About Port Sorell
Port Sorell is a coastal town in north-west Tasmania within the Latrobe Council area, located on the Rubicon Estuary where it meets Bass Strait, about 20 km east of Devonport. It is notable for its sheltered sandy beaches, estuary and foreshore reserves. The town serves as a seaside holiday destination offering swimming, boating, fishing and birdwatching, with views to Narawntapu National Park and nearby Hawley Beach.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a quiet coastal town with sheltered sandy beaches, a tidal estuary and foreshore parklands. The main beach and Hawley Beach offer shallow water for swimming and wading, while the Rubicon Estuary provides boat ramps, jetties and fishing spots. Foreshore reserves have barbecue areas, playgrounds and walking paths. The setting is low-key and family-oriented, with views across Anderson Bay and Bass Strait and access to nearby nature reserves.
Key highlights
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Sheltered sandy beaches at Port Sorell and Hawley Beach on Bass Strait
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Rubicon Estuary for boating, kayaking and fishing
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Foreshore reserves and parks with barbecue and picnic facilities
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Views across Anderson Bay to Narawntapu National Park
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Birdwatching and walking along estuary and coastal tracks
History of Port Sorell
Port Sorell was identified as a potential port in the early 1820s and named after Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell (1817-1824). It was surveyed as a town in 1822 and developed as a small port and fishing settlement on the Rubicon Estuary, later becoming a seaside holiday township in the Latrobe municipality.
Culture & Context
Port Sorell is a long-established seaside holiday town for north-west Tasmania, valued for its coastal recreation, estuary fishing culture and community foreshore reserves. It forms part of the Rubicon Estuary area which is significant for local recreation and nature-based tourism.
Route
| By air | Fly to Devonport Airport (approx. 20 km west) or Launceston Airport (approx. 75 km southeast), then drive to Port Sorell. |
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