Waterfall Bay

Waterfall Bay is a coastal inlet on the Tasman Peninsula in southeastern Tasmania, Australia, located within Tasman National Park. It sits south of Eaglehawk Neck, the narrow isthmus that connects the peninsula to mainland Tasmania. The nearest major town is Port Arthur, roughly a 30-minute drive to the south.

The bay takes its name from a freshwater stream that cascades from the top of the surrounding dolerite sea cliffs directly into the ocean. After heavy rain the waterfall is more dramatic, though it typically runs year-round. The contrast of freshwater spilling into saltwater over columnar dolerite is a distinctive feature of the Tasman coastline.

Yes. Waterfall Bay is one of the marked stops on the Tasman Coastal Trail, a multi-day walking track that runs from Eaglehawk Neck south toward Port Arthur. Day walkers can also reach viewing points above the bay on shorter loops starting from the Waterfall Bay Road car park. The trail offers spectacular views of the dolerite cliffs of Tasman National Park.

The cliffs at Waterfall Bay are made of Jurassic dolerite, the same rock that forms many of Tasmania's iconic landscapes, including the Organ Pipes of Mount Wellington near Hobart. Some of these vertical sea cliffs are among the tallest in Australia, rising over 200 meters above the ocean. The columnar jointing in the dolerite is clearly visible from coastal walking tracks.