Freycinet Peninsula Circuit - Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National ...

directly towards the maintenance and protection ofTasmania’s National Parks.A variety of passes are available, including a twomonthbackpacker pass that is valid in all of theState’s national parks. Check with park staff for thepass most suited to your particular needs. Passes canbe bought at all Parks and Wildlife Service offices,the Freycinet Visitor Centre, and Service Tasmaniaoutlets throughout Tasmania.Your SafetyDrinking water can be in short supply along theFreycinet Peninsula Circuit. Ensure that you carry alarge water bottle and a water bladder if possible.You will need at least 2 litres of water per person perday.Even though this walk is on the east coast ofTasmania you still need to be prepared for weatherconditions. Ensure that you have the appropriategear for an extended overnight walk including warmclothes. Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent, first aid kit,a map and compass are all essential. A rain jacketwith hood should always be carried. Of course youshould also be optimistic and expect some days ofsun – so make sure you take a long-sleeve shirt, sunhat and sunscreen.checked regularly, and a search will only be mountedif someone reports you as lost or overdue.Walk TimesWalk times given are what the average walker wouldexpect to travel in good conditions. If you are newto bushwalking or the weather conditions deteriorateyou can expect to travel for longer times. Walkingtimes are to designated campsites.Start Point Destination Time(hours)Walking tracks car park Wineglass Bay 1.5Walking tracks car park Hazards Beach 2 - 3Wineglass Bay Hazards Beach 2Hazards Beach Cooks Beach 2Cooks BeachCooks BeachBryans Beach(side trip)Wineglass Bay(via Mt Graham)15-6Making CampIt is essential that a tent be carried as there are nohuts along the track. You should only pitch yourtent at established sites. Camping sites exist at thefollowing locations: southern end of Hazards Beach,Cooks Beach, Bryans Beach, and the southern end ofWineglass Bay.Keep Wildlife WildThe smell of food will encourage native animalsto raid your pack, rattle your cookware and riflethrough your rubbish.Spotting a snake can be common within FreycinetNational Park. Snakes are shy animals and will usuallyget out of a walker’s way rather than attack. Wearingsturdy boots and a pair of gaiters will protect yourlower legs. Most bites occur when people try tokill snakes (this is illegal). If a bite occurs keep theperson at rest, lying down. Do not wash or cut thebitten area. Apply a firm pressure bandage (not atourniquet) from the bite site, all the way down thelimb then back up the limb. Death from snakebiteis very uncommon. You do not need to identify thesnake as the same antivenin is used for all snake bites.Let someone know before you go - leave detailsof your planned trip with a reliable friend or relative.If this is not possible, a trip intentions form can becompleted and left at the local Police station.Use the walker registration book to register andde-register your walk. Be aware that these are notAll food, rubbish and packaging should be sealedwithin two bags. Wrap food in a plastic bag and thenstore it in a larger stuff sack. At night stow your foodbag securely in your packs.Do not feed animals. Processed food is not part oftheir natural diet and, in some cases, can lead to thedeath of native animals.Plant disease kills: help boot itout.Phytophthora cinnamomi (root rot) exists on theFreycinet Peninsula. Bushwalkers can help stop thespread of this deadly plant pathogen by starting theirtrip with clean gear, staying on the formed tracks, andcleaning gear before moving on to the next campsite.Walkers are advised to walk the trip in an anticlockwisedirection. Undertaking your trip in thisdirection and ensuring your gear is clean after leavingPage 2Great Bushwalks – The Freycinet Circuit

every campsite along the track will go a long way tohelp prevent the spread of Phytophthora.All items used in the bush need to be scrupulouslycleaned. Items that require a scrub include bootsand gaiters (the most risky items), tent floors,groundsheets, tent poles and pegs, trowels, packs,waterproof coats, trousers, and legs.WaterYour habits are crucial in helping to preserve theclean water quality of Freycinet National Park.Careful toilet habits are the main way that walkerscan preserve water quality.Of course, the water within our National Parks isnot chemically treated. It may not meet the NationalHealth and Medical Research Council’s Guidelinesfor drinking water. The Tasmanian Department ofHealth and Human Services thus advises that as aprecautionary measure, untreated water should beboiled (1-3 minutes) and cooled before drinking orbeing used for food preparation. Other forms ofwater treatment (iodine, water filters) may also beused.Possible water collection points (rainfall dependent)are found at the following sites: tap at the walker’scar park, Lagunta Creek at Hazards Beach, and tankat Cooks Beach Hut. Depending on rainfall, watercan be located at Graham Creek where the trackcrosses the creek below Mt Graham and at thesouthern end of Wineglass Bay. There is no freshwater at Bryans Beach.ToiletsCompost or pit toilets are available at some of thecamping sites (Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach andCooks Beach campsites). Where possible please usethese toilets. To assist the composting process, donot put leftover food or rubbish (such as tampons,sanitary pads or condoms) in the toilets.Fuel Stove Only AreaThe Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is within a Fuel StoveOnly Area and campfires are not permitted. You willneed to carry a fuel stove for cooking.RubbishAll rubbish must be carried out with you. Rubbishincludes cigarette butts and leftover food.Used sanitary pads, tampons, condoms and babynappies are also items of litter and must be carriedout.Keep on trackThe Peninsula Circuit track is generally dry but if youdo come across boggy sections keep to the middleof the track. This is the best way that walkers canhelp with stopping the sprawl of muddy areas. Werecommend wearing gaiters to protect yourselfagainst the scrub and mud.Dish washingTry using just hot water and a scourer to clean platesand cookware. Despite their name, biodegradableproducts still impact on water-life. Dish washingshould be done 50m away from water and the wastewater scattered.Group sizeThe preferred maximum party size is 4–6 people.Large groups can be difficult to accommodatewith tent sites and also have greater social andenvironmental impacts.More informationThe booklet Tasmania’s Essential Bushwalking Guideis available free from the Parks and Wildlife Service.The booklet provides information for overnightwalking in Tasmania and includes what to take, whatsituations to be prepared for, and where to get moredetailed information.Parks and Wildlife Service TasmaniaHobart (03) 6233 2669Freycinet (03) 6256 7000Web: http://www.parks.tas.gov.auTasmanian Travel and Information CentrePhone: (03) 6230 8233Where there are no toilets, go at least 100m awayfrom any creek or stream and the track. Carry asturdy hand trowel and dig a hole at least 15 cm (6inches) deep, otherwise animals may dig up the wasteand scatter the toilet paper. Bury all faecal waste andtoilet paper with some soil.Great Bushwalks – The Freycinet Circuit Page 3

Further InformationInternet: www.parks.tas.gov.au July 2007 © State of TasmaniaDepartment of Tourism, Arts and the Environment