Port Sorell on the Rubicon Estuary

Port Sorell lies on the Rubicon Estuary and combines a beach-oriented character with waterfront trails, boating opportunities and a history as a holiday destination. There are different nature experiences to choose from when planning your trip: you can take a short, flat loop along the Panatana Rivulet, choose a longer out-and-back walk, or explore the Rubicon Beach Track through a waterfront reserve. Fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are also among the activities on offer. When choosing your holiday accommodation, consider which of these aspects of the town you want to shape your stay.

Estuary and Wader Habitat

The Rubicon Estuary is an important habitat for red-capped plovers and other waders. Because of its geographical importance to red-capped plovers, the estuary in the Port Sorell area is designated an Important Bird Area. Visitors interested in nature and bird habitats will find a distinctive feature of the local landscape here. The estuary also has anchorages for small-boat trips.

Walks along the Panatana Rivulet

For a manageable walk, you can follow an easy, flat 2 km loop along the southern bank of the Panatana Rivulet from Port Sorell, passing through a bird sanctuary. The stated distance and route type make this a clear choice if you are looking for a short loop rather than a longer out-and-back walk. The Panatana Rivulet Walk, by contrast, starts on the northern bank of the rivulet and is 4 km long, return trip included. The two walks differ in both their described route type and their length. The Rubicon Beach Track also passes through the Port Sorell Conservation Area, a waterfront reserve. This gives you the option of including walks through different landscapes in your days here.

Water activities and boating

Kayaking, bodyboarding and stand-up paddleboarding are popular activities in the beach-oriented community of Port Sorell. Anglers can cast their lines from the permanently installed floating pontoon on the Rubicon Estuary; the pontoon is also used to launch boats. If you are interested in sea fishing, this offers a specific place to start. Anchorages in the estuary add to the opportunities for small-boat trips. At low tide, walkers can go from Port Sorell to Penguin Island. The tidal conditions are an important part of planning this outing.

Panatana and the history of the holiday destination

The Punnilerpanner, a group of Aboriginal Tasmanians, call the Port Sorell area Panatana. After European settlement, Port Sorell became a fishing and sealing port called Burgess. From the 1920s onward, the town developed into a holiday destination. Alongside its present-day focus on the water, these chapters of its past give Port Sorell a distinct historical dimension.

Nature experiences in the surrounding area

Narawntapu National Park is located near Port Sorell. Its landscapes include long beaches, sheltered coves, wetlands, sand dunes and lagoons. The park offers camping, fishing and boating, as well as swimming, bushwalking and horse riding. A permit is required for horse riding. The range of options extends from activities on the water to trails through the bush. When planning your stay, you can weigh up whether to focus on walks in Port Sorell or on the landscapes and activities of the nearby park.

Port Sorell is a suitable destination for anyone looking to combine the estuary, waterfront trails and a range of water activities. When choosing holiday accommodation, it may therefore be important to consider whether you mainly want to explore the local walking trails and bird habitat or also make time for activities in the surrounding area.

More places to discover

More places: Camdale, Deloraine, Somerset, Penguin, Latrobe, Zeehan, Dover and Taranna.

For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.