What To Do In Freycinet

It may be small, but it is mighty. Tasmania offers an island destination full of contrasts, cuisine and unique wildlife experiences. The topography changes drastically from the wet, wild and verdant west coast to the glistening and alluring east coast and Freycinet National Park. Before packing your bags, it’s essential to load up on useful information to guide you whilst visiting, so you can immerse yourself in wild Tasmania and return with tales to share.

The Freycinet Peninsula extends south-eastwards from Tasmania’s coastline and is a fully protected national park, including the internationally acclaimed Wineglass Bay. Freycinet receives on average 600mm (23.6 in.) of rain per year. It has a climate similar to that of France with on average more than 300 days of sunshine. Freycinet is a national park on Tasmania’s east coast, 125km northeast of Hobart. It inhabits a large part of the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island.

Palawa Aboriginal people have occupied Tasmania from over 30 000 years ago when a bridge of land connected the island to mainland Australia. There is rich archaeological evidence along the Freycinet Peninsula of Aboriginal occupation and middens are found along the dunes of Hazards Beach. Founded in 1916, Freycinet is Tasmania’s oldest park, along with Mount Field National Park. Freycinet National Park was named after the French explorer Louis de Freycinet (1779-1841), who sailed the Tasman Sea and surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Hazards and found an abundance of natural springs as well as and the prettiest of pink granite and blue waters of Honeymoon Bay. Bordering the national park is the small town of Coles Bay, and the largest close town is Swansea. Freycinet contains part of the rugged Tasmanian coastline and includes Cooks Beach, Picnic Island and the iconic Wineglass Bay, voted by several travel authorities as one of the world’s ten best beaches.

Before setting off along the coast, spend a night or two in the capital city, Hobart. Each Saturday, the Salamanca Markets open to offer a thriving hub of food, arts and culture. With delightful excursions such as MONA or trip to Bruny Island or Cradle Mountain just hours from Launceston or Hobart, it’s easy to plan your trip and drive time around these must-see sights. For keen walkers you can hike the seven day Overland Track through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park or trek the famous Bay of Fires or 48 kilometres of cliff-hugging wildness along the Three Capes Track. If you’re looking to tee off amid some stunning scenery, Great Golf Courses of Australia recommend Barnbougle – a breathtaking golf course comprising of 200 acres of undulating coastal dunes created to challenge golfers over 18 holes and mirror the wild Tassie coast.

Tasmania’s unique wilderness and five of Tasmania’s historic convict sites are listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as worthy of World Heritage Listing in recognition of their outstanding natural or cultural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Maria Island’s pristine untouched beaches, the crystal-clear waters of the surrounding marine reserve and scenery like the magnificent Mt Maria and Bishop and Clerk peaks will take your breath away.

Australian Wildlife Journeys showcase a commitment to conservation, passion for nature and interpretation of wildlife in natural habitats on The Maria Island Walk. The operators of these wildlife experiences see themselves as guardians of the native fauna as well as expert guides. An abundance of wildlife can be found here including Cape Barron geese, wombats, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils. Rare and endangered species call this island home, such as the Swift parrot and Magnificent blue and white eucalyptus gums, some of them over 400 years old are unique to Maria Island. Great Walks of Australia cover some of the country’s most iconic landscapes including the untamed Tasmanian wilderness and beaches. The Freycinet Experience Walk is a four-day immersion into one of the most stunning coastal wilderness areas on earth. Travel in the footsteps of the Oyster Bay Tribe, walking the same ancient bush tracks trodden some 30,000 years ago. Here, you’ll discover diverse marine and wildlife, nesting lagoons, wildflowers and other unique flora and fauna. Renowned as one of the top ten beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay is just one of the region’s white sandy beaches and the pure clear turquoise water that are perfect for sea kayaking, swimming and scuba diving. The Hazard Range offers climbing, abseiling and mountain walking, and the coastal heathlands of Tasmania’s east have superb day walks.

Freycinet National Park is a place of wild beauty. The pristine coastal environments of world-renowned Wineglass Bay benefit from a remote and secluded setting. Experience white-sand beaches, iconic wildlife, scenic hiking trails and awe-inspiring viewpoints in one of Tasmania’s first national parks. The powder white beaches and transparent waters of Tasmania’s oldest park, formed over 400 million years, meets the rugged coastal bushland where native wildlife roam including eastern quolls and Red-necked wallabies. In fact, Freycinet is home to 49 species that can only be found in Tasmania.

One of Australia’s finest luxury lodges, Saffire Freycinet intrinsically know and celebrate of the art of service, internal and external wellbeing, local culinary delights, ancient landscapes and the abundant wildlife of Tasmania’s east coast. Discreetly positioned overlooking the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, Saffire Freycinet blends mankind and nature with breathtaking beauty. Saffire’s architectural design is distinctly unique and recognisable, just like its location and the unmistakable towering pink-hued mountains, known as the Hazards, are framed in view and anchor the landscape. Saffire is located on the inside of the gentle curve of sandy coastline that joins the peninsula to mainland Tasmania. With Freycinet National Park on the doorstep, there’s a world of deserted islands, wild bushland and secluded beaches to explore from Saffire Freycinet. A wide range of activities are offered to suit all ages and interests, from bushwalks to gourmet picnics in remote locations and quad biking through wild terrain.

Coastal forests and breathtaking scenery beckon keen hikers to the park’s world-class walking trails and awe-inspiring lookouts. Intrepid adventurers can climb Mount Amos and take in the uninterrupted views of dramatic peninsular carved into Tasmania’s eastern coastline.If you’re not up for theMount Amos hike, take a guided walk with an experienced naturalist and connect with nature as your guide explains the local history, geology, flora and fauna. Soak in the spectacular 360 degree views on the Cape Tourville Lighthouse Walk and comb the granite sand of Sleepy Bay.

Cape Tourville (20 minutes)

Wineglass Bay Lookout (1-1.5 hours)

Wineglass Bay (2.5 hours)

Hazards Beach (3.5 hours)

In the forested areas visitors will often see or hear small nectar-feeding birds such as eastern spinebills and yellow-throated or crescent honeyeaters and yellow-tailed black cockatoos, which often feed and fly in raucous groups. On the trails, look out for Tasmanian wildlife such as wombats, Forester (eastern grey) kangaroos and wallabies. There’s a variety of seemingly untouched pockets of paradise near Freycinet amongst gorgeous coastal reserve. Hike through bush with your Saffire Guide before reaching your private beach for a gourmet picnic set up, ready and waiting. Absorb the magical isolated atmosphere and wander along the beach admiring the natural treasures. After exploring the beach, the Skipper is waiting with your aqua taxi return trip, to see the peninsula from a different perspective as you journey back to Saffire.

There’s a world of deserted islands, wild bushland and secluded beaches to explore. Photograph the famous arc of white beach, green, forested isthmus and blue water of  Wineglass Bay from above on a scenic flight with Freycinet Air. Tours depart Friendly Beaches Airport and offer a variety of flight routes including Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, Schouten Island, Maria Island, Bay of Fires and Port Arthur can be tailored for a bespoke experience.

For a day tour with a difference, Saffire guest services can arrange exclusive permission to land at Tasman Island on a scenic helicopter flight. Enjoy a picnic lunch with paired wines as you take in the abundance of marine and native wildlife. If cool climate wines are calling your name, take a helicopter flight to Craigie Knowe Vineyard – the oldest vineyard on Tasmania’s East Coast and try matched wine and cheese tastings, finished with a scenic flight over mesmerising Wineglass Bay. Undoubtedly one of Tasmania’s most iconic experiences, the Freycinet Marine Farm is an immersive experience where Saffire guests don a pair of waders and taste the freshly shucked oysters straight from the lease. Develop an understanding for wetland and marine ecology, and learn why your local oysters and seafood are world renowned.

Saffire Freycinet invites thrill-seekers on an ATV tour. Riding your own all-terrain vehicle to isolated parts of the famous Freycinet National Park, you will see magical beaches and spectacular granite sea cliffs. Join professional guides on an exciting and challenging half-day quad bike ride with Freycinet Adventures. Set off from the gentle shores of Coles Bay to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches on the Wineglass Bay Cruise. Let your guide and skipper take you back in time as you discover the history of Freycinet Peninsula while taking in the breathtaking scenery and wildlife that surrounds you. Enjoy a leisurely cruise back into Great Oyster Bay whilst passing pristine white sandy beaches that are dotted around the Freycinet coastline. Relax for an hour and a half in the afternoon aboard Saffire’s purpose-built vessel. Cruise the Freycinet coastline, enjoy fascinating stories of the east coast and its characters–then disembark on a remote and secluded beach to stroll on pristine, white sand, soak up some sunshine and maybe even take a dip in the pure, turquoise water. On the return voyage, if you’re in the mood for excitement, your Saffire skipper will entertain you with some high-speed action.

Further offshore, Schouten Island’s vast and abundant eco-system has played a part in early Palawa Aboriginal settlement, and farming, mining and fishing in the area. Now, it is part of the Freycinet National Park, a rarely explored, wild, unpredictable, delicate and unforgettable place both above and below the sea. The Schouten Island Signature Experience has been designed exclusively for guests to deepen their east coast discovery and showcase the amazing array of bird and wildlife may be sighted at Freycinet. Spot the majestic, white-bellied sea eagle gliding overhead or large Australasian gannets diving for food, discover Australian sea lion colonies and pods of dolphins on tour. Morning tea is included and prepared by the team of chefs at Saffire.

Take a coastal stroll along the beach just in front of Saffire Freycinet with the lodge’s Aboriginal guide, Mick Quilliam. Discover the history of the local Tasmanian Aboriginal Oyster Bay people, taking in the beauty of the coastal tracks and rock platforms. The Tasmanian Devil Experience at Saffire Freycinet offers guests the rare opportunity to encounter Tasmanian devils in a natural setting, and to participate in the quest to save this endangered species from extinction. Join Saffire Horticulturalist, Rob ‘The Bee Man’ Barker on a local apiary and witness the natural phenomenon of honey making by Tasmanian bees. Extract the honeycomb and sample nature at its most raw, captivating, and sweet.

Complimentary experiences offer jogging trails, archery, fishing, kayaking, hammocks, kite flying, boardgames, beach games, bike riding, golf courses and kids activities-all there to enjoy at your leisure. One of Tasmania’s great wilderness properties, Currawong Lakes, is located an hour from Saffire and is home to one of Australia’s premier clay target shooting ranges. Hosted by property owners Richard and Meryn Krimmer, experience all the fun of skeet shooting in a warm and safe environment, suitable for all levels–from beginner to expert. The property is also home to premium dry fly fishing, known by keen anglers worldwide. Test your aim at ranges or try your hand in a personal fly fishing tutorial.

The unforgettable culinary encounter at Saffire is accompanied with paired Tasmanian premium local wines, meaning guests eat and drink well. In Palate restaurant, Executive Chef Paddy Prenter has ensured innovative dining does not compromise the true flavours of the freshest local produce. Tasmania’s finest offerings artfully presented, with plenty of fresh seafood all locally sourced from Tasmanian’s beautiful and clean waterways. From breakfast through to a gourmet degustation or a la carte dinner, guests can customise their dining experiences to suit all tastes and schedules.

Saffire Freycinet is located mid-way along Tasmania’s scenic East Coast, just two and a half hours from Hobart and two hours’ drive from Launceston. Hobart and Launceston are a 60-minute flight from Melbourne or 105 minutes from Sydney. Australia’s major airlines conduct daily flights into Hobart and Launceston from most capital cities. 

Saffire Freycinet has even catered for that moment when you step off your flight at Hobart Airport. Saffire’s Airport Lounge provides travel information, unsurpassed service, a touch of luxury–and the chance to catch your breath before your journey to Saffire Freycinet.

The Spirit of Tasmania also sails daily between Melbourne and Devonport, allowing you to bring your own vehicle for your Tasmania road trip and there is a range of transport options for your ultimate journey to Saffire Freycinet. If you choose to self-drive, be prepared for some stunning coastal scenery on the eastern drive, passing through the seaside towns of Orford and Swansea. If you prefer to fly, Saffire Freycinet is just a 30-min scenic flight away. Saffire offers its own chauffeured limousine service from Hobart or Launceston.

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