Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park with its pink granite mountains is a long peninsula jutting out into the Tasman Sea on Tasmania’s east coast. The park is famous for Wineglass Bay, just one of its white sandy beaches and the pure clear turquoise waters that are perfect for sea kayaking, swimming, and scuba diving. The Hazard Range offer climbing abseiling and mountain walking, and the coastal heath lands have wonderful day walks.

Take the short walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout. The American magazine, Outside, rates Wineglass Bay as one of the world’s ten best beaches.

To reach Freycinet, turn off the A3 (East Coast Escape trail) 11 kilometre south of Bicheno and take a good sealed road 27 kilometres south to Coles Bay.

For bird lovers there is the chance to see a white-bellied sea-eagle gliding overhead or large Australasian gannet diving for food in the ocean. In the busy and forested areas you will often see or hear small nectar-feeding birds such as eastern spinebill and yellow-throated, crescent or New Holland honeyeaters. You may also see or hear large yellow-tailed black cockatoos, which often feed and fly in raucous groups. Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, just outside the park on the Coles Bay road is a wetland of international importance.

For spectacular coastal views visit Cape Tourville lighthouse and take the cliff top walk.

Coles Bay offers a range of accommodation and camping sites are available just inside the park boundary. Because the area is so popular over the Christmas/New Year period there is a ballot system drawn, so please check the Parks and Wildlife site.

The Park offers a variety of basic powered and unpowered campsites, some with cold showers. Outside the main summer/Easter period no bookings are taken, but visitors must check at the Visitor/Interpretation Centre.

Current park passes must be purchased for entry to Tasmania's national parks. For full details please visit the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife website.