Questions re Freycinet circuit

[dreamingof8a]

Hi again,

due to the great replies I keep getting here I will continue to ask

After hiking the Tasman peninsula I want to continue to Freycinet and do the circuit as a two day walk. So far my plan is as follows (see my questions in brackets):

- after Tasman hike, stay one more night at Fortescue bay
- leave in the morning, drive up to Freycinet via Wielengta Forest Rd., enjoying the scenery and stopping here and there (any recommendations here?)
- Arrive at Freycinet, walk in and camp at southern Wineglass Bay campsite (is there a feasable alternative, so I can do Wineglass bay on the second day?)
- Do the circuit, camp at Cooks beach
- Sidetrip to Bryans beach, then along the coast via Lemana back to the car
- Stay somewhere in the area one night (any recommendations? Of course I'd prefer a wild, free campsite over anything paid or maybe even with reservations); next morning up onto Mt Dove, then head towards Cradle Mountain

I think this could work out quite well, the only two things I am not so happy with are:
- Id realy like to reverse the walk to see Wineglassbay on the second day (kinda building up to it)
- After the hike I need to stay somewhere for another night, not sure where the best place would be (to allow me Mt Dove in the morning)

An alternative could be to arrive earlier, do Mt Dove in the afternoon and stay near the trailhead, then head to Cooks Beach on the first and to Wineglass bay on the second day (camp there again). Walk out to the car on the third and drive to Cradle mountain.

I have a feeling that the second option is a little more stressful and doesn't allow me to enjoy the drive up to Freycinet?

Any general suggestions for routes, stops on the way, campsites?

After Cradle Mountain I want to finish my stay with an overnighter at the Walls (Dixons Hut), before driving back to Hobart from where my flight will leave

Thanks!

[stepbystep]

The drive from TP to Freycinet is a little meh. Other than some stops off the highway south of Swansea(Spiky Bridge/Beach).

You could do the Mt Amos walk(Mt Dove is more difficult, longer and off track) upon arrival and walk to the Hazards Beach campsite fairly comfortably. The next day visiting Cooks/Bryans/Mt Freycinet/Mt Graham arriving at Wineglass in the afternoon.

Good free camping can be had at Friendly Beaches, a really nice spot!

[GD4Up]

Wielengta Forest Rd is still closed at the southern end - conveniently at the spot where Rheban Rd branches off. That gives a nice enough drive around the coastline. The road has some decent potholes at the moment.

I'll second the camping up at Friendly Beaches although some the conservation areas have some long term fishing camps set up at the moment. No problems with them but might be a bit of a surprise to see the setups - must take some a full day to set up their camp

[Wolfix]

Coles Bay Caravan Park is good. Beer and no plastic bags.

[Strider]

Coles Bay Caravan Park is good. Beer and no plastic bags.

The annoying thing is they offer no alternative. I found out the hard way after buying several days worth of food and then having to carry the lot of it back up the hill in my arms.

[dreamingof8a]

Thanks for the comment. Due to rather bad weather I only climbed Mt Amos and stayed in Bicheno at the backpackers. I guess I have to come back for Freycinet NP!

Unfortunately I somehow missed the turn-off after Copping, tried to get back onto Wielangta Rd via Nugent but again didn't quite make it ... had a nice drive thorugh the back country though

[dreamingof8a]

Camped another night at friendly beaches and had the greatest sunset and campsite all to myself. A really nice beach!

[Wolfix]

It is a wonderful part of Australia. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I can't wait to go back there.

[Skinky]

It's quite a tough two day walk, gets pretty hot around there which makes it more tiring. I would imagine water is VERY limited around there at the moment although as I'm sure you know there is a large tank at Cooks Beach which will be OK at the moment but may get a little dry around and after the Christmas period. I did the walk in reverse although it was not intentional and I regretted when I read later about the reason for the anti clockwise route and the efforts to reduce the spread of the plant killing fungus which kills the grass trees etc. Could camp at Bryans beach, although its not offical, there are a few good spots there. Got tent raided by a possum, the animals around the cooks beach camp wise to humans and the food opertunities thay present.
Great walk - closest youll get to tropical waters in Tas!

[Onestepmore]

I'm looking forwards to our Freycinet walks just before Xmas.
For tank water - do I need to bring water purification stuff (filters or UV pens etc)? We'll definitely carry in a fair bit I think, after various comments here and elsewhere.

Xmas Eve dinner is booked at Freycinet Lodge
Thanks for all the tips!

[Orion]

There were "wigglies" in the tank water at Cook's when we visited in March several years ago. So it depends on whether you think water with live larvae requires treatment or not. One young woman told us she used her G-string to remove them.

We have a few days before New Years and are thinking of revisiting this wonderful area. Will it be so crowded that it will ruin our memory of the place?

[dplanet]

If going against clock-wise, you may need to carry water from Cooks Hut for both drinking and cooking the next day. All of the creeks between Cooks Hut and Wineglass Bay were dry last year. A walker reported to Park staff at the visitor info office while i was there.

[Strider]

One young woman told us she used her G-string to remove them.

This begs two questions to be asked:

1. Did she use the back or the front of the garment to remove the "wigglies"?
2. Who the hell goes bushwalking in a G-string?!

[ronin]

pano_IMG_7023 Panorama.jpg

Love this shot, we've camped around here a couple of times and it's a great spot, but looking at where the tent is set up i'm wondering if its in the popular camp grounds or rather 'of track' for want of better word.
Is it more north of the camp grounds?

[ILUVSWTAS]

One young woman told us she used her G-string to remove them.

This begs two questions to be asked:

1. Did she use the back or the front of the garment to remove the "wigglies"?
2. Who the hell goes bushwalking in a G-string?!

And 3. Where are the photos?

[photohiker]

One young woman told us she used her G-string to remove them.

This begs two questions to be asked:

1. Did she use the back or the front of the garment to remove the "wigglies"?

Lived a sheltered life? Suggest a google image search would answer that question.

[dreamingof8a]

That spot probably mor off track although it is actually on a track that leads from the car park to towards the sea. On http://goo.gl/maps/wNBME it's at the end of the small track that leads onto the spit in the upper right corner of the map.

[ronin]

That spot probably mor off track although it is actually on a track that leads from the car park to towards the sea. On http://goo.gl/maps/wNBME it's at the end of the small track that leads onto the spit in the upper right corner of the map.

Hey, thanks for the info, i reckon i know exactly where that's at.
Most people i've seen up there in the past set up camp away from the water up next to the tracks, etc instead of right up next to the water.
Next time i'm there i'm going to snaffle that spot before anyone is the wiser