Burnie is known for its vibrant artistic culture and breathtaking natural beauty, but there’s so much more to this small port city.
Once a major contributor to the paper mill industry, Burnie is now the home of many makers and creators. It is conveniently located between the Emu Valley and the Bass Strait, making it an ideal hub for exploration. This list of the best places to eat, drink and stay in Burnie will ensure you make the most of your next trip to this bustling coastal town.
Eat & Drink
The Chapel
Burnie’s busiest cafe is located in an 1890s Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, which was then sold to the Salvation Army in 1910 for $200, before being repurposed into a charming and well decorated cafe by owners Andrew and Lydia Turner in 2015.
At The Chapel, all coffee beans are single origin and roasted on site, with a rotating list of producers from some of the most famous coffee regions in the world. The food menu boasts all the breakfast and lunch classics, as well as some creative twists such as pulled pork eggs benny and beer-battered gummy shark with fries. There’s even a kids menu for the little ones!
In the evening, once the sun has well and truly set, this popular spot turns into a bar with live music from local performers. Around the corner, Communion Brewing Co supplies easy-drinking beers, and house-made cocktails are also available.
Liv Eat
Liv Eat is the chain proving that healthy eating can be fun. It offers a range of delicious and nutritious meals designed to suit an active lifestyle, including grab ‘n’ go salads, burritos, smoothies, warm bowls and more. Plus, there are plenty of mid-week lunch deals to keep costs down, making it a great spot for busy people who want to feel energised and sustained.
On hot days, try an iced mango matcha latte or a protein recovery smoothie, and bring your kids along for toasties and wraps as part of the dedicated kids menu.
Communion Brewing Co
This local watering hole serves all the best traditional pub meals infused with cross-cultural influences. Think pork belly bao, fried chicken burgers, Thai red curry and porterhouse steak – they have it all.
Communion Brewing Co also brews its own beer, attempting to capture the spirit of Burnie in every can. For every beer sold, it donates 100 litres of clean water to communities in developing countries through the organisation Charity: Water. So far, it has provided more than 5.4 million litres of water to people in need. The range of beers includes easy-drinking IPAs, coffee porters, crips lagers and local pale ale.
Throughout the week, the brewery hosts trivia, live music and food specials. On Thursdays, the Pub Run is a 40 minute run/walk along the foreshore that starts in the beer garden and finishes will Happy Hour drinks, free snacks and great community vibes.
Bayviews
If you’re looking for an elegant meal complete with oceanfront views, Bayviews is the place for you. This restaurant and lounge bar is owned and operated by married pair Kurt and Ann Wyss, offering a stunning ocean backdrop whether you’re dining in the restaurant, snacking on bar food in the lounge, or hosting a meeting in the Wave Room.
At Bayviews, the menu is curated from the best seasonal ingredients, with standout favourites like the Dukkah crusted pressed lamb shoulder and beef tartare eye fillet with parmesan and black pepper lavosh. For a taste of everything, you can opt for Head Chef Patrick Sherriff’s six or nine-course tasting menu. There is also a children’s menu for young ones under 14 dining with you.
Hellyers Road Distillery
First opened in the 1990s, Hellyers Road Distillery is Australia’s oldest operating whiskey distillery, founded by a group of dairy farmers who wanted to put a Tasmanian twist on traditional distilling methods. The distillery continues to produce its own wash for the single malt whisky, taking a hand-on approach to every stage of distilling. Many spirits are aged in French Oak Tasmanian Pinot Noir casks, combining Tassie’s fine Single Malt Whisky with famous Pinot Noir wine.
The distillery hosts around 35,000 visitors every year. On a fully-guided tour, you will wander through the distillery and bond store while learning about the history of whisky and sampling rare drops straight from the cask. You can even opt to pour, bottle and hand wax seal your own bottle of 20-year-old single malt whisky.
Stay
Amelias
This self-contained heritage house was built by one of the first Mayors of Burnie, Francis Tallack, as his personal estate, and has since been refurbished in the Queen Anne style. This means stained glass windows, fireplaces, and a ball and claw foot bath all carefully returned to their original quality.
Only a two minute walk from the town centre, Amelias boasts a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, and private veranda with water views. It can host up to six guests in three bedrooms, with access to all the modern facilities you could desire. Plus, guests are welcome to make use of the vegetable, fruit and herb garden and cook using Tasmania’s freshest local produce. You’ll find a full selection of breakfast provisions also tucked away in the kitchen, including bacon and free-range eggs.
Ikon Hotel
Ikon Hotel is a boutique accommodation that combines history with modern decor for the ultimate stay. It was originally built in 1912 by J.T.Alexander, a member of the famous Alexander family who pioneered the European colony at Table Cape.
The heritage-listed building has retained its original tower-like facade, with cast-iron valances and balustrades on the verandahs. However, the interior exudes elegance and style, with Italian imported leather furniture, large ensuite bathrooms and king beds. You can also make use of the laundry service, secure parking and balcony access with ocean and street views during your stay. Your room even comes will access to a local gym, and the friendly staff are happy to set up guided tours or recommend local attractions on request.
Burnie Ocean View Motel & Caravan Park
For budget friendly accomodation to suit the whole family, check out Burnie Ocean View Motel & Caravan Park. Here, they offer 1-2 bedroom motel units, spacious family cabins, backpacker bunkhouses, and powered and unpowered sites.
Every guest is invited to make use of the park facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, free barbecues, laundromats, a fully-equipped camp kitchen, free wifi, a guest lounge, and a small kiosk serving the essentials (an a few sweet treats).
Cooee Beach is just across the road from the park, perfect for cooling off in the summer heat and learning to surf.
Gleneagle
A short 20 minute drive from Burnie, you will come across a 46 hectare property known for its luxury accommodation and stellar service. This adults only dome accommodation is set within a thriving eucalyptus forest, and is perfect when travelling solo or as a couple.
Each dome provides views of the surrounding lake, access to a private outdoor bath, a giant king-sized bed and a fully-stocked fridge with locally produced drinks. The land is home to more than 50 bird species, echidna, platypus, giant freshwater crayfish, Tasmanian devils and more.
Here, the picture-perfect natural backdrop is the ideal place to help you unwind and escape the hustle of the city. The Devil’s Den dining room features a roaring fireplace and selection of the finest Tasmanian wines and spirits in an Honesty Bar (where you’ll fill out a self-recorded docket and present it at check out). Breakfast is delivered to the Den each day, with fresh eggs, spreads and more to cook over the wood heater, while dinner is an indulgent seasonal produce platter with a barbecue pack and matching fresh produce which can be enjoyed in the dining room with the other guests, or delivered to your dome.
To discover the best day trips from Burnie, click here.
