Orford

Orford lies at the mouth of the Prosser River and brings together coast, outdoor activities and history. Popular swimming beaches are linked by a 2 km coastal walk. There is also a cliff walk with sea views, fishing opportunities at Prosser Bay and places where traces of the past can be discovered. When planning your holiday, you can weigh up whether beaches and walks, historic sites or activities such as golf and fishing should be the focus.

Coastal walks and time by the water

For a walk with sea views, the easy, 2 km cliff walk runs from East Shelly Beach to Spring Beach. Its length and the description of the route as easy give you a practical guide for planning your day, without requiring you to estimate a walking time. Separately, Orford’s popular swimming beaches are linked by a 2 km coastal walk. If you like to alternate between swimming and being active during your stay, these offer two good ways to enjoy a day on the coast: a beach visit and a walk along the coast.

Prosser Bay also offers something different. There are good fishing opportunities there. If you would like to include fishing in your trip, the bay is a relevant part of the local landscape; the coastal walks, by contrast, are especially appealing to those who want to explore Orford on foot and enjoy views of the sea. When choosing the focus of your holiday, you can decide whether you are more interested in time by the water, a walk or a fishing spot.

History along the cliff walk and the Prosser River

A 19th-century sandstone quarry is located along the cliff walk. The stone quarried there was used for Melbourne’s Law Courts. This connection makes the quarry a remarkable historic detail in the coastal landscape: it is not only about quarrying at the site, but also about the material’s connection to a well-known building in Melbourne.

Another trace of the past can be found on the northern bank of the Prosser River. The Convict Trail leads to the ruins of the Paradise Probation Station. Orford thus offers different ways to experience history: the sandstone quarry along the cliff walk and the ruins reached via the Convict Trail. If you are interested in a place’s history, both sites invite you to look beyond the coastal landscape and explore Orford’s past.

Tastings at Spring Beach

At Spring Bay Distillery’s Spring Beach location, tastings of three gins or three single malt whiskies are offered. This gives you a choice between two clearly defined tasting options. The beach tasting room also offers the premium whisky experience “Red Velvet”: it includes an extended tasting of single malt whisky from the library collection and a snack.

This experience is quite different from a walk or a visit to historic sites. Whisky enthusiasts can choose between a tasting of three single malt whiskies and the extended “Red Velvet” experience; gin enthusiasts also have a dedicated tasting option. This variety helps you plan your stay around the interests of the adults in your group, without every outing having to be the same kind of experience.

Golf and other destination pages

Orford Golf Club has a picturesque 9-hole course with gently undulating fairways and well-maintained greens. The course description will appeal to golf enthusiasts who would like to fit a round on a smaller course into their trip. Together with the fishing opportunities at Prosser Bay, golf adds to the options for travellers whose interests extend beyond beaches and walks.

When choosing a holiday rental in Orford, you can consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay: coastal walks and swimming beaches, historic sites, a tasting at Spring Beach, or golf and fishing. If you would also like to explore other places, you’ll find more destination pages here: Coningham, Hagley, Richmond, Hillwood, Buckland, Oatlands, Ellendale and Poatina.

For the overview of the wider trip: Tasmania.