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A SMALL SEASIDE TOWN ON BASS STRAIT
The Big Penguin, beachfront cafés and shops, and a coastal path west towards Preservation Bay.
Penguin Tasmania is a small seaside town on Tasmania’s North West coast, between Burnie and Ulverstone. It’s compact, walkable and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Along the foreshore, you’ll find penguin-shaped bins and bollards, the Tardis Book Exchange and, of course, one very large penguin.
Stop for the photograph, swap a holiday read and walk beside Bass Strait before crossing the road for cafés, independent shops and local food. Continue along the coastal pathway towards Preservation Bay, or use Penguin as a base for the Dial Range.
Standing three metres tall on the foreshore, the Big Penguin has welcomed visitors since 1975. It was created for the centenary of the town’s proclamation and has become one of Tasmania’s best-known roadside landmarks.
The statue is sometimes dressed for festivals, sporting events and special occasions. Take the photograph, then walk the surrounding foreshore, playground, beach and Tardis Book Exchange.
FOOD AND DRINK
Cross the road from the foreshore for coffee, baked goods, lunch or dinner. The centre…Cross the road from the foreshore for coffee, baked goods, lunch or dinner. The centre is compact, so choose as you wander. Settle in at Penguin Beer Co for locally brewed beer and food overlooking Bass Strait, or stop at one of the cafés, local grocers and small eateries along Main Road.
Find food and drink in Penguin →
SHOPS AND LOCAL FINDS
Browse the boutiques, gift shops and independent businesses, all within an easy walk of the…Browse the boutiques, gift shops and independent businesses, all within an easy walk of the beach. Pick up picnic supplies, clothing, homewares and locally made pieces, and call into the Penguin Visitor Information Centre. On Sundays, the Penguin Undercover Market on Arnold Street has stalls selling food, handcrafts, art and vintage finds.
See Penguin’s shops →
BEACH AND COASTAL PATHWAY
Walk or ride west from Penguin along the shared coastal pathway towards Preservation Bay. Choose…Walk or ride west from Penguin along the shared coastal pathway towards Preservation Bay. Choose a short walk beside the beach or continue further along the coast, past rocky shoreline, open water and small coastal communities. The route is exposed in some conditions, so carry a warm layer and take care at road and railway crossings.
LOCAL HISTORY
A self-guided trail connects 26 heritage sites around the town. Continue to Penguin General Cemetery,…A self-guided trail connects 26 heritage sites around the town. Continue to Penguin General Cemetery, where more than 1,800 burials and views across Bass Strait tell another side of the town’s story. A free audio tour shares the stories of some of the people buried here.
Follow the trails →Head from the coast
A short drive inland takes you from Penguin’s foreshore to tree-fern gullies, forest tracks and mountain views.
Walk the accessible boardwalk at Ferndene State Reserve, choose a summit walk or bring your bike for Penguin Mountain Bike Park and the longer Dial Range trails.
The Dial Range and surrounds guide has walking start points, riding information and ideas for going further inland.
In the late 1800s, various high value minerals were found in the area surrounding Penguin. This soon led to mining leases across this part of the coast and…
Mount Dial Walk is a walk in the Dial Range Reserves. 4-5 hours return, 8.2km. Grade 3. Mount Dial is located towards the centre of the Dial Range.…
Mount Montgomery is a walk in the Dial Range Reserves. 2 hours return, 5km return. Grade 3. The Dial Range is a distinctive feature of the landscape around…
Stay overnight for an evening meal by the sea and a slower morning around town. Another day gives you time for the coastal pathway or a walk or ride in the nearby Dial Range. Accommodation includes beachfront apartments, boutique hotel rooms, holiday homes and caravan parks. Book ahead during summer, school holidays and major events.
Gleneagle Tasmania luxury glamping accommodation is located at Riana in the heart of the North West region, close to the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, airports, the iconic Cradle…
Strategically located between Burnie and Devonport, and the iconic Cradle Mountain, Tarkine and Great Western Drive to Launceston, the 4-star Madsen offers stylish, waterfront accommodation at the pretty…
Penguin Beachfront Apartments is a complex of five fully self-contained apartments built in 2012 located directly opposite the beach. All apartments have large outdoor terraces, fully equipped kitchens,…
Getting to Penguin
Penguin Tasmania sits between Ulverstone and Burnie, about 30 km west of Devonport, with access from the Bass Highway. Take the signed turn-off into town or approach along the coastal road from neighbouring communities.
Once parked, the Big Penguin, foreshore, cafés and shops are close together and easy to walk.
Penguin Caravan Park has sites for caravans and motorhomes on the coast close to town. Check availability, facilities and site dimensions directly with the park, particularly if you’re towing a larger van.
Parking for long vehicles can be limited around the town centre, so set up first and walk where possible.
Council-managed short-stay camping is also available at Midway Beach near Sulphur Creek for eligible fully self-contained recreational vehicles. Permit and stay conditions apply. The area is not suitable for tents or vehicles without self-contained facilities.
There’s a free public RV dump point at Stubbs Point, Penguin. For larger supermarkets, vehicle services and a wider range of supplies, continue to Ulverstone or Burnie.
The area
Plot your way around Penguin and the coast - pin by pin. Filter the map by where to stay, what to see and where to eat.
Yes. Penguin combines a walkable seaside town with the Big Penguin, cafés, independent shops, beaches and a coastal pathway. It’s also a convenient base for the nearby Dial Range.
Penguin is best known for the Big Penguin on its foreshore. The town also features penguin-themed street details, beachfront cafés and shops, coastal walks and access to the Dial Range.
Allow two or three hours to walk the foreshore, photograph the Big Penguin, browse the shops and stop for something to eat. Stay overnight or allow a full day if you also want to walk or ride in the Dial Range.
The Big Penguin stands on the foreshore beside Main Road in central Penguin. It is close to the beach, playground, Tardis Book Exchange, cafés and shops.
About 30 km west of Devonport, via the Bass Highway.
No. The Big Penguin is an outdoor public landmark and can be visited free of charge at any time.
Not at a managed viewing site. Burnie has the Little Penguin Observation Centre, with guided viewing in season, so see our Burnie page for details.
Leave coastal nesting areas undisturbed and avoid bright lights around wildlife.
Yes. Follow the foreshore and shared coastal pathway towards Preservation Bay, or drive inland to Ferndene State Reserve and the longer walking tracks of the Dial Range.
Yes. Sections of the shared coastal pathway can be walked or cycled from Penguin towards Preservation Bay and neighbouring coastal communities. Some sections involve road or railway crossings, so follow signs and take care.
Yes. The Dial Range begins only a short drive inland from Penguin. Options range from the accessible Ferndene boardwalk to longer summit walks and mountain-bike trails.
Yes. Penguin Mountain Bike Park has purpose-built trails and skills features, while more demanding routes continue into the Dial Range. Check the trail map and current conditions before riding.
Yes. Penguin Caravan Park provides coastal accommodation close to town. Parking for long vehicle combinations can be limited in the centre, so set up first and walk where possible.
Yes, at approved locations in the wider Central Coast area, including Midway Beach near Sulphur Creek, for eligible fully self-contained recreational vehicles. Permits, fees, stay limits and closures may apply, so check current council information and onsite signs.
Penguin Visitor Information Centre is located on Main Road in the town centre. It provides maps, local advice and information about Penguin, the Dial Range and the wider Central Coast.
Yes. Penguin Undercover Market operates on Sundays on Arnold Street, with stalls selling food, handcrafts, art and vintage finds.
Make it a trip
Tasting Trail Tasmania
Cheese, cider, whisky, berries and chocolate - straight from the makers. Plot your own self-drive food trail through the North West.
Explore the Tasting Trail
