Penguin

It’s not hard to guess the star attraction in the pretty seaside town of Penguin.

Sitting on the edge of Bass Strait, Penguin does indeed take its name from a nearby rookery, where you can see little penguins return from the sea each night. It's obvious the town is proud of its residents: there's a 3m-high “giant penguin” for photo opportunities, penguins featured artistically on rubbish bins, and other penguin signage scattered about.

But here you’ll also find great accommodation with expansive seaside views, a good selection of eateries and on Sundays the Penguin Undercover Market with stalls selling food and wine, handcrafts, art, vintage treasures and more.

This stretch of the Old Bass Highway is a scenic drive with sweeping ocean views, great picnic spots and fine beaches for seaside walks.

Where

Penguin is a 15min drive (18km) east of Burnie and an 90min drive (131km) north-west of Launceston.

INSIDER TIPS

• Look for the QR codes and walk the Penguin Heritage Trail to 26 historic sites, including the 1903 Uniting church and the heritage-listed Penguin General Cemetery. 
• It’s a 10min drive to Mount Montgomery in the Dial Range, for stunning views across Penguin and the coastline. 
• Take your wheels to Penguin Mountain Bike Park, with 6km of trails, jumps and wall rides. It’s a good starting point for the Dial Range’s more challenging trails.