Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park is a peninsula of pink granite mountains, pure white beaches, coastal dunes and dry eucalypt forests on the Island’s east coast. French explorer Nicolas Baudin named the land mass in 1802 after one of two Freycinet brothers, who were officers on his ship. The highest peak in the Hazard Range is Mt Freycinet at 620 metres (2,034 feet).

US magazine Outside has named Wineglass Bay one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The park is famous for Wineglass Bay, just one of its white sandy beaches and the pure clear turquoise waters that are perfect for sea kayaking, swimming and scuba diving.

The Hazard Range offers climbing, abseiling and mountain walking, and the coastal heathlands have wonderful day walks. Bird lovers may see a white-bellied sea eagle gliding overhead or large Australasian gannets diving for food. In the forested areas you will often see or hear small nectar-feeding birds such as eastern spinebills and yellow-throated or crescent honeyeaters and yellow-tailed black cockatoos, which often feed and fly in raucous groups. Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, just outside the park on the Coles Bay road, is a wetland of international importance.

Walks in the area include Cape Tourville (20 minutes), Wineglass Bay Lookout (1 – 1.5 hours), Wineglass Bay (2.5 hours), Hazards Beach (3.5 hours). There is also the Freycinet Circuit which is a 2 day trek.