Orford

• Summary
• Weather for Orford

In 1825 the hamlet of Orford was settled as a whaling station and local garrison for the penal settlement on Maria Island.

The township lies at the mouth of the Prosser River at the end of Paradise Gorge. It is just 80 kilometres north of Hobart, and has a small population of about 500 permanent residents. The influx of visitors over the summer months swells the population to over 3,000.

There are number of great swimming beaches close to the town, including Raspins, Shelley and Spring beach. Orford is also the springboard for Maria Island national park and the surrounding marine reserve. The larger nearby township of Triabunna is the main port in the area as well as the ferry service operating to and from Maria Island.

Orford is a popular fishing destination, with Prosser Bay, the Mercury Passage, and the clean ocean waters off Maria Island yielding a bounty of fresh seafood such as flathead, abalone and crayfish. An artificial reef and dive site was created from the scuttling of a 590 tonne ship in the Mercury Passage. This has bolstered the area's reputation as a premier location for scuba diving.