Camping Cooks Beach

Bookings are not required or possible to camp at Cooks Beach. Pets are not permitted at Cooks Beach, noting it is located in the Freycinet National Park. The camping at Cooks Beach is specifically for bushwalkers on an overnight hike, and is only very small and suitable for tent only camping, noting you must carry in all equipment and food for an overnight stay. The walk to Cooks Beach campsite is 12 km one way and takes approximately 3.5 hours. This campsite offers stunning views and sunsets. Water collection points can be found with a tap located at the walking tracks car park and from a tank at Cooks Hut, Cooks Beach Campground. Due to low rainfall, however, there is no guarantee there will be water available in this tank so always be prepared and carry additional drinking water. Composting toilets can be found at Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach and the Cooks Beach campsite. The Freycinet National Park is a fuel stove only area as it is very dry and vulnerable to fire. No fires are allowed in the Freycinet National Park. Gas and fuel stoves may be used except on days of Total Fire Ban, when no naked flames of any sort, including gas and fuel stoves, are allowed in the open. See: Freycinet Circuit Walk: Cooks Beach campsite is the furthest south on the western side of the Freycinet Peninsula, and at the south end of Cooks Beach. This campsite is home to the historic Cooks Hut, which supports stonework dating back to 1859 with the hut suitable for shelter from the weather and for cooking. Camping in the hut permitted.

It is important to note that camping at Richardsons Beach, Ranger Creek and Honeymoon Bay over Christmas and at Easter is subject to a ballot. The ballot closes in July each year and is drawn on the 1st August to allocate sites for the Christmas summer season from 18th December to 10th February and during Easter. Only one entry per family/group is allowed for Christmas and another may be entered for Easter. Maximum stay is 10 nights for up to 6 people per site. Notification of the ballot draw will be as immediate after the draw as possible, but typically within two weeks. For non-ballot periods, campsites can be pre-booked through the Freycinet Visitor Centre with full payment required at the time of booking to hold the campsite. Outside of the ballot period, the maximum length of stay is 14 nights and each site can hold up to 6 people. All bookings not arriving by the first night will be deemed a no show and cancelled (cancellation fees will apply).

Please also note that to camp at Cooks Beach, Ranger Creek, Richardsons Beach and Honeymoon Bay, a valid National Park Pass is required apply in addition to any relevant camping fees.