Stories from Freycinet: Where Wineglass Bay gets its name
It is an iconic Tassie destination – at first hidden between two red granite mountain ranges, then appearing dramatically as you crest the rocks – and it looks nothing at all like a wine glass!
It is a familiar crescent of sand, curling around shimmering ocean that changes from blue to green in the blink of an eye and framed by forested mountains.
You will find this beautiful spot on the eastern side of the Freycinet Peninsula – a spot named after two brothers on an expedition to map the southern coasts of mainland Australia and Van Diemen's Land with French explorer Nicholas Baudin in 1802.
Wineglass Bay is a spectacular display of nature and is well worth a visit, but the truth is this place has a dark history. So where does the stunning Wineglass Bay get its name?
Here’s a little hint, the name has nothing to do with the shape you see.
The Hazards – the granite mountain range located in the Freycinet National Park - gets its name from an American whaler, Richard Hazard. The name Wineglass Bay comes from the whaling industry too. In the early 1800s, there were whalers and sealers working and living in the area. The whalers would set out in small boats from the shore to chase and harpoon passing whales, before towing them back to shore to be butchered. Whenever this happened, the bay would turn red with blood, like red wine in a glass.
Shore-based whaling in this manner lasted about 20 years on the peninsula but now nature has reclaimed the bay, waiting for visitors to soak in its beauty. In 1916, Freycinet was declared a National Park, making it one of the oldest in Tasmania
You can spend all day (or multiple days) exploring the area and see if you can spot some of the 49 different plants and animals found here, including our furry echidnas, the Tasmanian Bettong, and the Long-nosed Potoroo!
One of the best ways to experience Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula is on a four-day guided walk. Not only will you get to take in those breath-taking views but you will get to know the area from a local’s perspective. With a guided walk, you will have to the chance to get off the beaten track and explore more of this stunning coastland. Beaches of powder white sand and spectacular pink granite mountains are just a fraction of the beauty you will enjoy.