Unofficial guide · verify with Parks Tasmania

Tasman National ParkUnofficial operator’s manual

Things to do in Tasman National Park

Last reviewed · verify live conditions with Parks Tasmania

Most first visits revolve around Tessellated Pavement and/or Cape Hauy, with Cape Raoul as a harder second-cape day. Booked Three Capes is a different product. Port Arthur Historic Site is a separate ticket — not park entry. Do not try to collect every cape on a first visit.

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Parks Pass fees, Fortescue Bay camping fees and official Three Capes / Parks Tasmania bookings are never affiliated.

Cape Pillar from the Cape Hauy track, Tasman National Park, Tasmania
Cape PillarPhoto: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0

Day one rule

Pick one primary product (geology, Cape Hauy, or a booked Three Capes). Do not collect every cape and the Historic Site on a first Hobart day.

Weather / energy bail-out

Pavement, Blowhole and Waterfall Bay Road beat a forced Grade 3–4 cape in wind, rain or a late start. Bail-outs are competence.

Hard walk / booking filter

Cape Raoul and Three Capes only when fit and planned — never as impulse add-ons after a chaotic Historic Site morning. Unbooked hut walking is not a Plan B.

  1. 1

    Tessellated Pavement & northern geology

    Lookouts · mixed fitness · 2026 Arch closure

    The honest first-timer half-day from Hobart. Tide-dependent pavement, Blowhole, and Arch/Kitchen only if the 2026 works allow. Parks Pass required. A complete day can stop here.

    Pavement guide →Half-day planArch closed Plan B
  2. 2

    Cape Hauy day walk

    Grade 3 · C344 unsealed · early Hobart leave

    Signature Grade 3 return from Fortescue: 9.4 km, about 4 hours, many stone steps, Totem Pole / Candlestick platform. Not the booked Three Capes product. Reverse before a dusk wildlife drive.

    Trail guide →Day itineraryOperator article
  3. 3

    Cape Raoul

    Grade 4 · Stormlea · full day

    Longer, rougher Grade 4 day from Stormlea (14 km, ~5 hrs). Different trailhead from Hauy. Do not stack both capes from a Hobart start.

    Trail guide →Stormlea areaPeninsula day
  4. 4

    Three Capes Track (booked)

    Hut walk · separate fee · not a day permit

    48 km, 4 days, 3 nights, max 48 walkers/day. Book only on Parks Tasmania. If the calendar is empty, walk Hauy or Raoul on a Parks Pass — do not trespass the hut alignment.

    Track overview →Decision treeBooking itinerary
  5. 5

    Fortescue Bay camping

    Overnight · C344 · official booking only

    Vehicle camp next to the Hauy trailhead. Separate fee from the Parks Pass. Book Oct–Apr; first-come May–Sep. Fuel-stove only except designated fireplaces.

    Fortescue area →Two-day planCamping article
  6. 6

    Shorter walks: Waterfall Bay & Remarkable Cave

    Shorter walks · verify access

    When Arch/Kitchen is closed or a cape is too much. Waterfall Bay via Waterfall Bay Road during the 2026 works. Remarkable Cave is Safety Cove Road — still a Parks Pass site, still not the Historic Site ticket.

    Waterfall Bay →Family easy planCrescent Bay / Mount Brown
  7. 7

    Wildlife on the Arthur Highway

    Year-round · dusk · reverse clock

    Wallabies, possums and other wildlife on A9 and C344 at dusk and dawn. Slow down. A late Cape Hauy finish is a collision risk, not a bonus golden hour. Distance is respect — never feed.

    Roads & packing article →Visit — weatherHow long
  8. 8

    Port Arthur Historic Site (separate ticket)

    Paid · private historic site · time sink possible

    Convict precinct next to the park — not inside the Parks Pass. A full ticket can eat an afternoon. Include only if the clock still holds a reverse drive. Never affiliated here.

    Ticket vs Parks Pass →portarthur.org.auPark side (Remarkable Cave)
  9. 9

    Peninsula cruises (independent note)

    Optional · GetYourGuide · Historic Site jetty

    Commercial boats toward Cape Raoul cliffs from Port Arthur. Useful when you do not want to drive. Not Cape Hauy’s walking platform and not a Parks Pass substitute unless the operator says so in writing.

    Tours hub →ItinerariesPlan your visit

All walks on this guide

7 practical walk pages with logistics. Always confirm on Parks Tasmania.

  • Cape Hauy — moderate · 4 hours return (typical published time)
  • Cape Raoul — hard · 5 hours return (typical published time)
  • Three Capes Track — moderate · 4 days (mandatory booking)
  • Waterfall Bay — easy · Allow 1–2 hours depending on start point
  • Tessellated Pavement — easy · 30–60 minutes plus tide timing
  • Bivouac Bay — moderate · Allow a half day for Canoe / Bivouac; do not confuse with the 8-hour Fortescue–Devils Kitchen link
  • Crescent Bay / Mount Brown — moderate · Allow a half to full day — not a Port Arthur lunch break

Walks hubItinerariesArticlesPlan visit

Stays & tours (optional)

Optional next steps after you pick an activity. Kit searches live on the gear hub. Parks Pass, Fortescue camping and Three Capes bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Port Arthur · Eaglehawk Neck · Hobart

  • Stays at Port ArthurClosest to Remarkable Cave, Three Capes check-in and the Historic Site
  • Eaglehawk NeckNorthern geology sites and the isthmus — still a drive to Fortescue
  • HobartDay-trip base — about 90 minutes each way via Sorell and the Arthur Highway

All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official Fortescue camping, Parks Pass and Three Capes bookings are never affiliated.

Guided tours

Optional — useful when you do not want to drive the Arthur Highway

A tour does not replace checking Parks Tasmania alerts, weather, or cliff safety yourself.

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Parks Pass fees, Fortescue Bay camping fees and official Three Capes / Parks Tasmania bookings are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy