Top places to pitch a tent

Some of Tasmania’s best camping holiday real estate is a flat patch of land by the sea, or in the mountains. 

Space for a tent and your camp life supplies – that's all you need at many of Tassie's best campgrounds. Here is where the locals go to pitch a tent.

1. Freycinet National Park

Beachfront camping with a mountain view – it’s the best of both worlds at Freycinet National Park, where the Richardsons Beach, Honeymoon Bay and Ranger Creek campgrounds sit metres from the sands, with the Hazards creating a dramatic backdrop. These are some of the most popular campgrounds in the state, so book online well in advance.

Nearby, beachfront sites at beautiful Friendly Beaches are suitable for tents, campervans and caravans. No bookings required.

2. Maria Island National Park

A short walk from the ferry dock on Maria Island, Darlington campground sits at the edge of a lawn, pinched between the World Heritage-listed Darlington convict settlement and a quiet beach. Wombats wander about, and there’s a very real chance of spotting a Tasmanian devil – the endangered marsupial was introduced to the island national park to help protect the dwindling population. The campground has a covered barbecue area with fireplaces (firewood is provided) and trolleys are available to help transport your gear from the ferry to camp. You'll need to book your campsite before you arrive.

There are no services on Maria Island and water is not drinkable. Make sure you're self-sufficient – bring enough water and food for your trip. Otherwise, treat the island's water with purification tablets, or boil it before using.

3. Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula

Fortescue Bay has long been a family-favourite campground. It sits behind a welcoming white sandy beach in Tasman National Park, shaded by towering forest, with walking trails leading to Cape Hauy, Canoe Bay and Bivouac Bay. Swimming, fishing and kayaking are all good in the bay.

Bookings are required. There's a toilet block and showers and, if there are no fire bans in place, campfires are permitted in designated fireplaces, but bring your own wood. You can buy basic supplies at the campground site office.

Across the peninsula, near the Coal Mines Historic Site, Lime Bay campground sits on a soft, sandy shelf above beautiful curling beaches. Book your campsite online.

4. Bruny Island

Castaways, apply here. Beach-lined Bruny has a selection of coastal camps in South Bruny National Park. The Jetty Beach campground has prime position on a curving beach with sheltered swimming and good snorkelling and kayaking. Four-wheel drivers can motor to the end of the Cloudy Bay beach, 3km from the road end, to find the Cloudy Corner campground tucked into bush behind a sheltered nook in the bay. The southern end of the Neck, the island’s isthmus, has another popular beachside campground in easy reach of most of the island. Book your campsite at Jetty Beach or the Neck.

5. Mount Field National Park

Just a few minutes’ walk from Mount Field National Park's visitor centre, a lovely campground beside the Tyenna River has bookable powered and unpowered sites, as well as a toilet block, hot showers and coin-operated washing machines. Walking tracks are in easy reach, and in the evening there’s the chance to wander into Russell Falls by torchlight to find glow-worms beaming beside the trail.

6. Narawntapu National Park

This north-west coast national park, noted for its beaches and wildlife, has four campgrounds lined up behind Bakers Beach. Springlawn campground, near the park visitor centre, is the pick of the campgrounds, with powered sites (some wheelchair accessible) and facilities including a shower block. At dawn and dusk the clearings here fill with Forester kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons. Further into the park, Bakers Point has unpowered sites tucked behind the dunes. Fires are permitted when there's no fire bans, but bring your own firewood. Book campgrounds online.

7. Recherche Bay

Drive south. Right to the end. Where roads can go no further. Recherche Bay sits at the southernmost road end in Australia, at the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. There are more than 60 unpowered sites outside the park at five Recherche Bay campgrounds within the nature recreation area. Cross the bridge over Cockle Creek to stay at one of around 14 sites at Cockle Creek camping (also known as Boltons Green) inside Southwest National Park. Walking tracks to South Cape Bay and Fishers Point leave from around these campgrounds. No bookings required.

8. Larapuna / Bay of Fires area

Beachside campgrounds line the coast of Bay of Fires Conservation Area, with the area’s white sands, clear water and blazing orange rocks as their backyard. In the southern section of the park, from Binalong Bay up to The Gardens, you’ll find popular campgrounds at Grants Lagoon, Jeanneret and Swimcart beaches, Cosy Corner north and south, Seatons Cove and Sloop Reef. Policemans Point campground in the north, has sites among the trees overlooking the Ansons Bay river mouth. The campgrounds are free, facilities are basic and no bookings are required. Camp in designated campgrounds only.