Bicheno is a charming tiny fishing and holiday town on Tasmania’s east coast, close to the Bay of Fires, Freycinet National Park, and Douglas-Apsley National Park. It’s noted for its laid-back attitude, delicious seafood, amazing diving, and friendly butchers and bakers. A stop at the Bicheno Blowhole is a must on any trip to this beach town.
Directions to Bicheno Blowhole
Bicheno is a village on Tasmania’s east coast. The drive from Hobart to Bicheno is approximately 2.5 hours (182km), following the Tasman Highway up the coast.
The drive from Swansea to Bicheno only 45 minutes (50km) and St Helens to Bicheno 1 hour (72km). Launceston to Bicheno is a 2 hour (166km) drive, heading south on the Midlands Highway until Campbell Town, where you’ll head east along the Lake Leake Highway and join onto the Tasman Highway.
Once you reach Bicheno, follow the Tasman Highway which becomes the main street of Bicheno. Turn off into Douglas Street and park your vehicle where the street turns into the esplanade. On the water side of the road, walk for one minute and you’ll see the large rocks at the water’s edge, and water shooting up
Safety Precautions at Bicheno Blowhole
The blowhole is carved into a granite shelf that sits directly on the water’s edge. There is no fence to keep visitors away from the blowhole edge.
If you don’t want to get wet, don’t stand too close! Some people, on hot days in particular, will try and get wet but understandably it’s not for everyone.
It is recommended not to let young children get too close and to be careful on the rocks when it’s slippery.
Everything You Need to Know About Bicheno Blowhole
Tasmania is largely made of dolerite, an Australian rock, however the Bicheno Blowhole is made of granite. The ocean has beaten the granite for thousands of years, carving out a sea cave beneath the coast. The water, which was assaulting the cave’s interior with increasing intensity, located a weak area in the ceiling and used it to rip a hole in the granite. Now, water rushes into the cave, splatters against the walls, swells under increasing pressure, and erupts out the ceiling hole. For those standing on top of the sea cave, this provides a geyser effect.
With each surge of the ocean, the geyser bursts with changing force, and the water takes on new shapes. Even when the sea is calm, it can blow with enormous force, so never turn your back on the blowhole. When the ocean is angry, though, the most spectacular and dangerous eruptions occur.
Take a picnic and spend some time at this unique and amusing geological phenomenon, regardless of when you visit, before travelling to one of Bicheno’s lovely white sand beaches.
Nearby Attractions
Bicheno has many natural attractions to enjoy, such as the penguins, Devils in the Dark, glass boat tours where you can enjoy amazing stingrays, starfish, squid and seals. The Whalers Lookout and nearby beaches are also great to explore.