The National Parks in Tasmania You Need to Visit at Least Once

Tasmania doesn’t do nature in half measures. Across the island, 19 national parks unfold into ancient rainforests, glacier-carved peaks, wild rivers and beaches so pristine they feel almost unreal. Some you’ll recognise instantly — like Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain — while others remain blissfully remote, known mainly to hikers and the occasional wombat. If you’re wondering where to start, consider this your guide to Tasmania’s most unforgettable national parks.

Before you go, it’s important to note that all of Tasmania’s national parks require a pass for entry, and while most parks have Visitor Centres where you can purchase these, the more remote parks can be unstaffed. For this reason, it’s easiest to visit the Parks and Wildlife Service website to get a pass before you head out on your adventure. 

A parks pass is required to enter Tasmania’s national parks. A daily pass costs $23.85 per person or $47.70 per vehicle (up to eight people), while a Holiday Pass — $47.75 per person or $95.50 per vehicle — covers entry to all parks for up to two months.

Mount William National Park (Bay of Fires)

Located on Tasmania’s far northeast coast, Mount William National Park protects some of the island’s most striking coastal scenery. Part of the wider Bay of Fires region, the landscape is famous for its white-sand beaches, granite boulders streaked with vivid orange lichen and windswept heathland. Wildlife is abundant too, with wombats, wallabies and birdlife often spotted along the shoreline.

Sitchu Tip: Don’t miss the historic Eddystone Point Lighthouse or the quiet coastal walks that reveal just how wild and beautiful this corner of Tasmania can be.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Mount William National Park, Tasmania

Douglas-Apsley National Park

Just inland from Tasmania’s east coast, Douglas-Apsley National Park centres on river gorges, dry eucalypt forest and clear swimming pools carved by the Apsley River. The standout stop is Apsley Waterhole, reached via a short woodland walk and known for its deep, cool water — perfect on warmer days. Continue further into Apsley Gorge where the track winds between rock pools, cliffs and quiet stretches of forest, offering one of the island’s most rewarding half-day walks.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Douglas-Apsley National Park, Tasmania

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

With Cradle Mountain and Freycinet often stealing the spotlight, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park remains an untouched wilderness of towering gorges, ancient rainforests, and rushing rivers. A UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder rich in history and Indigenous heritage, it’s a paradise for adventurous souls — think epic hikes, misty landscapes, and thrilling river journeys. Explore short walks like Nelson Falls or take on the legendary Frenchmans Cap Track. For the ultimate adventure, cruise or kayak along its wild rivers.

If you crave raw, untamed beauty away from the crowds, this is the Tasmanian national park that deserves a spot on your 2026 bucket list.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required. Passes can be purchased online via the Parks & Wildlife Service website.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania

Southwest National Park

If you’re chasing Tasmania at its most remote, head south to Southwest National Park. The state’s largest national park covers nearly ten percent of Tasmania and forms part of the vast Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Here, wild rivers, glacial lakes and rugged mountain ranges unfold across a landscape that feels wonderfully untouched.

Adventures range from the multi-day South Coast Track, one of Australia’s great wilderness hikes, to shorter walks around Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon. Access is typically via Gordon River Road, which leads to the lakes, or by driving south along the Huon Highway to Cockle Creek, the southernmost road-accessible point in Australia.

From Cockle Creek, the four-hour return South Cape Bay Track winds along the coast to a remote beach framed by dramatic wilderness. Along the way you may pass historic graves from early settlers, quiet reminders of the region’s isolated past.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Southwest National Park, Tasmania

Mt Field National Park

Autumn in Mount Field National Park brings one of the island’s most beautiful seasonal moments: the turning of the fagus. Each April and May, the Tarn Shelf transforms as Australia’s only native deciduous tree shifts from green to glowing shades of gold, orange and crimson.

Mount Field is a park for every season. Towering eucalypt forests rise among alpine lakes, waterfalls and delicate highland vegetation, while walking tracks range from easy rainforest strolls to longer alpine hikes.

One of the park’s highlights is Russell Falls, a graceful tiered waterfall reached by a short fern-lined walk from the visitor centre. For higher-altitude scenery, continue the winding road to Lake Dobson, where alpine trails begin and winter snow transforms nearby Mount Mawson into one of Tasmania’s small but beloved ski areas.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Mount Field Visitor Centre, 66 Lake Dobson Road, Tasmania

Freycinet National Park

If there’s one Tasmanian national park almost as well known as Cradle Mountain, it’s Freycinet National Park. Home to the iconic Wineglass Bay, this jewel of the east coast is a must-visit, especially if panoramic views of wide, white-sand beaches and glorious coastal landscapes are your thing.

Walk the Wineglass Bay track and take a (most likely freezing) dip in the clearest water you’ve ever seen, then loop back around on the Hazards track to where you started – it will take you just over four hours in total.

As you hike, you’ll pass the Hazards – dramatic granite mountains that rise up on the shores of stunning coves. With its relatively mild weather, Freycinet National Park is also a great place to camp if you don’t want to pack your visit into one day.

Park entry: A day pass is $23.25 per person / $46.60 per vehicle, for up to eight people

Coles Bay, Tasmania 

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Hidden deep within Tasmania’s alpine wilderness, Walls of Jerusalem National Park rewards hikers willing to venture off the beaten track. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the landscape transpires into glacial tarns, towering dolerite peaks and ancient pencil pine forests that have stood for centuries.

The park is only accessible on foot, making every visit feel like a true wilderness adventure. Walking tracks wind through highland valleys to dramatic formations with biblical names such as Solomon’s Jewels and Herods Gate, while alpine meadows burst with wildflowers in the warmer months.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Tasmania

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

No guide to Tasmania’s national parks would be complete without Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Located in the island’s northwest, this World Heritage wilderness sits about two hours from Launceston and roughly four hours from Hobart, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

From the visitor centre, shuttle buses transport visitors to the famous shores of Dove Lake, where glacial peaks rise dramatically behind the water. It’s one of Tasmania’s most photographed landscapes and an unforgettable introduction to the park.

Walking options range from short lakeside strolls to the legendary Overland Track, a 65-kilometre wilderness trek that typically takes six days and requires advance booking during peak season. Along the way, hikers may spot wombats grazing in alpine meadows or echidnas wandering through the heath.

Autumn also brings one of the park’s most beautiful natural displays as the native fagus trees turn brilliant shades of gold and orange across the alpine slopes.

Park entry: An Icon Parks Pass is required for the Cradle Mountain visitor area and includes access to the shuttle service.

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

South Bruny National Park

Off Tasmania’s southeast coast, Bruny Island is one of the state’s most rewarding day trips. The journey begins in Kettering, about 30 minutes from Hobart, where the car ferry runs regularly across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

While the island is known for its food producers and coastal scenery, much of its wild beauty lies within South Bruny National Park. Here you’ll find dramatic sea cliffs, windswept beaches and rewarding walks, including the Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit and the historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

Driving between North and South Bruny, stop at The Neck Lookout. Climb the staircase to take in sweeping views across the narrow isthmus and surrounding ocean, and pause at the memorial honouring Truganini, the Nuenonne woman remembered for her resistance during Tasmania’s colonial era.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Bruny Island, Tasmania

Maria Island National Park

Just off Tasmania’s east coast, Maria Island National Park is one of the island’s most memorable nature escapes. Unlike Bruny Island, the entire island is protected as a national park, meaning pristine landscapes, historic ruins and remarkable wildlife encounters await visitors.

Ferries depart daily from Triabunna, with the crossing taking around 30 minutes. Cars aren’t permitted on the island, so exploring is done on foot or by bike — part of the charm.

Maria Island is famous for its wildlife, particularly the wombats that graze freely across the grassy plains near Darlington. While you’re here, follow the Painted Cliffs Track, explore the historic Darlington convict settlement, or tackle the rewarding Bishop and Clerk summit walk for sweeping views across the Tasman Sea.

Sitchu Tip: Ferries run daily from Triabunna, with extra services added during peak periods.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Maria Island, Tasmania

Tasman National Park

East of Port Arthur lies this truly iconic Tasmanian national park, known for its dramatic landscapes. Covering a large part of the Tasman Peninsula’s coastline, it’s home to Australia’s highest sea cliffs and towering rock formations, including the Totem Pole, which rises 65 metres and attracts daring rock climbers from across the globe. Other standout features are the Tasman Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen, shaped by millions of years of waves crashing into the rock.

For keen walkers, the Three Capes Track is an iconic 48-kilometre trek, starting at Denmans Cove, masterfully showcasing the area’s stunning shoreline views. Bookings are essential.

For a more relaxed experience, wilderness cruises provide breathtaking views of the Peninsula, with opportunities to spot wildlife like sea eagles, seals, and dolphins.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Fortescue, Tasmania

Hartz Mountains National Park

Notice the name — mountains, plural. Hartz Mountains National Park stretches into a procession of peaks rolling toward the vast Southwest Wilderness. It’s the sort of landscape that quickly makes civilisation feel very far away. Climb the Hartz Peak Track and the reward is sweeping alpine views across glacial lakes, ridgelines and the immense wild country beyond.

Not every walk here demands a summit push. Shorter trails reveal just as much magic: the easy rainforest stroll to Arve Falls, the peaceful track to Lake Osborne, and the quick wander to Waratah Lookout, where the first glimpse of the park’s layered mountain ranges sets the tone for everything that follows.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Southwest, Tasmania

Narawntapu National Park

If beaches and wildlife sit high on your Tasmania wish list, Narawntapu National Park delivers both in remarkable fashion. Located about an hour from Launceston, the park is often nicknamed “Tasmania’s Serengeti” thanks to the remarkable wildlife sightings across its wide coastal plains. Forester kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies and pademelons are regular visitors around the Springlawn area, particularly in the golden light of early morning and dusk.

The landscape here feels strikingly open by Tasmanian standards. Wetlands give way to sweeping grasslands, lagoons and long stretches of windswept coastline, all framed by coastal heath and distant mountains. It’s one of the few places in Tasmania where the wilderness feels expansive rather than enclosed by forest.

To explore on foot, follow the Springlawn Nature Walk, a gentle four-kilometre circuit that’s especially rewarding at sunset when wildlife begins to stir. More ambitious walkers can tackle the 21-kilometre Coastal Traverse, linking Bakers Beach and Greens Beach through a mix of dunes, heathland and shoreline.

If a slower pace calls, spend the afternoon swimming at Bakers Beach or Badger Beach, or saddle up for a guided ride along the park’s 26-kilometre horse trail — a spectacular way to experience the wide coastal landscapes Narawntapu is known for.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Bakers Beach, Tasmania 

Ben Lomond National Park

Snow lovers will put Ben Lomond at the top of their list of Tasmanian national parks to visit, but it’s just as beautiful in the warmer months for walking, cycling and rock climbing. From June through September, the Ben Lomond Alpine Resort — one of only two ski fields in Tasmania — becomes the island’s hub for skiing and snowboarding, with more than 30 hectares of ski runs.

In the warmer months, visitors are rewarded with sweeping alpine views and fields of wildflowers unique to this highland landscape. Challenge yourself to the eight-kilometre walk from Carr Villa to Legges Tor, the second-highest peak in Tasmania. You’ll also spot cyclists tackling Jacobs Ladder, the famously winding road of tight hairpin turns that climbs dramatically onto the plateau.

Park entry: A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required.

Ben Lomond, Tasmania

Now that you’ve planned out a perfect trip to one or all of these beautiful Tasmanian national parks, it’s time to start planning. Find all the best activewear here, and make sure to start of your day of exploring with a coffee and pastry from one of these Hobart or Launceston cafes.