Freycinet National Park is on the East Coast of Tasmania.
Freycinet National Park consists of knuckles of granite mountains all but surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park.
Freycinet National Park offers a wide variety of activities. Take a walk to the pass overlooking the perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay or try less strenuous activities like beach strolls, swimming or wildlife spotting.
Freycinet National Park is administered by the Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania.
Freycinet National Park was named after its first European visitor, Louis de Freycinet.
Freycinet has stunning scenery - from the peaks of the Hazards of Coles Bay to the wonderful crescent of Wineglass Bay, Freycinet is a fascinating and breathtaking experience - one not to be missed on a visit to Tasmania.
You will be sharing the park with wonderful flora and fauna
Feeding of animals in the park is strictly prohibited, and is unhealthy for the animals. Fines will be imposed if you are caught feeding animals. Rangers are on patrol around the park. You can report people feeding animals to the visitor centre.
The climate in Freycinet is like most of Tasmania - relatively cool all year round. As it is windy, bringing an umbrella is not practical. Be prepared for all kinds of weather.
You need a permit for all of Tasmania's national parks. They can be bought at the national park visitor centre at the park entrance, and there are several different options from a day pass for just this one national park to a pass that is valid for an entire year and includes all national parks of Tasmania.
The fees are shown below:
Daily Pass: up to 24 hours
Per vehicle (up to 8 people): $22
Per person: $11
Holiday Pass: up to 8 weeks
Per Vehicle (up to 8 people): $56
Per Person: $28
- Wineglass Bay has been voted by several travel magazines as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Located on the south-eastern side of the peninsula, the bay can only be reached by boat or by a 3-hour hike over hills from the car park.
If you do not wish to get to the beach, go to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. It is the same walk as the one which takes you to Wineglass Bay, but it is half the journey. Enjoy spectacular views and take postcard shots from there.
- The Hazards These spectacular mountains of pink granite welcome you as you enter the park.
Wineglass Bay has been voted by several travel magazines as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Located on the south-eastern side of the peninsula, the bay can only be reached by boat or by a 3-hour hike over hills from the car park.
The Hazards These spectacular mountains of pink granite welcome you as you enter the park.
Take the many walks at Freycinet. Be sure to wear proper walking shoes and have a good map. Here is a guide:
Short walks (under 2 hours return):
- Sleepy Bay
- Little Gravelly Beach
- Wineglass Bay Lookout, well formed, well signposted.
- Scenic Lookout, Friendly Beaches
- Saltwater Lagoon, Friendly Beaches
Medium walks (2-4 hours return):
- Wineglass Bay
- Mt Amos
Long walks (4-8 hours return):
- Wineglass Bay/Hazards Beach Circuit
- Hazards Beach
Be sure to check the weather before planning the walks. Besides these walks, there are other shorter walks, like 5-10 minute walks which are worth taking. Get more information at the Freycinet Visitor Centre.
Do take scenic drives around Freycinet. Here is a guide:
- Cape Tourville: The 6.4-km sealed road to Cape Tourville leaves from the main road just after the Freycinet Lodge. From the carpark, take the short, boardwalked track around the cliffline to the lighthouse. Along this fenced track are sweeping views along the coast.
- The Friendly Beaches: Spectacular views and miles of unspoiled white sand beaches are the main features of The Friendly Beaches, which were added to the national park in 1992. The beaches can be reached via a signposted turnoff on the Coles Bay Road. Facilities are being upgraded, which at present are only basic. Gravel roads lead to car parks overlooking the beaches at a couple of points. Some information signs point out interesting features and foot tracks lead to the beaches.
Do participate in water activities at Freycinet. Swim at Wineglass Bay, snorkel and dive at Sleepy Bay and Honeymoon Bay.
- Freycinet Experience Walk, walk@freycinet.com, +61 362237565. The Freycinet Experience Walk is a four-day journey along the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast which combines coastal and mountain walking. The walk will take you along deserted beaches, up pink granite monoliths and through the heart of the rich native heath lands of the Freycinet National park, including the iconic Wineglass Bay. The walk covers between 33 and 37 km depending on which walking option you choose. Regardless of choice you will travel from the southern tip to the north of the Freycinet Peninsula in a continuous journey and the best part is that because this bushwalk is lodge-based you don’t have to carry a heavy back pack. No-one except your fellow walkers and the four staff will be at the Friendly Beaches Lodge with you. Stays at the lodge include food and wine.
Cape Tourville: The 6.4-km sealed road to Cape Tourville leaves from the main road just after the Freycinet Lodge. From the carpark, take the short, boardwalked track around the cliffline to the lighthouse. Along this fenced track are sweeping views along the coast.
The Friendly Beaches: Spectacular views and miles of unspoiled white sand beaches are the main features of The Friendly Beaches, which were added to the national park in 1992. The beaches can be reached via a signposted turnoff on the Coles Bay Road. Facilities are being upgraded, which at present are only basic. Gravel roads lead to car parks overlooking the beaches at a couple of points. Some information signs point out interesting features and foot tracks lead to the beaches.
Freycinet Experience Walk, walk@freycinet.com, +61 362237565. The Freycinet Experience Walk is a four-day journey along the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast which combines coastal and mountain walking. The walk will take you along deserted beaches, up pink granite monoliths and through the heart of the rich native heath lands of the Freycinet National park, including the iconic Wineglass Bay. The walk covers between 33 and 37 km depending on which walking option you choose. Regardless of choice you will travel from the southern tip to the north of the Freycinet Peninsula in a continuous journey and the best part is that because this bushwalk is lodge-based you don’t have to carry a heavy back pack. No-one except your fellow walkers and the four staff will be at the Friendly Beaches Lodge with you. Stays at the lodge include food and wine.
Souvenirs can be bought at the Freycinet Visitor Centre. They are rather affordable, and you can find good stuff there.
- Oystercatcher Cafe: Affordable, delicious fresh local seafood and amazing coffee. The Oyster Catcher Cafe can be found at Coles Bay at the town centre, close to the post office and ATM. The best fish and chips in the Freycinet Peninsula.
Oystercatcher Cafe: Affordable, delicious fresh local seafood and amazing coffee. The Oyster Catcher Cafe can be found at Coles Bay at the town centre, close to the post office and ATM. The best fish and chips in the Freycinet Peninsula.
There is one pub in Freycinet, the Iluka Tavern in the town of Coles Bay which has a bottle shop as well.
- Bring sufficient water when going for walks. Temperature and weather can change drastically, and should be prepared to be caught in a thunderstorm when just minutes ago it was bright and sunny.
- Bring raincoats, energy bars and some candy on the longer walks. Anything can happen and you find yourself stranded. Bring basic first aid equipment - some of the walks in Freycinet involve climbing, and a sprained ankle can cause you to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. However you should be more confident to attempt the Wineglass bay lookout walk, which is well formed, signposted, and popular.
- On the road, observe speed limits: 50 km/h on all Tasmanian streets, and 100 km/h on highways unless otherwise signed. Fines are imposed if motorists fail to observe speed limits.
- Do not provoke animals, and remember not to feed them.
- Going south - Hobart, capital of Tasmania
- Going north - East Coast