Tasmania location profile
Penguin TAS 7316
Penguin is a charming coastal town on Tasmania’s north-west coast known for its seaside esplanade, cafes, and the iconic Big Penguin statue. It offers a relaxed, community-focused lifestyle with easy access to beaches, bushwalking in the Dial Range, and nearby regional centres.
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Why families consider Penguin
Laid-back beachside community popular with families, retirees, and sea-changers, with many residents commuting to Burnie, Ulverstone or Devonport. Heritage streetscapes, weekend markets, and active sporting clubs underscore a friendly, small-town feel.
Amenities & services
- Main Road village shopping strip (grocer/IGA, boutiques, cafes)
- Penguin Medical Centre; pharmacies; North West Regional Hospital in Burnie nearby
- Seafront cafes, bakeries, pubs and fish-and-chip shops along the foreshore
- Ulverstone Library (Ulverstone)
- Burnie Library (Burnie)
- Devonport Library – paranaple centre (Devonport)
Transport & connectivity
- No passenger rail (freight line only)
- Intercity/regional buses along the coast (Kinetic/Redline, Tassielink) connecting Burnie–Penguin–Ulverstone–Devonport
- Bass Highway (A2) nearby; Penguin Road and Preservation Drive provide local coastal access
Lifestyle & recreation
- Beaches and foreshore walkway (Penguin Foreshore, Johnsons Beach)
- Dial Range bushwalking and mountain bike trails
- Dial Sports Complex and Penguin Recreation Ground (AFL, netball, cricket, BMX)
- Penguin Golf Club (9-hole) and skate park
- Community markets and coastal events
- Hiscutt Park
- Penguin Foreshore Reserve
- Ferndene State Reserve (Dial Range)
- Mount Montgomery State Reserve
- Johnson’s Beach foreshore
Education context
Limited local long day care and family day care options in town; broader availability in nearby Ulverstone and Burnie.
- University of Tasmania – Cradle Coast Campus (West Park, Burnie)
- UTAS Rural Clinical School (North West Regional Hospital precinct, Burnie)
- University of Tasmania – Newnham Campus (Launceston)