camping in wineglass bay
As of January 2026 I can still comfortably say that this is my favourite campground in Australia — so much so that I have the overwhelming urge to gatekeep it. Mostly because its allure can significantly be attributed to its serenity and quietness, and the way it doesn’t require any pre-booking or organisation whatsoever — just rock up with your stuff, find a spot and you’re good to go. A far cry from the landscape of camping in NSW nowadays, where prime coastal campsites are ghost-booked months in advance, taking away the sense of sheer spontaneity that camping should be filled with.
I first discovered this campsite in 2023 as it’s the second and final campsite on the Freycinet Peninsula Hike (hopefully I’ll write about my experience on this soon!). I vowed to come back, and when my friends and I organised a group trip to Tasmania in 2024 I knew I had to take them there. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…
The crazy thing about this hike-in campsite is how low-effort it is to get to, under 5km each way.
Hike information
👉 Alltrails link here
The total hike to the campsite and back is about 9.3km return
Start your hike at the Wineglass Bay lookout carpark — you can leave your car there overnight with no issues. The carpark is pretty high turnover with lots of day use visitors.
From there, it’s about 1.3km to the Wineglass Bay lookout with about 185m of elevation gain — stop here for some magical views over the bay.
From there, it’s mostly downhill to the entrance of Wineglass Beach, around 30-45 minutes. This section has a lot of stairs, a warning!
From the entrance of Wineglass beach, continue walking along the beach for another 20 minutes until you reach the southern end of the beach. And you will have arrived at the campsite 🎉
Once you’re there, there is a main camp area behind the sand dune which is where the toilets are found too. However, there are several beachfront sites which have stunning views of the mountains and are steps away from the water. My personal favourite spot is the large clearing right at the end of the bushland, towards the end of the beach. It’s tucked away out of sight of other campers and just feels so special.
From there, just enjoy the serenity, read a book in the sun, go for multiple dips in the crystal clear water and cook your dinner on the beach ❤️ I hope you love this special spot.
Other things to remember:
Have a valid Tasmania national parks pass registered and displayed before you head on the hike
Make sure all food is stored carefully overnight as there are lots of active wallabies who will try to dig through your bag and break into your tent in their search of a snack
There is no fresh drinking water available at the campsite, make sure you bring enough for the hike and overnight. You can refill your bottle at the toilet next to the carpark or at the visitor centre just down the
The campground only has a drop toilet facility
Assume that there is very little to no mobile coverage at the campsite so ensure you let your friends and family know where you’re headed, just in case
