Touring Tasmania – Bridport and Flinders Island

Flinders Island (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & John de la Roche)

From Gladstone we took the road to Bridport, on Tasmania’s northern coast. Like so many other coastal towns Bridport is a popular summer holiday tourist destination and offers beaches, safe swimming and a whole host of water sports. In 2004 Bridport also became a popular destination for golfers and from the town you can get flights or a ferry service to Flinders Island.

Being a popular tourist town there are a number of hotels and other Bridport accommodation here in if you want to stay a night or two.

Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course
Opened in 2004, the Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course is just outside the town of Bridport. This spectacular course with its coastal location really reminds me of the famous St Andrews Old Course in Scotland, and Barnbougle is quickly establishing itself with an excellent reputation. Within just a few years it has become ranked in the top 50 best golf courses in the world, and it is in fact Australia’s number one public golf course. Golf lovers should definitely bring their clubs!

Flinders Island
Flinders Island is located 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) off the northern tip of Tasmania and is part of the Furneaux group of islands. These islands were discovered in 1773 by Tobias Furneaux, after whom they’re named. Being an island the only ways to get here are by ferry service or there is also a light aircraft service operating out of Bridport.

One of the main attractions of the island is the Strzelecki National Park. Named after a famous Polish explorer, Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki, the park was established in 1967. It is best known for its high numbers of endemic species – these are species which are found only here, so it’s a great place to see many rare and interesting species of plants. There are also a great many animals and bird life here too. The park is also good for hiking, rock climbing and sea kayaking. There are some great Flinders Island accommodation spots too.

From Bridport you can continue along the northern coast to the next major town, George Town which sits on the Tamar River estuary. We have decided to leave George Town for another day, so head south instead to Scottsdale, a medium sized town set in attractive surrounds with a great many bushwalking opportunities!

‘Touring Tasmania – Bridport and Flinders Island’ by Claire Bolgil