Wineglass Bay walk: Freycinet lookout and beach guide

Wineglass Bay walk options in Freycinet National Park start from one car park, and the shortest one takes about 1 hour return. That walk climbs to a lookout above the bay. To stand on the sand you need about 2 1/2 hours return. A full loop that adds Hazards Beach takes about 4 1/2 hours.

Freycinet is on Tasmania's east coast. This guide sets out each walk, the time the park service gives for it, what is changing at the lookout this year, and what to carry.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities.

The three walks at a glance

The park service sorts walks by length. The lookout is in its short group, under 2 hours return. The beach is a half-day walk. The circuit is a long walk of 4 to 8 hours return. These are the official times. Many visitors go slower, so add time for photos and rests.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities.

The lookout walk

The lookout track is a short, fairly steep climb to the saddle between Mt Amos and Mt Mayson. At the saddle, a side track leads to the lookout. From there you see the white curve of Wineglass Bay.

Take your time on the way up. A park minister said in January that the track has been widened, the grade made more moderate, and more seating added since upgrade work began in 2006. He also said injuries on the track have fallen a great deal. On the way down, watch your feet. The park service warns that loose gravel can make the downhill sections slippery.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities; Parks and Wildlife Service news, Iconic Freycinet tourism experience to be improved, 7 January 2011.

Down to the beach

To reach the bay, follow the lookout walk and keep going downhill. The park service says this walk takes 2 1/2 hours return. It rates it as a half-day walk. You come out on a long white beach with clear water.

A 20 minute walk along the sand to the southern end gives views of the Hazards, the granite peaks behind Coles Bay. Most people return the way they came. You can also join the circuit described next.

Camping at the bay is for overnight walkers only. The park lists small campsites at Wineglass Bay, Hazards, Cooks and Bryans Beaches. It says water is normally in tanks at Cooks Beach and in Jimmy's Creek, with less reliable creeks elsewhere, so plan your water before an overnight trip.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities.

The Hazards Beach circuit

The circuit is about 11 km and takes 4 1/2 hours. Just before you reach Wineglass Bay Beach, turn right off the track. After half an hour of flat walking across the isthmus, you reach Hazards Beach.

Turn right and follow the beach to its northern end. There you join a track that follows the coast for about 5 1/2 km around the base of Mt Mayson. It ends at the car park. The park service says to wear boots, ideally with gaiters, and to carry a good map. If you plan to walk farther down Hazards Beach, allow 5 to 6 hours return.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities.

What is changing at the lookout

The Parks and Wildlife Service plans to replace the lookout this year. The project is worth $410,000 and uses money from the Urban Renewal and Heritage Fund. The new lookout will cover about 80 square metres. The old timber one is about 16 square metres and nearly 20 years old.

The new one will be cut into the side of the mountain. It will be built on two levels from concrete and gravel, with retaining walls that double as seating. Work is due to start after Easter and run through winter, when fewer people visit. The service says some track sections will close for short periods, and helicopters will fly materials in. If you plan a trip after Easter, check the track status first.

The same release says Freycinet is the most visited national park in Tasmania. It says this walk draws up to 140,000 visitors a year, so expect company on a fine day.

Sources for this section: Parks and Wildlife Service news, Iconic Freycinet tourism experience to be improved, 7 January 2011.

Getting there, fees and what to carry

The park is 2 1/2 to 3 hours by road from Hobart or Launceston. Turn off the Tasman Highway onto Coles Bay Road, 12 km south of Bicheno. The main entrance and visitor centre are just past Coles Bay township, about 30 km from the highway. The centre is open 8am to 5pm from November to April and 9am to 4pm from May to October. Drive with care between sunset and sunrise, because wildlife is on the road.

You need a park pass to enter. The park service lists a daily pass at $24 per vehicle for up to 8 people, or $12 per person. A holiday pass for up to 8 weeks costs $60 per vehicle. Check the current price before you go, because fees can change.

• Footwear: boots, as the park service advises, with a good map.
• Weather: check the forecast before any walk. The park service tells walkers to do this first.
• Water and food: carry your own for the day. Water and toilets are at the Honeymoon Bay and Ranger Creek day areas.
• Fire: no fires are allowed in the park. On days of Total Fire Ban, no naked flames of any sort are allowed in the open, including gas and fuel stoves.

This is general information, not medical advice. The climb is steep, so go at a pace that suits you and turn back if you are unwell.

Sources for this section: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Access and Activities; Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, National Parks Passes.

Sources

1. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Activities: parks.tas.gov.au
2. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, Freycinet National Park, Access: parks.tas.gov.au
3. Parks and Wildlife Service news, Iconic Freycinet tourism experience to be improved: parks.tas.gov.au
4. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, National Parks Passes: parks.tas.gov.au