Are you looking for a destination that offers stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and exciting activities? If so, you should visit Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, Australia’s island state. This park is one of the most popular and beautiful coastal playgrounds on the east coast of Tasmania, featuring white-sand beaches, pink granite peaks, and turquoise waters.
Whether you want to relax on the beach, hike in the mountains, kayak in the bay, or taste the local oysters and wine, you will find something to suit your taste and budget in Freycinet National Park.
In this article, we will give you all the information you need to plan your trip to this amazing park, including how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and when to visit. Read on to discover why Freycinet National Park is a must-see destination for any traveller.
How to Get to Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park is located on the Freycinet Peninsula, about 200 kilometres north-east of Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania. You can reach the park by car, bus, train, or plane, depending on your preference and budget.
By car:
Driving is the most convenient and flexible way to get to the park, as you can explore the region at your own pace and stop at the scenic spots along the way. The driving time from Hobart is about 2.5 hours, from Launceston about 2 hours, and from Devonport about 3 hours. You can rent a car from various companies in these cities, such as Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, or Thrifty. You will need to pay a park entrance fee of $24 per vehicle per day, or $60 for an eight-week pass, which you can purchase online or at the park visitor centre.
By bus:
If you prefer public transport, you can take a bus from Hobart, Launceston, or Devonport to the nearby towns of Coles Bay or Bicheno, which are the gateway to the park. You can book your tickets online or at the bus stations, with companies such as Redline or Tassielink. The bus fare ranges from $25 to $40, depending on the distance and the season. From Coles Bay or Bicheno, you can take a shuttle bus, a taxi, or a tour to the park, or walk for about an hour.
By train:
There are no direct trains to the park, but you can take a train from Hobart, Launceston, or Devonport to the nearby town of Swansea, which is about 40 kilometres south of the park. You can book your tickets online or at the train stations, with companies such as TasRail or Great Southern Rail. The train fare ranges from $30 to $50, depending on the distance and the season. From Swansea, you can take a bus, a taxi, or a tour to the park, or rent a car or a bike.
By plane:
The closest airport to the park is Hobart International Airport, which is about 180 kilometres south of the park. You can fly to Hobart from major Australian cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth, with airlines such as Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia, or Tigerair. You can book your flights online or at the airport, with prices varying depending on the season and the demand. From Hobart, you can take a car, a bus, a train, or a tour to the park, or opt for a scenic flight, which will give you a bird’s eye view of the park and its attractions.
Things to Do in Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park offers a variety of activities and experiences for visitors of all ages and interests, from nature lovers to adventure seekers, from culture enthusiasts to food and wine connoisseurs. Here are some of the things you can do in the park, grouped by categories:
Nature
Wineglass Bay lookout: This is the most iconic and popular attraction in the park, offering a spectacular view of the Wineglass Bay, which is considered one of the best beaches in the world. The lookout is accessible by a 1.5-kilometre walk from the car park, which takes about 45 minutes return. The walk is steep and rocky, but well worth the effort. You can also continue to the beach, which is another 3 kilometres return, or do the Freycinet Circuit walk, which is a 30-kilometre loop that covers the whole peninsula, including the Hazards Beach, the Friendly Beaches, and the Cape Tourville lighthouse.
Wildlife:
The park is home to a rich and diverse wildlife, including endangered species such as the Tasmanian devil, the wedge-tailed eagle, and the swift parrot. You can spot these and other animals, such as wallabies, wombats, echidnas, possums, quolls, bandicoots, platypuses, dolphins, whales, seals, penguins, and sea birds, in their natural habitat, especially at dawn and dusk. You can also visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, the Bicheno Penguin Tours, the East Coast Natureworld, or the Devils in the Dark, which are wildlife sanctuaries and tours that offer close encounters and educational programs with the native animals.
Scenic flights:
If you want to see the park from a different perspective, you can take a scenic flight over the park and the region, which will give you a stunning view of the Wineglass Bay, the pink granite mountains, the Freycinet Peninsula, and the east coast. You can book your flight online or at the park visitor centre, with companies such as Freycinet Air, Freycinet Adventures, or Freycinet Marine Farm. The flight duration ranges from 15 minutes to an hour, and the price ranges from $150 to $500, depending on the package and the season.
Adventure
Hiking: The park offers a range of hiking trails for all levels of fitness and experience, from easy walks to challenging climbs, from short loops to long circuits, from coastal paths to mountain tracks. You can explore the park on foot, and enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and the fresh air. Some of the most popular hiking trails in the park are the Wineglass Bay lookout walk, the Freycinet Circuit walk, the Hazards Beach walk, the Friendly Beaches walk, the Cape Tourville walk, the Sleepy Bay walk, the Honeymoon Bay walk, the Schouten Island walk, the Mount Amos walk, and the Mount Graham walk. You can find more information and maps of the trails at the park visitor centre or online.
Kayaking: The park offers a great opportunity for kayaking, as you can paddle along the Wineglass Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula, and the Schouten Island, and enjoy the views of the pink granite peaks, the white-sand beaches, and the turquoise waters. You can also see the wildlife, such as dolphins, seals, penguins, and sea birds, up close and personal. You can book your kayaking tour online or at the park visitor centre, with companies such as Freycinet Kayak Tour, Freycinet Paddle, or Freycinet Sea Kayaking. The tour duration ranges from 3 hours to 3 days, and the price ranges from $100 to $1000, depending on the package and the season.
Fishing: The park offers a great opportunity for fishing, as you can cast your line in the Wineglass Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula, the Schouten Island, or the Moulting Lagoon, and catch a variety of fish, such as salmon, trout, bream, flathead, snapper, tuna, or marlin. You can also enjoy the views of the pink granite peaks, the white-sand beaches, and the turquoise waters. You can book your fishing charter online or at the park visitor centre, with companies such as Freycinet Fishing Charter, Freycinet Marine Farm, or Freycinet Wildlife Cruise. The charter duration ranges from 2 hours to a full day, and the price ranges from $150 to $1000, depending on the package and the season.
Culture
Art: The park offers a great opportunity for art, as you can admire the works of local artists, such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, or photography, that capture the beauty and the spirit of the park and the region. You can also join a workshop or a class, and learn from the experts how to create your own masterpiece. You can visit the Hazards Gallery, which is a contemporary art gallery that showcases the works of Tasmanian artists, or the Bicheno Motorcycle Museum, which is a unique museum that displays a collection of vintage motorcycles and memorabilia.
History:
The park offers a great opportunity for history, as you can discover the rich and diverse heritage of the park and the region, from the Aboriginal people who lived here for thousands of years, to the European explorers and settlers who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, to the modern-day conservationists and tourists who enjoy the park today. You can visit the Freycinet National Park Visitor Centre, which is a museum that tells the story of the park and its people, or the Darlington Probation Station, which is a World Heritage Site that was once a convict settlement on Maria Island, a nearby island that is part of the park.
Festivals:
The park offers a great opportunity for festivals, as you can join the locals and visitors in celebrating the culture, the nature, and the lifestyle of the park and the region, through various events and activities that take place throughout the year. You can attend the Bicheno Food and Wine Festival, which is a gastronomic event that showcases the local produce, cuisine, and beverages, or the Bicheno Markets, which are a community event that sells local arts, crafts, and products. You can also participate in the Maria Island Festival, which is a cultural event that features music, dance, theatre, and art, or the Maria Island Marathon, which is a sporting event that challenges runners to complete a 42-kilometre course around the island.
Food and Wine
Oysters: The park offers a great opportunity for oysters, as you can taste the fresh and succulent oysters that are grown and harvested in the park and the region, which are renowned for their quality and flavour. You can visit the Freycinet Marine Farm, which is a family-run business that produces oysters, mussels, scallops, and abalone, or the The Gulch, which is a fishing village that sells oysters, crayfish, and other seafood. You can also join the Freycinet Seafood and Wine Tour, which is a guided tour that takes you to the best places to enjoy oysters and wine in the park and the region.
Wine:
The park offers a great opportunity for wine, as you can sample the fine and award-winning wines that are produced in the park and the region, which are known for their cool-climate and maritime characteristics. You can visit the Freycinet Winery, which is the oldest and most established winery in the region, or the Milton Vineyard, which is a boutique winery that specialises in pinot noir and riesling. You can also visit the Spring Vale Wines, which is a family-owned winery that makes a range of wines, or the Gala Estate Vineyard, which is a historic winery that grows organic grapes. You can also visit the The Farm Shed East Coast Wine Centre, which is a wine bar and shop that showcases the wines of the region.
Restaurants:
The park offers a great opportunity for restaurants, as you can dine at the various restaurants that serve delicious and diverse dishes, using the local ingredients, such as seafood, meat, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. You can eat at the Iluka Tavern, which is a casual and friendly pub that offers pub classics, such as burgers, pizzas, and fish and chips, or the Tombolo Freycinet, which is a cosy and rustic cafe that offers Italian-inspired dishes, such as pasta, pizza, and gelato. You can also eat at the The Bay Restaurant, which is a fine and elegant restaurant that offers modern Australian cuisine, such as lamb, duck, and salmon, or the Richardsons Bistro, which is a relaxed and stylish restaurant that offers seafood and steak dishes, such as oysters, scallops, and ribeye.
You can also eat at the Edge of the Bay Resort, which is a resort that offers a variety of dining options, such as a buffet breakfast, a lunch menu, and a dinner menu, or the Freycinet Bakery and Cafe, which is a bakery and cafe that offers freshly baked bread, pastries, cakes, and pies, as well as coffee, tea, and juice. You can also eat at the Geographe Restaurant and Espresso Bar, which is a restaurant and coffee shop that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks, drinks, and desserts, or the The Ice Creamery, which is an ice cream shop that offers homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yoghurt, in a variety of flavours and toppings.
You can also eat at the Kate’s Berry Farm, which is a berry farm and cafe that offers fresh and juicy berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as jams, sauces, chocolates, and wines, or the Pasinis Cafe, which is a cafe and deli that offers sandwiches, salads, soups, and quiches, as well as cakes, cookies, and muffins. You can also eat at the The Pondering Frog, which is a cafe and gift shop that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as ice cream, coffee, and tea, or the Saltshaker Restaurant, which is a restaurant and takeaway that offers seafood, pizza, and pasta dishes, as well as salads, burgers, and wraps.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article about Freycinet National Park, and that you are inspired to visit this coastal paradise. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please let me know. Thank you for choosing Tripoto, your trusted travel partner.
