Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park [1] 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.

Understand

Freycinet National Park is administered by the Parks and Wildlife Service[2] of Tasmania.

History

Freycinet National Park was named after the French explorer Louis de Freycinet (1779 - 1841), who sailed through the area in about 1800.

Landscape

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.

Flora and fauna

You will be sharing the park with wonderful plants; and animals like wallabies.

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.

Climate

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, though.

Get in

By Car

Freycinet National Park is about 2.5 hours to 3 hours drive from either Hobart or Launceston. All roads to Freycinet are sealed, so a 4WD is not needed.

When driving from dusk to dawn, do take care as you are sharing the road with wildlife. Drive cautiously and keep a lookout for wallabies and wombats. An advisory speed limit of 60 km/h applies on the roads to and from the park after dark because of the risk of hitting wildlife.

Fees/Permits

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 (currency is in Australian dollar):

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) :$60 Per Person :$28

Get around

You can get to the major locations by car or bicycle, but then you will have to walk. There are some tours offered to the park.

However, if you do wish to follow tours or use public transport, find more information at the Parks and Wildlife Services of Tasmania's Freycinet National Park Section.

See

View over Wineglass Bay

• Wineglass Bay It has been voted by several travel magazines as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Located on the South East side of the island you can only get to the bay by boat or by a three 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 itself, 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.

Do

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 kilometre 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 currently 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.

• "'The Freycinet Long Weekend:'" "[email protected]" "www.seetasmania.com.au" The Long Weekend Food and Walking tour is a 3 day experience encompassing all things Freycinet. Enjoy freshly prepared meals with matched wines, 1 full day walk and 2 short day walks. This is a unique way to experience the Freycinet National Park, staying in private lodging.

Buy

Souvenirs can be bought at the Freycinet Visitor Centre. They are rather affordable, and you can find good stuff there.

Eat

• 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.
• Tombolo Freycinet: A popular local cafe' known for their wood fire pizzas. Affordable, this cafe' has stunning views of the Hazards Mountain range, being the perfect combination with a slice of pizza and wine. This restaurant has three seating areas, inside, alfresco or picnic table by the garden.
• The Edge Restaurant: Part of the Edge of the Bay Resort, this restaurant is open to public every night and is situated on a beautiful waterfront location. Taking care to source only fresh and local produce & seafood, the Edge offers an authentic Tasmanian dining experience with their scallop pie being at the forefront.

Drink

There is one pub in Freycinet, the Iluka Tavern in the town of Coles Bay which has a bottle shop as well.

Sleep

It is a popular area over Summer so booking in advance is advised. Camping in the park over summer is by application and ballot. There is also accommodation in nearby Coles Bay and Bicheno.

Camping

You need a camping permit to camp at Freycinet. For more information, inquire at the Freycinet National Park Visitor Centre.

Stay safe

• 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. 50km/h on all Tasmanian streets, and 100km/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.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!