Pickleball is Here!
What started as a new community activity just last year has quickly become one of the Tasman Peninsula’s favourite ways to stay active, meet new people and have a bit of fun.
In 2025, local resident Mary Downie secured funding through the Nubeena CWA and Tasman Council to introduce pickleball to the Tasman Peninsula. The grant covered everything needed to get the program off the ground — paddles, balls, nets, court equipment, venue hire and even coaching sessions with experienced Australian pickleball players who taught locals the rules of the game and shared a few expert tips along the way.
The program was sustained through the support of the Nubeena Tennis Club, which welcomed pickleball under its insurance and governance, together with a dedicated team of local volunteers who helped bring the idea to life.
Did You Know?
Despite the rumours, pickleball probably wasn’t named after a dog called Pickles.
According to the sport’s founders, the name actually comes from the rowing term “pickle boat” — a crew made up of leftover rowers from different teams. Much like pickleball itself, it was a fun mix of different influences brought together to create something new.
Before long, players were bringing along friends, partners and neighbours, and word of mouth quickly spread across the Peninsula.
Pickleball began weekly in the Tasman Civic Centre and quickly increased to a few times per week attracting 20–30 players of all ages. Saturday mornings offer a free come-and-try session and regular players contribute a fee towards hall hire, helping keep the sessions running and accessible for everyone.
The demand has continued to grow and thanks to further grant funding secured by volunteers, additional pickleball sessions have recently been introduced at Taranna Hall, giving even more locals the chance to join in.
If you haven’t heard of pickleball before, it’s often described as a mix between tennis, badminton and table tennis. The rules are simple, games are quick, and beginners can usually jump in after just a few minutes.
Many players also find pickleball a little gentler on the body than tennis. The smaller court means less running, making it an accessible option for people looking to stay active without the physical demands of some traditional racquet sports.
Although pickleball players will agree that warm-ups are still essential! 😉
More Than Just Exercise
What many locals enjoy most, however, isn’t the competition — it’s the fun atmosphere.
Unlike tennis, players stand much closer together, making conversation, encouragement and plenty of laughter part of the game. It’s not unusual to see people arriving early for a chat or staying behind afterwards to catch up over a cup of tea.
Behind the scenes, a team of volunteer coordinators and the Nubeena Tennis Club committee help keep everything running smoothly. From organising weekly sessions to hosting social events such as the club’s anniversary barbecue, their efforts have helped create a welcoming community that extends well beyond the court.
The club has also introduced school holiday sessions, giving children and teens the chance to enjoy an hour of tennis followed by an hour of pickleball — a fun way to encourage the next generation to get active.
One of pickleball’s greatest strengths is that people of different ages and skill levels can play together. Grandparents, parents, teenagers and complete beginners can all find themselves sharing a court, making it a rare sport that genuinely brings generations together.
For many people on the Tasman Peninsula, weekly pickleball has become about more than just sport. It’s a welcoming space to stay active, make new friends and feel connected to the community.
And judging by its growing popularity, it looks like pickleball is here to stay.
Keen To Give Pickleball A Go?
New players are always welcome! Whether you’ve never picked up a paddle before or you’re looking to get back out on the court, come along and give pickleball a try. Weekly sessions are open to all ages and abilities.
For session times and bookings, visit: Pickleball Bookings