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Major city · Australia

Burnie

Give Burnie one night as a Bass Highway stop between Devonport and Stanley, or two if you want Cradle Mountain as a day trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Nov–Apr (warm, long evenings, penguins present Oct–Mar)
avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cold, 13–14 °C days; penguin viewing closed)
Airports
BWT · DPO · LST
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Burnie is Tasmania's fourth-largest city, a working deep-water port on the north-west coast with a compact centre, north-facing beaches and a foreshore boardwalk where little penguins come ashore at dusk from October to March. It is a practical overnight stop on the Bass Highway, about 40 minutes west of the Spirit of Tasmania terminal at Devonport, and a base for Cradle Mountain, Stanley and the Tarkine. The city itself needs half a day, not three.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Burnie, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Sit-down mealPub main courseA$25–38 (≈ US$17–25)
  • BeerDraught beer, 570 mlA$9–13 (≈ US$6–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, 5 kmA$18–25 (≈ US$12–17)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro Tasmania single bus fareabout A$8 (≈ US$6)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$15–35 (≈ US$10–25)
  • Budget bedCaravan-park cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomA$130 (≈ US$90)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or pub double room, a night, per roomA$170 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel or pub double room, a night, per roomA$280 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$100 (≈ US$70) · Mid A$180 (≈ US$120) · High A$320 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Little penguin viewing at Parsonage PointWorking port and foreshore redevelopmentHellyers Road DistilleryGateway to Cradle Mountain and Stanley
Airports
BWT Burnie Airport (Wynyard) (About 15 km west of Burnie; Qantas and Rex flights from Melbourne; rental cars, taxis and a shuttle to Burnie (check current operators)) · DPO Devonport Airport (About 60 km east; alternative if BWT flights do not suit) · LST Launceston Airport (About 150 km east; about 2 h by car)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Burnie: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C

12°C

8 rd

Feb

21°C

12°C

7 rd

Mar

20°C

11°C

9 rd

Apr

17°C

9°C

11 rd

May

15°C

7°C

13 rd

Jun

13°C

5°C

14 rd

Jul

13°C

5°C

15 rd

Aug

14°C

5°C

15 rd

Sep

15°C

6°C

14 rd

Oct

17°C

7°C

12 rd

Nov

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Dec

20°C

11°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable: CBD to the foreshore is about 10 minutes on foot. Metro Tasmania buses run local routes and to Wynyard, Somerset, Penguin and Ulverstone; single fares are around A$8. A car is the practical choice for Cradle Mountain, Stanley, Guide Falls and Fernglade.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Stanley and The Nutgo

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Bass Highway west via Wynyard, about 1 h by car

Half day for the chairlift or the walk up The Nut, plus the town's colonial streets.

Cradle Mountain

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h each way

B18 south via Ridgley and the C132, about 1 h 30 min by car

Doable as a long day, but better as an overnight; park entry fee and shuttle apply.

Devonport

go

Door to door: About 40–60 min

Bass Highway east, about 40 min by car; Redline coach about 1 h

Spirit of Tasmania terminal; useful if you are catching the ferry.

Wynyard

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Bass Highway west, about 20 min by car; Metro Tasmania bus

Airport town with a small museum and the Table Cape tulip farm in spring.

Queenstown and the west coastovernight

Door to door: About 2.5–3 h

A10/Murchison Highway south via Tullah, about 2 h 30 min

Too far to return the same day; link it with Strahan.

Tullah

caution

Door to door: About 1.25 h

A10 south, about 1 h 15 min by car

Small lakeside stop; only worth it if you are heading to the west coast.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

CBD and Wilson Street

Walk to cafés, the museum and the foreshore; best for one night without a car.

Foreshore and West Beach

Beachfront motels and the surf club; 10–15 min walk to the centre.

Somerset (7 km west)

Caravan park and beachside cabins; needs a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–230 (≈ US$100–160) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or pub double room1 × 1 night × A$170A$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$180A$360
Car hire, one day, small car1 × A$90A$90
Metro Tasmania single bus fare2 × A$8A$16
Cradle Mountain park entry, per vehicle, one day1 × A$45A$45
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20A$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$72
Trip total≈ A$397 per person per day, bed includedA$793≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Fish and chips at the foreshoreA$18–28 (≈ US$12–19)
Pub main courseA$25–38 (≈ US$17–25)
Draught beer, 570 mlA$9–13 (≈ US$6–9)
Metro Tasmania single bus fareabout A$8 (≈ US$6)
Taxi, 5 kmA$18–25 (≈ US$12–17)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$15–35 (≈ US$10–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Burnie is a small, low-crime city and safe to walk by day; the real risks are wildlife on the roads at dusk, cold wet weather any month, and summer bushfire closures.
  • Penguin viewing is seasonal (roughly Oct–Mar) and weather-dependent: check the day's guide times before you walk out.
  • Wildlife is protected: no torches or flash on the penguins, keep your distance.
  • Distances on the west coast are long and wildlife crosses the road at dusk: avoid driving the Murchison Highway after dark.
  • Summer bushfire risk: check Tasmania Fire Service advice before any bush or national-park day.
  • Many kitchens stop serving by 20:30–21:00; eat early or check hours.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112
SES (storm and flood)
132 500

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BurnieBurnie

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112
  • SES (storm and flood)132 500

Embassy

No embassies in Burnie; consulates-general are in Melbourne and Sydney, and the nearest foreign consular offices for most countries are in Hobart or Melbourne.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Burnie Airport (Wynyard) → Burnie, shuttle: about A$20–30 (≈ US$14–20), about 20 min
  • Redline coach Burnie → Devonport: about A$13 (≈ US$9), about 1 h
  • Redline coach Burnie → Launceston: about A$40 (≈ US$30), about 2 h

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?

Tipping is not expected in Australia.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Burnie. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (warm, long evenings, penguins present Oct–Mar) · avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cold, 13–14 °C days; penguin viewing closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources