About the project
A new plan to improve visitor facilities in Freycinet National Park was announced on 30 July 2026. The updated Freycinet Visitor Gateway Project will focus on making practical improvements inside the park to better meet the needs of visitors today.
The project aims to protect Freycinet's unique natural, cultural and community values, improve the experience for visitors and help reduce congestion during busy times of the year.
Planning and investigations are commencing and some early works may begin in late 2026 with the program to be delivered over the next three years. Planned improvements include:
Upgrades to car parks, traffic management systems and some local roads.
Improved visitor facilities, services and experiences across the Park.
Better walking and shared-use paths, including a completed link between the Coles Bay foreshore, the Visitor Centre and the Wineglass Bay trailhead.
New signs, maps and interpretive displays to help visitors explore the area and learn about its important natural, cultural and heritage values.
Better visitor information including real-time updates on parking availability and busy areas before visitors arrive.
New self-service information points that help visitors discover other nearby attractions, walks and activities when popular sites are crowded.
Funding of $8.9 million remains allocated to the Gateway project to deliver this program of works.
Planning, investigations and design activities are commencing and will inform scope and timing of the works. Further information will be provided through this webpage and project updates as planning progresses, including engagement with key stakeholders and affected parties.
Any impacts associated with construction activities will be subject to appropriate consultation and advance notification.
The Freycinet Visitor Gateway Project remains a viable solution for managing future visitation growth. However, it was designed to support consistently high visitor numbers than currently forecast and will therefore be deferred in the medium term.
Analysis undertaken during the detailed planning and investigation phase indicates that visitor growth has been lower than originally forecast. Current annual visitation is approximately 290,000 visitors, compared with 320,000 visitors in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated projections indicate visitation is expected to reach around 343,000 visitors by 2039, significantly lower than the 650,000 visitors forecast in 2019 based on the information available at that time.
The timing of the Gateway Project will continue to be reviewed, informed by ongoing monitoring and improved data on visitation levels, visitor behaviour and long-term trends within the Park.
Location
Subject to further investigations, surveys and detailed planning, the following areas within Freycinet National Park have been identified for potential inclusion in the program:
Visitors Centre, surrounds and car park.
Ranger Creek, Richardsons Beach car park.
Richardsons Beach (South) car park.
Honeymoon Bay car park.
Wineglass Bay Trailhead car park.
Sleepy Bay car park.
Cape Tourville car park.
Freycinet Drive
Cape Tourville Road
Note locations for proposed new initiatives shown on the image below are approximate.
Project Updates
Updates on the progress of the project can be found on the project updates page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the
FAQs page
Mailing list – Project Updates
To join the mailing list for updates on PWS projects in Freycinet National Park, please fill out the form below. You can also email your full name and preferred contact email to:
FreycinetGatewayProject@parks.tas.gov.au
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