Narawntapu National Park

Narawntapu National Park is a Tasmanian national park in the northwest of Tasmania, minutes away from Devonport and Launceston. It's one of the few coastal national parks in Tasmania, and one of the few national parks along the Bass Strait.

Understand

History

The name "Narawntapu" refers to the coastal promontories West Head and Badger Head within the park. However, before 2000, the name of the park was once called Asbestos Range National Park, but the name was deterring potential visitors because of the name "asbestos", resulting in a name change.

Landscape

The park mostly has a coastal landscape with a few hills and headlands.

Flora and fauna

Vegetation communities represented in the park include coastal heathland, dry sclerophyll woodland, herbland, grassland and salt marsh. The rare Pygmy Clubmoss has been recorded from the park.

There is also a high density of marsupials present, which can include kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons, common wombats and Tasmanian devils.

Climate

The park has a temperate maritime climate with a yearly rainfall of 750 mm, usually in winter. The prevailing winds are from the north-east and north-west. Mean temperatures are 17°C in January and 9°C in July, with little variation.

Visitor information

• Park website
• 1 Mersey Field Centre, 1349 Bakers Beach Road, Bakers Beach, ☏ +61 3 6428 6277, narawntapu.parks@parks.tas.gov.au. Has interpretive displays, park office and full picnic and toilet facilities with nearby barbecue facilities. (updated Dec 2021)

Get in

If you are coming from Devonport, use the National Highway 1 Bass Highway down south and then immediately exit onto B74 after a kilometre, and then immediately turn onto B71 Frankford Road. After 21 km (13 mi), turn left onto C740 Bakers Beach Road and continue onto C740 for about 4 kilometres until you've arrived at Narawntapu National Park.

If you're coming from Launceston, also use the National Highway 1 Bass Highway west and after 31 km (19 mi), exit onto B72 until the very end of the road till the B71 junction. Once you're at the B71 junction, turn left, and continue onwards for 25.7 km (16.0 mi) until C740. Once at C740, turn right and continue for about 4 kilometres until you've arrived at Narawntapu National 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.

Get around

The only roads in the park are those that connect the visitor centre and the campgrounds. Apart from that, you have to walk.

See

A sunset at Bakers Beach

• 1 Bakers Beach. The longest beach in the park, and has some pretty good sunset views at sunset. As with all Tasmanian beaches, the water may be a bit too cold for swimming, but nevertheless, it's still an enjoyable beach. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Badger Beach Lookout, Gardners Rd, Greens Beach. A lookout overlooking most of the park, particularly to the west but nevertheless, it gives a good 270° view. There's also a well designated path leading to the lookout as well. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

Bushwalks

• The 23 km (14 mi) Copper Cove/Badger Head walk is a long coastal walk from the visitor centre passing the Archers Knob track and all the way to the eastern end of Bakers Beach
• Point Vision Track is a 15 km (9.3 mi) trail leading you to the highest point of the Asbestos Ranges, for those wishing for a more adventurous journey
• For those interested in birds, the Bird Hide walk is an easy 2 km (1.2 mi) walk that takes 30 minutes return, and you see what the name of the walk says
• Springlawn Nature Walk takes you around Springlawn Lagoon and the surrounds. It's a 4.8 km (3.0 mi) circuit, and takes about two hours to do. Suitable for most ages.
• Part of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks, Archers Knob is the walk that passes through beaches, natural preserves and a lookout too
• Coastal Traverse is a very long coastal walk traversing between Bakers Beach and Greens Beach

Horse riding

There are two horse riding trails to choose from, with one going by the beach and the other by the bush. However, you will need a permit to bring your horse in, which can be found at the park's website here.

Buy, eat and drink

There are no shops, cafes, bars, pubs, kiosks, restaurants etc. in Narawntapu National Park. Your nearest options are in Devonport or Launceston, with both being just minutes away.

Sleep

Lodging

You cannot lodge in the park, because simply, there are no lodging facilities.

Camping

• 1 Kyobaa Campground, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach. Has hybrid chemical/septic toilets, picnic tables, and the bare minimum basic facilities. However, Kyobaa Campground is entirely unpowered, and caravans are not permitted. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Bakers Point, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach. An unpowered campground, however, this campground caters for both caravans and campers. Campfires are permitted, but you'll need to bring your own pre-cut firewood. Includes toilets. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Springlawn Campsite. A powered campsite and can facilitate caravans, campervans and camper trailers. This campsite is also wheelchair friendly. On top of toilets, this campsite also has showers, in which four minute tokens can be purchased off the visitor centre, although they can get cold though. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 The Horse Yards, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach. An unpowered camping site, with only camping allowed. Campfires are permitted, but you'll need to bring your own pre-cut firewood. (updated Dec 2021)

Backcountry

You're only permitted to camp at either one of the four campgrounds. The park is also not very large in the first place for backcountry camping as well.

Stay safe

There are very few safety concerns in Narawntapu National Park, except that the beaches are not patrolled and there are no lifeguards on the beach. However, this is pretty common throughout Tasmania outside Hobart.

Unlike other parts of Tasmania, it does not snow in Narawntapu National Park, but seeing snow by the coast is rare in the first place.

Go next

• Your main choices are to go back to Launceston or Devonport, the two closest cities to Narawntapu National Park

Routes via Narawntapu National Park

END ←

N C740 S

→ C741 jcn to Beauty Point → B71 jcn to Devonport