From Bicheno, the Douglas-Apsley National Park continues up the coast. It is mostly the rough woods inland from the Tasman Highway, and it is known for its river gorges, waterfalls, eucalypt forest and heathlands, as well as uncommon and endangered species.
The Apsley Waterhole is one of the park’s main attractions, and it can be reached by using the Rosedale Road, which is 3 km north of Bicheno via the Tasman Highway. The Apsley Waterhole is a ten-minute walk from the parking lot and is popular for picnics, bushwalking, and swimming on hot summer days.
This unassuming national park at Bicheno on Tasmania’s East Coast is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered by people with a genuine spirit of adventure.
It’s a location of unexpected contrasts, with serene waterholes, steep river gorges, and roaring waterfalls, notably the stunning Apsley Falls. On a hot summer day, the crystal-clear streams that run through the park are a pleasant sight. Take a picnic, a short stroll, a refreshing swim, or some quiet contemplation time.
The national park’s trails will take you through a variety of plants and topography, including the scenic Apsley Gorge. Discover marshlands, damp gullies, and rainforest enclaves. Although Douglas-Apsley National Park is little unknown, it preserves an important stretch of dry eucalypt forest as well as other rare and endangered species and animals.
For more information on this national park, including how to get there and what to do, please visit the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website (parks.tas.gov.au). More vital information regarding notifications, park safety, and entrance costs may be found on the ‘know before you go’ homepage.
Douglas-Apsley National Park Activities and Attractions
The walking paths in Douglas-Apsley National Park range from flat, pleasant walks to strenuous overnight excursions. Some notable paths include the Apsley River Watering Hole, an easy hike that leads to a very chilly and well-known bathing hole. The Apsley canyon Walk takes around three hours to complete across five km, ascending to a ridge before descending down the canyon to find quiet waters ideal for a picnic. The Apsley Myrtle Forest walk is a 45-minute loop through Tasmania’s only remaining dry forest. Hiking at the park’s more remote north end is enjoyable, although there are no amenities and a good map is required.
Swimming is a common recreational activity in the park. The Douglas and Apsley Rivers divide the Douglas-Apsley National Park. These waters cut out riverbeds and canyons across the park, making them ideal for exploration. When the weather is heated, the water is cold; truly cold, and it’s ideal for a refreshing dip. Just be aware that the water flowing through the park serves as Bicheno’s drinking water. No soap or detergent should be used, and dogs are not permitted in the park.
Douglas-Apsley National Park Geological Characteristics
The park’s two rivers, Douglas and Apsley, rise to form marshlands in the park’s west. The rivers then flow into gorges in the park’s eastern portion, where you’ll discover stunning waterfalls, cascades, and quiet bathing spots.
The Nicholas Needle, a towering dolerite spire, is nearly as tall as the park’s highest point, Lookout Hill. As it rises over wooded ground, the 640-metre peak provides panoramic views of the park. White peppermint, Tasmanian blue gum, gummed-topped stringybark, barbers gum, Tasmanian ironbark, South Esk pines, and Oyster Bay pines grow in the dry woodland.
A dolerite-capped plateau sits close to dry eucalypt woodland, patches of rainforest, and vivid heathlands in the park. You’re never far from a different sort of terrain, which adds to the variety of the overnight Leeaberra Track, which explores the majority of the park’s holdings.
Douglas-Apsley National Park Birds and Wildlife
At dusk, the majority of Tasmania’s marsupial population may be found roaming the park. These nocturnal species include wombats and wallabies. You’re unlikely to encounter a woodland kangaroo, Bennet’s wallaby, wombat, or pademelon unless you’re camping overnight.
Birdlife International has recognised the park as an Important Bird Area. It is home to 11 of Tasmania’s 12 unique bird species, including the flaming robin, pink robin, and fast parrot. Moving your binoculars from one landscape to the next should show some of these unusual birds.
Douglas-Apsley National Park History
The Douglas-Apsley National Park’s dry forest survived Tasmania’s early economic booms, which relied on copper smelting, cattle grazing, fur trapping, coal mining, and timbering. Back in 1987, there were plans to clear-cut the whole region, but the region was rescued by a new government in 1989. The Labour and Green Parties worked together to conserve the region and, ultimately, to make it a national park. The relocation preserved natural habitat for rare and endemic bird species, drinking water for the town of Bicheno, and several eco-tourism terrains. Not to mention the numerous beautiful swimming holes found along the two rivers.
FAQ
How far does Douglas Apsley walk?
The Leeaberra Track is a multi-day trek that crosses 28 km of woodland and heathland in the beautiful Douglas-Apsley National Park.
