This is a guest post by Candace & Dylan of Tracks Less Travelled. All photos in this post are theirs.
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There are many reasons to visit Tasmania, and many more to fall in love with the little island state. I once heard Tasmania described as New Zealand and Australia’s love child and couldn’t agree more.
Mountainous granite peaks, untouched rugged coastlines and dense temperate rainforests are but a few of the most impressive sights found in Tasmania. Not to mention the quaint coastal towns which are yet to be impacted by the influx of tourism.
Even though this sleepy state gets busier and busier each year, they keep to their quiet country town ways. What this means for us is an abundance of free camping in Tasmania, often without another soul in sight.
We spent 5 weeks exploring the island in our campervan last summer and have put together a list of our favorite free camps in Tasmania.
Note: While all the campsites listed here are free, a national parks pass is required for some. For only $60 for two months, we highly recommend grabbing one as around 40% of Tasmania is protected in national parks and reserves!
Table of Contents
Teds Beach – Lake Pedder
We almost didn’t bother with the drive out to see Gordon’s Dam, down a dead-end road 150km west of Mount Field National Park.
Boy are we glad we did.
This winding road throws you deep into Tasmania’s wild south west wilderness. Not a single house is seen for almost the entire drive from Mount Field.
With rugged mountains lining the road and sub-alpine lakes in the distance, this drive soon became our favorite. Arriving at Lake Pedder, we were breathless. The beauty and solitude are insane. What was once an ancient glacial lake, a mere 3km long, is now a gigantic 242 sq kms.
You’ll forget you’re in Australia once stepping foot in the wild west.
The sunset over the mountains lining the lake was out of this world. And paddle boarding on the unspoilt lake could have easily taken up a whole day. Pure bliss.
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Lake Pedder is a 2.8km (3min) drive south from Strathgordon, where you can fill up on fuel and grab a bite to eat. It is a 153km (2.25hr) drive west from Hobart and a 296km (4hr) drive south west from Launceston.
Type of Camping: RVs, caravans, cars, tents.
Access: Easy.
Facilities: Toilets, sheltered picnic tables, water (boil first).
National Park: No
WikiCamps Link: click here
Cosy Corner North
A blend of orange lichen boulders, turquoise waters, and white sands brought us to the Bay of Fires. But the ease of free camping on east coast Tasmania kept us here for 3 days.
We rolled into Cosy Corner North – one of 10 free campsites along the Bay of Fires coast – on a sunny afternoon and scored a spot 10m from the beach entrance. We couldn’t believe such prime real estate was FREE!
The best part is that you can legally stay at this campsite for 4 weeks before needing to move down the road. This brings about a laid back community vibe throughout the vast and picturesque campsite.
Watching the sun light up the beach. Snorkeling in the crystal clear waters, gently swaying in unison with the kelp while searching for little fishies. Lazing in the hammock between the gnarled coastal trees of an afternoon. We could have happily spent weeks at this free camp in Tasmania.
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Cosy Corner North Campsite is a 14km (15min) drive north from St Helens, a 179km (2.5hr) drive east from Launceston and a 266km (3.5hr) drive north from Hobart.
Type of Camping: RVs, caravans, cars, tents.
Access: No 4WD needed. Some parts are quite skinny and sandy, so checking if there is space before navigating through in a large rig is recommended.
Facilities: Drop toilets, no water.
National Park: Yes.
WikiCamps link: click here
Trial Harbour
Bumping along a 20km dirt road flanked by both dense rainforests and button grass plains, we were overwhelmed by the stark beauty as we entered Trial Harbour via the steep switchbacks winding to the coast.
A village with the motto “relax, rejuvenate, and take it easy.” Need I say more?
Trial Harbour’s free campsite hides among the shadows of Mt Heemskirk, which offers some welcomed shelter from the raw Southern Ocean. The coastal village is susceptible to the roaring 40s and can experience all forms of weather at any time of year!
We managed to score a calm day and spent the morning searching through the storm washed rock pools smattered around the point.
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Trial Harbour is a 251km (3.5hr) drive south west from Launceston and a 317km (5hr) drive north west from Hobart.
Type of Camping: Caravans, small RVs, cars, tents.
Access: 2WD is fine unless there has been lots of rain, then some sites will require a 4WD. The road into Trial Harbour is not suitable for large rigs and neither is the campsite, which is one single road with a small turning circle at the end.
Facilities: Drop toilets, no water.
National Park: No.
WikiCamps Link: click here
Boltons Green Campsite
Enticed by the idea of visiting the most southern point of any formed road on the planet, we set off on a 20km corrugated dirt road to go camping in Tasmania’s far south.
We had a rookie moment here, driving in the dead of night and narrowly missing the thousands of pademelons that seemed to be on a death march. Pro tip: Don’t drive at night. If you think the mainland has a problem with kangaroos, that’s nothing compared to Tasmania’s pademelon problem.
Waking up to our first glimpse of Boltons Green Campsite, bordering the banks of Recherche Bay and edging into the wild and untouched Southwest National Park, we knew the drive was well worth it.
We chose to camp at Boltons Green over the other free campsites for two reasons: 1. It was literally at the end of the road with no traffic whatsoever, and 2. It was the most spacious with soft lush grass to laze about on under the giant trees.
Cockle Creek has no shortage of adventure either. With quirky coves to explore, a 15km walk out to the most southern tip of Australia and loads of rich history in the form of abandoned tramways, gravestones and Aboriginal sites, you’ll be able to fill up a weekend easily.
Just be sure to grab all you need before you go – the closest town with a supermarket is 45km away!
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Cockle Creek is a 121km (2hr) drive south from Hobart and a 322km (4.5hr) drive south from Launceston.
Type of Camping: RVs, caravans, cars, tents.
Access: Easy, but an approximately 20km long corrugated dirt road may deter some people.
Facilities: Drop toilets, water (boil first).
National Park: Yes, although there are a few free campsites before the National Park starts.
WikiCamps Link: click here
Marrawah Green Point Campground
The far north west of Tasmania boasts some of the cleanest air in the world, isolated coastlines with lush green valleys, and world-class surf. We cannot understand why so many tourists choose not to venture here – honestly, it was a no brainer for us.
This secluded campsite tucks in behind the windswept sand dunes lining Green Point Beach, with a tree line marking the perimeter and sheltering you from the wild weather of the west.
With only a few mad surfers set up to wait for the perfect conditions, we had the campsite and beach almost to ourselves.
Green Point Beach even offers an outdoor shower. Absolute gold for us wandering van dwellers.
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Green Point Campsite is a 7.5km (11min) drive west from Marrawah, a 277km (3.5hr) drive west from Launceston and a 456km (5.5hr) drive north west from Hobart.
Type of Camping: RVs, caravans, cars, tents.
Access: Easy.
Facilities: Toilets, outdoor shower, picnic tables, water (boil first).
National Park: No.
WikiCamps Link: click here
Mayfield Bay Campsite
We stumbled upon Mayfield Beach by chance when a storm upended our original plans for the day. The Mayfield Bay campsite is a cozy little spot on a hill, nestled among eucalyptus trees, looking down over Oyster Bay.
Once the storm ended, we ventured down to the beach – a stone’s throw away – and marveled in the setting sun throwing magical colors over the mountains of Freycinet National Park in the distance.
The calm stretch of beach was the perfect environment for morning yoga and a freezing dip in the ocean. Gotta love camping in Tasmania!
More About This Free Camp in Tasmania
Location: Mayfield Beach Campsite is a 15.6km (15min) drive south from Swansea, a 119km (1.5hr) drive north from Hobart, and a 152km (2hr) drive south east from Launceston.
Type of Camping: Small caravans, cars, tents.
Access: Easy.
Facilities: Drop toilets, no water.
National Park: No.
WikiCamps Link: click here
