Location: Eaglehawk Neck, Tasman Peninsula
Distance from: Hobart - 87 km, Launceston - 245 km, Devonport - 327 km
Tasmania is absolutely wild. Much of the island is set aside for natural protection giving rise to adventurous exploration. And there's no more adventurous way to explore the rugged wilds of Tasmania than in a hang glider. Adrenaline-seeking tourists take off from this perch high above Eaglehawk Neck and Pirates Bay.
You don't have to strap yourself to a hang glider to enjoy the view, but you'll still have to earn it. The drive up to the lookout is rather rough on an unpaved road featuring deep potholes. You'll need all-wheel drive and high clearance to get up the mountain, or you can just join a tour group and let them beat up their own vehicles.
If you've explored Tasmania a bit, you might feel lost at the lookout. Pirates Bay looks very similar to Wineglass Bay up on the Freycinet Peninsula. It's a beautifully shaped crescent bay with a streak of white sand making an exclamation point. At the tip end of the bay are the most visited attractions of the Tasman Peninsula: the Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen and the Blowhole. And it's all viewable from the lookout. It's an absolutely unique way to experience these attractions and it's recommended that you peek at them from the lookout before visiting them up close and personal. And, if you're really lucky, you'll be able to cheer on hang gliders as they ride the winds down to the soft, sandy beach below.
The drive up to this lookout is beautiful and harrowing. Eaglehawk Neck is a small strip of sand that connects the Tasman Peninsula to mainland Tasmania. At times, it's less than 100 metres wide. And in Eaglehawk Neck you can stop to see the Tessellated Pavement; a one-of-a-kind geographical formation.
Once past Eaglehawk Neck, take the Arthur Highway hugging the southern side of Eaglehawk Bay to turn left on Pirates Road. From here, it's 8 kilometres on a rough dirt road. Bear left onto Pirates Road at the first junction and then turn left onto Plateau Road. Ride Plateau Road to the end to find the Lookout. The end of Plateau Road is notoriously rough with deep potholes that may prove impassable for two-wheel drive vehicles. Feel free to stop the car and walk the rest of the way.
The drive from Hobart takes about an hour and a half over 87 kilometres. Launceston is a 3 hour and 18-minute drive spanning 245 kilometres. Devonport, Tasmania's north coast port city, sits 327 kilometres away clear across the island. That drive will take you about 4 hours.
It's a long, rough and windy dirt road that takes you to the lookout. Be sure to have high clearance and four-wheel-drive.
There are no guardrails at the lookout. Be careful at the edge and make sure to stay clear of hang gliders.
