Freycinet National Park

The stunning Freycinet Peninsula dangles from Tasmania’s picturesque east coast. It comprises a series of pink-granite peaks known as the Hazards that overlook wild, tumbling heathlands and sublime coves — none more so than Wineglass Bay, which has to be one of the world’s most beautiful beachfronts. In 1916 the area became Tassie’s oldest national park (along with Mt. Field near Hobart), an act of environmental protection since appreciated by hordes of bushwalkers, birdwatchers, campers and other nature lovers. Pitch a tent in the dunes off Richardsons Beach, a safe (albeit generally chilly) swimming spot, and then take the ...

The stunning Freycinet Peninsula dangles from Tasmania’s picturesque east coast. It comprises a series of pink-granite peaks known as the Hazards that overlook wild, tumbling heathlands and sublime coves — none more so than Wineglass Bay, which has to be one of the world’s most beautiful beachfronts. In 1916 the area became Tassie’s oldest national park (along with Mt. Field near Hobart), an act of environmental protection since appreciated by hordes of bushwalkers, birdwatchers, campers and other nature lovers. Pitch a tent in the dunes off Richardsons Beach, a safe (albeit generally chilly) swimming spot, and then take the two-and-a-half-hour return walk to the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay. The entire Hazards Beach circuit will take up to eight hours, while a full circuit of the peninsula takes around three glorious days of hiking and camping. Don’t miss the opportunity to guide a kayak across the sparkling waters of Coles and Great Oyster bays. It’s also worth taking the scenic drive over to the lighthouse at Cape Tourville and treading the boardwalk there while gazing out across the choppy Tasman Sea.

About the Expert

Paul Smitz has coauthored a dozen guidebooks for Lonely Planet on places such as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysian Borneo, Brunei, various Pacific Islands, Prague, and Brussels.