East Coast Tasmania is more than a journey – it is a tapestry of rugged coastline, fresh sea air and flavours shaped by the land and ocean.
Along the Great Eastern Drive, turquoise waters frame the road, mountains rise in the distance, and every stop tells its story through food, wine, and community. Each town becomes a pause, each venue a chapter and each dish a memory woven into the journey.
The adventure begins at Diamond Island Resort, Restaurant & Bar and Penguin Show, where nature and dining unite. Overlooking the ocean, this is a place where plates of local seafood and seasonal produce meet a front-row seat to one of Tasmania’s most enchanting spectacles – the nightly penguin parade. Dining here is more than a meal; it is a reminder that food is best enjoyed in harmony with the land, the water and the creatures who share it.
A little further inland, the story finds stillness at Mount Paul Lounge. Nestled with views across the Hazards mountains and Freycinet Peninsula, this is dining with a sense of calm sophistication. Tasmanian ingredients take centre stage, presented with elegance and restraint – a balance of refinement and grounding. Each dish whispers of place and season, inviting travellers to slow down and savour.
In the heart of Swansea, The Branch offers warmth and community. Here, modern Tasmanian dining meets rustic charm. Plates are vibrant and approachable, championing local producers while inviting travellers and locals alike to gather over shared meals. The Branch is not about grandeur but connection – a reminder that food is a thread tying people together.
Following the coast northward, the journey drifts back to the water at The Bay Bistro & Bar, where ocean vistas shape the mood and the menu. Seafood shines here, prepared simply and thoughtfully to let freshness speak. With every bite – whether a plate of oysters kissed by the sea or a fish caught that morning – the boundary between land and water fades and the coast itself becomes part of the dining experience.
In the seaside village of Coles Bay, Iluka Tavern brings a touch of tradition. This is a place of casual comfort – where pints are poured with generosity, meals are hearty and familiar and the atmosphere feels like home. Schnitzels, burgers and pub classics fill the tables, while conversations stretch long into the evening. Iluka Tavern is about presence, hospitality and the kind of welcome that leaves travellers lingering.
The road finds its crescendo at Flora’s Restaurant, a venue that captures both creativity and heart. Here, innovation meets generosity: bold plates showcase local flavours with flair, while desserts bring sweetness to the journey’s finale. Dining at Flora’s is to experience the East Coast’s adventurous spirit distilled onto the plate – a fitting end to a trip defined by discovery.
By the time the road unwinds, East Coast Tasmania has revealed itself as more than a destination. It is a feast of landscapes and flavours, a coastline of stories told through kitchens and cellars.
These restaurants, taverns and lounges are not just stops along the way; they are milestones of culture and craft, leaving behind the lingering taste of community, sea and the wild beauty of Tasmania’s east.
