Port Sorell is also the gateway to the scenic Narawntapu National Park and features long stretches of beach, sheltered inlets, wetlands, sand dunes, and lagoons. It is a popular area for camping, fishing and boating, swimming, bush walking, and horse riding (permit required).
This unique natural area is a wonderful place to see pademelons, kangaroos and wallabies in their natural environment. Dawn and dusk, around the grassed area in front of the Parks and Wildlife Visitor Centre, are the best times to observe these adorable marsupials – slow down and drive carefully from dusk to dawn.
Walking within Narawntapu rewards visitors with vistas of long sweeping beaches set against a unique Tasmanian coastal landscape. There are a variety of walking trails throughout the park that range from short, easy and flat to all-day adventures. Complete the short walk to Archers Knob passing through a broad variety of coastal vegetation, before panoramic views of the coast and inland. If you’re feeling more energetic, why not challenge yourself to the 9-hour Coastal Traverse (one way) that spans from Bakers Beach to Greens Beach to see the entirety of the park.
For more of a relaxing day, spend time beachcombing along Bakers Beach then stay the night and enjoy some of the best camping in Tasmania (camping fees apply).
The park’s diverse flora attracts many bird species – as many as 116 species have been recorded – including honeyeaters, green rosellas, black cockatoos, raptors, robins, wrens and fantails. Along the beaches, tidal flats and around the lagoon, a wide variety of waterbirds, waders and coastal birds can be observed. A bird hide in the melaleuca at the lagoon offers an ideal spot for birdwatching and photography: binoculars are recommended.
The main park entrance and central visitor facilities are located at Springlawn where you’ll find a Visitor Centre with interactive, interpretive displays, park office and full picnic and toilet facilities. The Springlawn barbeque facilities are free of charge. There are additional picnic facilities at Bakers Point and Badger Head, and toilets are also available at Griffiths Point and Bakers Point.
Getting there
Narawntapu National Park is just a 30-minute drive from Port Sorell, via Frankford Road and Baker’s Beach Road. If stunning views and peaceful scenery are what you’re seeking, then getting there is half the fun.
A valid park pass is required for entry to all of Tasmania’s national parks. A range of national park passes lets you choose the best way to get out and experience Tasmania’s world-class national parks.
To purchase a pass online visit https://passes.parks.tas.gov.au/.
Stay overnight at a powered or unpowered site (fees apply https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/narawntapu-national-park/narawntapu-camping).
E: narawntapu.parks@parks.tas.gov.au
W: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/narawntapu-national-park
