The Freycinet Peninsula is a large

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...

located on the eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia. The peninsula is located north of Schouten Island and is contained within the

Freycinet National Park Freycinet National Park is a national park on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, 125 km northeast of Hobart. It occupies a large part of the Freycinet Peninsula, named after French navigator Louis de Freycinet, and Schouten Island. Foun ...

. The locality of Freycinet is in the local government area of Glamorgan–Spring Bay in the south-east region of Tasmania. The locality is about north-east of the town of

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

Features and location

The peninsula is a large, dramatic land formation carved into Tasmania's eastern coastline. Known for its pink granite mountain range,

The Hazards The Hazards are a mountain range located in the Freycinet National Park on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia. The range is positioned between Coles Bay and Wineglass Bay and are said to be named after local whaler, African-American Captain R ...

, and its sheltered, white sand beaches, the peninsula is the location for Freycinet National Park, the first

national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...

to be declared in Tasmania, along with

Mt Field National Park Mount Field National Park is a national park in Tasmania, Australia, 64 km northwest of Hobart, Australia, Hobart. The landscape ranges from eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland, rising to 1,434 metres (4,705 ft) at the ...

. Also on the peninsula is the village of Coles Bay, the Friendly Beaches Reserve, and Wineglass and

Honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase ...

bays. It covers an area of 65 square kilometres. Two sandpits connect the peninsula to the mainland. It is surrounded by Schouten Passage and Island on its southern tip and Oyster Bay on its western side.

Early history

The "Vanderlyn Island" was the last sighting of Australia by Abel Tasman in 1642 before turning east to New Zealand. The first landing by Europeans was by Captain Weatherhead of the transport ship on 27 July 1791. Due to the narrow northern isthmus, Weatherhead and Tasman mistook it for an island.

Nicholas Baudin Nicolas Thomas Baudin (; 17 February 1754 – 16 September 1803) was a French explorer, cartographer, naturalist and hydrographer, most notable for his explorations in Australia and the southern Pacific. Biography Early career Born a comm ...

named the peninsula after

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

explorer Louis de Freycinet. Baudin also named Cape Baudin, Cape Faure, Cape Forestier and Thouin Bay, although that bay is now known as Wineglass Bay. Shore-based bay whaling stations operated on the peninsula in the 1820s and 1830s at

Wineglass Bay Freycinet National Park is a national park on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, 125 km northeast of Hobart, Australia, Hobart. It occupies a large part of the Freycinet Peninsula, named after French navigator Louis de Freycinet, and Sc ...

, Refuge Bay, Bryans Beach and Coles Bay.

References

External links

Coles Bay Website
{{East Coast Tasmania , state=autocollapse Climbing areas of Australia Peninsulas of Tasmania Coastline of Tasmania Freycinet National Park Whaling stations in Australia Localities of Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council

Features and location

Early history

See also

References

Further reading

External links