Camping in the North West

North West Tasmania runs along the Bass Strait coast from Devonport, where the Spirit of Tasmania docks, to the wild west coast at Arthur River, with Cradle Mountain inland. At Stanley, The Nut is an old volcanic plug that rises 143 metres, and near Arthur River the coast faces the Roaring Forties, earning the lookout there the name The Edge of the World.

Where is the best place to camp in the North West?

The choice is between beach towns, the far west or the mountains. Off the ferry, Mersey Bluff Caravan Park is in Devonport, and east of town, Bakers Beach has several simple camps. West along the coast there are parks at Ulverstone and Wynyard, and BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park is in Stanley itself. Out at Arthur River, the camps at Manuka and Peppermint are on the remote far west coast, and inland, Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain is at Cradle Mountain itself.

What is there to do in the North West with kids?

In Devonport, the Bass Strait Maritime Museum is in town, the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse dates from 1889, and Home Hill, once the home of Joseph and Enid Lyons, is open to visit. Near Ulverstone, Wings Wildlife Park at Gunns Plains has its own camping ground. At Stanley, you can climb The Nut by walking track or ride the chairlift, and Highfield, the old Van Diemen's Land Company headquarters, is open to visitors. At Cradle Mountain, Devils@Cradle is right at the park.

• Wings Wildlife Park – Animals, Gunns Plains. Closest campground: Wings Camping Grounds, under 1 km
• Axeman's Hall of Fame – Museums and history, Latrobe. Closest campground: Latrobe Mersey River Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Sherwood Hall – Museums and history, Latrobe. Closest campground: Latrobe Mersey River Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Home Hill – Museums and history, Miandetta. Closest campground: Abel Tasman Caravan Park, 3 km
• Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre – Museums and history, Beaconsfield. Closest campground: The Horse Yards Campground, 18 km
• Devils@Cradle – Animals, Cradle Mountain. Closest campground: Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain, 1 km
• Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden – Gardens and outdoors, Romaine. Closest campground: Cooee Point Reserve, 7 km
• Discovery Museum – Museums and history, Stanley. Closest campground: BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park, under 1 km
• The Hive Museum – Museums and history, Ulverstone. Closest campground: BIG4 Ulverstone Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Latrobe Courthouse Museum – Museums and history, Latrobe. Closest campground: Latrobe Mersey River Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Bass Strait Maritime Museum – Museums and history, Devonport. Closest campground: Mersey Bluff Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Devonport Regional Gallery – Museums and history, Devonport. Closest campground: Abel Tasman Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Wonders of Wynyard – Museums and history, Wynyard. Closest campground: Beach Retreat Tourist Park, 1 km
• Burnie Regional Museum – Museums and history, Burnie. Closest campground: Cooee Point Reserve, 3 km
• Weindorfer's Chalet – Museums and history, Cradle Mountain. Closest campground: Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain, 7 km
• Target Golf – Play, Forth. Closest campground: Turners Beach Caravan Park, 5 km
• SWIRL – Swimming, Smithton. Closest campground: Black River Campground, 16 km
• George Town Aquatic Centre – Swimming, George Town. Closest campground: The Horse Yards Campground, 20 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in the North West?

At Cradle Mountain, the Dove Lake circuit is the well-known shorter walk, and the Overland Track starts here for older, experienced walkers. On the coast, there is Guide Falls, and at Bakers Beach the Springlawn bird hide. Near Arthur River is the Edge of the World lookout.

• Guide Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Somerset Gardens and Tourist Park, 14 km
• walking track to The Nut – Walk, Stanley. Closest campground: BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Dove Lake circuit – Walk, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Closest campground: Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain, 9 km
• Overland Track – Walk, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Closest campground: Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain, 12 km
• Fossil Bluff Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Beach Retreat Tourist Park, 1 km
• Delaneys Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Wings Camping Grounds, 3 km
• Red Rock Point – Lookout. Closest campground: Cooee Point Reserve, under 1 km
• Little Penguin Viewing Area – Lookout. Closest campground: BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Springlawn Bird Hide Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Springlawn Campground, under 1 km
• Edge of the World – Lookout. Closest campground: Peppermint Campground, 1 km
• H.A. (Jimmy) Lane Memorial Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park, 2 km

When is the best time to go camping in the North West?

Cradle Mountain winters are harsh, with July minimums around freezing and heavy rain, so bring cold-weather gear if you go then.

Do you need to book campsites in the North West?

Overland Track walks are booked through the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, which manages Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Are there powered sites in the North West?

Yes. 2 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed: Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport and BIG4 Stanley Holiday 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 Stanley from Devonport?

Stanley is about 127 km west of Devonport, and Arthur River about 194 km. Devonport itself is about 98 km from Launceston and 277 km from Hobart.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Devonport, Tasmania" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Stanley, Tasmania" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Arthur River, Tasmania" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in the North West

33 campgrounds

• Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport — East Devonport, TAS. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park — Stanley, TAS. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain — Cradle Mountain, TAS. caravan sites, dump point, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Peggs Beach Campground — Cowrie Point, TAS. campfires allowed, caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Manuka Campground — Arthur River, TAS. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Beach Retreat Tourist Park — Wynyard, TAS. caravan sites, toilets
• Black River Campground — Black River, TAS. campfires allowed
• Somerset Gardens and Tourist Park — Somerset, TAS. tent sites
• The Horse Yards Campground — Bakers Beach, TAS. campfires allowed
• Abel Tasman Caravan Park — East Devonport, TAS
• Apex Beachside Holiday Park — West Ulverstone, TAS
• Bakers Point Campground — Bakers Beach, TAS
• Bay View Holiday Village — East Devonport, TAS
• BIG4 Ulverstone Holiday Park — Ulverstone, TAS
• Blue Wren Gardens and Accommodation — West Ulverstone, TAS
• Camp Elsewhere — Couta Rocks, TAS
• Cooee Point Reserve — Cooee, TAS
• Devonport Holiday Village — East Devonport, TAS
• Greenes Creek PWS Camping Area — West Coast, TAS
• Hall Point — Sulphur Creek, TAS
• Koybaa Campground — Bakers Beach, TAS
• Lake Lea — Middlesex, TAS
• Latrobe Mersey River Caravan Park — Latrobe, TAS
• Mersey Bluff Caravan Park — Devonport, TAS
• Nelson Bay Campground — Nelson Bay, TAS
• Peppermint Campground — Arthur River, TAS
• Pioneer Park Camping Ground Riana — Riana, TAS
• Port Sorell Lions Caravan Park — Port Sorell, TAS
• Prickly Wattle Campground — Arthur River, TAS
• Springlawn Campground — Bakers Beach, TAS
• Stinking Beach Campground — Temma, TAS
• Turners Beach Caravan Park — Turners Beach, TAS
• Wings Camping Grounds — Gunns Plains, TAS

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