Camping in Hobart and the South

Hobart and the south run from city caravan parks to the end of the road, and in between are convict ruins, sea cliffs, apple orchards and rainforest waterfalls. The Huon Valley still grows about 83% of the state's apples, and at Cockle Creek, 148 km south-south-west of Hobart, you reach the farthest point south you can drive in Australia.

Where is the best place to camp in Hobart and the South?

Close to the city, parks such as Richmond Caravan Park keep Hobart's sights within reach, and Richmond Bridge, completed in 1825, is the oldest stone span bridge in Australia. On the Tasman Peninsula, Fortescue Bay has the only camping in Tasman National Park, and Bruny Island, a 15-minute ferry from Kettering, has national park camps such as Jetty Beach. Inland, Land of the Giants Caravan Park is at the gate of Mount Field National Park.

What is there to do in Hobart and the South with kids?

Port Arthur ran as a convict settlement from 1833 to 1877 and is now part of the World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites, and the sea cliffs of Tasman National Park reach 300 metres, the highest in the country. On Bruny, Jetty Beach is a sheltered bay for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking, the Cape Bruny Light Station is at the southern tip, and the Bligh Museum is at Adventure Bay. In the far south, Hastings Caves has Newdegate Cave, Australia's largest dolomite show cave, and a thermal pool at 28 degrees. Around Richmond, the old gaol is near the bridge.

• Raptor Refuge – Animals, Kettering. Closest campground: Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park, 6 km
• Cygnet Living History Museum – Museums and history, Cygnet. Closest campground: Cygnet HolidayPark, under 1 km
• Richmond Gaol – Museums and history, Richmond. Closest campground: Richmond Caravan Park, 1 km
• Cape Bruny Light Station – Museums and history, South Bruny. Closest campground: Jetty Beach Campground, 3 km
• Hobart Zoo and Aquarium – Animals, Tea Tree. Closest campground: Richmond Caravan Park, 5 km
• Dover Museum and Art Gallery – Museums and history, Dover. Closest campground: Dover Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Oak Lodge – Museums and history, Richmond. Closest campground: Richmond Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration – Museums and history, Adventure Bay. Closest campground: Captain Cook Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Channel Museum – Museums and history, Margate. Closest campground: Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park, 4 km
• Apple Museum – Museums and history, Grove. Closest campground: Valley Campground, 5 km
• Bruny Island History Room – Museums and history, Alonnah. Closest campground: Gordon Foreshore Reserve, 6 km
• Tasmanian Transport Museum – Museums and history, Glenorchy. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 1 km
• Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) – Museums and history, Berriedale. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 3 km
• Runnymede – Museums and history, New Town. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 3 km
• Lady Franklin Gallery – Museums and history, Lenah Valley. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 4 km
• Rosny Barn – Museums and history, Rosny Park. Closest campground: Hobart Discovery Holiday Park, 6 km
• Unshackled: Hobart Penitentiary – Museums and history, Hobart. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 6 km
• Putters Adventure Golf – Play, Moonah. Closest campground: Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, 3 km
• Huonville Pool – Swimming, Huonville. Closest campground: Huon Valley Caravan Park, 1 km
• Clarence Aquatic Centre-YMCA – Swimming, Montagu Bay. Closest campground: Hobart Discovery Holiday Park, 6 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Hobart and the South?

At Mount Field, one of Tasmania's two oldest national parks, the walk to Russell Falls is 20 minutes return on a sealed path and boardwalk, and the Horseshoe Falls and Tall Trees walks are about half an hour each; look out for wombats, echidnas and, if you are lucky, a platypus. On the Tasman Peninsula, Cape Hauy starts at Fortescue Bay and the Cape Raoul walk is 7 km for older kids. From Cockle Creek, a short walk leads to the Fishers Point Navigation Light, and the 82 km South Coast Track begins here too.

• Arve Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Waratah Shelter, 2 km
• Lady Barron Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Left of Field Camping Gardens, 2 km
• Marriotts Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Left of Field Camping Gardens, 5 km
• Adamsons Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Esperance River Campground, 9 km
• Pelverata Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Huon Valley Caravan Park, 10 km
• walk to Russell Falls – Walk, Mount Field National Park. Closest campground: Land of the Giants Caravan Park, under 1 km
• walk to Horseshoe Falls – Walk, Mount Field National Park. Closest campground: Land of the Giants Caravan Park, 1 km
• walk to Fishers Point Navigation Light – Walk. Closest campground: Boltons Green Campground, 3 km
• The Neck lookout walk – Walk, Bruny Island. Closest campground: Neck Campground, 3 km
• Cape Hauy Track – Walk, Tasman National Park. Closest campground: Mill Creek Campground, 3 km
• walk to Snug Falls – Walk. Closest campground: Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park, 5 km
• walk to Cape Raoul – Walk, Tasman National Park. Closest campground: Port Arthur Holiday Park, 13 km
• Snug Beach – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Newdegate Cave – Cave, Hastings Caves State Reserve. Closest campground: Esperance River Campground, 11 km
• Adams Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Adamsfield Campground, 1 km
• Overland Track – Walk, Lake St Clair. Closest campground: Lake St Clair Lodge, under 1 km
• Watersmeet Walk – Walk, Lake St Clair. Closest campground: Fergys Paddock, under 1 km
• Platypus Bay Walk – Walk, Lake St Clair. Closest campground: Fergys Paddock, under 1 km
• walk to South East Cape – Walk. Closest campground: Cockle Creek Campground, 8 km
• Jetty Beach – Swimming spot, South Bruny National Park. Closest campground: Jetty Beach Campground, under 1 km

Do you need to book campsites in Hobart and the South?

It depends on the park. South Bruny and Southwest National Park camping is first come, first served,, and the Southwest camps supply untreated rainwater rather than town water. Fortescue Bay should be booked for November to April. Mount Field usually has enough snow for skiing from mid-July to mid-September, so pack for cold nights in winter.

Are there powered sites in Hobart and the South?

Yes. 3 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed: Huon Valley Caravan Park, Dover Caravan Park and Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Port Arthur from Hobart?

Fortescue Bay is about 10 km east of Port Arthur. The Bruny Island ferry at Kettering is about 40 minutes' drive from Hobart, Mount Field is about 64 km north-west, Hastings Caves about 90 minutes' drive and Cockle Creek 148 km south-south-west.

Facts from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, "South Bruny camping", Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, "Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs", Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, "Fortescue Bay campground", Wikipedia, "Huon Valley" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Cockle Creek (Tasmania)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Richmond Bridge (Tasmania)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Mount Field National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Port Arthur, Tasmania" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in Hobart and the South

50 campgrounds

• Gordon Foreshore Reserve — Gordon, TAS. accessible toilets, caravan sites, dump point, tent sites, toilets
• Left of Field Camping Gardens — National Park, TAS. caravan sites, drinking water, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Huon Valley Caravan Park — Ranelagh, TAS. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Lake St Clair Lodge — Lake St Clair, TAS. caravan sites, dump point, showers, tent sites
• Mill Creek Campground — Fortescue, TAS. campfires allowed, caravan sites, showers, tent sites
• Banksia Campground — Fortescue, TAS. campfires allowed, showers, tent sites
• Dover Caravan Park — Dover, TAS. dump point, powered sites, tent sites
• Huon Campground — Southwest, TAS. campfires allowed, picnic tables, toilets
• Snug Beach Cabin & Caravan Park — Snug, TAS. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Southport Hotel Caravan Park — Southport, TAS. caravan sites, showers, toilets
• Boltons Green Campground — Recherche, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Catamaran Camping & Boatramp — Recherche, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Port Arthur Holiday Park — Port Arthur, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Ramsgate Campground — Recherche, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Southport Lagoon — Southport Lagoon, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Teds Brach Campground — Southwest, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites
• Adamsfield Campground — Southwest, TAS. campfires allowed
• Captain Cook Holiday Park — Adventure Bay, TAS. wifi
• Derwent Bridge Hotel Campsite — Derwent Bridge, TAS. caravan sites
• Edgar Campground — Southwest, TAS. picnic tables
• Esperance River Campground — Raminea, TAS. campfires allowed
• Jetty Beach Campground — South Bruny, TAS. campfires allowed
• Land of the Giants Caravan Park — National Park, TAS. caravan sites
• Lime Bay Campground — Sloping Main, TAS. campfires allowed
• Melaleuca Campground — Southwest, TAS. tent sites
• Neck Campground — South Bruny, TAS. campfires allowed
• The Pines Campground — South Bruny, TAS. campfires allowed
• Barilla Holiday Park — Cambridge, TAS
• Bethune Park — Ouse, TAS
• Bronte Lagoon Campground — Bronte Park, TAS
• Clarence Lagoon Camoground — Central Plateau, TAS
• Cloudy Corner Campground — South Bruny, TAS
• Cockle Creek Campground — Recherche, TAS
• Cygnet HolidayPark — Cygnet, TAS
• Fergys Paddock — Lake St Clair, TAS
• Finns Beach Campground — Recherche, TAS
• Gilhams Beach Campground — Recherche, TAS
• High Moor Campsite — Southwest, TAS
• Hobart Airport Big4 Caravan Park — Cambridge, TAS
• Hobart Discovery Holiday Park — Risdon, TAS
• Hobart Showground Motorhome Park — Goodwood, TAS
• Lake King William Campground — Derwent Bridge, TAS
• New Norfolk Caravan Park — New Norfolk, TAS
• Orana Girls Guides — Roches Beach, TAS
• Richmond Caravan Park — Richmond, TAS
• Sorell Council Self Contained RV Park — Sorell, TAS
• Valley Campground — Crabtree, TAS
• Waratah Shelter — Southwest, TAS
• Wayatinah Lakeside Caravan Park — Wayatinah, TAS
• White Beach Caravan Park — White Beach, TAS

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.