National park · Australia
Freycinet National Park
Give Freycinet one full day: Wineglass Bay Lookout first (45 min up, start before 9:00 in summer), then the beach or the Hazards circuit; skip Mt Amos unless the granite is dry — it is a scramble, not a walk.Give Freycinet one full day: Wineglass Bay Lookout first (45 min up, start before 9:00 AM in summer), then the beach or the Hazards circuit; skip Mt Amos unless the granite is dry — it is a scramble, not a walk.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
116 km² (45 sq mi)45 sq mi (116 km²)
approximate
Established
1916
Best months
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 116 km² (45 sq mi)45 sq mi (116 km²)
- About 116 km² of land, plus a marine extension; figures vary by source and boundary revision (check).
- Established
- 1916
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Freycinet is a peninsula of pink granite knuckles — the Hazards — with white-sand bays between them, on Tasmania's east coast about 2.5–3 hours by road from either Hobart or Launceston. Almost everyone comes for one view: Wineglass Bay from the saddle above it. The park is small and the car parks fill early in summer, so the practical question is not whether to go but when to start and how far to walk once you are there.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteOne of Tasmania's oldest national parks, reserved in 1916.
Size and age
116 km² (45 sq mi)45 sq mi (116 km²) · national park since 1916
About 116 km² of land, plus a marine extension; figures vary by source and boundary revision (check).
Why go
- Wineglass Bay Lookout: a 45-minute climb to one of the most photographed views in Australia.
- The Hazards circuit adds a quiet beach, a lagoon crossing and pink granite without the crowds of the lookout.
- Cape Tourville boardwalk gives the same coastline from a wheelchair-accessible clifftop track.
- Friendly Beaches, added to the park in 1992, is a long empty sweep of sand with almost no facilities.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanWarm and busy; car parks full by 9:00Warm and busy; car parks full by 9:00 AM
- FebWarm; crowds ease after mid-month
- MarMild, settled, quieter
- AprClear, cool nights
- MayCool and quiet; short days
- JunWet, cold, slippery granite
- JulColdest; rain and wind
- AugCold; occasional clear spells
- SepWildflowers start; changeable
- OctMild and green; whales offshore
- NovLong days, dry tracks
- DecPeak crowds; book beds early
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett's wallabies and wombats near roads and campgroundsAll year · Most active at dusk; the main road has a 60 km/h advisory limit after dark. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Humpback and southern right whales offshoreMay–Nov · Seen from Cape Tourville and the lookout on calm days. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| White-bellied sea eagles and peregrine falcons on the HazardsSep–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Snakes (tiger and copperhead) on warm tracksOct–Mar · Give them room; do not handle. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Hobart
A3 and Coles Bay Road; all sealed, no 4WD needed.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Launceston
Tasman Highway to Bicheno, then Coles Bay Road.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Coles Bay
Short drive to the visitor centre and the Wineglass Bay car park.
5–10 min
From Bicheno
Coles Bay Road south; fuel and shops at Bicheno.
40 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre and Richardsons Beach | Entry station, toilets, shop, campground and the start of the Hazards tracks. | Open with a park pass; centre staffed in daylight hours. |
| Wineglass Bay car park and lookout | The main trailhead, the saddle lookout and the descent to the beach. | Open; fills early in summer. |
| Cape Tourville and Friendly Beaches | Clifftop boardwalk and lighthouse in the north; long beaches reached by gravel road off Coles Bay Road. | Open; sealed road to Cape Tourville, gravel to Friendly Beaches car parks. |
| Hazards Beach and the peninsula interior | The west-coast beach, lagoon crossing and the circuit back to the car park. | Open on foot; no facilities. |
Sketch map
- 1Freycinet visitor centre · Headquarters≈-42.125, 148.298Map ↗
- 2Wineglass Bay car park · Gate≈-42.142, 148.297Map ↗
- 3Wineglass Bay Lookout · Viewpoint≈-42.150, 148.298Map ↗
- 4Wineglass Bay beach · Beach≈-42.158, 148.305Map ↗
- 5Cape Tourville lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-42.123, 148.345Map ↗
- 6Coles Bay · Town≈-42.123, 148.288Map ↗
- 7Hazards Beach · Beach≈-42.170, 148.270Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the visitor centre to Wineglass Bay and Cape Tourville, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, per vehicle (up to 8 people) | AUD 45 (≈ US$30) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; Tasmanian parks charge per vehicle, not per person (check current rate). |
| Holiday pass, per vehicle (2 months) | AUD 90 (≈ US$60) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; worth it if you also visit Maria Island or Ben Lomond (check). |
| Annual pass, per vehicle | AUD 180 (≈ US$120) | vehicle | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Camping, per night (Richardsons Beach or Ranger Creek) | AUD 20–45 (≈ US$14–30) | person | 2026 estimate; summer camping is allocated by ballot (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry pass permit or guide
Summer camping permit or guide
Wineglass Bay beach no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- A$45≈ US$30
- A$90≈ US$60
- A$180≈ US$120
- A$20–45≈ US$14–30
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania — park passes and fees before you go.
Park rules
- Feeding wildlife
- Prohibited throughout the park and unhealthy for the animals; rangers patrol and fines apply.
- Camping
- Only at Richardsons Beach and Ranger Creek with a permit; summer sites are allocated by ballot. No camping on Wineglass Bay beach.
- Fires
- No fires in the park; use fuel stoves only where permitted at campgrounds.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a permit from the Parks and Wildlife Service (check).check
- Roads after dark
- Advisory 60 km/h (37 mph) on park roads from dusk to dawn because of wildlife; 50 km/h (31 mph) in towns, 100 km/h (62 mph) on highways unless signed.Advisory 37 mph (60 km/h) on park roads from dusk to dawn because of wildlife; 31 mph (50 km/h) in towns, 62 mph (100 km/h) on highways unless signed.
Where to stay
In the park
Richardsons Beach and Ranger Creek campgrounds
Basic sites inside the park; permit and summer ballot required.
Near the park
Coles Bay
Shops, pub, cafes and the widest choice of motels, cabins and holiday parks, 5–10 minutes from the gate.
Near the park
Bicheno
Larger town 40 minutes north with more beds and a supermarket.
Safety
Mt Amos in wet or windy weather high
Lagoon crossing on the Hazards circuit medium
Sudden weather changes medium
Wildlife on the road at dusk medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Cape Tourville boardwalk is level and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
- The visitor centre, toilets and Richardsons Beach area have step-free access and parking.
- Wineglass Bay Lookout and the beach track are steep steps; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on formed tracks; the granite and heath are easily eroded and slow to recover.
- Carry out all rubbish — there are no bins on the trails.
- Use the summer camping ballot rather than camping informally; it protects the foreshore.
- Keep 2 m from wildlife and never feed it, even the wallabies around the car parks.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Freycinet National Park?
Entry is charged per vehicle, not per person: about A$45 for a day pass covering up to eight people, or about A$90 for a two-month holiday pass (2026 estimate). Buy it at the visitor centre or the entrance station and display it on the dashboard. Camping is extra and needs a permit.
What are the best hikes in Freycinet National Park?
For most people: Wineglass Bay Lookout (1–1.5 h return), then either down to the beach (2.5–3 h return) or the full Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach circuit (about 11 km, 4–5 h). Mt Amos is the hardest — a granite scramble with no track, only in dry weather. Cape Tourville is a flat 20–30 minute boardwalk.
When is the best time to visit Freycinet National Park?
March–April and October–November: mild, often clear, and quieter than January. Summer is warm but the Wineglass Bay car park fills by 9:00 and camping is allocated by ballot. Winter is cold, wet and the granite gets slippery.
Do I need a 4WD to get to Freycinet?
No. All roads to the park are sealed and a normal car is fine. The only gravel is the short access road to the Friendly Beaches car parks.
Can I camp in Freycinet National Park?
Yes, at Richardsons Beach and Ranger Creek, with a permit. Over summer, sites are allocated by ballot, so apply through the Parks and Wildlife Service before the season. There is no camping on Wineglass Bay beach.
Can I swim at Wineglass Bay?
Yes, and the water is clear, but it is cold and there are no lifeguards. The beach is reached on foot over the saddle or by boat; there are no facilities and no bins.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go