Why Bicheno Was Named Australia’s Best Town in 2026
“This cosy, fireplace-equipped stay on the town’s Waubs Beach is the perfect home base.”
When Australian Traveller released its list of the “100 Best Aussie Towns”, one small coastal destination on Tasmania’s East Coast claimed the top spot. Bicheno was officially named Australia’s best town for 2026. In doing so, Bicheno ranked ahead of iconic destinations including Byron Bay, Port Douglas, Margaret River, Noosa and Daylesford.
Australian Traveller also described Bicheno as a destination where:
“Quintessential seaside vibes combine with a hub of bustling eateries, coffee stops, spas and more to make Bicheno the perfect place for an extended stay.”
For locals, however, the recognition felt inevitable. Because Bicheno is not just beautiful. It has personality, history and a rhythm of life that many Australian coastal towns have lost.
A Small Fishing Town That Never Lost Its Soul
Part of Bicheno’s charm comes from what it originally was. Long before it became one of Tasmania’s most sought-after holiday destinations, Bicheno was established as a small fishing and coastal trading town servicing Tasmania’s East Coast. Fishing boats, crayfish, timber, farming and maritime trade shaped the town’s identity for generations. Unlike many Australian beach destinations that later became heavily commercialised, Bicheno largely grew around its coastline rather than replacing it. That history still shapes the town today.
You still see:
fishing boats returning to shore
locals chatting outside cafés
weatherboard beach houses
families walking to the beach barefoot
and a pace of life that feels slower and more connected to nature.
Despite now being recognised nationally, Bicheno still has a permanent population of only around 1,000 people. That smaller scale is a huge part of the atmosphere visitors notice immediately.
“A Town That Punches Well Above Its Weight”
Australian Traveller described Bicheno as:
“A town that punches well above its weight.”
And the travel experiences of guests genuinely support that. Despite its size, Bicheno sits at the centre of one of Australia’s most experience-rich coastal regions. Bicheno also sits almost perfectly between Hobart and Launceston, making it one of the most convenient bases for exploring Tasmania’s East Coast.
Within easy reach of town, visitors can access:
more than 20 East Coast wineries and cellar doors
whale watching lookouts
little penguin tours
national parks and conservation areas
some of Tasmania’s best coastal hikes
seafood restaurants
beaches, blowholes and granite coastline
and iconic destinations including Wineglass Bay and Bay of Fires
Australia’s Best Towns List
Bicheno topped Australian Traveller’s 2026 rankings ahead of some of Australia’s most famous tourism destinations. For many travellers, the surprise was not that Bicheno made the list. It was that such a small Tasmanian coastal town ranked above some of Australia’s biggest tourism icons.
The Top 20 included:
Bicheno
Port Douglas
Byron Bay
Port Fairy
Bowral
Broome
Willunga
Eagle Bay
Noosa
Beechworth
Lorne
Daylesford
St Helens
Yamba
Yulara
Bellingen
Stanley
Richmond
Kalbarri
Margaret River
Why People Are Falling in Love With Tasmania’s East Coast
One of the biggest reasons Bicheno is growing so rapidly in popularity is that travellers increasingly want experiences that feel genuine rather than over-produced. Locals often describe Bicheno as one of the last Australian beach towns where life still revolves around the ocean rather than tourism. Visitors notice that too. Guests staying at Cooinda on the Beach frequently mention how different the atmosphere feels compared to larger tourist destinations. That balance between nature, design and simplicity is becoming increasingly rare in Australian tourism.
One guest wrote:
“We watched dolphins from the deck while having breakfast.”
Another described their stay as:
“Penguins at night, whales offshore and wombats nearby. It felt uniquely Tasmanian.”
One visitor described Cooinda as:
“Luxury without losing the laid-back beach house feeling.”
The East Coast Wine Region Is Quietly Becoming World-Class
Another reason Bicheno continues to attract attention is its location within Tasmania’s rapidly growing East Coast wine region. The coastline stretching between Swansea and Freycinet now includes more than 20 wineries and cellar doors, with the region becoming internationally recognised for:
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Sparkling wines
and cool-climate wine production
For visitors, that means they can spend the morning hiking along the coast, the afternoon wine tasting and the evening watching penguins emerge beside the ocean. Few destinations in Australia combine those experiences so closely together.
Wildlife Is Part of Everyday Life Here
Unlike destinations where wildlife experiences feel packaged or commercialised, in Bicheno they are simply part of daily life. Locals regularly stop to watch whales migrating along the coastline during winter.
Penguins return to shore each evening.
Dolphins are often spotted offshore.
Wallabies and wombats appear around coastal edges and bushland nearby.
That closeness to nature changes the pace of the town itself. People slow down more here. And that may be the real reason Bicheno resonated so strongly with Australian Traveller’s judges.
Why Winter May Actually Be the Best Time to Visit
Although summer is the busiest season, many locals believe winter is when Bicheno feels most special. Guests staying at Cooinda on the Beach often mention how memorable winter feels beside the ocean.
The cooler months bring:
whale migration season
ideal hiking temperatures
quieter beaches
dramatic coastal scenery
fireplace evenings
outdoor sauna experiences
and slower, more immersive travel experiences
One review described it as:
“The perfect place to come back to after exploring the East Coast in winter.”
Another wrote:
“The sauna, fireplace and ocean views made us want to stay an extra week.”
To encourage more travellers to experience Tasmania’s East Coast during the cooler months, Cooinda on the Beach is currently offering complimentary access to its traditional sauna as part of its winter stay experience. After a day hiking coastal trails, spotting whales offshore or exploring nearby wineries, many guests return to Cooinda specifically for the warmth and slower pace winter brings. It is a very different kind of Tasmania holiday compared to summer. Quieter, calmer and often more memorable.
More Than Just Australia’s Best Town
Awards help put destinations on the map, but they rarely explain why people return. What makes Bicheno memorable is harder to measure. It is the feeling of walking directly onto the beach in the morning. Watching dolphins offshore while drinking coffee. Seeing penguins emerge at dusk. Returning from a coastal hike to a warm fire and ocean views. For locals, that rhythm is everyday life. For visitors, it is often what transforms a short Tasmania holiday into something far more memorable.