Wineglass Bay has no beds of its own. It sits inside Freycinet National Park, so the question of where to stay Wineglass Bay visitors ask comes down to the settlements and parks around the peninsula.
This page covers those areas, the three caravan and holiday parks we list, how far the peninsula is from other parts of Tasmania, and what the weather is likely to do.
The settings around Wineglass Bay
Freycinet National Park is on Tasmania's east coast, 125 kilometres northeast of Hobart. It takes in much of the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island, and it is the setting for the secluded bay itself. Founded in 1916, it is Tasmania's oldest park, alongside Mount Field National Park. More background is on the Wikipedia page for Freycinet National Park.
Two settlements matter for a stay. Coles Bay is the small settlement bordering the national park. Swansea is the largest nearby town. Between them, and inside the park, you have three quite different bases.
The scenery explains the appeal. Red and pink granite gives the coastline its tint, and a line of jagged peaks called The Hazards rises behind it. Large sections of the park remain undisturbed, so staying close means a rural, isolated setting rather than a resort strip. For the wider area, see our Freycinet Peninsula guide and our Wineglass Bay page.
Caravan and holiday parks
We list three parks in the area. All are in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council area, and all offer powered sites and cabins. Contact the park for current rates and availability before booking.
Freycinet National Park, Gray
The Freycinet National Park listing is a caravan park in Gray, with powered sites and cabins. It suits anyone who wants the park setting rather than a town.
BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park, Coles Bay
In Coles Bay, the BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park offers powered sites and cabins. Coles Bay borders the national park, so it is a natural base for the peninsula's walks.
Swansea Holiday Park, Swansea
The Swansea Holiday Park also has powered sites and cabins. Swansea is the largest town nearby, which suits anyone who prefers a town base and does not mind driving to the park each day.
Looking for something more upmarket?
If a caravan park is not what you had in mind, we keep a separate page on luxury accommodation near Wineglass Bay. For general trip planning across the state, the official Discover Tasmania site is a sound starting point.
Drive distances from the Freycinet Peninsula
Your base will shape how much driving you do, so these road distances are useful. Hobart is about 169 minutes away and Launceston about 145 minutes, so a night or two on the peninsula beats a rushed day trip.
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast Tasmania to Freycinet Peninsula | 53 km | about 53 minutes |
| Bay of Fires to Freycinet Peninsula | 158 km | about 165 minutes |
| Freycinet Peninsula to Launceston | 180 km | about 145 minutes |
| Freycinet Peninsula to Hobart | 197 km | about 169 minutes |
| Freycinet Peninsula to Tasman Peninsula | 209 km | about 195 minutes |
| Freycinet Peninsula to Port Arthur | 213 km | about 199 minutes |
| Freycinet Peninsula to Huon Valley | 243 km | about 212 minutes |
| Bruny Island to Freycinet Peninsula | 273 km | about 270 minutes |
Weather through the year
The park receives about 600 mm of rain a year and has more than 300 days of sunshine, a climate often compared with southern France. The figures below are for the Freycinet Peninsula area, about 4 km from Wineglass Bay, using 1991-2020 averages.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.6 | 12.2 | 60.5 | 7.4 | 27.0 |
| February | 21.0 | 12.3 | 44.9 | 7.4 | 24.5 |
| March | 19.8 | 11.4 | 50.3 | 8.4 | 27.0 |
| April | 16.7 | 9.3 | 50.3 | 8.1 | 25.3 |
| May | 13.9 | 7.6 | 40.1 | 8.3 | 25.3 |
| June | 11.5 | 6.0 | 51.4 | 10.7 | 25.3 |
| July | 10.9 | 5.3 | 47.7 | 10.7 | 27.4 |
| August | 11.6 | 5.2 | 57.8 | 11.3 | 27.0 |
| September | 13.3 | 6.0 | 49.6 | 10.0 | 27.3 |
| October | 15.5 | 7.3 | 51.3 | 10.0 | 27.4 |
| November | 17.5 | 8.9 | 63.5 | 9.8 | 25.7 |
| December | 19.7 | 10.6 | 55.4 | 8.7 | 27.5 |
Summer days reach about 21 to 22 degrees, while July nights drop to around 5 degrees. Rain is fairly even across the year, so no month is truly dry.
Tours that save you the driving
If you would rather not drive, several tours reach Wineglass Bay. The A Day At Wineglass Bay tour runs 10 hours 30 minutes from AUD 170, and the full-day tour from Hobart runs 10 hours from AUD 170. The Freycinet Walking Tour is 5 hours 30 minutes from AUD 252, with a boat ride included.
Staying on the peninsula and joining a day tour is a fair compromise, in our view, if you want the walk without the long drive back.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay inside Freycinet National Park?
Yes. The Freycinet National Park listing in Gray offers powered sites and cabins. Contact the park for current rates and availability.
Where is the closest settlement to Wineglass Bay?
Coles Bay borders the national park. Swansea is the largest nearby town, and both have a holiday park listed on this site.
How far is Freycinet from Hobart and Launceston?
By road from the Freycinet Peninsula it is 197 km to Hobart, about 169 minutes, and 180 km to Launceston, about 145 minutes.