus in Warrawee... Find out moreThe Overland Track 65 km
Deservedly the most well-known, multiday walking route in Australia, this 65- to 80-kilometre route through Cradle Mountain– Lake St Clair National Park is a classic (for national park information, see park entry... Find out moreTrowunna Wildlife Park, Mole Creek 70 km
One of the most respected and long-running wildlife parks in Tasmania, Trowunna is involved in conservation, education and rehabilitation. There is a wide range of wildlife on display, including devils, reptiles, quolls... Find out moreTarkine Forest Adventures at Dismal Swamp 70 km
This is a strange mix of natural history, art installations, public relations for Forestry Tasmania and a wild and riotous 110-metre slide. The experience is set in the only known sinkhole in the world with a thriving... Find out moreTarkine Trails 75 km
Delve deeply into the temperate rainforest of the Tarkine Wilderness on a multi-day bushwalk with Tarkine Trails. Unashamedly made up of conservation activists, the company is keen to show you why the Tarkine area should... Find out moreLow Head Penguin Tours 76 km
Every night at dusk this comprehensive but inexpensive tour takes visitors to a little penguin-nesting site near the mouth of the Tamar River, where you can watch the penguins waddle ashore to return to their nests. The... Find out moreTasafari tours 112 km
Holding advanced eco-accreditation, this tour company combines some of the best day walks in Tasmania with camping in remote areas. A total of nine people is permitted on a tour.... Find out moreGolf courses around town
Barnbougle Dunes Links 129 km
Bridport used to be a sleepy fishing village on Tasmania’s north-east coast. That all changed in 2004. In December of that year Barnbougle Dunes Links opened for play on the eastern outskirts of town – and... Find out moreBarnbougle Dunes Links (Lost Farm course) 131 km
When Barnbougle Dunes opened for play in 2004 it did have a few critics who suggested it was too far away from the golfing masses to be financially successful. How wrong they were. If a golf course is good enough,... Find out moreTasmania Golf Club 237 km
The challenge a golf course presents can often be measured by the quality of player it produces. At Tasmania Golf Club, the name Goggin crops up regularly on the honour boards. Lindy Goggin, a three-time Australian... Find out moreRoyal Hobart Golf Club 240 km
Royal Hobart Golf Club has come a long way from humble beginnings. It started out at Sandy Bay, not far from where Wrest Point Casino stands today, in 1896. Known as the Newlands course, it was an incredible par- 89:... Find out moreCafes & restaurants around town
Bayviews Restaurant and Lounge Bar
This groovy glass-enclosed space is part of Burnie’s new wave of restaurants and smart bars. It’s up on the first floor in an architecturally stunning pavilion (above Fish Frenzy, little sister to... Find out moreOn a central corner in one of Burnie’s historic buildings, the austere exterior of this cosmopolitan cafe gives no hint of the warm delights within. Once inside you’ll be transported to the Mediterranean with... Find out more
This cosy art-filled place is a long-stayer in the Burnie restaurant scene and one of the most popular eateries in town. You always have to book ahead for a table but it’s well worth the trouble. Over the years... Find out more
Nearby eco-friendly places to eat
Purple Possum Wholefoods and Cafe 200 km
Purple Possum is in the great little town of St Marys, midway between St Helens and Bicheno. The cafe is wholly vegetarian, and you can take away a range of organic fruit and vegetables and locally grown supplies.... Find out moreNearby breweries
Boag's (J.Boag & Son) 112 km
With several different owners over the past 100 years, J. Boag and Son typifies the sometimes turbulent history of Australian brewing and the minor miracle of surviving at all into the 21st century. Scotsman James Boag... Find out moreTwo Metre Tall Company 206 km
Ashley Huntington actually is 2 metres tall – probably taller if you include his mop of curly hair – and his generous height is also the name for the craftbrewing enterprise he runs from the Derwent... Find out moreIron House Brewery 210 km
When White Sands Resort came on the market a few years ago it proved too tempting for Devonport businessman John White, who already runs several companies bearing his surname. Rebranded as White Sands Estate, the... Find out moreMoo Brew 225 km
With its striking, glass and steel brewhouse perched high above the Derwent River, Moo Brew is probably the best-appointed microbrewery in the land. It’s also part of Moorilla Estate, situated on the outskirts of... Find out moreCascade Brewery 235 km
It’s impossible not to wax lyrical about the Cascade Brewery. It is the oldest working brewery in the country, one of the quaintest-looking industrial buildings and it’s located in the most picturesque of... Find out moreCampsites around town
Riana Pioneer Park camping ground 20 km
Set among farmland and forested hills 15 km from Penguin, the tiny settlement of Riana is picture-postcard pretty. Its quiet little campground is on the left-hand side of the main road (Pine Rd B17), just past the... Find out moreLake Barrington West 44 km
Lake Barrington is famous for its world-class rowing course, and while there are big crowds here for rowing championships, the rest of the time there’s peaceful camping, all-year angling and beautiful scenery.... Find out moreKentish Park camping area 45 km
This informal camping area on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Barrington is 6 km from West Kentish. Busy when there are rowing events at the lake, at other times it’s a peaceful campground amid pretty scenery.... Find out moreLake Gairdner camping area 49 km
On the banks of this hydro lake there is a free camping area with no facilities, so if the campground at Cradle Mountain is full (as it often is) this may be a good alternative, providing you are completely... Find out morePeggs Beach camping area 52 km
A very popular campground for locals, it’s only a small site so you’ll be lucky to find a spot here in the summer holiday season. Although it is close to the highway, it is right next to a gorgeous wide... Find out moreO’Neills Creek Reserve camping area 53 km
Next to the creek and rodeo ground, this pretty forest reserve has places for vans on short-term stays of 1 or 2 nights (2 night maximum), making it a perfect overnight stop on your way to Cradle Mountain–Lake St... Find out moreWaratah camping ground 53 km
Formerly the world’s leading tin mine, Waratah now welcomes tourists not miners, although there is still gold to be panned in nearby creeks. In the middle of town there’s a lake and waterfall, and the... Find out moreBlack River camping area 54 km
These secluded sites are nestled in coastal vegetation next to the Black River estuary. There is safe swimming at lovely Brickmakers Beach and a boat launching ramp into the river. This large campground is part of the of... Find out morePort Sorell Lions Club Caravan Park 56 km
This large caravan park is close to shops and just a short walk from the foreshore of the Rubicon Estuary, with its sheltered beach and lovely views of Narawntapu National Park. The safe swimming beach and kids... Find out moreKoybaa camping area 57 km
This camping area at Griffiths Point, 4 km past the ranger station, has 12 small sites surrounded by scrub. They are suitable only for tent-based camping because you have to carry your gear in past a row of... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
Penguin Beachside Holiday Resort 15 km
This beachfront park at the western end of town has undergone a makeover. The waterfront sites have been refurbished and the park restaurant should soon be back. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out moreBeach Retreat Tourist Park 16 km
Located at the mouth of the Inglis River and on the beachfront, this park is within walking distance of the town centre. It has good facilities and is ideal for an overnight stay or a few days. Bookings are required in... Find out moreBIG4 Ulverstone Holiday Park 26 km
This is a good quality park with spacious grassy areas and a range of facilities, about 1 km from the town centre and close to the surf club on East Beach. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out moreWings Wildlife Park 26 km
Staying here is a different experience. There is trout fishing, bushwalking, kayaking, golf, and more. The park has good facilities including powered sites, but we would opt for the unpowered riverfront camping area. The... Find out moreAbel Tasman Caravan Park 41 km
Located just a couple of blocks from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, this park has obvious benefits for those arriving or departing by the boat. The park has sites to cater for all size rigs and is ideal for a longer... Find out moreBay View Holiday Village 42 km
Close to the beach on the east side of Devonport, this park is just a short drive to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out moreCrayfish Creek Van and Cabin Park and Spa TreeHouse 48 km
In a distinctive bushland setting, this park is tucked away on the banks of Crayfish Creek, a short way in from the coast. It is a popular park during holiday periods, when the weather is warmer for swimming and camping.... Find out morePort Sorell Lions Caravan Park 56 km
This popular beachfront park is owned and operated by the Lions Club. It is close to the centre of town, adjacent to the boat ramp and ideal for family holidays. It is an easy drive to the Devonport ferry terminal from... Find out moreDiscovery Holiday Parks – Cradle Mountain 58 km
Set in bushland just outside the World Heritage-listed Tasmanian wilderness area, this quality park has good facilities including a large recreation building with open fireplaces. It is a popular camping site for walkers... Find out moreStanley Cabin and Tourist Park 61 km
This park, on the water’s edge, is a 200-metre stroll from the centre of town and a perfect base for exploring historic Stanley. The spectacular geological feature, The Nut, which is the remains of an old volcano,... Find out moreHotels, motels & B&Bs around town
This is one of those motel-restaurant complexes you might find anywhere, but its location on Burnie’s waterfront is especially delightful, with views so far over Bass Strait that on a clear day you might imagine you... Find out more
Verandahs draped in intricate iron lacework frame the entrance to this magnificent 1885 mansion and give a hint of what is to come. This graceful old lady is all decked out in her best period style and offers four... Find out more
Just outside Burnie in a quiet nook surrounded by farmland and bush, this family-sized two-storey cottage is a home-away-from-home. They’ve thought of everything here: if you’re with the kids there’s a trampoline, tree... Find out more
Each of these self-contained cottages is from a different era. Number Six harks back to the 1950s, with retro styling including a juke box and shag-pile rugs; Somersby is a snapshot of times past, with period furniture... Find out more
Eco-friendly places to stay around town
Mountain Valley, Loongana 40 km
Mountain Valley is off the beaten tourist track, situated around 64 kilometres south-west of Devonport (due south of Burnie). Visitors here stay in rustic cabins with open fireplaces on a private and remote 60-hectare... Find out moreCradle Mountain Lodge 60 km
Live in the lap of luxury – old style – with a warm and welcoming central lodge, surrounded by individual cabins. Like nearly any large lodge, it does not have a perfect environmental record, but this... Find out moreWaldheim Cabins 65 km
You can steal a march on everyone else in the morning by staying in historic cabins at a beautiful spot within Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, operated by the Parks and Wildlife Service. The cabins are... Find out moreCurringa Farm 182 km
Near Hamilton, about an hour’s drive west of Hobart, this eco-accredited 300-hectare property gives visitors a taste of sustainable farming practices.Give a couple of day’s notice and you can tour the farm,... Find out moreRainbow Retreat 203 km
The owners of this 30-hectare nature reserve at St Marys are wildlife carers who rehabilitate then release wildlife on the property, so there are plenty of their old friends wandering around, including wombats,... Find out moreRest areas around town
Somerset Park Area 6 km
Middle of town Small parking area at the junction with Murchison Highway on the banks of Cam River. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 02.487 E145 50.329... Find out moreWynyard Park Area 15 km
East side of town Small parking area on the foreshore. Good facilities. GPS: S40 59.408 E145 44.545... Find out moreSisters Beach Rest Area 33 km
T/O 13 km NW of Wynyard (R) or 54 km SE of Smithton (L) Small shady area on the foreshore 8 kilometres north of the highway. Very good facilities and shade. GPS: S40 55.007 E145 33.714... Find out moreHellyer Gorge Rest Area 34 km
40 km S of Somerset (L) or 66 km N of Tullah (R) Pleasant area adjacent to the highway surrounded by forest. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S41 16.409 E145 36.908 ... Find out moreFossey River Rest Area 50 km
67 km S of Somerset (L) or 39 km N of Tullah (R) Large area just off the highway surrounded by forest. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 27.048 E145 37.263... Find out moreBrickmakers Beach 51 km
40 km W of Wynyard (R) or 27 km E of Smithton (L) Large grassed area adjacent to the highway on the foreshore. Limited shade. GPS: S40 51.121 E145 21.905... Find out morePegs Beach Camp Area 52 km
42 km W of Wynyard (R) or 25 km E of Smithton (L) Large open grassy campground adjacent to the highway on the foreshore. Limited shade. GPS: S40 51.111 E145 21.153... Find out moreBlack River Camp Area 55 km
T/O 44 km W of Wynyard (R) or 23 km E of Smithton (L) Very large area with numerous secluded campsites located 1 to 5 kilometres off the highway in the scrub near the river. Limited facilities and shade. NOTE: Access... Find out moreParramatta Creek Rest Area 61 km
26 km NW of Deloraine (L) or 17 km SE of Latrobe (R) Pleasant area just off the highway among some large trees on the bank of the creek. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S41 19.830 E146 31.826 ... Find out moreTullabardine Dam Rest Area 73 km
T/O 105 km S of Somerset (L) or 1 km N of Tullah (R) Large area 6 kilometres east of the highway at the dam. GPS: S41 41.127 E145 39.388... Find out moreTullah Park Area 79 km
Off the main street into town (opposite shopping centre) Large parking area on the shores of Lake Rosebery. Limited shade. GPS: S41 44.172 E145 36.947 ... Find out moreRosebery Park Area 86 km
South side of town Large parking adjacent to the highway on the banks of the river at Stitt Park. Good facilities. GPS: S41 46.968 E145 32.403 ... Find out morePrickly Wattles Camp Area 103 km
19 km S of Marrawah Large camp area just off the road in a natural bush setting 2 kilometres south of Arthur River township. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S41 03.572 E144 40.758 ... Find out morePeppermint Camp Area 104 km
17 km S of Marrawah at Arthur River Open camp area just off the road into town on the north side of Arthur River township. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 02.923 E144 40.063 ... Find out moreGreen Point Camp Area 104 km
1 km NW of Marrawah via Green Point Road and Beach Road Very small camping area on the foreshore. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S40 54.596 E144 40.783 ... Find out moreLake Burbury Camp Area 117 km
20 km E of Queenstown (L) or 65 km W of Derwent Bridge (R) Large open grassed campground located 1 kilometre west of the highway near the lake. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S42 05.789 E145 40.454... Find out moreLittle Pine Lagoon Camp Area 120 km
T/O at Miena via Marlborough Highway Small camping area located 12 kilometres south-west of Miena. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S42 00.005 E146 36.661... Find out morePerth Park Area 120 km
North side of town Parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 34.286 E147 10.184... Find out moreLake Burbury Rest Area 122 km
T/O 15 km E of Queenstown (R) or 70 km W of Derwent Bridge (L) Small area located at the boat ramp 4 kilometres south of the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S42 08.35 E145 39.10... Find out moreMyrtle Park Camp Area 126 km
31 km SW of Scottsdale (R) or 31 km NE of Launceston (L) Large grassed camp area just off the highway on the banks of St Patrick’s River. Kiosk and telephone nearby. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S41 18.664... Find out moreFranklin River Park Area 129 km
60 km SE of Queenstown (R) or 25 km NW of Derwent Bridge (L) Very small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S42 12.931 E146 01.214... Find out moreSideling Lookout Park Area 130 km
17 km SW of Scottsdale (L) or 45 km NE of Launceston (R) Small area adjacent to the highway with good views over the surrounding countryside. Good facilities. GPS: S41 15.440 E147 25.844... Find out moreJonah Bay Camp Area 130 km
T/O 13 km SE of Miena (L) or 43 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large area in a natural bush setting on edge of the lake 10 kilometres north of the highway via Poatina Road and Gunns Marsh Road. NOTE: Access road part... Find out morePumphouse Bay Camp Area 131 km
T/O 13 km SE of Miena (L) or 43 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large open area on edge of the lake 6 kilometres north of the highway via Poatina Road. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S41 59.977 E146 51.076... Find out moreBronte Lagoon Rest Area 134 km
28 km SE of Derwent Bridge (R) or 21 km N of Tarraleah (L) Small area adjacent to the highway on the shores of the lagoon. GPS: S42 10.777 E146 30.033... Find out moreScottsdale Rest Area 137 km
East side of town Large area just off the highway. Very good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 09.977 E147 31.380... Find out moreBradys Lake Camp Area 140 km
36 km SE of Derwent Bridge (L) or 13 km N of Tarraleah (R) Small open grassy area located 1 kilometre off the highway on the shores of the lake. No facilities or shade. GPS: S42 13.920 E146 29.820... Find out moreLagoon of Islands Rest Area 145 km
T/O 20 SE of Miena (L) or 36 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large area located 4 kilometres east of the highway (turn off at Steppes) on the shores of the lake. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S42 06.677 E146 56.163... Find out moreNive River Rest Area 146 km
44 km SE of Derwent Bridge (R) or 5 km N of Tarraleah (L) Small area adjacent to the highway on the riverbank. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S42 17.921 E146 27.511... Find out moreBlackburn Creek Rest Area 149 km
29 km SE of Miena (R) or 27 km NW of Bothwell (L) Large open area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S42 10.356 E146 54.285... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Burnie Farmers Market: Wivenhoe Showgrounds; 1st and 3rd Sat morning each month.
Burnie Ten: 10 km road race; Oct.
Burnie Shines: month-long community festival; Oct.
