Tasman National Park
- Introduction
- Fact file
- A look at the past
- Natural features
- Native plants
- Wildlife
- PWS Seven Mile Beach
- (03) 6214 8100
- WALK a section of the Tasman Coastal Trail to see blowholes and precipitous cliffs
- TAKE a scenic flight over the awe-inspiring columns of Cape Raoul and Cape Pillar
- MARVEL at the impressive paver-patterned sea rocks of the Tessellated Pavement
- CLIMB down the chasm into Remarkable Cave
Introduction
Comprising a narrow coastal strip along the east and south of Forestier and Tasman peninsulas and several offshore islands, Tasman National Park protects dramatic cliff formations, mystical bays and waterfalls that plunge straight into the sea. The names of the park’s strange geological sculptures – Blowhole, Devils Kitchen, Tasmans Arch, Remarkable Cave, Candlestick and Totem Pole – give a hint of what to expect in this spectacular coastal environment.
Fact file
Access
From Hobart via Tasman Hwy to Sorell then Arthur Hwy to Eaglehawk Neck (various access roads lead from here to different sections of the park)
Best Season
Spring and summer
Location
80 km south-east of Hobart
Park Information
Permits
Park entry fee applies, payable at Fortescue Bay campsite (03) 6250 2433
Size
10 750 ha
Where to Stay
Eaglehawk Neck (03) 6250 3635
Eaglehawk Neck Backpackers
(03) 6250 3248
Port Arthur (03) 6251 2310,
1800 659 101
Port Arthur Caravan and Cabin Park
(03) 6250 2340
Roseview YHA Hostel Port Arthur
(03) 6250 2311
White Beach Caravan Park
(03) 6250 2142
A look at the past
Aboriginal people occupied this area for over 30 000 years and when Europeans arrived it was home to the most southerly group of the Oyster Bay tribe, the Pydairrerme. Abel Tasman sighted the massive sea cliffs of Cape Raoul and Cape Pillar in 1642. With its treacherous coastline and narrow land gateway at Eaglehawk Neck – a narrow isthmus between the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas – the British saw the Tasman Peninsula as an ideal prison location and established the notorious Port Arthur penal colony here in 1830. Transportation of convicts ended in 1853 but Port Arthur remained a prison until its closure in 1877. Timber cutters and orchardists settled the area in the 1880s. In the 20th century the region developed a vibrant tourism industry based on its spectacular natural features. Tasman National Park was proclaimed in 1999.
Natural features
The park encompasses magnificent bluffs, blowholes, sea stacks, precipitous 300-metre cliffs and sea-carved crevasses. Fortescue Bay is a wild surf beach while there are sheltered waters in Crescent Bay.
Native plants
Forests of blue gum, stringybark and mountain gum dominate in the west, while in the east she-oaks and silver peppermints grow on the rocky cliff tops. Tea-tree heaths are widespread with an understorey of dogrose and melaleucas. Three species of euphrasia, a perennial herb found nowhere else in the world, cling to rock ledges and crevices.
Wildlife
Nearly every Tasmanian mammal is found in the park, most notably the Bennett’s wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, short-beaked echidna, common wombat, brushtail and ringtail possums, Tasmanian devil and eastern quoll. In the thick undergrowth there are Tasmanian bettongs, potoroos, dusky and swamp antechinuses, eastern barred and southern brown bandicoots and eastern and little pygmy-possums, while swamp rats and water rats are found in creek gullies. Cape Hauy, Cape Pillar, Cape Raoul and Hippolyte Rocks have colonies of Australian fur-seals, and visits by leopard and elephant seals. Dolphins and humpback and southern right whales cruise offshore. Little penguins and hooded plovers breed amid the dunes, while Australasian gannets, terns and yellow-bellied sea-eagles roam the coast. In the forests are scarlet robins, fairy-wrens and honeyeaters.
Featured Activities in the National Park
Introduction
The park offers the most spectacular coastal scenery in Tasmania and fascinating convict heritage at nearby Port Arthur. There is good fishing and boating, with ramps at The Blowhole, Fortescue Bay and Stewarts Bay. The rocky shoreline is subject to unpredictable swells and king waves and cliff tops are precipitous, mostly unprotected and not suitable for young children. Underwater caves, wrecks and beautiful gardens of giant kelp attract scuba divers. Seaplane scenic flights leave from Port Arthur.
Adventure sports
Rock-climbing enthusiasts flock to the area’s sea cliffs and stacks – Candlestick, Mount Brown, Paradiso, Totem Pole and Moai. The rugged coastline is also popular for sea kayaking but good preparation is needed as sea and weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly. A hang-gliding launch site at Pirates Bay has a section of the surf beach below set aside for landings.
Bushwalking
Tasman Coastal Trail (3–5 days one way) is an extended walk from Devils Kitchen to Cape Pillar, but walking shorter sections is possible. The Devils Kitchen to Waterfall Bay section takes 2 hours return. Most walkers start at Waterfall Bay. The Fortescue Bay to Cape Hauy section (4 hours return) offers breathtaking views of Mitre Island and the Candlestick. In the west of the park, Cape Raoul track (5 hours return) goes to one of the most spectacular capes in the park with a sidetrack to Shipstern Bluff, where surfers will find Australia’s biggest waves occur on a south-west swell.
Scenic views
A lookout on the Arthur Highway, just before it descends to Eaglehawk Neck, has sweeping views across Pirates Bay to Fossil Island and Cape Hauy. A 10-minute walk from the lookout leads to the Tessellated Pavement, a strangely patterned seashore platform. When seas are huge at Fossil Bay, as they often are, the pressure wave at the Blowhole can be felt in your chest as you get out of the car at the lookout. At Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen you can peer over the edge of sea-carved caverns and tunnels. In the west, Remarkable Cave is a tunnel connected to a deep crevasse in the cliffs, where you can descend and look through the Tasmania-shaped gap to the ocean beyond. It is a favourite surfing spot and the Maignon Bay lookout gives a brilliant view of surf conditions below as well as the sea cliffs stretching away to Cape Raoul.
Campsites
Bivouac Bay campsite (walk-in camping)
Explore Australia’s National Parks
Buy nowRRP $49.95