Tasman National Park

Tasman National Park is on the Tasman Peninsula, part of Tasmania near Port Arthur known for its coastal scenery. The park is home to the columnar dolerite cliffs at Cape Pillar and Tasman Island, perched at 300 meters high, these are some of the highest in the world.

Understand

Flora and fauna

Numerous mammals can be found in the national park and species such as the red-bellied filander, the red-necked wallaby and the wombat have become more common ever since the park was protected. While the Tasmanian devil and the spotted marten were more common in the past, it's now believed that they only live in a smaller population in parts of the park.

On the coasts you can observe the South African fur seal, leopard seal and elephant seal. The waters are also frequented by dolphins of various species, pilot whales, southern capers and humpback whales.

Due to the diverse habitats, numerous species of birds also find their habitat here. These include the little penguin, the endangered species Thinornis rubricollis (a plover) and the wedge-tailed eagle and the white-bellied sea eagle.

Visitor information centre

• Park website
• 1 Tasman Field Centre, 5803 Arthur Highway, Taranna, ☏ +61 3 6250 3980, TasmanNP@parks.tas.gov.au. (updated Dec 2021)

Get in

The park is a quick and easy drive from Port Arthur by simply just taking the C347 down south, until you're eventually there at the park.

Fees and permits

To enter any national park in Tasmania, you'll need to have a valid park pass to enter the park, which can be found on the Parks Tasmania website. There are numerous passes available, depending on your needs. The fees are up-to-date as of February 2024.

A Daily Pass is usually valid for 24 hours and is usable in all parks, although it does not include access to Cradle Mountain. This is particularly useful if you're going to numerous nearby parks. A pass for your vehicle covers up to 8 occupants; you only need the per-person pass if you arrive outside a vehicle.

• Per vehicle: $44.75.
• Per person (≥5 years): $22.35.

If you stay in Tasmania for a few weeks and want to visit several national parks, the Holiday Pass is valid for up to two months. This also includes Cradle Mountain.

• Per vehicle: $89.50.
• Per person (≥5 years): $44.75.

There is also the Annual Park Pass, which is valid in all parks, including Cradle Mountain.

• $95.30 in general.
• $76.25 for concession holders.
• $38.10 for seniors.

If you only plan to frequently revisit one park for 12 months, it costs $48.70 for a regular adult and $38.95 for concession holders. This excludes Cradle Mountain.

Passes can either be purchased through passes.parks.tas.gov.au, in any national park visitor centre, some travel information centres, onboard Spirit of Tasmania vessels, and Service Tasmania centres.

See

Safety Cove and Cape Raoul

Remarkable Cave

• 1 Remarkable Cave, 7182/446 Safety Cove Rd. This sea cavern (not cave, despite its name) may look like any other sea cavern, but when you look at it closely, you'll see the gap looks exactly like the shape of Tasmania but without its many peninsulas on all sides. Getting to the cavern's lookout is a 15-minute walk (return) from Maingon Bay Lookout but has many stairs that you will need to walk up on return. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Maingon Blowhole, Mount Brown Track. While much less well-known than neighbouring Remarkable Cave, if you're into photography, this blowhole is well worth a visit. Visiting the blowhole requires a one-hour walk (return) from Maingon Bay Lookout, but note that sections of the trail are steep and slippery, especially after rainfall. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Maingon Bay Lookout, Safety Cove Rd. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Cape Raoul Lookout, Cape Raoul Track. A jaw-dropping lookout but is only accessible via a 14-km, 5-hour (return) track. The views from this lookout partially characterise the landscapes of this park. (updated Mar 2024)

Eaglehawk Neck

There is a small section of Tasman National Park in Eaglehawk Neck, which include major sites such as Fossil Bay, Tasman Arch and the Devils Kitchen, connected to the township by a small road – this does not connect to any other locations in the park. As such, these sites are covered in Eaglehawk Neck § Tasman National Park. You will still require a Tasmanian national parks pass to visit these sites, but are covered there for practical purposes.

Eat

There are no places to eat, and the nearest are in Port Arthur.

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 Cape Pillar Lodge, Cape Pillar Track, Port Arthur (No specified address. Just in the southeast areas of the cove), ☏ +61 3 6392 2211. Lodge only available for those that choose to walk the Three Capes Track. (updated Dec 2021)

Camping

• Fortescue Bay. It's the final point of the Three Capes Track and is the only officially designated camping spot. There's two campgrounds to choose from, both not far apart from each other. $13 for 2 people (minimum fee), $5 for each additional adult 18+, $2.50 for each additional child (5-17). $16 per family (2 adults, 3 children). (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

• To see some Tasmanian devils, Taranna is nearby and houses the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo.

Routes via Remarkable Rocks/Safety Cove

Port Arthur ←

N C347 S

→ END

Routes via Pirates Bay

Eaglehawk Neck ←

NW C338 SE

→ END