Dunalley sits at East Bay Neck, where the Denison Canal cuts a navigable passage between Blackman Bay and Dunalley Bay. The town is both a service stop on the Arthur Highway and a working waterfront community.
Watch the canal operate
The canal opened in 1905 to shorten small-vessel journeys between Hobart and the east coast. Its swing bridge carries the highway and opens for marine traffic under operating procedures. Follow traffic controls and never enter restricted jetty or bridge work areas.
Use the waterfront carefully
Jetties, ramps and moorings are working marine facilities. Keep loading areas clear and check Marine and Safety Tasmania information before launching. Shorebirds use low beaches and tidal edges, so give nesting and feeding birds distance and follow dog restrictions.
Build in a practical stop
Fuel, food and opening hours can change. Confirm essential services before leaving Sorell, especially early or late in the day. The 2013 bushfire remains an important part of local memory, and visitors should treat fire history and private losses with care.
From here the highway continues through Eaglehawk Neck to the Tasman Peninsula. Copping and the east-coast junction lie to the north.