Seekers Bar & Cafe Boat Harbour Beach

Seekers Bar & Cafe sits right on the sand at Boat Harbour Beach, and the deck looks straight out over what is arguably the best beach on Tasmania's north-west coast. Dogs are welcome on that deck, which is convenient, because the natural way to visit is a walk on the beach followed by breakfast with your dog still sandy.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor seating on the deck and under the umbrellas, on lead and well behaved, with table service out there. Water bowls are put out for visiting dogs in warm weather. Indoor dining is humans-only, so if a north-westerly is blowing hard, pick the most sheltered corner of the deck rather than expecting to move inside.

Worth knowing

The kitchen covers proper breakfasts (smashed avo, poached eggs, toasties) through to fresh Tasmanian seafood: calamari, scallops and a seafood chowder that earns its mentions. There is a vanilla slice for the drive-home decision. The beach itself is a dog-friendly stretch, though council rules apply and the on-lead and off-lead times change with the season, so read the signage at the access path before you unclip.

Getting there and parking

Boat Harbour Beach is off the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Stanley (7321), about 20 minutes west of Wynyard. Parking near the beach and the surf club fills early on summer weekends, so a morning arrival gets you both a spot and the best of the water. Hours run 8am to 3pm daily, though seasonal trading varies.

Close by with the dogs

The rocky headland walk at each end of the beach makes a good warm-up or cool-down. Back on the highway, Lemon Tree Providore in Wynyard is a dog-friendly coffee stop, and the off-lead sand at Somerset Dog Beach works as a leg-stretch on the drive from Burnie.

Find more dog friendly cafes in TAS at pawscapes.com.au/cafes/state/tas and plan the coast trip around Boat Harbour Beach.