Region: City of Burnie
Situated on Emu Bay at the mouth of the Emu River, Burnie is Tasmania’s third largest city and port for the rich agricultural and mineral mining activities of the region. Burnie is a major deepwater port for the north of Tasmania, with two permanent container ships making daily crossings to Melbourne.
Burnie is very much a city in transition. Driven by the need to renew its economic base after the closure of major industrial workd, it is actively campaigning to bolster tourism, attract new investment and build the capacity of residents to develop businesses of their own. This move is appropriate and timely as Burnie makes a great base for exploring the region due to its central position and extensive facilties.
Best time to visit:
November to April is the peak season in Tasmania. Summer brings warm days and mild evenings from December to February, while winter can be stormy with snow on the mountain peaks between July and August. Rainfall occurs throughout the year. The weather is most stable from the end of summer to autumn (February to May).
Many towns in the region are planted with European deciduous trees which shed their leaves in Autumn (March to May). Their display of red and golden make the region particularly picturesque during these months.
How to get there:
By car, from Melbourne, take the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry overnight from Melbourne. A supplementary day travel services operates during summer months. drive from Devonport to Burnie.
From Launceston – drive to Burnie via Deloraine, taking Bass Highway via Midland Highway south from Launceston.
From Hobart: drive north via Midland Highway, following the signs to Devonport and Burnie before reaching Launceston.
By coach, Tassielink Coaches services all major centres throughout Tasmania. Bus service Metro Tasmania provides bus transport around the city and its suburbs.
Burnie Airport is a 20 minute drive from the City of Burnie and is the closest Tasmanian mainland facility serviced daily from Melbourne. Burnie Port is Tasmania’s largest general cargo port and Australia’s largest container port. It is the nearest Tasmanian port to Melbourne.
Things To See and Do:
Use the menu at the top of this page to find places of interest and things to see and do in this region. Alternatively, use the map below.
To operate the map menu, click on the arrow to the left of a category to see its sub-categories. Click the box of any attractions you would like more information about; flags will appear on the map for each item checked. Click the flag of any item for more information.
To close a category’s sub-menu after use, click on the down arrow to the left of the category name. Flags of items in that category which you have checked will also disappear from the map.
To remove the map menu while you are using the map, click the button at the bottom right of the map (it will have a minus sign in it) and the menu will disappear. To view the map menu again, simply click on the button again (this time it will have a plus sign in it) and the menu will re-appear.