Tasmania · Attraction
Diamond Island Nature Reserve
Granite island, 200 penguin pairs
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Diamond Island is a 6.76-hectare granite outcrop lying roughly 200 metres off the Bicheno foreshore, accessible on foot via a sand spit at low tide and home to approximately 200 breeding pairs of little penguins. Classified as a nature reserve, the island is visible from the coastal walking track and offers one of the most accessible wild penguin encounters in Tasmania without the need for a guided tour. The surrounding waters also attract fur seals and a variety of seabirds.
When the tide drops and the sand spit emerges, visitors can walk across to the island and observe the dramatic granite landscape that gives the penguins such excellent burrowing habitat. Every evening at dusk the penguins come ashore in groups, waddling up the beach and disappearing into the tussock grass, a spectacle that can be watched from the beach near the Diamond Island Resort without any entry fee or booking required. The sooty oystercatcher and several other wader species also breed on the island.
The coastal walking trail from central Bicheno to Diamond Island passes the blowhole, Rocking Rock, and a series of granite headlands, making it a rewarding 20-to-30-minute flat stroll along the foreshore. Visitors should check tide times before attempting to cross to the island, and should not disturb nesting penguins or enter burrow areas. The nature reserve status means no dogs are permitted on the island at any time.
Scenic views
