Penguin

BEach, beer & a mighy big penguin

Our Pioneering Guide to Picturesque Penguin Tasmania 🐧

The Mighty Big Penguin

The town of Penguin Tasmania 

Where to see penguins for Free in Tasmania

You don’t need to pay to see Penguins in Tasmania. You don’t need a Penguin tour. If you know where to go and when, there’s plenty of spots on the coast of North West Tasmania to see them for free.

The town of Penguin was named after a nearby rookery at Penguin Point. If you want to see Penguins in Penguin for free, that’s where to go. But you’ll need to do it November to March.

The best time of day for Penguin spotting it is just on dark. This is when the Penguins, under cover of darkness, come out of the sea and run up the beach to their burrows.

Make sure you take a red light – standard torches will startle and scare away these sensitive marine birds.

If you don’t spot Penguins at Penguin Point, don’t worry. 20 minutes east on the Bass Highway is the Lilico Penguin viewing area. It’s free to see Penguins there too!

There’s a mighty big penguin in Penguin, if you can’t find the Fairy type. The Big Penguin is iconic Tasmania. Member of an elite club of Tasmania’s big things. And if all that isn’t weird enough, next to The Big Penguin, poke your head into the Tardis from Dr Who… 

 

Is Penguin Tasmania worth visiting?

Penguin: the perfect Weekender.

Cool, relaxed, welcoming little coastal town. Beach vibes. Great beer, served cold overlooking Bass Strait. These are the things that come to mind when my thoughts settle on the charming town of Penguin in North West Tasmanian. And together, they make for the perfect weekender or relaxation destination.

It’s totally worth calling in to lil’ Penguin town if you’re visiting the North West.

How to spend your time in Penguin Tasmania

Roll in off the Bass Highway and you’re at Penguin Foreshore. Where the action is. Find a carpark and it’s time to explore.

There’s bougie shops, a bakery, and coffee to be sipped. A stroll along the beach perhaps. Or duck in for fish n chips.

Don’t forget the obligatory happy snaps with The Big Penguin and before letting the kids run wild at Penguin playground.

accommodation in Penguin Tasmania Australia

Accommodation in Penguin Tasmania

We review the best accommodation in Penguin Tasmania based on our local knowledge.  So you don’t have to agonise for hours about what to book and  where to stay. Whether it’s luxury, self contained, beachfront, romantic or pet friendly accommodation in Penguin, here’s our insider list for an incredible stay

Tara’s 5 favourite things to do in Penguin Tasmania

 1. Boutiques, antiques

There’s money in Penguin so bougie boutiques are a feature. Where to shop? Cocoon Designs oooh lala.

2. fish & chips by the sea

Grab a rug from your car and call by Jo and Co Cafe on the foreshore for a decent serve of fish and chips. Park yourself on the grassy knoll across the road and watch the world go by.

3. Penguin Brewskis

Penguin Beer Co. is a newer addition to the foreshore and we’re here for it. A nice selection of Tassie brewed beers, lunch options, and an outdoor beer garden practically on the beach. What more could you ask for!

4. The Penguin Pantry

Drop in to local deli/providore The Penguin Pantry and you’ll find all manner of local Tassie treats to eat and take on the road with you. Yummo!

5. Stroll the foreshore

Relaxation destination begins at the beach. Penguin has bays for days – all walkable – to explore. The best thing? They’re almost always empty. So grab your significant other by the hand, take a slow stroll and soak it all in. There’s even a dog friendly beach at Penguin that our two crazy Vizslas love! 

The Penguin Pantry Tasmania

The Penguin Pantry

Call in and grab a sweet treat and a coffee. Sit outside and soak up all the feels of Ross’ stunning tree-lined main street – a worthy backdrop to the town’s charming heritage.

Penguin Foreshore Tasmania

The Penguin Foreshore

The town of Penguin revolves around Main st, which is also the Penguin foreshore. It’s here you’ll find most Penguin attractions.

Penguin Beer Co.

We’re regulars at this Penguin Local. The beer is cold and tasty and the views over Bass Strait make grabbing a brew here so much more fun.

More things to do in the town of Penguin

A top spot to take the kids, the little town of Penguin is a lot of fun!

Letterbox Cafe Penquin

Morning Coffee at Letterbox Cafe

You’ll see the morning set crowded around the entrance to Letterbox Cafe on Saturday’s and Sundays. This means the coffee’s good. Grab one before strolling the foreshore.

Penguin Town Tasmania

Penguin paraphernalia

Spot the penguins. You’ll find the penguin theme dotted through this charming little coastal town in artwork and facilities. Great fun for the kids to play spot the Penguin!

The Tardis Book Exchange Penguin

poke your head in on the Tardis

You’ll find the Tardis Book Exchange right near the might by Penguin. Leave a book, take a book if you’re an avid holiday reader like I am!

 

Penguin Kids Playground

Playground by the sea

Three old churches stand tall about the Ross skyline. All of them a worth a wander. Start here at the Anglican church in… you guessed it, Church Street.

Where to eat in Penguin

Penguin punches above it’s weight for dining options. Here are our fave Beachside Cafes & Restaurants:

  1. Mt Gnomon Farm – for all things smoked pork, this place is heaven.
  2. Penguin Beer Co. – because beer & burgers. Nuff said!
  3. Jo & Co Cafe – fish n chips by the sea is hard to beat.
  4. Renaessance Cafe – morning tea with million dollar beach views.
  5. Seasons by the Sea – pricey but also, top notch. Nom nom.

Where is Penguin Tasmania?

The town of Penguin is located on Tasmania’s North West Coast. Positioned in the middle of regional town centres Devonport and Burnie and overlooking Bass Strait., Penguin is a smaller seaside hamlet with a relaxed vibe. 

 

What are the attractions in Penguin?

Penguins of course! The Big Penguin and the little Fairy kind. You’ll find the big one in the middle of town. The Fairy Penguins are harder to spot out at Penguin Point. On the upside, it’s free to see the penguins here!

Then there’s the Penguin foreshore, a popular spot to call in for coastal vibes, a bevvy or two and and bite to eat!

A stop at Mt Gnomon Farm just inland from Penguin is a must in summer. Picturesque paddocks, sunflowers, apple orchards and veggie gardens make for a dreamy Tassie scene. Even better, make a reservation and stay for dinner in the giant barn. Thank us later.

 

How far is penguin from Launceston?

Penguin is just 1.5 hours drive (132 km) from Launceston. This makes Penguin, and surrounding towns on the North West Coast an awesome one day road trip destination from Launceston.

There’s also so much to see, do (and eat) along the Bass Highway on the way to Penguin you’ll have trouble fitting in to one day!

 

How far is Penguin from Hobart

Penguin is located in North West Tasmania, the opposite end of the island from Hobart. It’s a 3.5 hour drive (311 km) one way north of Hobart, along Tasmania’s Midland and Bass highways.

Penguin is too far for a one-day road trip from Hobart. But there is a lot to do and see around Penguin and in Tasmania’s North West. You could overnight in the area and explore other travel-worthy spots such as Stanley, Cradle Mountain and Sheffield.

In fact, we think the North West is Tasmania’s most underrated and undiscovered travel region!

 

What to see in Penguin Tasmania

Here’s what to see in pretty Penguin:

– The Big Penguin & Fairy Penguins

– Penguin beach & foreshore, and lovely coastal views to Ulverstone

– Penguin paraphernalia. True it’s name, the Penguin theme runs through town. You’ll find cute little penguin themed bike racks, water fountains, mosaics all about the foreshore. Fun spotting for the kids!

– The Penguin Heritage Trail – a free 90 minute audio tour you can download to your phone in English and Chinese. 

 

Is there free camping in Penguin?

The good news is, yes. But you’ll need to be self sufficient.

Just west of Penguin if you follow Preservation Drive out of town is a free grassed camping spot right next to the beach. You won’t miss it – there’s always off grid RVs and caravans parked there.  A beautiful location given it’s free but it can get windy any time of year.

There’s no facilities here. You’ll have to be completely self sufficient to free camp at this spot.