Please note: There may be closures or re-openings other than those listed here. For the latest bushfire information, go to the Tasmania Fire Service website at www.fire.tas.gov.au. As some walking tracks within national parks and reserves are accessed across land managed by Forestry Tasmania it is worthwhile checking for road closures on the Forestry Tasmania website. The DIER web site also has information on road closures in Tasmania.
For further information on track, reserve or campsite closures, please contact local rangers.
See our Office Contacts for contact details.
Current parks and tracks affected by bushfire
7 January 2013
Southwest National Park - a very large fire is affecting the area between Port Davey and Lake Pedder.
Closed tracks include: the Port Davey Track, Old Port Davey Track, Junction Creek Track, Arthur Plains Track, Cracroft Valley Track, Blakes Opening - Huon Track and the Old River traverse. The Huon and Edgar campgrounds are also closed.
Further closures as of today include: the Mt Anne Circuit, Lake Judd track and the Scotts Peak Road. Parks staff are continuing to relocate walkers from this area today.
The closures may be in place for an extended period of time.
Access is still available to Melaleuca however visitors are advised not to travel north of Melaleuca.
Other parks affected by bushfires include:
Douglas Apsley National Park which remains closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire
Freycinet National Park is also closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire. The Freycinet National Park closure includes all walking tracks and access roads within the Freycinet National Park, including the Friendly Beaches. Road access to The Fisheries is available for Fisheries residents only. Access remains available to the Freycinet Lodge for guests.
Mount Field National Park remains closed until further notice due to a large bushfire at Lake Repulse. This closure will remain in effect until there is a safe boundary established in this area.
Updated park and track closures due to bushfires
6 January 2013
Southwest National Park - A very large bushfire is affecting the area between Lake Pedder and Port Davey.
Closed tracks include: the Port Davey Track, Old Port Davey Track, Junction Creek Track, Arthur Plains Track, Cracroft Valley Track, Blakes Opening - Huon Track and the Old River traverse. The Huon and Edgar campgrounds are also closed. The closures may be in place for an extended period of time.
Walkers in the southwest are today being relocated from tracks by helicopter to a nearby safer place at the Scotts Peak airstrip. Access is still available to Melaleuca however visitors are advised not to travel north of Melaleuca.
Other parks affected by bushfires include:
Douglas Apsley National Park which remains closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire
Freycinet National Park is also closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire. The Freycinet National Park closure includes all walking tracks and access roads within the Freycinet National Park, including the Friendly Beaches. Road access to The Fisheries is available for Fisheries residents only. Access remains available to the Freycinet Lodge for guests.
Mount Field National Park remains closed until further notice due to a large bushfire at Lake Repulse. This closure will remain in effect until there is a safe boundary established in this area.
Current park closures due to bushfires
Updated 5 January 2013
Due to a large uncontrolled bushfire near Bicheno, Douglas Apsley National Park is closed until further notice.
Freycinet National Park is also closed until further notice due to this bushfire.
The Freycinet National Park closure includes all walking tracks and access roads within the Freycinet National Park, including the Friendly Beaches.
Road access to The Fisheries is available for Fisheries residents only. Access remains available to the Freycinet Lodge for guests.
Mount Field National Park remains closed until further notice due to a large bushfire at Lake Repulse.
Southwest National Park - a large uncontrolled bushfire is burning in the Southwest National Park in the Giblin River vicinity. This likley to affect a large area between Lake Pedder and Port Davey. In the interests of public safety all tracks in the Western and Eastern Arthur Range are closed.
Closed tracks include: the Port Davey Track, Old Port Davey Track, Junction Creek Track, Arthur Plains Track, Cracroft Valley Track, Blakes Opening - Huon Track and the Old River traverse.
The Huon and Edgar campgrounds are also closed.
Please note these closures may be for an extended period of time.
Mt Field National Park totally closed due to fire danger
Updated 4 January 2013
Mt Field National Park will be totally CLOSED from Thursday night until further notice, due to the Lake Repulse fire which may impact the park on Friday. The park will be closed at the bridge across the Tyenna River. The Cafe and Visitor Centre will be closed. Fire danger rating is predicted to be catastrophic. Fire updates are available on ABC local radio, 936 AM or 89.7 FM.
Freycinet, Douglas- Apsley and Mt Field tracks closed on Friday due to fire danger
Updated 3 January 2013
The Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) advises that in the interests of public safety, some areas within Freycinet National Park and Douglas Apsley National park will be temporarily closed between 6pm Thursday 3 January 2013 and 6am Saturday 5 January 2013, due to a very high fire danger rating (FDR) of 42. High temperatures have been predicted along with very strong winds. The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) has issued a Total Fire Ban.
The Freycinet Visitor Centre, Cape Tourville, Sleepy Bay, and Friendly Beaches, Richardson’s Beach, Honeymoon Bay will all remain open. In Freycinet National Park the following walking tracks and vehicle access will be closed: All peninsula walking tracks including: Wineglass Bay tracks, Mt Amos track, Hazards Beach Track, Isthmus Track, Mt Graham Track and the Skyline Traverse South Friendly Beaches 4WD track
In Douglas Apsley National Park the Leaberra walking track is closed. For further enquiries please call Freycinet National Park on 6256 7000.
The PWS also advises that in the interests of public safety, all walking tracks accessible within the Mount Field National Park from Lake Dobson Road will be temporarily closed between 6pm Thursday 3 January 2013 and 6am Saturday 5 January 2013, due to a severe fire danger rating (FDR) of 54. Temperatures of up to 37 degrees have been predicted along with very strong winds. The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) has issued a Total Fire Ban. The Parks and Wildlife Service Visitor Centre, café, Russell Falls and all walking tracks in the lower area of the park will remain open. For further enquiries please call the Mt Field Visitor Centre on 6288 1149.
Sandy Cape Track Conditions
Updated 10 December 2012
The main track from Temma to the Thornton River is good for access, with most waterholes slowly drying out from the Winter peak. Snorkels are still recommended. Sandy Cape Beach river crossings remain tricky, so please take care as river levels remain high. Always stay mindful of storm surges and quicksand on all beaches. Recommend not accessing Sandy Cape Beach if swell is above 3m. Access on Sandy Cape and Pedder River campsites is not recommended until this very flat area dries up. Access now whilst wet will have a negative impact on this beautiful place. Access to the Pedder River campsite from Sandy Cape Beach is not recommended as the river crossing is 100m wide and 1.1m deep in the channel.
Beach Access
The ‘Shore Bird Nesting’ season began in September, ending in May. Please drive and walk on wet sand, below the high tide mark. Avoid beach driving during storm surges as this forces drivers into nesting zone.
Balfour Track
Balfour Track is boggy and difficult. It is recommended to take full recovery gear and travel in convoy. The area is dominantly Buttongrass moorland and swampy heath therefore there are very few trees that bogged drivers can use to winch from.
Track Closures
Campgrounds
All campgrounds around Arthur River are open. No booking is required for short term campers. Un-serviced camping at Sandy Cape and the Pedder River Mouth is currently not recommended until it dries out, avoiding negative impacts on the summers camping amenity.
Walking Track between Russell Falls and Horseshore Falls Reopened
Updated 3 December 2012
Following the completion of construction works, the track between Horseshoe Falls and Russell Falls at Mt Field National Park is now reopened.
St Columba Falls Trackwork
Updated 27 November 2012
Visitors to St Columba Falls in the north-east are advised that works to improve the safety of the St Columba Falls walking track are planned to be undertaken from Monday, 19 November 2012. A section of fencing is to be installed at the start of the track, to protect visitors from the steep drop-off in this area.
Works will take approximately 2-3 weeks and during this time visitors may experience minor delays or disruption when accessing the track. Visitors will need to follow the direction of PWS staff on site and exercise caution when passing the work site.
For further information please contact the St Helens Field Centre on 6376 1550.
Waterhouse Conservation Area roadworks
Updated 6 November 2012
Road works in the Waterhouse Conservation Area will commence on Tuesday 6 November, 2012. Various sections of the coastal camping area’s 25km road network will be subject to works during November and December. The road works will repair damage caused during past flooding and storm events.Delays to traffic flow may occur during works and visitors are asked to comply with signage and contractor’s directions. The Parks and Wildlife Service apologise for any inconvenience these works may cause to visitors.
Platypus Bay Circuit Track at Lake St Clair closed due to landslip
Updated 5 October 2012
There has been a landslip on the southern section of the Platypus Bay Circuit Track creating a serious public safety hazard. As a result this section of the track is now closed to all members of the public until further notice. Visitors may still walk to Platypus Bay and the platypus viewing hide but only from the northern entrance to the track and return via this track.
For further details, contact the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre, on 03 6289 1172.
Liffey Falls Toilet no longer available
5 October 2011
PWS regret to advise that the toilet block at Liffey Falls, lower carpark, is no longer available as the facility has been burnt down.
It is unknown when the facility will be replaced. No other toilet facilities are available at the site.
Thunderush high portage removed
5 September 2011
The Thunderush high portage on the Franklin River has been removed due to ongoing engineering and maintenance issues. The low portage is still open. Please note that rafters need to carefully plan their trip through the Great Ravine when there are high water levels.
Caution about tracks in the Douglas Apsley National Park
1 April 2011
Visitors to the Douglas Apsley National Park are warned that due to recent flooding some of the tracks in this park have become severely eroded. As a result the tracks will be difficult to walk on and there will be tripping hazards such as exposed roots and rocks, steep gullies and washed out steps. The Parks and Wildlife Service are working to improve the situation. Walkers are advised to proceed with caution.
Dangerous road conditions at northern access to Douglas Apsley National Park
1 November 2010
Visitors to the Douglas Apsley National Park and users of the Leeabarra Track are advised that vehicle access to the northern entrance to Douglas Apsley National Park (via the E-Road) is currently not safe for vehicles.
Because of dangerous road conditions, the Parks and Wildlife Service advises all visitors to Douglas Apsley NP accessing via the E-Road to please leave vehicles at the start of E-Road and walk in to the start of the Leeabarra Track (5.5km from Tasman Highway).
Please do not walk the Leeabarra Track from south to north, as this may spread phytopthera into the northern parts of the NP.
For further enquiries, contact the PWS Office on 6256 7070
Detention Falls
28 September 2010
Please be advised that the Detention Falls visitor site, including the walking track and viewing platform, is no longer available to the public. The viewing platform was closed to the public following engineering advice in 2008. It was subsequently removed as part of the Parks and Wildlife Service’s asset rationalisation program, with the objective being to close or remove certain assets so that those that remain can be better managed into the future.
For further details, contact the North West Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Office on (03) 6429 8717
Holwell Gorge walk alterations
2 August 2010
For Public safety reasons, Parks and Wildlife Service advise that the southern section of Holwell Gorge walk has been reclassified as a track for experienced walkers only, severe hazards exist and built assets within the southern section are for conservation purposes only.
For Further Information please call Tamar Field Centre: ph 6336 5391