Bicheno is a small fishing and holiday town on Tasmania's east coast, between St Helens and the Freycinet Peninsula. It is less polished than Coles Bay and quieter than the big-ticket national parks, which is part of the appeal. You come for granite, cold clear water, seafood, and little penguins returning after dark.
The town's sights are close together. The Bicheno Blowhole is an easy walk from the centre, and the coastal rocks around it are worth lingering over when the sea is up. At dusk, Bicheno Penguin Tours takes visitors to see little penguins come ashore without trampling the colony.
Bicheno also has a stronger wildlife and underwater side than many east-coast towns. East Coast Natureworld is useful if you want Tasmanian devils and native wildlife in one place, while Governor Island Marine Reserve is one of Tasmania's best-known temperate dive sites.
It works well as a slow overnight stop on the east coast drive. With a spare day, you can mix the blowhole, a beach walk, seafood, and either penguins or a dive without spending the whole day in the car.