Freycinet Peninsula Circuit – 3 Days of Beach Bliss on Tasmania’s East Coast

Home to so much more than just the stunning Wineglass Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit offers up views and swimming opportunities more commonly associated with boutique accommodation. Explorer Emily shares her trip along this beautiful trail in Tassie.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the toorerno-maire-mener clan who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, located on Tasmania’s East Coast, is a splendid 27km hike that introduces walkers to many of Tasmania’s greatest assets – pearl-white beaches, crimson sunsets, diverse forests and wildlife, and granite mountains.

Quick Overview

The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a 27km loop, Grade 3 hike located in the Freycinet National Park on Tasmania’s East Coast, about 2.5-3 hours from either Hobart or Launceston. The hike takes around 2-3 days to complete.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Freycinet Peninsula Circuit Quick Facts

Distance: 27km
Duration: 2-3 days
Elevation gain: Approximately 1300m
Nearest town: Coles Bay

About Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

The immaculate shape and white sand of Wineglass Bay has certainly popularised the national park, but the Freycinet Peninsula is so much more than that. It’s also known for its many sheltered bays, relaxed beachside camping, granite and dolerite peaks, and its wonderful array of flora and fauna.

As a semi-wilderness experience, hiking the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit traces a large portion of the park and shows off many of its impressive features. It gives you a chance to fully unwind and immerse yourself in nature over the space of a weekend. Just don’t be surprised when you want to stay for a third or fourth day!

The stunning Wineglass Bay in all her glory

Freycinet Peninsula National Park History

Freycinet National Park was founded in 1916 within the traditional territory of the toorerno-maire-mener clan, part of the Oyster Bay nation. It’s Tasmania’s oldest national park alongside Mount Field.

Read more: Embracing Snowy Mount Field National Park

Freycinet Peninsula is one of few areas that wasn’t repurposed for farming or economic purposes on the East Coast in the early 1900s, but conservation management of this richly biodiverse area did not become a priority until 1970.

Around 49 species are endemic to the area, with most of the native vegetation still intact. Whale watchers, bird lovers, and wildflower enthusiasts may all find their interests piqued here throughout the year, while Bennetts wallabies, echidnas, and pademelons are frequently spotted.

To this day, the peninsula holds many significant Aboriginal sites and is of continuing cultural importance to the Traditional Owners.

Bennetts wallaby at Hazards Beach campground

How to Get to Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit starts and ends at Wineglass Bay car park in Freycinet National Park.

By Car

From Hobart or Launceston, the drive to Freycinet National Park is about 2.5-3 hours via the Tasman Highway (A3). Turn onto Coles Bay Road, 12km south of Bicheno, and follow it through the township to the entrance of the park. The car park is at the end of the road. You’ll need a valid National Parks pass for your vehicle.

By Bus

From Hobart

Take the Tassielink 737 bus route to Coles Bay Road via Bicheno (adults $24, concession $12). Then take the 745 bus to the Freycinet Visitors Centre.

From Launceston

Take the Calow’s Coaches service from Cornwall Square to Coles Bay. Then take the 745 bus to the Freycinet Visitors Centre.

Once you arrive at the visitor centre, it’s approximately 3.5km to the trailhead. Total trip duration on both bus routes is about four hours, plus however long it takes you to walk the 3.5km to the trail.

You can also head to the summit of Mt Amos from the visitor centre (another great Freycinet Peninsula hike!)

Where to Camp Along Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

There are three campsites along the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit:

1. Hazards Beach Campground, approximately 7km from the trailhead
2. Cooks Corner Campground, approximately 13km from the trailhead (many people choose this as their site for day one)
3. Wineglass Bay Campground, approximately 4km from the end of the track

As for camping before the hike, sites at Richardsons Beach, Honeymoon Bay, and Ranger Creek, as well as Friendly Beaches further north can be booked through Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

Serviced accommodation or holiday rentals to stay in before or after your hike are available at Coles Bay or at the edge of Freycinet National Park, such as at the luxury Freycinet Lodge or Big4 IIuka Holiday Park.

Hazards Beach campground

Skill Level

Intermediate

The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a great entry point for multi-day hiking as distances between campsites each day aren’t massive and the terrain is moderate overall.

However, it does require a reasonable level of preparedness and hiking experience. You have to carry all your own gear, water sources are not always reliable so you often have to carry in what you need for the entire hike, there’s no telephone reception, and there are steep rocky sections as well as beaches to cross.

Read more: How to Stay Safe at the Beach

Granite rock formations are everywhere, even up!

Essential Gear for Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

• Water bottles (recommend carrying 2-3L per person, per day)
• Water purification tablets or a filter for the rainwater tanks
• Sun protection
• Fuel stove for cooking – no fires are allowed in Freycinet National Park
• Swimmers
• First aid kit
• PLB
• Warm layers and a raincoat – even in summer this area can get quite cold at night and the weather can be unpredictable
• Creature-proof food storage containers (trust me)

Read more: Overnight Hiking Packing List: 20+ Must-Have Hiking Essentials

Do not, I repeat, do not forget your swimmers!

What it’s Like to Hike the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

Tasmania has been my favourite Aussie hiking destination for years, but hiking the full Freycinet Peninsula Circuit was a first. I wanted to show my travel companion ‘iconic Tasmania’, plus experience the diverse terrain of the peninsula, shaped over 400 million years, over a few uninterrupted days.

Beyond meandering trails through classic Australian native forests in the warm autumn sun, I swam in secluded bays, made a few challenging climbs over the peninsula’s signature granite mountains, and revelled in splendid views to boot.

Hazard Beach Campground

Day 1 – Car park to Cooks Corner Campground

Distance: 13km
Duration: 3.5 hours

Starting from the Wineglass Bay car park, we followed the trail anti-clockwise down the western peninsula, as is customary to help avoid the spread of phytoph​thora​ (root rot).

The start of this hike was a great warm up – a relatively flat headland trail through scrubby banksias and sheoak forests, with glimpses toward the azul waters of the bay. Views of Mount Freycinet rose in the background as we crossed the 3km-long Hazards Beach. Most people continue on to Cooks Corner Campground, another 5km down the peninsula.

Sand walking is so much easier without boots on

On our trip in mid-March, we left late in the afternoon so instead stopped to camp at the southern end of Hazards Beach (about two hours from the car park). This campground is nestled amongst blue gum trees and is only a few steps from the water.

We swam, a glorious post-hike feeling, then prepared dinner on the orange lichen-stained rocks as the sun went down. It was a pretty special end to day one.

Dinner on Hazards Beach

Day 2 – Cooks Corner to Wineglass Bay Campground

Distance: 11km
Duration: 6-8 hours

Day two was far more strenuous, but it covered dynamic and beautiful ground. I loved the feeling of being totally present in nature, no phone reception and no distractions.

From the Cooks Beach junction, we followed the track heading inland. Passing through dense woodland, I slowly made my way up toward Mount Freycinet and Mount Graham. There were some steep sections of granite boulders between gnarled gums, but we were rewarded atop Mount Graham with views of the peninsula’s south and Schouten Island.

A pretty Scribbly gum

From there, the trail followed a ridgeline through more exposed button grass moorland – another staple of Tasmanian terrain. The weather turned at this point with cold wind gusts and intermittent rain, so I became eager to make our way quickly down the relatively steep and winding trail to Wineglass Bay. This took roughly two hours and a lot of positive self-talk.

By the time we arrived, the wind was howling and the sky had turned ominously dark. The Wineglass Bay Campground is sheltered among sand dunes at the southern end, where we quickly set up the tent. I wandered down the beach to watch a dramatic sunset and another camper pointed out they could see bioluminescence in the shallow waves of the bay!

It’s very common for hikers to have the beach completely to themselves once the day trippers have gone home

Due to its popularity as a day trip, the mammals at Wineglass Bay are pretty accustomed to humans. I woke in the middle of the night to a crazed pademelon in search of food deftly unzipping my backpack which I’d secured under the flap of our tent! I shooed it away, then packed all my food inside the tent only to be woken again a short time later by the animal trying to hustle its way in for a feed. Not quite the peaceful sleep in the bush I was hoping for, and a stark reminder to make sure any food or rubbish is tightly locked away when in the wild.

Side trip: Mount Freycinet Summit

Before the weather turned, I decided to climb Mount Freycinet which is a short but steep 1.5km add-on that took about two hours return. The route wasn’t super clearly marked and required some scrambling over big boulders. A whole lot of wind greeted me at the top, as well as stellar 360° views of the peninsula.

En route to the top!

Day 3 – Wineglass Bay to car park

Distance: 4km
Time: 1.5 hours

In the morning, the bay was still. I walked down to the beach to take in the calm turquoise waters, cradled by Mount Amos in the distance. Remarkably at that early hour, there was no one else in sight. It’s cliché but true, the water is so clear and the sand oh-so white. I couldn’t resist a couple of crisp ocean swims.

I checked my remaining water supply – just under one litre – enough to cover me for a bit of time in the sun before the walk out.

We followed the beach barefoot, backpacks on, to the stairs for a final steep climb out of the bay and over the Hazards saddle to finish the hike. There, sweaty and a little parched, I looked back for clifftop views of the beautifully curved (ahem, wineglass) beach and the hills from which we descended.

It’s a long sand walk but the views more than make the effort worthwhile

Tips for Hiking the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

• Campsites can’t be booked in advance so it’s first in, best-dressed
• In summer the national park is extremely popular for obvious reasons, so visiting in the shoulder or off-season is recommended to avoid crowds
• Water sources are more reliable in the off-season too as summers can be very hot and dry
• Enjoy the tranquillity of solitude if and when you find it
• Savour and protect the incredible Tassie flora and fauna!
• Make sure you have a way of securing your food at night, and don’t leave packs unattended

Move quietly and keep a camera/phone on hand to capture magical moments like this

FAQs Freycinet Peninsula Circuit

How hard is the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit?

The Freycinet Peninsula hike is a Grade 3 trail, which means it’s best suited to hikers with some experience. Sand hiking isn’t easy and there’s a lot of it on this hike. You’ll also need to be self-sufficient with water and food over multiple days.

How long does it take to hike the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit?

The average time taken to complete the 27km circuit is 2-3 days. While it can be accomplished overnight, the campsites are stunning and you’ll likely regret not allowing more time – especially if you love a post-hike dip!

Do you need a permit to hike the Peninsula Circuit in Freycinet National Park?

No there’s no specific permit required for this hike, but you will need a valid Tasmania Parks Pass.

When is the best time to hike the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit?

Spring and autumn are the best times to hike this trail for the milder weather and fewer crowds. Summer is also nice but you’ll need to be mindful of taking enough water and protecting yourself from the intense sun.

More Adventures on Tassie’s East Coast

• My Climb Up Mt Amos in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park
• Paddle the Freycinet Peninsula – A Guide to Kayaking This Spectacular Tassie Coastline
• Camping The Friendly Beaches in Tasmania
• 10 Lesser-Known Places To Explore on Tasmania’s East Coast