Narawntapu National Park - national park in Tasmania, Australia

Narawntapu National Park is a Tasmanian national park in the northwest of Tasmania, minutes away from Devonport and Launceston. It's one of the few coastal national parks in Tasmania, and one of the few national parks along the Bass Strait.

Understand

History

The name "Narawntapu" refers to the coastal promontories West Head and Badger Head within the park. However, before 2000, the name of the park was once called Asbestos Range National Park, but the name was deterring potential visitors because of the name "asbestos", resulting in a name change.

Landscape

The park mostly has a coastal landscape with a few hills and headlands.

Flora and fauna

Vegetation communities represented in the park include coastal heathland, dry sclerophyll woodland, herbland, grassland and salt marsh. The rare Pygmy Clubmoss has been recorded from the park.

There is also a high density of marsupials present, which can include kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons, common wombats and Tasmanian devils.

Climate

The park has a temperate maritime climate with a yearly rainfall of 750 mm, usually in winter. The prevailing winds are from the north-east and north-west. Mean temperatures are 17°C in January and 9°C in July, with little variation.

Visitor information centre

• Mersey Field Centre, 1349 Bakers Beach Road, Bakers Beach, -41.149697°, 146.605286°, +61 3 6428 6277, narawntapu.parks@parks.tas.gov.au. Has interpretive displays, park office and full picnic and toilet facilities with nearby barbecue facilities. 2021-12-03

Get in

If you are coming from Devonport, use the National Highway 1 Bass Highway down south and then immediately exit onto B74 after a kilometre, and then immediately turn onto B71 Frankford Road. After 21 km, turn left onto C740 Bakers Beach Road and continue onto C740 for about 4 kilometres until you've arrived at Narawntapu National Park.

If you're coming from Launceston, also use the National Highway 1 Bass Highway west and after 31 km, exit onto B72 until the very end of the road till the B71 junction. Once you're at the B71 junction, turn left, and continue onwards for 25.7 km until C740. Once at C740, turn right and continue for about 4 kilometres until you've arrived at Narawntapu National Park.

Fees and permits

Get around

The only roads in the park are those that connect the visitor centre and the campgrounds. Apart from that, you have to walk.

See

• Bakers Beach, -41.140223°, 146.606516°. The longest beach in the park, and has some pretty good sunset views at sunset. As with all Tasmanian beaches, the water may be a bit too cold for swimming, but nevertheless, it's still an enjoyable beach. 2021-12-03
• Badger Beach Lookout, Gardners Rd, Greens Beach, -41.072147°, 146.712201°. A lookout overlooking most of the park, particularly to the west but nevertheless, it gives a good 270° view. There's also a well designated path leading to the lookout as well. 2021-12-03

Do

Bushwalks

• The 23 km Copper Cove/Badger Head walk is a long coastal walk from the visitor centre passing the Archers Knob track and all the way to the eastern end of Bakers Beach
• Point Vision Track is a 15 km trail leading you to the highest point of the Asbestos Ranges, for those wishing for a more adventurous journey
• For those interested in birds, the Bird Hide walk is an easy 2 km walk that takes 30 minutes return, and you see what the name of the walk says
• Springlawn Nature Walk takes you around Springlawn Lagoon and the surrounds. It's a 4.8 km circuit, and takes about two hours to do. Suitable for most ages.
• Part of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks, Archers Knob is the walk that passes through beaches, natural preserves and a lookout too
• Coastal Traverse is a very long coastal walk traversing between Bakers Beach and Greens Beach

Horse riding

There are two horse riding trails to choose from, with one going by the beach and the other by the bush. However, you will need a permit to bring your horse in, which can be found at the park's website here.

Buy, eat and drink

There are no shops, cafes, bars, pubs, kiosks, restaurants etc. in Narawntapu National Park. Your nearest options are in Devonport or Launceston, with both being just minutes away.

Sleep

Lodging

You cannot lodge in the park, because simply, there are no lodging facilities.

Camping

• Kyobaa Campground, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach, -41.1608°, 146.564694°. Has hybrid chemical/septic toilets, picnic tables, and the bare minimum basic facilities. However, Kyobaa Campground is entirely unpowered, and caravans are not permitted. 2021-12-03
• Bakers Point, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach, -41.16195°, 146.56945°. An unpowered campground, however, this campground caters for both caravans and campers. Campfires are permitted, but you'll need to bring your own pre-cut firewood. Includes toilets. 2021-12-03
• Springlawn Campsite, -41.148044°, 146.602598°. A powered campsite and can facilitate caravans, campervans and camper trailers. This campsite is also wheelchair friendly. On top of toilets, this campsite also has showers, in which four minute tokens can be purchased off the visitor centre, although they can get cold though. 2021-12-03
• The Horse Yards, Bakers Point Rd, Bakers Beach, -41.153704°, 146.607736°. An unpowered camping site, with only camping allowed. Campfires are permitted, but you'll need to bring your own pre-cut firewood. 2021-12-03

Backcountry

You're only permitted to camp at either one of the four campgrounds. The park is also not very large in the first place for backcountry camping as well.

Stay safe

There are very few safety concerns in Narawntapu National Park, except that the beaches are not patrolled and there are no lifeguards on the beach. However, this is pretty common throughout Tasmania outside Hobart.

Unlike other parts of Tasmania, it does not snow in Narawntapu National Park, but seeing snow by the coast is rare in the first place.

Go next

• Your main choices are to go back to Launceston or Devonport, the two closest cities to Narawntapu National Park