With so many lovely options, we chose a mixture of free camps, National Parks campgrounds and just a few caravan parks. Supplementing my previously loaded
Tasmanian travelogues, I have updated the descriptions of the campgrounds and caravan parks where we stayed during our seven week tour of Tasmania in 2006. Prices of caravan parks may vary seasonally.
With many free campgrounds, particularly on the eastern side of the state, we could enjoy our preferred style of
bush camping. We were fortunate to be able to stay with friends when we arrived and use this as a base for touring the northern coastline, and with other friends near
Hobart which enabled us to enjoy a rural environment instead of a city while looking around
Hobart and
Port Arthur. Prices have been updated and any changes noted. The few Caravan Parks chosen were quiet and outside of or on the edge of towns.
On the west coast we decided to stay at
Zeehan Caravan Park (Treasure Island group). This looked a much nicer alternative to either the free camps near
Strahan or the caravan park in that busy touristy town.
Zeehan Caravan Park was a small, quiet park on the edge of town, yet close enough to walk or drive into the town (including to see the excellent museum in
Zeehan. Level sites were lightly grassed and some under shady trees. Average amenities with an excellent supply of very hot water.
Camp kitchen, children's playground, and mini golf. 2013 prices $29 - $30 powered site and $23 unpowered.
Well situated for sightseeing in
Strahan and
Queenstown, in a much quieter and less "touristy" town. A number of caravanners stayed a few days and went on the
Queenstown train and the
Gordon River Cruise while based at
Zeehan as we did.
Dover Beachside Tourist Park, in quiet location near waterfront, backing onto rural land. This park was flat with lush green grass. Covered barbecue area for campers. Friendly proprietors helpful with telling about things to do and see in the area. Bonus point: Showers had floor mats provided, and rack of extra hooks (but no shelf). We found inadequate number of showers,
toilets and washing machines for the number of caravanners at our visit but new owners had plans for improvements. Powered sites from $32.50 and unpowered from $22.50 in 2013.
Bridport Holiday Park. A large
campsite along
the beach two kilometres to the north west of
Bridport. Hard to find level or big rig sites. There appeared to be lots of permanent or long term residents. Facilities were very good. Powered sites $25 - $30 and unpowered sites from $22 in 2013. Overall good value in a lovely location.
Bridport
Mole Creek Caravan Park. A small park in a pleasant rural location by a creek four kilometres west of
Mole Creek. Near a road
junction, but not much traffic at night. Had to find caretaker who does not live on site to pay and get key to facilities. Additional
toilets for day picnickers always open. Laundry with one washing machine and a drier that actually worked
well. Washing machine slow due to filling time with low pressure water kept people waiting. Flat grassed area. Water is untreated straight from the creek, and at very low pressure from an overhead tank. Not suitable for filling caravan tanks. A pressure pump provided water to the
toilets and showers and someone found a tap from this to fill their caravan tanks. Powered site $17 for two people. Showers at forty cents gave a long shower. Bonus point: Wooden slatted floor mat in showers. This area can be rather wet when creek floods. Good sightseeing in the area. Overall, a pleasant place to stay. Now $20
Riana Pioneer Park (community run). Low cost. Run by local volunteers, who come around to collect fees and clean the bathrooms each day. South of Riana in a quiet pleasant parkland. Large area,
well back from the road, with no level sites.
Toilet and shower blocks in 'pioneer style buildings' of stone and weatherboard with open eaves; would be cold in winter. Pioneer décor - basic and undecorated inside. Showers twenty cents for three minutes. Bonus: Slatted board in the showers. Covered
picnic area, but no laundry. Good value at 2013 prices: Powered sites $14 for two, $10 for one, $3 each extra person. Unpowered sites $8 for two $6 for one, and $2 each extra person. A very pleasant place to stay.
Free campgrounds; mostly out of towns, but with a couple of exceptions which were not quiet due to traffic. Time limits apply at most free campgrounds. Although it is not so easy to just find a spot to pull off the road like it is on the mainland, Tasmania is very
well catered for with free and low cost campsites (often with just a pit
toilet), particularly along the east coast. These are
well documented in Camps Australia Wide, and you will need this or a similar publication to find them.
Ted's Beach Lake Pedder. Very clean flush
toilets, covered
picnic area with free barbecues. Tank water. Lovely spot on the shores of
Lake Pedder . Boat launching. Lake is glorious at sunset and sunrise. Tasmanian Parks camping fees of $13 in 2013 and National Park entry fees or All Parks Pass applies.
Ted's Beach Lake Pedder
Friendly Beaches Freycinet National Park . A lovely spot, with individual
camp sites tucked in the bush along
the beach, very private. Not many suitable for big rigs - mostly tent sites. Occasional pit
toilet. Rubbish
bins provided. Lovely beach just through the dunes. A delightful free location.
Chain of Lagoons. Near St Marys turnoff near beach. Flat campsites. The northern section has more spread out campsites amongst the trees. New pit
toilet in that section too. We were there on a long weekend so there were a lot of campers at the southern end of the
campground. OK as a
free camp.
Bay of Fires. A number of nice campsites along
the beach to the north of
St Helens. Water,
dump point and hot showers available at
St Helens. We chose the popular Cosy Corner North. Campers spread out on level sites amongst trees along
the beach. Pit
toilets (one new latest technology in pit
toilets). A lovely location.
Cosy Corner North campground
Northeast Park Scottsdale. Nice location in
Lions Park and
picnic area a few kilometres from town. Bonus:
Dump point and water, flush
toilets and coin showers. Pleasant forest walks at back of park. Drawback: It is at the base of the
hill on a busy highway, so noisy from trucks revving up the hills all night. Other than noise, it is an excellent
free camp.
Andys Campground Westbury. Popular
campsite behind
Andy's 24 hour bakery and takeaway (they make lovely pies).
Bakery no longer 24/7.
Toilets in
parking area beside
shop.
Dump point, and tap for filling caravan tanks. Flat grassed area. Generators and dogs accepted. Near railway, some traffic noise from road. No longer free; and caravan park amenities now provided. Update: Andy's has now been closed.
Conara. Update: Now day area only. In the
Midlands, this is a
rest area a bit away from the highway at a tiny and neat town. Nice level area, flush
toilets with night lighting. Covered picnic barbecue area. Nature forest walk. Pleasant setting and makes a very good overnight stop.
Kempton. A
free camp in a quiet and peaceful tiny
Midlands town. Level sites. Highway screened by a
hill so traffic noise not noticed. Water (2 taps), Power (3 outlets).
Dump point behind Shire office. A new
toilet and shower block with hot showers has been built on site since our stay, and a $10 per night fee applies to use of these amenities. Pay $20 deposit plus the $10 fee for key at Shire office during business hours, otherwise at General Store. Phone 0417501303 to make arrangement for after hours key access. Donation honesty box for use of power. Very good low cost
campground with the bonus of power and water available.
Black River Campground (near
Stanley). An honesty box fee of $13.00 per couple per night. A large area of campsites each privately nestled in the scrub. Only three pit
toilets for the whole area. Some campsites in the open along
Black River estuary. Boat launching and fishing.
Well away from highway. A nice quiet and private
campsite. Short walk to beach with
views to
The Nut at Stanley).
Camping self contained at
Lakes and dams: We also stayed at a few hydro dams/lakes/lagoons. These have no facilities but often a nice view. There are many other similar camping options.
Lake Mackintosh
A small dam central Tasmania
Read more about
Tasmania and come touring Australia with us via our other
Travelogues.