Rescherche Bay/Cockle Creek Campgrounds

Journey back in time on our Recherche Bay kayaking tour. Follow the footsteps of the early French explorers during their visit to Recherche Bay, learn about the early whaling history and the first settlers to the area. This full day tour will visit some of the sites described by the French. The tour includes an exploration of the D'Entrecasteaux River

​Tasmania’s largest expanse of wilderness is located in Southwest National Park – a remote and rugged landscape in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Home to majestic Huon pine, sassafras, celery top and myrtle, the region is awash with the distinctive fragrances of the Tasmanian forest. The Gordon River Road is a narrow ribbon through the largely untracked region of forests, imposing mountain ranges and buttongrass plains, providing access to the vast expanses of Lake Pedder and Lake Go​rdon. In Southwest Nationa​l Park, you’ll find one of Tasmania’s ​most challenging wilderness walks, the multi-day South Coast Track. There are also endless shorter walks to take you up and over mountains and out to the coast. For a real ‘ends-of-the-Earth’ experience, travel to Australia’s southernmost point accessible by road, Cockle Creek, where a day walk to South Cape Bay allows walkers to immerse themselves in the raw power of this wilderness landscape. Please visit the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website (parks.tas.gov.au) for further information about this national park including how to get there and things to do. Refer to the ‘know before you go’ webpage for more important information about alerts, safety in parks and entry fees.

South Cape Bay is one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. The 60 Great Short Walks offer the best of Tasmania's day walking opportunities. 4 hrs return, 15.4km return. Grade 3. Experience a taste of the wild south on this delightful​ extended walk. Leave from the southern-most ​road in Australia and walk through woodland and open bush till you reach the cliff above South Cape Bay. It’s a rare day when the wind isn’t howling and the surf roaring at this breath-taking place. If conditions allow, take the steps down to the beach. There you can wander the sand and cobble beach as far as Lion Rock, and marvel at what the wild ocean has washed up. Please refer to the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website (parks.tas.gov.au) for up-to-date information about this walk, alerts, closures, safe walking guidelines, leave no trace principles and National Park entry fees where applicable.