Doo Town
For those who love a good shack town
Yes, there really is a place named Doo Town in Tasmania. Established in 1830s as a timber station at the southern end of Pirates Bay, it evolved into a collection of rickety fishing shacks. In 1935, a Hobart architect by the name of Eric Round hammered a name plate to his shack, stating ‘Doo I’. His neighbour, Charles Gibson replied with ‘Doo Me’ before Bill Eldridge chimed in with ‘Doo Us’. The trend caught hold and today, nearly every shack has some ‘Doo’ title proudly affixed.
Not only is the quirky town worth slowing down through, it boasts some fairly staggering views down the Tasman Peninsula. If you’re headed for Port Arthur Historic Site, be sure to allow extra time to explore the coastline’s rock formations and walks. In fact, it’s worth putting aside more than one day for this peninsula.
Allow over an hour to drive from Hobart to Doo Town. Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and the Blowhole are natural rock formations near the town as well as the Tessellated Pavement. If you’re up for a bushwalk, head to Waterfall Bay in the Tasman National Park or just kick off your shoes and enjoy the long, sandy beach near Doo Town.
Although the town does not have any facilities as such, the ‘Doolishus’ food van can usually be found at the Blowhole car park from September to April. If you like freshly caught fish served with hot chips, keep an eye out for ‘Doolishus’.
Highlights not to miss
