Freycinet National Park — Looking Around

Before heading anywhere new, Justin and I usually do a fair bit of research on the area. Using various different Google searches and following along with other van life/ travel blogs, we normally find a collection of different spots to check out in each region, but Tasmania was a whole different ball game. Ever since we decided to do this trip we’d been talking, dreaming and therefore researching about Tassie. We looked into each national park, waterfall, mountain range and wildlife reserve, until we had two–three pages worth of research and several handmade maps marked with all the spots we couldn’t wait to see. So, as we began travelling further down the east coast towards Freycient National Park I was almost worried that the beauty of Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach would be obstructed by the amount of photos and articles I had read online about the area. But as we drove into the park and Mount Amos emerged through behind the winding highway, I realized just what we were in for. The enormous mountain ranges, beautiful bays and towering bluffs make Freycinet one of the biggest tourist attractions in Tasmania and we were finally privy to why. We knew it would be beautiful, but we would need to make sure that we could get the experience we wanted by trying our best to beat the crowds.

Side note: If you’re visiting Tasmania and heading down the east coast definitely make time to check out the Friendly Beaches. On our way into Freycinet Justin and I stopped on a search for a campsite and found a 5km stretch of endless beach and an awesome free campsite. We stayed and admired the vast white beach and the seemingly floating lava rocks that lay in the sand. We spent a lot of the evening watching the waves wash over the rocks and be sucked back through the crevasses.

As we drove in into the Freycinet Peninsula, the sheer scale of the mountains and the beauty of the bays that sit perfectly underneath them caught us off guard. Silent and in awe, we drove up into the national park where the most of the Great Short Walks in the area begin.

TIP: The book of Great Short Walks is a guide put together by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and was our guide throughout our entire Tasmanian adventure. It holds 60 awesome walks ranging from grade 1-4 (Easy- Very Difficult) as well as guides, maps and some descriptions on the walk, as well as the surrounding areas.

Freycinet National Park, Freycinet Peninsula TAS/ 📷me

Whitewater Wall, Freycinet Peninsula TAS/ 📷@justybumpstead

When we arrived we quickly realized how busy Freycinet National Park is during the summer holidays. The HUGE (4-5 lot) car park was completely full. We quickly decided to change our plans and head to Whitewater Wall campsite and come back to hike Wineglass Bay at sunrise. Whitewater Wall, a free campsite about 17 minutes from the car park, was in theory, the perfect place to stay the night. Unfortunately when looking on Wiki Camps I didn’t realized that this site was along another, and may I say more challenging, 4WD track. Oops! We made it through and it was well worth it because Whitewater Wall itself was absolutely gorgeous and the campsites were spacious and free for the taking.

At sunset we walked down to Bluestone Bay where I might have had the best wipeout of our trip so far. Ask Justin; he’ll probably just laugh at the thought of it. It was pretty funny. I fell right on my ass and then slid down a hill for quite sometime. Anyway, the sunset was spectacular enough for me to completely forget about the cuts on my hands and the bruising of my ego.

Sunset at Bluestone Bay, Freycinet Peninsula TAS/ 📷me

At the crack of dawn we hopped into our trusty stead and carefully made our way back to the national park where we hiked the 4-5 hour Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach circuit. The first climb is mostly stairs until you reach the magnificent and cutely named Wineglass Bay.

Wineglass Bay Lookout, Freycinet National Park TAS/ 📷me

The white beach scooped out by a sea of blue is something extra spectacular in the hazy light of sunrise. We continued along the 11km track through the very white, but extremely windy, Hazards beach and then along the outskirts of Coles Bay. Hungry, pooped and ready for a swim, we made our way to Coles Bay where we found a perfect spot for Frenchie to sit along the rocky beach. We ended up spending the next day and a half snorkeling in Coles Bay and relaxing in the sunshine.

Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula TAS/ 📷@justybumpstead

Coles Bay at Sunset, Freycinet Peninsula TAS/ 📷me

On our way out of the park we stopped at Freycinet Marine Farm where Justin treated me to an early birthday lunch of fresh oysters, scallops and a beautiful bottle of Riesling that was made in the area. (This restaurant is a little hyped up so don’t go out of your way to get there, but if the time is right and the lines are to a minimum I would definitely suggest the Ginger Soy Oysters). It was the perfect way to end our time in Freycinet and more importantly a nice little toast to our next adventure…. MARIA ISLAND.