Which Hobart beach is best for small children?

Kingston Beach is popular with families, with sand, grass and a playground nearby. Check the listing for facilities, and choose a calm day.

Are Hobart beaches patrolled?

Many are not, so there are no lifeguards or flags. Keep children close, stay in shallow water and check local signs for any hazards.

Is the water too cold to swim?

It is cold even in summer, so most families paddle or take a quick dip. Short, shallow time in the water is fine for most children, but watch for shivering.

Can we find rock pools around Hobart?

Yes, on rocky stretches of shoreline at low tide. Take care on wet rocks, wear shoes with grip and keep children close.

Free beaches and rock pools in Hobart

Hobart's beaches face the Derwent estuary and the bays that spread out from it, which makes them calm, shallow and cold. They are not surf beaches. They are places for wading, building, skimming stones and watching ships go by, and on the right day they are simply lovely. Kingston Beach to the south is a classic family spot with grass, a playground and a long sweep of sand. Bellerive Beach on the eastern shore looks back at the city, and Cremorne, Roches Beach at Lauderdale and Opossum Bay stretch along the open water towards the sea. Long Beach at Sandy Bay and Little Howrah Beach complete the list. Most of these beaches are not patrolled, so there is no flagged area and no lifeguard, and the water temperature is a good reason for keeping swims short or skipping them. What Hobart's beaches do well is the sandy, slow afternoon: a thermos, a picnic rug, a bucket and spade and a dog on a lead where allowed. Summer is the most comfortable season, with long evenings and gentler winds, but any clear day can be good if you wear a jumper. The wind can change fast, so be ready to pack up quickly. Check the listing for facilities, because a toilet block and a playground nearby make all the difference with small children.

Our picks

Kingston Beach Kingston Beach
Kingston Beach, 15 km south of Hobart, is patrolled by Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club from the first Saturday in December to the last weekend in March; swim…

Patrolled First Saturday in December – last weekend in March · All-abilities access
Little Howrah Beach Howrah
Little Howrah Beach is a small sheltered beach on the Derwent, separated from the main Howrah Beach by a small rocky spit.
Long Beach Sandy Bay
Long Beach in Sandy Bay sits beside Long Beach Reserve, a City of Hobart beachside park.
Opossum Bay Beach Opossum Bay
Opossum Bay Beach is usually sheltered from southern ocean swells by the rocky headland at its southern end, but can be exposed to some swells in stormy westerly…
Bellerive Beach Bellerive
Bellerive Beach is a Derwent River beach in Clarence that the council describes as having calm shores.

All-abilities access
Cremorne Beach Cremorne
Cremorne Beach faces east and, according to Clarence City Council, is sheltered from the southern swells and Tasmania's predominant south westerly winds.

Before you go

Best for which ages

Toddlers and pre-schoolers love the shallow, sandy edges for paddling and digging. Primary-age children enjoy shell hunting and rock pooling, and teens are happy to walk and talk. Swimming is for the strong and the brave, and children should always be within arm's reach near the water.

What to bring

Warm layers, even in summer, a windproof jacket and a hat. Towels, a change of clothes and a flask of something warm. Bring a bucket and spade, water shoes for rocky patches and a bag for sandy gear. A windbreak or tent is useful when the breeze picks up.

Parking and facilities

Many beaches have a car park, toilets and a nearby cafe or playground, but facilities differ from place to place. Kingston Beach and Bellerive tend to be busier on warm weekends. The listing says what each beach offers, so you can plan around it.

Best time of year

Summer is the warmest and most comfortable, with long evenings, though the water is still cold. Autumn is calm and golden. Winter and spring beaches are for brisk walks, stone skipping and wind-whipped photos rather than swimming. Check the tide and the wind before you leave, because both change the feel of a bay.

How to make a day of it

Pair a beach morning with a picnic in the park behind it, then go for a walk along the foreshore. At Bellerive, the foreshore trail links up with other outings, and a playground near the sand gives you a place to land after the wind drives you off.

Beaches, rock pools and ocean baths

Swim between the red and yellow flags. Patrol seasons and hours on each listing come from the surf club or council page.

Kingston Beach Kingston Beach
Kingston Beach, 15 km south of Hobart, is patrolled by Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club from the first Saturday in December to the last weekend in March; swim…

Patrolled First Saturday in December – last weekend in March · All-abilities access
Little Howrah Beach Howrah
Little Howrah Beach is a small sheltered beach on the Derwent, separated from the main Howrah Beach by a small rocky spit.
Long Beach Sandy Bay
Long Beach in Sandy Bay sits beside Long Beach Reserve, a City of Hobart beachside park.
Opossum Bay Beach Opossum Bay
Opossum Bay Beach is usually sheltered from southern ocean swells by the rocky headland at its southern end, but can be exposed to some swells in stormy westerly…
Bellerive Beach Bellerive
Bellerive Beach is a Derwent River beach in Clarence that the council describes as having calm shores.

All-abilities access
Cremorne Beach Cremorne
Cremorne Beach faces east and, according to Clarence City Council, is sheltered from the southern swells and Tasmania's predominant south westerly winds.
Roches Beach Lauderdale
Roches Beach at Lauderdale faces east and, according to Clarence City Council, is sheltered from southern swells and Tasmania's predominant south westerly winds.

All beaches and rock pools in Hobart, free and paid

Questions parents ask

Which Hobart beach is best for small children?: Kingston Beach is popular with families, with sand, grass and a playground nearby. Check the listing for facilities, and choose a calm day.
Are Hobart beaches patrolled?: Many are not, so there are no lifeguards or flags. Keep children close, stay in shallow water and check local signs for any hazards.
Is the water too cold to swim?: It is cold even in summer, so most families paddle or take a quick dip. Short, shallow time in the water is fine for most children, but watch for shivering.
Can we find rock pools around Hobart?: Yes, on rocky stretches of shoreline at low tide. Take care on wet rocks, wear shoes with grip and keep children close.