Updated on November 7, 2025
Free Camping and Touring around Tasmania
Tasmania may be a relatively small island, but it’s packed with spectacular free camping areas, stunning scenery, magical wilderness areas, and some of the best beaches in the world.
We toured Tasmania during the summer for five weeks and stayed in some beautiful campgrounds, many of which were free. Please note that the free status of these sites may change; however, the sites below have been used for free camping for many years, so hopefully, this will remain the case for many more years and generations to come. Free camping in Australia can save a significant amount of money; those savings can then be spent on other adventures!
8 of the Best Free Campsites in Tasmania
- Binnalong Bay: On the stunning East Coast of Tasmania, Binnalong Bay and the Bay of Fires region is a must-see destination with a fantastic choice of free campsites. Read more here.
- Friendly Beaches Free Camp, Coles Bay: A limited number of sites available in a fab location with miles of golden beaches. An easy drive to Coles Bay township and the famous Wine Glass Bay Walk of the Freycinet Peninsula.
- Port Arthur Area: The Dunalley Hotel has a large grassy field next door where they welcome self-contained campers. We camped here in tents and had our own ensuite tent with a porta-potty and so were self-contained. The hotel owners do allow folk to use their toilets when the pub is open. Having a meal or some drinks in the pub in return for using the field is a fair exchange. This is a great location to stay when visiting Port Arthur and the Eaglehawk Neck area. Dogs allowed. Dunalley Hotel, 210 Arthur Highway, Dunalley
- Cockle Creek: Driving south from Hobart, past the road to Hastings Caves, until you can drive no further and you’ll come to Cockle Creek and the Southwest National Park. Free camping with beach access is fabulous and some excellent bushwalks start here too. Dogs are allowed in the free camping areas before the bridge that crosses the river, then it becomes National Park. Read more…
- Camping at Lake Peddar – Edgar Dam: Way down in the South West of Tassie is Lake Peddar. This wilderness area is definitely worth visiting, and a number of bushwalks are available in the area, as well as superb fishing in the lakes. Wildlife ruled the roost in the Edgar Dam Campground, and the little wallabies seemed not to care about us campers. Good composting toilets are available as well as fire pits.
- Lake Macintosh Campground, West Coast Tasmania: Not too far from Strahan (about 1 hour) where the famous river cruises up the Gordon River start from, the Lake Macintosh campground is a good spot. Dog-friendly and close to the lake. We stayed in Strahan for two nights in a self-contained cottage and then went onto Lake Macintosh for a night.
- Great Lakes, Central Highlands: There isn’t one perfect spot up in the Great Lakes area of Tasmania. Famous for the best fishing in Australia, the Central Highlands offer lots of free camping areas, take your pick really as they all seem to be awesome!
- Gravelly Beach, on the West Tamar River: Read a fun article from Sparkling Adventures. About a 20-minute drive from Launceston, the overnight camp area at Gravelly Beach is a good spot for a quick stop. Public toilets and a local playground are available for use; the outlook onto the Tamar River is picturesque, especially on calm days when the reflections of boats in the water are beautiful.
We do not mind booking into regular campsites, of course, though there is something extra special about the freedom of choosing a camping spot and taking ‘pot-luck’ in finding somewhere fabulous!
- Download the Wiki Camps AU App – it costs a small amount and is invaluable!
- Free campsites cannot be pre-booked. It’s first in, best dressed.
- Almost all the free camp areas will have a basic ‘long-drop’ toilet.
- BYO loo paper, just in case.
- Generally, you must take your litter away.
