Coles Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania, drawing visitors from all around the world to view Wineglass Bay and to explore the Freycinet National Park. Due to its stunning beauty and the diversity of the activities you can undertake in this part of Tasmania, it is also a haven for local (people from all across Tasmania) to head to Tasmania’s sunny East Coast and to camp in Coles Bay and the Freycinet National Park. There are a range of campgrounds in the Coles Bay area and the Freycinet National Park, both free and paid. But please note, it is near on impossible to get a campsite in this area from mid-December until after the Australia Day long-weekend. Many interstate visitors simply arrive in Coles Bay towing a large caravan in late December / early January only to learn that a ballot operates to assign campsites during Christmas and again at Easter. The ballot closes towards the end of July each year and is drawn on the 1st August to allocate sites for the Christmas summer season period from 18th December to 10th February and also over Easter. One entry per family or group is permitted for Christmas and another may be entered for Easter. If successful, the maximum stay is 10 nights for up to 6 people per site. For the non-ballot period, bookings for campsites can be pre-booked through the Freycinet Visitor Centre and full payment is required to hold the campsite. Outside of the Ballot period the maximum length of stay is 14 nights. Each site can accommodate up to 6 people. Please notify the Visitor Centre if you plan to arrive a day late. All bookings not taken up by the first night will be deemed a no show and cancelled (cancellation fees will apply). At all times of the year, please don’t just turn up and expect to be able to camp at Richardsons Beach of Honeymoon Bay – always call as far ahead as possible and seek a reservation. There are two campgrounds outside the National Park that can’t be booked – all camping is on a first come, first serve basis. These are River & Rocks and Friendly Beaches, but again they are extremely popular from mid-December until early February each year and again at Easter. Freycinet is a Fuel Stove Only area as it is very dry and vulnerable to fire (most recent fires September 2023). Fires are NOT allowed in the Freycinet National Park. Gas and fuel stoves can be used except on days of Total Fire Ban, when no naked flames of any sort, including gas and fuel stoves, are allowed in open areas. The electric barbecues provided at Ranger Creek and Honeymoon Bay picnic areas can be used for cooking on these days. Unpowered sites are $13 per night for 2 people, with powered sites $16 per night for 2 persons. Each additional adult is $5 in an unpowered site, and $7 in a powered site up to a maximum of 6 people per site.

Cockle Creek is as far south as you can travel in Tasmania in the Southwest National Park. It is a haven for bushwalkers and campers with Cockle Creek offering multiple camping options and a number of short and longer bushwalks. Cockle Creek is well known as the end point for one of Tasmania’s best multi-day walk, the South Coast Track. Cockle Creek is an app. 2hr drive, or 120 kilometres south of  Hobart with the last 20 kilometres, from the small settlement of Lune River, being a gravel road that is narrow in part and sometimes in poor condition necessitating driving with care. Camping at Cockle Creek is free and no bookings are accepted – all camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no shops or services at Cockle Creek, meaning you will need to take in all supplies. There are supermarkets on the way to Cockle Creek from Hobart in Huonville and Dover. It is important to note that there are multiple campsites outside the national park, and where a National Parks and Wildlife Pass is NOT required. If you travel over the bridge, you enter the National Park where you will see the visitor centre on the right and where a National Parks Pass IS required. Please also note that NO DOGS are allowed past the bridge. 

The campgrounds outside the National Park at in the Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area. Dogs are allowed in The Recherche Bay Nature Reserve – you must keep your dog under control at all times. Dogs must be kept on a lead in the campgrounds and prevented from wandering outside of camping areas, noting there is a lot of wildlife in this area. Dogs are allowed off lead and under effective control, where signed on Finns Beach, Gillams Beach and Jones Beach.

The first campground you come to is Gillams Beach Campground which is is located app. 15.5 km south of Ida Bay – Finns Beach Campground is a further 500 metres along the road. If you continue south for another 1.1 km you will reach the Catamaran Campground which has a boat ramp and is popular with fishermen. Ramsgate Campground is located a further 3 km south of Catamaran commencing at the northern end of Sayers Beach and finishing at the Cockle Creek Cemetery, being a significant attraction in the area. Cockle Creek Campground is located between the cemetery and bridge and beyond the bridge. The campgrounds on offer in order from when you enter Cockle Creek from Lune River are briefly described as follows – click on the link for more detailed information.