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Douglas-Apsley National Park

~ introduction ~ how to get there ~ what it costs ~ facilities ~  
 

Introduction - some things to keep in mind    

» Water is scarce: Douglas-Apsley has low rainfall, limited catchment and storage. Water supply is limited to the natural riverways. If you are unaccustomed to natural water sources, we suggest boiling water for drinking. Water is of poorer quality in periods of warm weather, and also during or after rain. Remember to carry adequate water on any walks away from the rivers.

» Safety first: Always check with the Bureau of Meteorology before going bushwalking: phone 1196 or click weather bureau. 

» Douglas-Apsley is a National Park. Pets and firearms are forbidden. Do not remove any natural material. Please put rubbish in bins or preferably take it home or to township facilities for disposal. Please do not feed the animals: foreign foods can cause ill health, and feeding induces aberrant behaviour towards people. As a result of feeding in the past, some animals have become aggressive: so please keep all your food, utensils and scraps secure from being ransacked.

How to get to Douglas-Apsley    

The Park is about 3 hours drive from Hobart; or about 2 hours from Launceston via A1 turning at Conara then A4 through Fingal and St Marys, or some 2-3 hours via Tasman Highway (A3) (Scottsdale, St Helens, down the east coast of Tasmania).

To enter the southern end of the Park (Apsley), turn onto the Rosedale Road from the Tasman Highway (A3), about 3 km north of Bicheno. The park entry is at the end of Rosedale Road (about 7 km, comprising 3 km sealed to the Apsley crossing and 4 km unsealed to the end) where there is a substantial car parking area. This is the most suitable and best facilitated section of the Park for most visitors.

The northern end of the Park (Thompsons Marshes) is found by turning west off the Tasman Highway about 24 km north of Bicheno, 4 km north of Seymour Bridge, 5 km south of Chain of Lagoons, 20 km south of St Marys. Follow this gravel forestry 'E'* road for 4½ km to a sign-posted junction, then take the left fork, 'E4'. After just over 1 km on the E4 road, take the right fork up the increasingly rough road for 500 metres to the small car park at the edge of the plateau. You might need to assess for yourself whether to drive or walk this last section of rough road.

The Apsley Myrtle Forest walk at the west of the Park is via the restricted access 'MG'* unsealed logging road. From St Marys, travel east toward Elephant Pass on the Tasman Highway for 4 km. Turn south onto the gravel MG road (not sign-posted). Continue south for about 30 km to the Apsley Myrtle Forest carpark. The MG road can also be reached via the C301 Old Coach Road at Cranbrook; turn north onto MG road and drive for 13 km. Beware of changing rough road conditions and the log trucks using these roads.

Access to other waterfalls along logging roads is described on the nearby waterfalls page.
 
Please take special care when driving between dusk and dawn as this is when wildlife is most active on the roads.  

*the naming of Forestry roads shows lack of imagination, and how out of touch with the land these guys really are.

What it costs to visit Douglas-Apsley National Park      

You will need to purchase a National Parks Pass to visit Douglas-Apsley (and any Tasmanian National Park) - fees range from $10 to $108 depending on duration of visit and which other Tasmanian parks you plan to visit. Passes may be purchased at the Freycinet Visitor Centre.

Facilities provided     

Day use: Visitor information and toilets are at the southern end of the park. The northern entry has an information booth.

Accommodation may be sought in and around Bicheno or St Marys, ranging from backpacker to deluxe. Search locally, visit Discover Tasmania, or contact the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, Triabunna (03) 6257 4772, Launceston (03) 6336 3133 or Hobart (03) 6230 8233 .

Campgrounds are provided in the Park the southern end on a 10-minute walk-in, small tent-only basis. There are only a handful of sites. The only facilities here are water from the river, information, and toilets. At Chain of Lagoons, near the northern end of the park, there are good drive-in, free campgrounds for tents, vehicles and caravans. Toilets are provided, and there is access to the quiet lagoon and a spectacular ocean beach.

Remote campsites for overnight walks are at Heritage Falls and Douglas River. There is limited tent space at both, and large party size is inadvisable. River water is available at both sites. There are no toilets, so please go well away (100m or more) from the river or creek beds, and bury solids 15-20cm depth in soil so as to decay and not be disturbed by foraging animals.

   Notes: *Please do not attempt to catch freshwater fish here - these rivers contain protected native species.
                *Take all rubbish out of the park for proper disposal.
                *Please do not light fires at all - the dry forest type is highly flammable and firefighting access is difficult.
                  The warmer months (October-April) are legally enforced fuel-stove only periods within the Park.

 

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