Campers and residents near a tourist hotspot on Tasmania's east coast have been ordered to seek shelter as a bushfire rages out of control.
Authorities first issued an emergency warning about 3pm on Tuesday for people to leave the Coles Bay Rd area at Friendly Beaches if safe to do so.
That warning was upgraded to a seek shelter message shortly before 8pm.
Tasmania Fire Service acting regional chief Greg Butters said the town of Coles Bay itself was not under immediate threat but vigilance should be maintained.
Aircraft and ground crew were fighting the blaze with strong winds expected to peak later on Tuesday, before reducing in the early hours of Wednesday.
“Anyone in the Friendly Beaches area who has not evacuated should leave immediately to a nearby safer place," he said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The fire was about 20km north of the entrance to the picturesque Freycinet National Park.
Swanwick and Coles Bay remained under a "watch and act" alert, with people told to avoid the area.
Guests and staff at nearby Freycinet Resort have evacuated, while people have gathered at the designated Coles Bay boat ramp "safe place".
Kristen Floyd from the Devils Corner Winery at Apslawn told the ABC the area had been blanketed by thick smoke.
"It's quite windy here as well which is making it a lot scarier," she said.
Police have closed Coles Bay Rd from the Tasman Highway to Swanwick Rd.
An evacuation centre has been set up at Swansea Town Hall for people who cannot return home via Coles Bay Rd.
