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Great Eastern Drive: Orford to Bicheno, East Coast, Tasmania
Photo: Annette Teng · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives Tasmania, Australia The East Coast of Tasmania

Great Eastern Drive: Orford to Bicheno

Tasman Highway, A3 · Orford → Bicheno

Leisurely62 mi1 hr 25 min3,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 600 ftOne way
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The drive

The southern half of the Great Eastern Drive follows the Tasman Highway (A3) from Orford through Triabunna and Swansea to Bicheno. It is 99.9 km (62.1 mi) and takes about 1 hr 25 min. Driving north, the sea stays ahead and the Freycinet views build.

Swansea sits on the north-west shore of Great Oyster Bay and overlooks Freycinet National Park. British settlers arrived in 1821 and called the town Great Swanport, and it was the first municipality in Australia established after Hobart and Sydney. Much of this road is two lanes, in places running only meters from the Tasman Sea.

The drive ends at Bicheno, a fishing port and beach resort 43 km from Swansea. The Coles Bay Road turnoff to Freycinet National Park comes shortly before Bicheno.

Along the way

  1. Orford (Tasman Highway)
  2. Triabunna
  3. Swansea
  4. Bicheno (Tasman Highway)
Elevation
3,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 600 ft
OrfordBicheno
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
OrfordBicheno
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Much of the road is two lanes with few overtaking opportunities, so be patient behind slower traffic.
  • Roadworks can cause delays, so check for current works.
  • Wildlife is on Tasmanian roads at dusk and at night.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Tasmania Police: community alerts and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Great Eastern Drive from Orford to Bicheno take?

The Great Eastern Drive from Orford to Bicheno is 62.1 miles (99.9 km) and takes about 1 hr 25 min.

Is the Great Eastern Drive twisty?

The Orford to Bicheno section is mostly gentle curves, sweeping bends and long straights along the Tasman Highway.

Where do you see Freycinet from the Great Eastern Drive?

Swansea, on the Tasman Highway, sits on the north-west shore of Great Oyster Bay and looks across to Freycinet National Park.

Where does the Great Eastern Drive start?

The Great Eastern Drive runs along the Tasman Highway (A3) between Orford and St Helens. This southern half starts in Orford and ends in Bicheno.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

All 15 drives in Tasmania, Australia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Great Eastern Drive: Orford to Bicheno, from Orford to Bicheno