Holiday houses in Kingston Beach

Just a fifteen-minute drive from Hobart — the buzzing capital of the island state of Tasmania — Kingston Beach is home to the main swimming beach south of the city and a slew of beachfront cafes for laid-back brunching in the Aussie sunshine. Popular with families, the beach is patrolled at busy times of the year and stretches for a kilometre, from the mouth of the Browns River to the rocks at Boronia Point.

During warmer months, Kingston Beach is a popular spot for relaxing under an umbrella on the sand, swimming, and surfing — take to the shoreline’s beach swings for a sunset to remember. The Alum Cliffs Track is a popular bushwalk that runs for six kilometres to and from Kingston Beach through lush, fern-filled gullies and towering bushland. The Australian Antarctic Division Headquarters showcases photographs and exhibits from historic expeditions, while sea dragons can be spotted in the sparkling, shallow waters of Boronia Beach.

Summer is usually the busiest time here, especially over the school holidays, and this is the best time to enjoy the beach. You’ll enjoy generally mild temperatures and rarely will the weather get overly hot and humid. Spring and autumn are very pleasant times to visit. These seasons are less crowded and ideal for exploring the town’s historic sights or going on picnics or bushwalks. Winter becomes quite cold in Kingston Beach, and it can sometimes snow — although seeing a sprinkling of snow on top of the sandy beach is a sight in itself. Major local events include the Kingston Beach Fun Run each May and the three-day folk festival in Cygnet the second week of January, which brings visitors from all over Australia and beyond to nearby Huon Valley.

Scenic trails

This area of Tasmania is teeming with bush walks and tracks with picturesque views. A fairly flat paved path runs behind Kingston Beach and, for something a little more strenuous, you can take the Alum Cliffs Track loop along the coastline. You can also walk the Boronia Beach Track from Kingston Beach, which takes you to secluded Boronia Beach, an excellent snorkelling spot in warmer months.

Blackmans Bay Blowhole

At high tide, head to Blackmans Bay Blowhole, which is set among black gum trees on the northern end of nearby Blackmans Bay. When there’s a strong swell, look out for water spurting up through the small blowhole. You can also wind your way through Maryknoll Reserve on foot, and the drive around Blackmans Bay is quite spectacular in itself — sunset at the lookout at Piersons Point is striking.

Shot Tower

One of Kingston Beach’s main attractions is the 58-metre National Trust-listed Shot Tower, the only circular tower of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. This historic building was once used to produce ammunition and includes a furnace and a smelter. If you climb the wooden stairs to the top of the tower, you’ll also be rewarded with beautiful views of the coastline.