Tinderbox – Coast and Nature

Tinderbox can be viewed as a destination for a stay with two main focuses: coastal places and the underwater world on the one hand, and trails and natural areas on land on the other. The first includes the Tinderbox Marine Reserve and Tinderbox Beach; on land, the Tinderbox Hills Track and Peter Murrell Reserves provide specific points of interest. You can plan your trip around beach activities, snorkelling or a route through bushland.

Coast and Marine Reserve

The Tinderbox Marine Reserve extends approximately 700 metres southwest of Tinderbox Beach; from Tinderbox Beach, it stretches eastward around Piersons Point to a point 2.5 kilometres north of Passage Point. The reserve’s main entrance is in Tinderbox Bay and can be reached via Fergusson Avenue, off Tinderbox Road. The area is fully protected and designated as a no-take zone.

Tinderbox Bay has snorkelling spots around sandstone reefs, as well as shallow reefs and channels. Divers can explore giant kelp forests near the northern end of the reserve; communities of sponges, sea pens, sea fans and gorgonians are found at Piersons Point.

Beach and Water Activities

Tinderbox Beach is a popular place for swimming, snorkelling and boating. The small sandy beach and rock platforms offer a sheltered place to relax and explore the Channel. At the beach, the shoreline and recreational activities shape your visit, while the Marine Reserve is defined by reefs and underwater habitats.

Trails and Natural Areas

The Tinderbox Hills Track follows a ridge through open bushland and offers views across Storm Bay and North West Bay. The 4.5-kilometre track takes 1.5 hours to reach Mt Louis Road and is accessible to walkers and mountain bikers. For planning, the route offers a specific combination of distance, time and destination; views across the two bays give it a distinctive landscape character.

Tinderbox is also part of the Peter Murrell Reserves area. The reserves protect forest, buttongrass and heath communities and are home to 37 orchid species, five of which are endemic to Tasmania. Sandy tracks in the reserves offer opportunities for walking, dog walking, cycling and horse riding; designated tracks are available for horse riding. This area thus combines protected vegetation with tracks for a range of activities.

On the Tinderbox Peninsula, in the wider region, there is important white gum forest that is critical habitat for the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. There is a BBQ facility at Tinderbox Foreshore Reserve.

A Focus for Your Stay

This distinction connects your choice of hotel with the local themes that matter for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Glengarry, Kettering, Cradoc, Ulverstone, Beaconsfield, Copping, Gravelly Beach, South Arm Peninsula

For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.