My Climb Up Mt Amos in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park

Join Brittany on her 4km scramble to the top of Mt Amos in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park! The views are epic, the rock face is smooth, and you’ll have the memories for a lifetime.

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Paredarerme Nation, the traditional Country of the Paredarerme people who have occupied and cared for this land and water for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

The trail to the top of Mt Amos is 4km long. It’s a grade 4 hike located in the Freycinet National Park in Tasmania. The climb should take most people about three to five hours to complete but they’ll be rewarded with stunning views over the famous Wineglass Bay, Oyster Bay, and wider Freycinet Peninsula.

Mt Amos Hike Facts

Distance: 4km
Duration: 3-5 hours
Elevation gain: 454m
Nearest town: Coles Bay

About The Mt Amos Hike

The Mt Amos Hike is a fixture on many Australian hiking bucket lists – and for good reason! It’s a tough climb that rewards hikers with panoramic views that far surpass what you can expect to see at the more easily accessible Wineglass Bay Lookout.

Climbing Mt Amos is not for the faint of heart – the track climbs steeply and if it’s been raining the bare rock scrambling near the top is extremely dangerous. If the track is wet – choose another trail.

Mt Amos History

Mount Amos sits within the Freycinet National Park, with the land being officially reserved in 1916. Along with Mt Field, it is Tasmania’s oldest national park.

Mt Amos was named after early European settlers John and Adam Amos, who lived in the nearby town of Swansea in 1821. Not much else is known about why exactly their name was chosen for Mt Amos, with the exception that they both enjoyed spending time on the Freycinet Peninsula.

Indigenous people resided on the Freycinet Peninsula as long as 30,000 years ago. The Toorernomairremener people lived on the coastline for part of the year hunting seals and mutton birds before roving inland for possum, wallabies, and opportunities to trade.

How to Get to Mt Amos

By Car

The easiest way to get to Freycinet National Park for your Mt Amos climb is by taking a car. You’ll be parking in the Wineglass Bay car park, and there’s a visitor centre there with toilets and water.

Your drive will take approximately 2.5 hours from either Hobart or Launceston. Once you reach Coles Bay, follow the C302 to the Wineglass Bay car park.

Skill Level

Intermediate

You need a reasonable level of fitness to climb Mt Amos. It’s a strenuous hike only recommended for well equipped walkers capable of navigating slippery rock slabs and steep inclines. Being physically fit will ensure that you enjoy every minute of this great hike.

Your walking boots will need to have good grip and you need to be mindful that changeable weather conditions might mean that you need to turn back before you reach the Mt Amos Lookout. Safety must come first.

If you’re nervous about walking up sheets of steep rock – don’t attempt this hike. Stick with the Wineglass Bay Lookout instead. You’ll get a similar view of Wineglass Bay, without worrying for your life!

Spend plenty of time taking photos and relaxing for a bit at the top because the trek back down is not super easy. In fact, I would say I struggled more on the way down spending a lot of the slippery sections on my bottom (also probably a good idea to wear thicker pants as I tore my workout tights).

Essential Gear

• Hiking shoes (hiking boots recommended for ankle support)
• Camera!
• Hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves
• Water
• First aid kit
• Raincoat (layers are always recommended, but especially so when you’re hiking at heights!)

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

What it’s Like to Hike Mt Amos

Getting Started

We started the day off early so we had plenty of time to enjoy the view of Wineglass Bay from the top of Mt Amos and make a day of the hike. The track starts from the Wineglass Bay car park and we anticipated that the 4km return trip up the granite mountains would take us about four hours.

After signing in at the visitor centre we began our journey not knowing what to expect. Well, other than the amazing view everyone talks about at the top of the Mt Amos climb. The first section of the hike is an easy and well-marked track, fooling you into thinking the hike may not be as difficult as you first thought.

It was only after we hit the warning signs that we realised the challenges of the hike had not yet begun!

Mt Amos Climb

The next leg of our journey along the Mt Amos track proved to be a lot more challenging. We climbed many steep sections of granite rock that were super slippery and extremely difficult (definitely see why they don’t recommend this hike with bad weather!) but luckily for us the sun was shining!

Note: If it has rained the night before, or is raining on the day of your planned hike to the Mt Amos Lookout, it is recommended that you reschedule your summit attempt for another day.

Navigating your way up this next section is a little tougher. You need to rely on faded yellow trail markers painted on rocks and little blue ribbons tied to trees to guide you to the summit. Make you to bring your eagle eyes with you! You’ll definitely want them for the epic views of Wineglass Bay but you need to get to the Mt Amos Lookout first.

You may or may not be daydreaming about yellow arrows and blue ribbons for days as a result!

The steep climb proves to be worth it. The views along the way are so stunning that if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to stop for pictures on every other step. All the hard work pays off as you reach the summit and get the first glimpse of Wineglass Bay.

Mt Amos Lookout

The weather at the top of the mountain can be very different to the conditions at the start of the Mt Amos Walk so be sure to pack accordingly. This means layers – fleece, puffer, raincoat… you might even want a beanie and gloves depending on the season you’ve chosen to walk in.

Remember it’s better to have it and be comfortable than to be so cold that you only get to enjoy the view for a minute before you need to keep moving for warmth.

Read more: Layering For The Aussie Winter

Spend plenty of time taking photos and relaxing for a bit at the top because the trek back down is not super easy. In fact, it’s extremely difficult. I don’t want to imagine how impossible this would be in wet conditions.

I struggled a lot more on the way down Mt Amos and spent a lot of the slippery rock slab sections on my bottom! It’s also probably a good idea to wear thick pants as I tore my workout tights on the rocks.

Tips for Hiking Mt Amos

• The Wineglass Bay car park gets very busy during peak season and on weekends. Consider timing your arrival for early in the morning or late in the day for the best chance of getting a car spot
• While you’re in Freycinet National Park, you should try a few more walking tracks! Great ones include the Wineglass Bay Lookout (the easier, shorter hike for views of Wineglass Bay), Honeymoon Bay (good views of the hazards) and Cape Tourville
• Bring comfortable walking boots with good grip (they make the challenging track a lot easier to deal with!)
• A light pack will make your climb easier, but don’t compromise on water or layers. You’ll need both
• Don’t hike in wet weather. Just don’t. It’s not worth the risk
• Make sure to check in and register your hike at the Freycinet Visitor Centre so that people know to look for you if you don’t come back. Also, don’t forget to let them know when you return safely!
• Take a buddy with you. The panoramic views are made to be shared

FAQs Mt Amos Hike

Is it called Mt Amos or Mount Amos?

Great question! We’ve found that people use Mount Amos and Mt Amos pretty interchangeably for this hike in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania. No matter which spelling of ‘mount’ you choose to use, people will understand where you’re talking about.

Is the Mt Amos climb hard?

The trail to the Mt Amos Lookout is not easy. You’ll need to rock scramble up smooth rock face and even if you’ve got suitable footwear, this may not be possible for every hiker out there. If you haven’t got much rock scrambling experience, this is quite a difficult place to try it for the first time.

If you love rock scrambling, and have a reasonable fitness level, you’ll really enjoy it. It’s tough, but the epic views are well worth it.

Where is Mt Amos?

Mt Amos is located within the Freycinet National Park on the Freycinet Peninsula along the east coast of Tasmania. The drive from Hobart or Launceston will take between 2 to 2.5 hours.

What else can I do near Mt Amos?

The Freycinent Peninsula is a really popular honeymoon destination and you’ll find great accomodation options, restaurants, and lookouts nearby. There’s also plenty of short walks and beaches to enjoy including Honeymoon Bay. If it’s a hot day, consider taking a dip in the blue waters of the famous Wineglass Bay!

When’s the best time to climb Mt Amos?

The best time to attempt the Mt Amos climb is during periods of dry weather. This track is steep and is dangerous in the rain – there’s a high chance that you could slip down a rock face. Aim for a sunny day and you should have a good time AND be safe! If it starts to rain or if rain is forecast, definitely change your plans or turn around and try again on another day.

How long does it take to hike Mt Amos?

The Mt Amos climb takes most people between three and five hours return, but this will vary based on your fitness level and how long you want to spend at the top enjoying the views. Make sure you let someone else know your trip intentions and log your walk at the Freycinet Visitor Centre.

Header photo by Ashley Cotter

Want more great adventures in Tasmania?

• Paddle the Freycinet Peninsula – A Guide to Kayaking This Spectacular Tassie Coastline
• 10 Tassie Adventures That Are Out of the Ordinary
• The Tarn Shelf – Tasmania’s Best Day Hike You’ve Never Heard Of
• A Guided Fly Fishing Tour is a Unique Way to Experience Tasmania’s Remote Beauty