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.
Gillams Beach is a very basic campground that is well signposted and on the right side of the road when travelling in a southerly direction. There is a basic, but clean pit toilet. It is suitable for all forms of camping, but camping in a vehicle is recommended. It is important to note that the campground can get very wet and muddy and difficult to enter and exit if you are in a 2WD vehicle or travelling in a big rig. You could expect to fit a maximum of 20 vehicles at Gillams Beach Campground.
The next campground, and very close, is Finns Beach. It is very similar to Gillams and a very basic campground that is also signposted and on the right side of the road when travelling in a southerly direction. Again, the only facility is a basic, but clean pit toilet. It is suitable for all forms of camping, but camping in a vehicle is recommended. It is important to note that this campground can also get very wet and muddy and difficult to enter and exit if you are in a 2WD vehicle or travelling in a big rig. You could expect to fit a maximum of 10-12 vehicles at Finns Beach Campground.
The next campground, and very close, is Catamaran Campground. It is very similar to Gillams Beach and Finns Beach and is a basic campground that is also signposted and on the left side of the road when travelling in a southerly direction. Again, the only facility is a basic, but clean pit toilet. It is suitable for all forms of camping, but camping in a vehicle is recommended. This campground has a boat ramp, so is popular with fishermen. You could expect to fit a maximum of 12-15 vehicles at Catamaran Campground.
The next campground, and quite close, is Ramsgate Campground. It is again similar to Gillams Beach and Finns Beach and is a basic campground that is also signposted and on the right side of the road when travelling in a southerly direction. It is slightly larger and offers a number of areas, and some with shade and increased privacy amongst the trees. Again, the only facility is a basic, but clean pit toilet. It is suitable for all forms of camping, but camping in a vehicle is recommended. You could expect to fit a maximum of 18-20 vehicles at Ramsgate Campground.
The next campground, and quite close, is Cockle Creek Campground before the bridge. It is a basic campground but extends over a larger area and is also signposted and on the right side of the road when travelling in a southerly direction. Being larger it offers a number of areas, and some with shade and increased privacy amongst the trees and also next to the river. The only facility is a basic, but clean pit toilet. It is suitable for all forms of camping, but camping in a vehicle is recommended. You could expect to fit a maximum of 20 vehicles at Cockle Creek Campground.
The next campground, and just over the bridge in the National Park is Boltons Green and that is close to the Cockle Creek Campground. It is a basic campground but extends over a larger area and is also signposted and on the left side of the road just past the visitor centre. The only facilities are a couple of clean pit toilets. It is best suited for campervans, camper trailers or tent camping – caravans should typically camp in the campgrounds before the bridge where there is more room. You could expect to fit a maximum of 10 vehicles at Cockle Creek Campground.
