Escape to the world-famous Freycinet National Park, just a leisurely 2.5-hour drive east of Hobart.
Explore its sea cliffs and forests, tracks and beaches: stroll the white sandy beaches of Wineglass Bay, perfect for sea kayaking and swimming; or head to the Hazard Range for climbing, abseiling and mountain walking.
Indulge in world-class accommodation at the Freycinet Lodge and discover the flavours of the area’s fresh, natural produce – don’t miss the local lobster-size crayfish.
Freycinet National Park offers a wide variety of activities, from in-shore fishing and game fishing to kayaking, swimming and scuba diving. You can surf or windsurf in Great Oyster Bay and Coles Bay, take to the Hazards on a mountain bike, climb the cliff faces of Mount Amos and other peaks or take a bush walk and spot local wildlife.
Trip length from Hobart 3 days; Total distance 496km; Road conditions Sealed roads; Segment distances: Hobart to Coles Bay 2hrs 30 mins; 192km Coles Bay to St Marys 1hr 5mins; 82km St Marys to Hobart 2hrs 55mins; 222km Suggested overnight stops: Coles Bay and St Marys
Must-see sights along the route, include:
Discover a stunning peninsula of pink granite mountains, pure white beaches, sandy coastal dunes and dry eucalypt forests.
Choose from a range of hiking trails to explore this beautiful spot: Try the popular Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, a 30km hike taken over two days that encompasses the best of the peninsula, from the 485m-high Hazard Mountains south to Cooks and Bryans beaches, then over a heath-land plateau in the shadow of the 620m-high Mount Freycinet (pronounced Fray-sin-ay) to the long curve of Wineglass Bay, a picture-perfect crescent of pure white sands, fringed by bushland.
A shorter hike goes to the lighthouse at Cape Tourville then continues up to Wineglass Bay Lookout for spectacular views across the bay.
Along the way experience some of Tasmania’s most interesting wildlife: see and hear birds such as eastern spinebills, yellow-throated or crescent honeyeaters and yellow-tailed black cockatoos and watch out for white-bellied sea eagles gliding overhead or large Australasian gannets diving for food.
Or take the shorter hike to the lighthouse at Cape Tourville then continue up to Wineglass Bay Lookout for spectacular views across the bay – from here it’s just a short stroll down to Wineglass Bay for a picnic, a walk on the beach or a kayak paddle through the crystal clear waters.
Enjoy a range of guided tours and activities: climb to the top of Mount Amos for panoramic views across the peninsula including Wineglass Beach; head to the Hazard Range for climbing, abseiling, hiking and mountain biking; or check out Great Oyster Bay and Coles Bay for surfing and windsurfing.
For world-class accommodation and cuisine, indulge at the Freycinet Lodge and discover the flavours of the area’s fresh natural produce; don’t miss the local lobster-sized crayfish.
Explore this remote 3400ha island by foot, hiking past eucalypt forest and across heathland to Mount Story (400m). Look out for fairy penguins, short-tailed shearwaters and Australian fur seals, which seem to prefer the eastern side of the island.
Hike to cliffs overlooking sheltered bays and snorkel or swim from Schouten Island Beach, a pleasant bush-fringed beach located on the northern coast. Kayak around the island, looking out for bottlenose dolphins, exploring sea caves and resting on secluded beaches along the way.
Discover a scenic port town surrounded by inviting beaches, undulating hills and tracts of eucalypt forest. Wander past several historic buildings, including the sandstone St Mary’s Anglican Church (1880) and Spring Bay Hotel (1838), and browse shops, galleries and tearooms.
Check out the Triabunna’s Visitor Information Centre for wall tapestries depicting the area’s rich Aboriginal and European history and visit the adjacent Tasmanian Seafarers Memorial. Go fishing or sailing and don’t miss savouring the succulent local scallops, mussels and abalone.
Bushwalk the coastal reserves: try Pelican Walk, beginning near the marina, and look out for Triabunnas, the fast-running flightless bird found only in Tasmania. The birds can be seen foraging near streams and pastureland.
Take the short ferry ride from Triabunna to historic Maria Island, one of the best places in Tasmania for bird watching. The wildlife refuge is home to the threatened Cape Barren goose, Forester kangaroo and Flinders Island wombat, as well as the rare forty-spotted pardalote and the Tasmanian native hen.
Scuba-dive the rich underwater environment and, from the shore or cliff tops, look out for dolphins, whales, seals and sea eagles.
Take the spectacular Fossil Cliffs walk to see shellfish fossils, almost 300 million years old and once mined for their lime deposits. Head over to the beautiful honeycomb Painted Cliffs, so called because of the iron oxide stains that probably occurred millions of years ago. Go bushwalking, cycling or scuba diving.
Sitting beneath the pink granite mountains at the entrance to Freycinet National Park and overlooking Oyster Bay, Coles Bay is an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, boating and fishing. It is also a good base for exploring the national park.
Scuba dive the deep fissures, caves and sheer rock walls among sponges and sea whips; relax on white sandy beaches; or explore the coast in a sea kayak or glass-bottomed boat.
Walk to Rocking Rock to see the blowhole or take a penguin tour to Diamond Island Nature Reserve. Discover waterfalls tumbling into tranquil lakes and river ravines at nearby Douglas–Apsley National Park or take a wine tour and sample east coast wines while dining on fresh seafood such as crayfish, abalone and Australian salmon.
Drive up into the mountains to Elephant Pass for spectacular views along the coast. Indulge in delicious, European-style crepes at Mt Elephant Pancakes – a quirky restaurant nestled in the mountains, then continue on to St Marys, a small township nestled beneath the impressive rocky outcrop of St Patrick’s Head (694m). Although just 10km from the coast, the town climbs 600m above sea level.
Visit nearby waterfalls, go fishing at Lake Leake, do some bushwalking in Douglas Apsley National Park or climb to the top of St Patrick’s Head or South Sister Peak for stunning forest and coastal views. Browse the craft galleries and see the original railway station (1866). Head to nearby Cornwall Wall and take the Heritage Walk to the Coalminers’ Heritage, a monument to the miners who hand-tunnelled a coal mine beneath the Mount Nicholas Range.
Mount Freycinet was named by Nicolas Baudin in 1802, after an officer on his ship. Both St Mary’s Pass and Elephant Pass were carved out of solid rock by a team of 300 convicts, connecting the mountain region to the coast.
Latest update: Freycinet National Park attractions: 12 July, 2024
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