Burnie: Coast, Culture and Whisky

Burnie combines impressive coastal views with wildlife watching, architecture and whisky experiences. From the Wilf Campbell Upper Burnie Lookout, also known locally as Upper Burnie Lookout, panoramic views stretch along the coast from Burnie Harbour and the central business district to Round Hill. If you’d like to combine different holiday interests, you’ll find walking paths, collections and exhibitions as well as the coast.

Coast and little penguins

At West Beach, beach volleyball nets stand in front of the Surf Life Saving Club. During the summer months, the Burnie Volleyball Association holds competition games there. The beach is also connected to the habitat of little penguins: a walkway leads to the habitat at the western end of West Beach. The Little Penguin Observation Centre is also located at Parsonage Point. From 1 October to 31 March, volunteers from Friends of Burnie Penguins offer free guided tours there every evening at dusk. These seasonal dates give your planning a specific timeframe; the tour is one way to learn about little penguins.

Trails through park and nature

In Burnie Park, a short walking path leads from a duck-filled pond to Oldaker Falls. The park is also home to the Burnie Inn, Burnie’s oldest colonial-era building. Here, nature and a piece of local architectural history come together in the same park, without requiring a long hike.

If you’re looking for different ways to get active, you can explore other options: View Road Reserve has walking paths, a pump track, mountain biking trails and bike paths. Romaine Reserve is part of a walking and boardwalk trail that loops around Burnie, and can also be used for cycling. At Fern Glade Reserve, a path runs along the riverbank; from there, you can spot platypuses in their natural habitat. Each place has its own focus—from the pump track and cycling to wildlife watching by the river.

Architecture, museum and exhibitions

Burnie’s streets have a remarkable concentration of Art Deco architecture. The self-guided Federation Walk introduces buildings in the town centre and nearby residential areas, with a focus on significant Federation-era domestic and civic architecture. This lets you explore different architectural influences rather than reducing Burnie’s building history to a single style.

The pioneer village collections at the Burnie Regional Museum represent the history of Burnie and the surrounding North West region. Each year, the Burnie Regional Art Gallery presents an exhibition program featuring travelling exhibitions, special exhibitions, school and community programs, and curated displays from its permanent art and museum-related collections. The Makers Technology and Innovation Hub complements these interests with technology demonstrations and community events.

Whisky experiences

Hellyers Road Distillery offers behind-the-scenes tours, as well as whisky flights and tastings straight from the cask. Launched in 2026, the Distillers’ Choice experience lets whisky lovers taste and hand-bottle their own 500 ml single malt whisky using the historic Copper Dog system.

More destinations

More destinations: Naracoopa, Port Latta, Sorell, Prospect Vale, Quamby Brook, Fentonbury, Dover, Bicheno.

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