Whether you’re looking for a short walk to a swimming hole or a longer woodland hike to a gorge, Douglas-Apsley National Park has you covered. While it is a 5.6-kilometer round trip hike to Apsley Gorge, you’ll discover Apsley Waterhole just 600 meters from the car park. Combine Apsley Waterhole with Lookout Track for a 1.4-kilometer (0.9-mile) loop with 30 meters (100 feet) of elevation gain, adding a forest walk and views over the Apsley River to your outing. Douglas-Apsley National Park is located midway up the east coast of Tasmania, north of Bicheno and Freycinet National Park.
Get going from the Apsley Waterhole Car Park, located a short distance off the Tasman Highway, which runs up the scenic east coast of the island state of Tasmania. Spot a sign for Apsley River Waterhole and Gorge, one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks, and start walking up the trail. A few meters in, there will be a kiosk with a clever map of the area that looks like it may have been a fun school project. The map depicts the paths of the trail and the Apsley River, and points out the location of panels along the trail that describing the area’s trees. Lookout Track is a short loop that can help you identify common Tasmanian trees like white and blue gum (eucalyptus trees), silver and black wattle, and native cherry.
The level trail crosses through a eucalyptus forest. Yellow dogwoods border the trail, growing below the tall eucalyptus trees in the same way that dogwoods in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains prosper below giant sequoias.
After a quarter mile, you will come to a split in the trail. The fork to the left ventures 0.3 kilometers out to the site of an overlook before proceeding toward Apsley Waterhole. If you’d like to hike down to the waterhole first, stay to the right on the more direct route to Apsley Waterhole.
As you descend toward the river, you will pass a path on the right to a bush campground. Step off the trail here if you are looking for a place to camp for the night. There are campfire pits and several places to put up a tent. While fires are permitted here year round, the use of fuel stoves is recommended to preserve decaying wood and prevent wildfires.
Back on the trail, you will soon arrive at the next junction, 0.45 kilometers from the start. There is another trail kiosk here, marking the spot where you must leave Lookout Track to reach the Apsley River. Bear right and walk a hundred meters down to the waterhole. A few wooden steps will take you out of the forest and down to a boulder-strewn shore below the waterhole.
Apsley Waterhole is a wide, deep, and peaceful section of the Apsley River. The wooded banks and cliffs to the left reflect like a mirror off the almost-still waters. While it might not look particularly alluring on a cloudy day, Apsley Waterhole is a popular swimming hole on a hot Tasmanian afternoon. If you go into the water, the park asks that you do not add any soap, shampoo, sunscreen, or urine to the river.
Apsley Waterhole does not have a sandy beach, so find a good boulder to sit on along the rocky shore. If Apsley Waterhole isn’t crowded, you can enjoy some tranquility at the water’s edge. To continue hiking toward Apsley Gorge, rock hop across the river where the trail carries on. A fun loop to attempt when water levels are low is to hike up the trail to Apsley Gorge and return by rock hoping down the river on a 5-kilometer circuit.
When you are ready to leave Apsley Gorge, backtrack to the junction with Lookout Trail and turn right, continuing with the loop. As you ascend a switchback on the slope above the waterhole, you will come to a junction with a spur out to an overlook above the Apsley River. Stay to the left to carry on with the loop, crossing over a rise in the gum tree forest.
A national park entrance fee is required to visit Douglas-Apsley National Park. A single day pass will cost $40 or you may purchase an 8-week pass good for all of Tasmania’s National Parks for $80 (all prices in Australian Dollars as of 2021).
Bikes may be wheeled to the camping area, but not ridden on trails. There are toilets at the car park. Dogs are not welcome. Other than the entry pass, no permit is required to hike to Apsley Waterhole, so get out and enjoy!
Directions: From Bechino, drive north on Tasman Highway (A3) for 4 kilometers and turn left on Rosedale Road. The road will become narrow and unpaved as you drive 7 kilometers to the large parking area at the road end. The walking track starts from the far end of the loop in the car park.
Trailhead address: Rosedale Road, Douglas-Apsley National Park, Bicheno, TAS 7215, Australia
Trailhead coordinates: -41.865414, 148.190469 (41° 51′ 55.49″S 148° 11′ 25.68″E)
You may also view a regional map of surrounding Australian trails, campgrounds, and lodging.
 | Friendly Beaches This hike explores a long, pristine beach on the east coast of Tasmania north of the Freycinet Peninsula. |
 | Cape Tourville This 0.6-kilometer circuit provides big views along the east coast of Freycinet Peninsula, circling 100-meter tall bluffs to reach the Cape Tourville Lighthouse. |
 | Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit This approximately 12-kilometer loop takes a rewarding route through Freycinet National Park, visiting pristine light sand beaches at Hazards Beach and the renowned Wineglass Bay. |
 | Tasmans Arch & Devils Kitchen This 0.9-mile walk visits two impressive features on the coast of the Tasman Peninsula, a natural bridge and a chasm carved by the sea. |
 | Blowhole & Fossil Bay Lookout This short walk in Tasman National Park reaches a coastal vista point and a wave-carved tunnel through a rocky point that has the potential to spray up like a whale spout. |
 | Coal Mines Historic Site This 0.8-kilometer loop through the Convict Precinct explores the ruins of an old prison and coal mine that relied on convict laborers. |
 | Cape Raoul This 12 to 14-kilometer hike explores the pristine coastline at the southwest end of the Tasman Peninsula, reaching a cape with daunting 200-meter tall cliffs dropping to swirling seas. |
 | Saint Columba Falls This 1.2-kilometer round trip hike descends into a rainforest to the base of a powerful 90-meter tall waterfall. |
 | Mount William This 3.6-kilometer out and back hike tops a short summit that is the high point of Mount William National Park with panoramic views over the coastline at the northeast corner of Tasmania. |
 | Cataract Gorge This 3.4-kilometer loop combines Zig-Zag Track, Cataract Walk, and Bridge Walk to explore Cataract Gorge Reserve, an impressive natural area just outside the center of Launceston. |
 | Liffey Falls This 2.2-kilometer walk passes the Upper Cascades on the Liffey River to reach the base of lovely Liffey Falls, one of Tasmania's finest waterfalls. |
 | Russell Falls & Horseshoe Falls This hike in Mount Field National Park visits one of Tasmania's most famous and beautiful waterfalls and can be extended from 1.8 to 2.65 kilometers by venturing to the top of Russell Falls and nearby Horseshoe Falls. |
 | Pinnacles Boardwalk & Summit Trig The 0.3-kilometer round trip walk on Pinnacles Boardwalk can easily be extended to a 0.75-kilometer walk on the top of Mount Wellington, checking out another short boardwalk and the trig station at the summit. |
 | Octopus Tree and Circle Track This 1.1-kilometer loop in Hobart's Wellington Park reaches a unique eucalyptus tree with tentacles for roots that wrap around a boulder. |
 | More trails in Australia Explore other destinations in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. |
Apsley Waterhole on think-tasmania.com
Douglas-Apsley National Park on exploreaustralia.net.au
Apsley Waterhole Camping Area on exploreaustralia.net.au
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife page for the 60 Great Short Walks
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife page for Apsley River Waterhole & Gorge
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife page for Douglas-Apsley National Park
May I know how much is entrance fee into Douglas-Apsley national park? We are a group of 6 ladies from Malaysia. TQ.
Chuah CH
To enter the part for the day, the cost is $24/vehicle (Australian Dollars). If you are going to multiple parks, consider purchasing an 8-week pass good for all of Tasmania’s National Parks, which is $60.
I miss pressed the rating and rated it as 1 star, sorry! I plan to visit this place so I will make a comment here after visiting the site. I think it will be a beautiful and quiet scenery