Burnie

Burnie is Tasmania's fourth largest city with a population of around 20,000, located on the northwestern coast. Once known as a single-industry town with environmental concerns, it has transformed into an attractive coastal city with a diverse economy. The city retains its industrial deep-water port while offering several north-facing beaches with pleasant public spaces. Burnie serves as a popular tourist base close to major attractions including Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Stanley Nut, Mole Creek Karst National Park, and Rocky Cape National Park.

Burnie Airport serves the city with flights, operated by Regional Express. Metro Tasmania operates scheduled bus services connecting Burnie to Wynyard, Somerset, Penguin, and Ulverstone. Timetables are available on the Metro Tasmania website.

Metro Tasmania operates scheduled bus services throughout the Burnie area. Single one-way fares are around $8 per person. Timetables are available on the Metro Tasmania website.

The Little Penguin Observation Centre at Parsonage Point along the foreshore boardwalk offers free viewing with guides present around sunset from October to March. The Burnie Regional Museum in the Civic Centre Precinct features Federation Street, an indoor exhibition interpreting Burnie's first economic boom period of 1890-1910, plus free temporary exhibitions. The Burnie Regional Art Exhibitions at 77-79 Wilmot Street feature temporary exhibitions at the Arts and Function centre and nearby Intersection art space, free entry. The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden at 55 Breffny Road, Romaine, spans 13 hectares with 23,000 rhododendrons and other plants, open daily 9AM-5PM with peak flowering September-November, entry fee applies.

Take a heritage town walk with tours available through the Burnie Arts network. Visit Guide Falls, a 20-minute drive south of Burnie, where the Reserve offers picnic tables and BBQ amenities with best water flow in winter and spring. Fernglade, a few minutes drive east of the city, provides a ferny environment with picnic facilities along the Emu River where you may spot wild platypus, with a 3km walking track through the Emu Valley suitable for mountain bikes.

Hellyers Road Distillery makes whisky and also features a cafe and restaurant. For casual dining, Thai Smile Cafe and Takeaway at 53 Mount St offers takeaway options, while Dave's Noodles at 129 Wilson St serves noodles. The Foreshore in the Burnie Surf Club Building on 2 North Terrace provides fish and chips, seafood and salad options. Indian Tandoor House at 6 Alexander St is open daily 5PM-9PM for Indian cuisine. For coffee and meals, try food + brew at 1 Cattley St on the corner of Marine Terrace, open varying hours throughout the week. VJ's Bakery on Wragg St offers fresh bakery snacks.

Accommodation options include the Beach Hotel Burnie at 1 Wilson St near the beach, and the Burnie Central Townhouse Hotel at 139 Wilson St. Budget options include the Somerset Beachside Caravan Park at 15,235 Bass Hwy with RV or tent spaces from $16 and cabins from $80, featuring an internet cafe, barbecue space, and wood-lined en suite cabins with full kitchens. The Seabrook Hotel on Bass Highway offers rooms from $69 with large rooms, a restaurant and bar downstairs, and cooked breakfast delivery to rooms.

West lies Stanley, while to the east are the towns of Penguin and Devonport. Heading south, the West Coast region offers access to Cradle Mountain, one of Tasmania's biggest icons, and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park—a beautiful, less-visited park requiring careful preparation as there is no direct road access and no visitor facilities, with lyrically named landscapes including the Damascus Gate, Herods Gate, King Davids Peak, Solomons Throne, The Pool of Bethesda, and Lake Salome. Burnie sits at the intersection of multiple routes including the A2 National Route 1 heading west to Wynyard and the coast.