Everything you will need to know on where we stayed on our 13 night trip in Tasmania.
On our 13 night trip to Tasmania my aim was to do it as cheaply as possible. One way to cut back on costs was to look at how we could save on accommodation. The solution to this problem… fly in with our tents in our packs and camp around Tasmania.
There is a lot of free camps, cheap camps and big caravan parks in which to choose from in the state. We always have on hand our WikiCamps app and this made finding these places easy…when we would come up to a town we would check out what are possibilities were, and then head there.
On our arrival and departure from Launceston we did plan to stay at accommodation that we didn’t have to pitch a tent at, so I found the cheapest place I could find through Booking.com. This didn’t really go to plan for the first couple of nights, but you will find out about that later!
Please note: All prices are for 2 adults and 1 child for one night on an unpowered site.
Also note: Many places require and National Parks Pass – I paid $80 for the “Holiday Pass”
So here you go…
Everything you will need to know on where we stayed on our 13 night trip in Tasmania.
The Mercure Launceston.
The Mercure was never on my list of places to stay when we began our planning, we were going to stay in Launceston the first night as we flew in at 10pm, but we were booked into the backpackers. Unfortunately our Covid test result had not come back in time so we had to isolate somewhere more appropriate, so in a mad rush we booked (via the hotel) the Mercure while boarding the plane. The room was super nice, huge king size bed, three seater lounge, large tv, twin head shower and right in town, across from the park (not that we went there!). It was pretty special and was a lovely place to isolate for what ended up being two nights.
Website: Mercure Launceston
Price: $179 per night.
Address: 3 Brisbane St, Launceston TAS 7250
Phone: 03 63312055
The Bay of Fires.
We found the most amazing free camp along the coast in the Bay of Fires. We tried all the free camps up the coast from St Helens and they were so full but just as we got to The Sloop Reef Campground we scored ourselves a small camp spot right at the end of the road next to the beach. These free camps are not National Parks so you don’t need a pass but be warned this camp has no toilets or showers (while most of the others do) but it does have great views! Be prepared to carry water a take all rubbish out with you. It was such a great place to spend the night listening to the waves crash as I slept!
Website: Sloop Reef Campground
Price: FREE!
Address: Seaton Tramway Track, Binalong Bay TAS 7216
Phone: 03 63875510 (St Helens Field centre)
Triabunna.
We were heading across to Maria Island and needed somewhere close by so we could board the ferry at 8.15am. I opened up the WikiCamps app and was so happy to find that we could camp behind the Pub for FREE!!.. and not only that it is literally across the road from the jetty! Not many places like this let you pitch a tent but these guys did and although we weren’t self contained it wasn’t a problem as there is toilets and drinkable water across at the wharf. Of course the pub would’ve it if you came in for a feed but we found the fish and chip place that is there, is amazing… we ate there twice once the night before heading to Maria and once we we come back off the ferry. It was mostly filled with vans but there was a nice spot along the fence line to pitch our tent.
Website: Triabunna Hotel
Price: FREE!
Address: 1 Charles St, Triabunna TAS 7190
Phone: 03 62573115
Maria Island.
I had chosen Maria Island as the place we were going to be for New Years Eve. The island has so much to explore either by foot or by bike. We had to carry all our gear over on the ferry and although water is available, you have to treat it before drinking. The camping area is quiet big and I was surprised how many people there were staying there. Flushable toilets and pay showers (although these weren’t available at time of our visit) and a camp kitchen make this camping site comfortable. The campground is close to the bike hire, rangers cottage, ferry terminal and beach and there are trees that you can get shade from. If you are lucky you will get a visit from a wombat and maybe a Tassie Devil!
Website: Maria Island
Price: Camping: $12 return ferry $95 extra bags $10 each – plus National parks pass.
Address: Field Centre: Corner Charles St and Esplanade West, Triabunna
Phone: 03 62571420
Freycinet Paintball and Campground.
Camping around Coles Bay is always popular in Summer, so I was so glad to see these guys had a campground that I could get into. Lucky I had rang them a couple of days before and “booked in” because the Free camp that I was hoping to get into was completely full. This campground is really quiet nice. They have a great vibe and the pub on site was a great place to chill out at. They have a flushable toilet and shower ( $2 for 4 minutes) and when there isn’t fire bans you can have a fire. If you have time you could even give paintball a try!
Website: Freycinet Paintball and Campground
Price: $20
Address: 961 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay
Phone: 0407 251 095
Wineglass Bay.
Well what can I saw about this camp spot!! It is amazing but a bit of work to get to, as you have to hike into it. The hikes takes about 2 – 2.5 hours, starting from the bottom of the Wineglass Bay Lookout walk and then you walk down to the beach and along to the end where you will come across the camping spot. We were lucky to score a spot to put up the tent, looking right over the beach because we got there early before lunch, but the majority of the spots are back under the trees. The major thing you need to know about this campsite is there is NO drinkable water at all… you have to carry it all in. The toilets are compostable (and smell a bit!) and you also have to carry out all your rubbish…but none of that matters when you have the most amazing beach right at your footstep ready to explore and swim in!
Website: Wineglass Bay Campsite
Price: FREE! plus National Parks pass though
Address: Freycinet National Park
Phone: 03 62567000
Richardsons Beach.
You know how I said it is very hard to find a place to camp in Coles Bay previously? Well we were lucky enough to score a night in the National Parks run campground at Richardsons beach. Generally these are allocated through a ballot back in August, but with the pandemic and all they had a cancellation and we grabbed a spot. To be honest it was a bit of a let down because we ended up in a powered spot and while I was hoping for a view across the beach we didn’t have one and we were squished in amongst vans. I think the better spots are around a Honeymoon bay but we are still grateful for what we could get as it allowed us more time to explore the area. They have flushable toilets and $2 for 4min showers.
Website: Richardsons Beach
Price: $19.50 (powered) plus National parks pass
Address: Freycinet National Park
Phone: 03 62567000
Fortescue Bay.
Another campground that can be tricky to get into at Christmas holiday time, this camping spot is in a prime position to explore the hikes that are in the area. It is where the 3 Capes walk finishes, and is right on the bay with swimming, boating and fishing all there at your doorstep. We walked the Cape Hauy track which left at the bottom of the camp and if we had stayed longer we would have hiked to one of the other capes. Such a chilled out spot with wallaby’s coming by in the evening to say hello. The site has pit toilets and showers at $2 token (buy at National parks office on site) for 4 mins.
Website: Fortescue Bay
Price: $15.50 plus National Parks Pass
Address: Fortescue Bay
Phone: 03 62502433
Lea Scout camp.
We were looking for somewhere to stay in Hobart that was convenient and also cheap! A bit tricky in a capital city but we found a spot at the Lea Scout camp that fit the budget. It has both powered and unpowered spots and is a bush setting not far from the city. It has flushable toilets and free showers and a camp kitchen with a fridge and a lovely fire place. You can have fires (In the fire pits ) and they do sell wood so it feels like you are out in the bush and not on the outskirts of a city. The caretaker was very nice a well!
Website: Lea Scout Centre
Price: $15
Address: Gilwell Dr, Kingston.
Phone: 0455 439 976
Lake St Clair.
To break up the drive between Hobart and Queenstown we stopped over at Lake St Clair. It is such a lovely spot along the Lake, but it is a bit squashed in and if you come later in the day you might find it a bit hard to find a spot to put the tent. Many vans who didn’t require power were literally parked in the car park. We arrived early enough to score a spot under some trees and right next to the camp kitchen, which was literally some BBQs, a sink and some tables under a shelter. Bathrooms have flushable toilets and showers which are $1 for 6 minutes. Great spot to explore some walks although it was pouring rain while we were there so we quiet happily drank tea and played cards games under shelter. They also have an amazing cafe / restaurant up at the visitors centre so definitely check that out!
Website: Lake St Clair.
Price: $37 plus National Parks pass
Address: Lake St Clair road, Lake St Clair.
Phone: 03 62891137
Queenstown Cabin and Tourist Park
We wanted to be right in the heart Queenstown as we were going white water rafting early in the morning so we stayed at the only Camping ground in Queenstown. It is small, which was nice and the owners were lovely. We had a grass spot along the fence where as a lot of the other sites where more suitable for caravan and campers. They had a great camp kitchen which had some board games and outdoor bbq area which where spacious enough for a couple of groups to be in but not be on top of each other. Its not far out of town and the area was so quiet. They had flushable toilets and free showers ( with complementary bath mats!). A great little camp spot!
Website: Queenstown Cabin and Tourist Park
Price: $20
Address: 17-19 Grafton St, Queenstown
Phone: 0447750010
Launceston Backpackers.
Before we knew it we were back where we started and this time we could actually stay at the Backpackers like we had planned on when we first arrived! We had a triple room with shared facilities and it was a perfect place for us to spend our last night sorting out all our gear ready to fly out the next day. The shared kitchen was huge with plenty of room to be able to move around without bumping into each other and they also had a communal tv space. The beds were comfy and we were given fresh sheets and a blanket which was great because we didn’t have to sleep in a sleeping bag! It is situated in town and has a lovely green space across the road! Everyone was friendly but they also kept to themselves so we felt safe staying there during the pandemic.
Website: Launceston Backpackers
Price: $90 booked on booking.com
Address: 103 Canning Street, Launceston
Phone: 03 63342327
So there you have it,
Everything you will need to know on where we stayed on our 13 night trip in Tasmania.
I hope you found it helpful for planning your own trip to Tasmania!
Safe Travels
Kerrie
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