Tasmania is Australia’s wildest camping destination. Nearly 45% of the island is protected as national parks, reserves or World Heritage wilderness. The landscapes are extraordinary — dolerite mountain ranges, ancient Huon pine forests, button grass plains and some of the world’s most pristine coastline. Here are the 10 best camping experiences in Tasmania.
1. Freycinet National Park — Wineglass Bay
Consistently voted one of the world’s top beaches, Wineglass Bay is accessible by walking camp from the Freycinet car park (approximately 4km return to the beach, longer to the campground). The Wineglass Bay camp is walk-in only and costs $18 per adult per night. Sites book out weeks ahead for summer — reservations essential. The bay itself is best appreciated from the lookout first, then experienced at water level. Sunrise at the campground with the bay empty of day visitors is one of Tasmania’s finest moments. Seaplanes offer an alternative arrival for those wanting a different experience.
2. Cradle Mountain — Waldheim Cabins and Camping
The iconic dolerite spires of Cradle Mountain draw visitors from across the world. The Waldheim camping area sits at the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The Overland Track — Australia’s most famous multi-day bush walk — starts here. Camping along the 65km track includes huts and tent platforms at intervals. Day hiking from Waldheim to Crater Lake, Marions Lookout and Cradle Mountain summit provides outstanding alpine experience without the full track commitment. Winter camping is for experienced cold-weather campers — temperatures regularly reach minus 10°C.
3. Southwest National Park — Port Davey Track
The most remote and challenging camping in Australia lies in Tasmania’s Southwest. The Port Davey Track runs 70km through some of the planet’s last intact temperate wilderness. Button grass plains, leatherwood forests and wild rivers characterise this landscape with no roads, no facilities and very few visitors. Weather is notoriously unpredictable — horizontal rain and 80-knot winds are possible in any season. This is for highly experienced wilderness campers with proper navigation skills only. The experience is unlike anything else in Australia.
4. Bay of Fires
The Bay of Fires stretches 30km along Tasmania’s northeast coast from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. The distinctive orange lichen-covered granite boulders and turquoise water make this one of Australia’s most photogenic coastlines. The Swimcart Beach and Policemans Point campgrounds are low-cost with basic facilities. The Bay of Fires Walk is a 4-day guided walk along the coast with luxury eco-camp accommodation — one of Australia’s finest guided walk experiences. Self-sufficient campers can walk the same coast independently on the Bay of Fires trail.
5. Mount Field National Park
One of Tasmania’s oldest national parks, Mount Field sits just 80km from Hobart making it a popular first camping destination for visitors to the island. The Lake Dobson camping area is high on the plateau and offers excellent alpine camping from $18 per adult per night. Russell Falls within the park is one of Australia’s most accessible and beautiful waterfalls — a 20-minute return walk from the visitor centre. Ski Lake Dobson in winter. Giant swamp gums and pandani (world’s tallest heath plant) characterise the vegetation.
6. Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Accessed via a 3-4 hour walk from Mersey Forest Road, the Walls of Jerusalem is one of Tasmania’s most dramatically beautiful alpine areas. Permanent camping is at Wild Dog Creek with basic facilities. The Biblical naming convention — Damascus Gate, King Davids Peak, Herods Gate — creates a surreal atmosphere in this ancient dolerite landscape. Pencil pine forests grow here that are hundreds of years old. This park is genuinely remote — weather can change rapidly and snow is possible year-round. Leave early and allow plenty of time.
7. Friendly Beaches, Freycinet National Park
Less visited than Wineglass Bay but equally beautiful, the Friendly Beaches section of Freycinet National Park offers vehicle-accessible camping right behind an extraordinary white sand beach. The campground has basic facilities at $18 per adult per night. The beach stretches for kilometres with almost no other visitors. The shoreline walk to Isaacs Point delivers excellent views and good birdwatching. This is the perfect Tasmanian combination — wild beach, basic camping, genuine solitude.
8. Cape Pillar — Tasman National Park
The Tasman Peninsula is one of Tasmania’s most dramatic coastal landscapes. The Cape Hauy and Cape Pillar walks from the Fortescue Bay campground are among the finest day walks in Australia — dolerite sea cliffs dropping hundreds of metres to clear blue water. Fortescue Bay campground has good facilities at $18 per adult per night. The Three Capes Track (4 days, 46km) passes through with purpose-built hut accommodation. Book well ahead for the Three Capes Track — it is one of Tasmania’s most sought-after walking experiences.
9. Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area
On Tasmania’s wild west coast between Marrawah and Corinna, the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area protects vast stretches of beach, river and scrub rarely visited by anyone. The Bluff Hill Point camping area is free with basic facilities. 4WD provides access to the beach and multiple tracks through the conservation area. The west coast weather is relentless — wind and rain in any season. When clear, the beaches are empty for 20km and the sunset over Bass Strait is extraordinary.
10. Lake St Clair — Fergies Paddock
At the southern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Lake St Clair is Australia’s deepest freshwater lake. The Fergies Paddock campground sits on the lakeshore at $18 per adult per night with excellent facilities. The lake is mirror-calm on still mornings — kayaking at dawn with the reflection of Mount Olympus is unforgettable. A ferry service connects Cynthia Bay to Echo Point, enabling a one-way walk of the Overland Track. The lake swimming in summer is cold but refreshing.
Tips for Camping in Tasmania
- Book national park campgrounds through the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania at parks.tas.gov.au
- Purchase a Tasmanian National Parks Pass — covers entry to all parks and is far cheaper than paying per entry
- Weather changes extremely rapidly in Tasmania — always carry rain gear, warm layers and emergency supplies
- Carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for all remote area camping — mobile coverage is limited throughout the island
- Notify someone of your intended route and expected return for any overnight bush camping
- Fuel up in towns before heading to remote areas — distances are deceptive on the map
- Campfires are prohibited in many areas and subject to total fire ban — carry a gas stove
Tasmania demands respect — the wilderness is genuine, the weather is serious and the distances can surprise visitors used to mainland Australia. But the reward for those who prepare properly and venture into the wild is an experience unlike anything else on earth. Tasmania’s wilderness is genuinely world-class and camping in it is one of Australia’s great privileges.