13 Best Walks in Freycinet National Park

Freycinet has it all, from multi-day treks and challenging rock scrambles to languid beach strolls and hidden coves. You’ll find a myriad of walks in Freycinet National Park and the one thing they all have in common is their exposure to the incomprehensible beauty found on this unique east coast peninsula.

More akin to a sub-tropical island, the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast is a sight that must be seen to be believed. You’ll understand why we return time and time again to explore the walks in Freycinet National Park when you lay your eyes upon the pink granite peaks plunging into aquamarine bays flanked by coastal forests.

In this guide to the best walks in Freycinet National Park, you’ll find detailed descriptions of all the most popular trails, plus a number of lesser-known walks that take you away from the crowds and reveal the rugged side of the Freycinet Peninsula.

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Quick Tips For Visiting Freycinet National Park

Where is Freycinet National Park

The Freycinet Peninsula lies on the east coast of Tasmania, 1 hr 30 minutes south of St Helens and just 30 minutes south of Bicheno. In 1916, Freycinet became one of the first, alongside Mount Field, to become a national park and to this day, the entire peninsula south of Coles Bay – plus the coastline creeping up past Friendly Beaches to Cape Lodi – is protected and filled with a multitude of walks showcasing the wildlife and unique landscape.

Note: Google Maps doesn’t have a location listed for the Freycinet Car Park, which is located on Freycinet Drive and is where most of the walks begin. To reach this car park, follow directions to the visitor centre and then continue southeast on Freycinet Drive until you come to a large car park.

Why Visit Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park is the most popular tourist destination in Tasmania, competing for the title with Cradle Mountain. While we generally try to avoid crowded places, the Freycinet Peninsula simply cannot be missed.

Not only is it a sensational hiking destination for all levels, but there are so many things to do in Freycinet National Park for every traveller. Plus, the landscape is so incredibly unique – especially for southern Australia – that you’ll have a hard time finding the same experience elsewhere.

Is our love for Freycinet National Park too obvious?!?

Jokes aside, if you love mountains, beaches, native wildlife, coastal eucalypt forest and hidden pebbly coves, we can guarantee you’ll fall in love with Freycinet National Park just as much as we did.

Helpful Things To Know About Freycinet National Park

• Most of the Freycinet walks begin at the end of Freycinet Drive at the large Wineglass Bay Car Park, which is equipped with a toilet block and an information sign describing each walk
• The Freycinet Visitor Centre is also located along Freycinet Drive and is a great resource for additional information on the walking track conditions – and the water tank levels at Cooks Beach Campsite
• You’ll hear the name ‘The Hazards’ thrown around a lot – this refers to the collection of pink granite peaks on the northern side of the isthmus, named (from east to west) Mt Parsons, Mt Baudin, Mt Dove, Mt Amos and Mt Mayson
• Freycinet National Park can get extremely busy – especially during summer – so booking accommodation in advance is recommended, read this guide next to find the best places to stay in Freycinet National Park
• A Tasmania Parks Pass is needed to access the walks, you can pre-purchase this online or at the visitor centre in town – a 2-month holiday pass offers the best discount for travellers
• Don’t feed the wildlife – the wallabies are overly friendly at Freycinet National Park due to human disturbance so please respect them and avoid feeding them, which can be detrimental to their health and their behaviour
• There is free camping – This beautiful part of Tasmania is made more accessible due to the variety of campsites in Freycinet National Park

13 Incredible Walks In Freycinet National Park

1. Mount Amos

Let’s start with our favourite of the day walks in Freycinet National Park – Mount Amos. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another walk that provides so much excitement in such little time – with continuously evolving views to boot.

Beginning in an open eucalypt forest, you’re afforded the chance to warm up before reaching the first colossal pink granite boulder that overlooks the small coastal town of Coles Bay. But from then on, get ready for a thrilling ascent that demands the use of hands and feet to climb up and over the endless collection of exposed boulders leading to the summit.

Once you scramble over the final boulder separating you from the peak, you’re rewarded with 360-degree views of the Freycinet Peninsula. Pristine beaches dominate the landscape, but the most impressive sight is the distant mountains across the isthmus tumbling into Wineglass Bay.

While Mount Amos is undoubtedly not for the faint of heart, if you’ve got a decent pair of hiking shoes with good grip and choose a dry day to summit, intermediate to advanced hikers should have no problem. But remember, descending is tougher than ascending so be sure you’re feeling confident the entire way, otherwise return once you begin to feel uneasy.

2. Wineglass Bay Lookout

Perched in the saddle between Mt Mayson and Mt Amos, Wineglass Bay Lookout is the most popular walk in Freycinet National Park and is easily doable for most travellers. Although it’s often packed with walkers, we still recommend ticking off this trail if you don’t plan to summit Mount Amos as it provides the second-best view of Wineglass Bay.

Predominantly constructed of wide gravel paths, the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk is a loop that weaves between the native eucalypt woodlands before emerging onto a platform that looks out across the iconic bay.

For the best experience – and fewer crowds – we strongly suggest visiting Wineglass Bay lookout for sunrise. The lookout is perfectly angled to allow for a breathtaking show as the sun slowly bathes the bay in a soft golden glow. But if early mornings aren’t your forte, sunset will still provide vivid colours across the landscape, even though the sun will be slightly blocked from this vantage point.

3. Wineglass Bay Campsite

Don’t just stop at the Wineglass Bay Lookout and simply return to your car, continue down the infamous ‘1000 steps’ and sink your toes into the unimaginably soft white sand. Remember to pack your swimmers, take your time walking along the arching bay and intermittently cool down in the translucent turquoise water.

The views from the campsite on the southern tip of Wineglass Bay back to The Hazards is well worth the extra few kilometres of walking, especially if you pack your tent and spend the night on the bay before returning the following day.

Note: The steps down to Wineglass Bay are long, but if you have a moderate level of fitness you’ll have no problem reaching the water’s edge.

4. Honeymoon Bay

A popular picnic and snorkelling spot among locals and travellers alike, Honeymoon Bay is an easy 5-10-minute walk to a secluded cove nestled in the foothills of The Hazards. Requiring very little effort to reach, you can expect to find Honeymoon Bay filled with visitors enjoying the calm and clear water on a warm summer’s day.

Honeymoon Bay faces southwest, making it the perfect location to watch the sunset. The pink granite boulders of The Hazards beyond the cove light up magnificently in the fading light.

5. Cape Tourville Circuit

One of the easiest walks in Freycinet National Park, Cape Tourville Circuit is a great option for the whole family and offers a new perspective of Honeymoon Bay, Mt Graham and Mt Freycinet.

Pack a pair of binoculars and begin the short walk at the end of Cape Tourville Rd and follow the loop around the automated lighthouse, stopping at the lookout where you might find seals sunbaking on ‘The Nuggets’ – a collection of offshore rocks. This is also the best place on the Freycinet Peninsula to spot whales during their migration season which extends from April to November.

6. Wineglass Bay And Hazards Beach Circuit

The Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit offers the best bang for your buck, allowing you to explore the main highlights in Freycinet National Park that are accessible within a day. And aside from Mount Amos, this is our top recommended walk – especially if you only have time for one.

While most will tell you to walk the circuit in a clockwise direction, we believe it’s best completed anti-clockwise. This way, you’ll begin by wandering through the windswept coastal woodland at the base of Mt Mayson, stopping in at the various secluded coves along the way, before popping out onto Hazards Beach.

After walking along the coarse yellow sanded beach for a little while, you’ll cross the isthmus and land on the incredibly contrasted Wineglass Bay. Spend the afternoon splashing in the translucent turquoise water and lazing on the fine-white sand before climbing the infamous steps to Wineglass Bay lookout.

With the only challenge being fitness, the Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit is the perfect alternative if Mount Amos sounds a little too treacherous.

7. Cooks Beach Track

Cooks Beach is another fantastic choice for your first overnight hiking mission, and often much quieter than Wineglass Bay. The walk begins on the Hazards Beach track, rounding Mt Mayson before dropping onto Hazards Beach and walking the entire length to a rocky point where you’ll find Hazards Beach campsite.

That might be enough for some, but if you have more left in the tank, dip into the treeline and wander beneath tall eucalypts, passing by yellow banksias lining the boggy track, until you reach the bouldered shoreline bordering Cooks Beach.

Cooks Beach Campsite is located at the southernmost point of the beach, nestled into a sheoak forest with a sensational view back at The Hazards. You’ll find a water tank and drop toilet at the campsite, plus the historic Cooks Hut which can be used as a shelter but not for sleeping. If you arrive early and feel like an extra mission, you can continue onto Bryans Beach located 3 km south of the campsite.

Note: If you’re dying to explore Cooks Beach and have no means for camping, you can book either a one-way or return trip aqua taxi through Freycinet Adventures, leaving you the option to walk back.

8. Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

Take on the entire 2-3 day Freycinet Peninsula Circuit for the ultimate adventure and the absolute best views in Freycinet National Park. 

Showcasing the contrasting Hazards Beach and Wineglass Bay, the bordering coastal woodlands, breathtaking views from the top of Mt Graham, plus the opportunity to summit Mt Freycinet, the tallest peak in the national park, you’ll see it all on this circuit and stay at some of the most beautiful remote campsites in Tasmania.

Due to the fact that the east coast of Tasmania receives much milder weather conditions, the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a great introductory hike before tackling some more challenging multi-day hikes in Tasmania. That said, this hike is not to be underestimated (like we did), the long sandy stretches and steep climbs in the exposed heat can take longer than expected so be prepared for big days.

Note: Aside from a water tank at Cooks Beach, there are no fresh water sources that can be relied upon for the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit. Check in at the visitor centre to learn about the water tank levels before setting off and ensure you pack enough for cooking and drinking.

9. Mount Freycinet Summit

Accessible as a side trip on the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit or as a single summit mission from Hazards Beach (aqua taxi required), Mount Freycinet will test your endurance and your rock scrambling skills as you navigate the giant boulders leading to the tallest peak in Freycinet National Park.

But we can guarantee all your hard work will be worth it once you clamber over the last boulder and witness Wineglass Bay and The Hazards sprawled out beneath you. We completed Mt Freycinet as a sunrise mission from Cooks Beach campground and while it was a VERY early start, we highly recommend it if you’re confident walking and rock scrambling in the dark.

For those not wishing to do the full Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, you can book an aqua taxi to take you to Hazards Beach and begin the walk from there. Either continue walking past Mt Graham and onto Wineglass Bay, finishing at the car park, or book a return on the aqua taxi for the afternoon.

10. Mount Graham Summit

The vast granite peak of Mount Graham rises alongside Mount Freycinet on the southern tip of the Freycinet Peninsula, and while the climb to get there isn’t quite as thrilling as Mt Freycinet, the sweeping views over the isthmus are just as incredible.

Mount Graham is part of the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, but if you don’t have 3 days to spare, walking out and back via Wineglass Bay is a great alternative.

You have two options for summiting Mount Graham, the first being to simply walk the Wineglass Bay track and link it to the Peninsula Track that leads to the peak, returning on the same day. 

The second option is to pack your overnight gear, stash it at the Wineglass Bay campsite and summit Mt Graham in the afternoon before spending the night camping at Wineglass Bay.

11. Sleepy Bay & Gravelly Beach

One of the lesser-known and visited walks in Freycinet National Park, Sleepy Bay and Gravelly Beach is an easy and enjoyable walk down to a unique beach covered in tiny worn granite pebbles.

Its location on the eastern side of the Freycinet Peninsula, just south of Cape Tourville, exposes it to wild seas and as a result, Gravelly Beach is the perfect spot to search for washed-up debris and to watch the ocean surge.

12. Bluestone Bay

For those with access to a 4WD, this is a fantastic place to set up and enjoy the peaceful coastline without the crowds. You can camp at Whitewall Campsite, watch rock climbers scale the sheer granite cliffs, and walk 500m to the beautifully sheltered Bluestone Bay. Weathered orange-lichen rocks border the pebbled bay, providing a magical contrast to the deep turquoise sea. 

Even if you don’t have a 4WD, you can still access Bluestone Bay by walking along the dirt road from a car park off Cape Tourville Rd. While the walk along the road isn’t very exciting, you’ll be joined by countless native birds singing in the trees and possibly even pass by a wallaby or echidna.

13. Coles Bay Beach To Muirs Beach

Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Opposite Iluka Tavern

Finish an epic day exploring the Freycinet National Park with a walk along the curving Muirs Beach at sunset. Beginning at Coles Bay Beach, located near the town centre, you can wander the long stretch of sand for as long as you like and enjoy the changing colours of sunset painting The Hazards in an orange glow.

Final Thoughts

The best thing about hiking on the Freycinet Peninsula is the fact that each walk offers something slightly different and there is plenty of variety to accommodate all levels and preferences. We highly recommend allowing at least 2 – 3 days to explore the walks in Freycinet National Park, but if you’re short on time these are our top suggestions based on difficulty.

• Advanced – Intermediate: Mount Amos
• Intermediate: Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit
• Beginner: Wineglass Bay Lookout

What are your favourite walks in Freycinet National Park? We’d love to hear about your experiences and suggestions in the comments below. And as always, if you have any questions regarding the Freycinet Peninsula, please feel free to reach out – we are always happy to help!

Happy Hiking 🙂