Low Head is five kilometres north of George Town on the north coast of Tasmania. Located on the eastern side of the Tamar River, this small town is home to Australia's oldest continuously operating pilot station – est 1805.
The original 1847 Coxswain's Cottage now houses a Seafood Shack. In the adjacent 1835 convict-built Pilots Row, you'll find the renowned Maritime Museum with its 13 rooms of genuine artefacts on display. The remaining Pilot Station buildings and the Lightkeepers' Cottages offer heritage accommodation in these scenic locations.
Continue to the end of the road where convicts built Australia's third Lighthouse in 1833. It was replaced by the present iconic Low Head Lighthouse in 1888 and the views of the whole Tamar Valley and the northern coastline from here are superb. You can see Table Cape on a clear day! At noon, you can even experience the unique working Foghorn on Sundays.
There are two well-appointed caravan parks, and heritage and boutique accommodation to support this holiday destination where river and ocean beaches, jetties and pontoons cater for every type of water activity you can imagine, even surfing.
This is an ideal central base/destination to explore the coastal villages and the surrounding vineyards/wineries, distilleries and agricultural areas in the Pipers River Valley and the Hillwood/Mt Direction area and take in a nocturnal Penguin Tour.