Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) will lift campfire restrictions in national parks and reserves from 02:00AM Tuesday 30 April 2024.
Campfire restrictions have been in place for a number of national parks and reserves since 20 October 2023. These included those on Flinders and Maria Islands, as well as in Dorset, Break O’Day, Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Sorell, Tasman, Kingborough, and Huon municipalities, Narawntapu National Park, Snaky Creek and Tooms Lake conservation areas.
Campfire restrictions will remain in place for national parks and reserves on King Island until further notice.
During the campfire restriction period, PWS attended 258 illegal campfires, 42 of which were still alight when staff arrived.
Waterhouse Conservation Area, in the state’s north, had the largest number of illegal campfires reported during the restriction period, with 36 separate campfires found in the reserve.
While Tasmania endured a dry summer, PWS State Fire Manager Katy Edwards said the decreased risk of bushfires now permits the resumption of campfires, pot fires, and solid fuel stove use in these previously restricted campgrounds.
"We understand the importance of campfires as part of the camping experience, and we are pleased to announce their reinstatement," Katy said.
"However, we urge visitors and the community to remain vigilant and adhere to all safety guidelines to prevent accidental fires."
While campfires are now permitted, PWS reminds visitors to exercise caution and responsible fire management practices.
Visitors should also note that some national parks and reserves maintain fuel stove only areas throughout the year, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Freycinet National Park, Tasman National Park, and the Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area.
More details on these areas can be found on the Fuel Stove Only Areas page.