Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach - Freycinet National Park

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Route: The Fisheries, Coles Bay Lookout, Wineglass Bay Lookout, Wineglass Bay Track, Wineglass Bay, Isthmus Track, Hazards Lagoon, Hazards Beach, Hazards Beach Track

Date: 13/08/2022
From: The Fisheries

Parking: Wineglass Bay Lookout Car Park
Start Point: Wineglass Bay Lookout Car Park
Finish Point: Wineglass Bay Lookout Car Park
Region: Freycinet National Park

Route length: 9.4km
Time taken: 04:02
Average speed: 3.8km/h
Ascent: 501m
Descent: 498m

Points of Interest: Wineglass Bay Lookout, Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach

Freycinet National Park resides on the east coast of Tasmania and, while small, it holds global appeal thanks to its stunning beauty. The peninsula is home to the curvaceous Wineglass Bay and its lookout, one of Tasmania's most popular views. The national park is anchored by the Hazards, a range of granite peaks that rise straight out of the bay's turquoise waters. It's a perfect area for hiking.

The Hazards - Wineglass Bay Lookout sits in the prominent notch in the centre of the skyline

The most popular hike in the national park is the short but steep climb to Wineglass Bay Lookout which provides those picture-perfect views of the bay. Longer walks descend to Wineglass Bay or stretch out into multi-day adventures in the wilder southern half of the peninsula. At 15km, this particular hike comfortably fits within a day and takes in some of the best features of Freycinet National Park. The hike circles Mount Mayson, one of the Hazards Mountains on Freycinet Peninsula, resulting in 200m of elevation between the beaches and the highest point of the loop at Wineglass Bay Lookout.

There is a large national park car park at the beginning of the climb to the lookout that serves as the starting point for this hike. Being a popular area, national park fees apply unless you hold a valid pass. The track to the lookout is well-signposted and starts from the southern side of the car park.

Starting the climb to the lookout

The track is well built and easy to follow from the main car park. It is predominantly uphill all the way to the lookout and should take around 45mins to climb, with a couple of pauses along the way. Towards the top of the pass, the track passes between some large granite boulders until it reaches the lookout platform and its beautiful view of the bay.

Views of Coles Bays from the lookout track

The slopes of Mount Mayson

Approaching the lookout at the top of the pass

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay panorama

Continuing on from the lookout, I retraced my steps back to the main trail at the top of the pass and followed the signs that point down to Wineglass Bay Beach. There are numerous warnings for those who proceed down the 1,000 steps to the beach (as you'll most likely need to climb back up) however, if you are following this circuit there's no need to worry about retracing your route.

Granite boulders atop Mount Mayson

Descending the Wineglass Bay Track

There are over 1,000 steps to tackle in the way down to the beach

The steps lead all the way to the white sands of Wineglass Bay. I was lucky to arrive during a brief spate of sunshine which does make a big difference to the vibrancy of the water and the sand. I managed to get a couple of photos before the clouds rolled in. We were also lucky that we visited by boat on the preceding day, which was bathed in glorious sunshine.

Wineglass Bay

Clouds linger on Mount Graham and Mount Freycinet

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay

Despite its beauty, the name of the bay has nothing to do with its shape (though it is vaguely wineglass-shaped). The Hazards – the granite mountain range above the bay - get their name from an American whaler, Richard Hazard. The name Wineglass Bay comes from the whaling industry too. In the early 1800s, there were whalers and sealers working and living in the area. The whalers would set out in small boats from the shore to chase and harpoon passing whales, before towing them back to shore to be butchered. Whenever this happened, the bay would turn red with blood, like red wine in a glass. Thankfully, the whaling industry in Australia is firmly in the past.

I spent a few minutes loitering at the beach hoping the clouds would clear but, when it became apparent they looked to be set in for the day, I packed up and continued one. Close to the steps that lead down to the beach is the Isthmus Track, a sandy path that crosses a low land bridge at a narrow point on the Freycinet Peninsula, joining Wineglass Bay on the east side to Hazards Beach on the west. It passes a sizeable inland marsh - Hazards Lagoon, before emerging on Hazards Beach.

The Isthmus Track

Hazards Lagoon

Mount Freycinet - the highest of the peaks on the peninsula at 620m

The Isthmus Track

A marshy area of Hazards Lagoon

The secluded Hazards Beach is often missed by visitors to the Freycinet Peninsula who only seek out Wineglass Bay, or are content with the climb to the lookout. It is as beautiful as Wineglass Bay but with safer seas for swimming as it is protected from the open ocean. A popular way to reach the beach is with a drop-off by Freycinet Aqua Taxi from Coles Bay otherwise the only other access is by foot.

Hazards Beach

Hazards Beach

Hazards Beach

I turned north and made my way to the top of the beach and the Hazards Beach Track, marking an interesting section of the hike. The path winds through the trees above the rocky shores below Mount Mayson with several small, rocky inlets dotted along the way. The colourful bays are a real highlight of this hike.

The north end of Hazards Beach

One of several unnamed inlets along the headland

Hazards Beach Track

Looking across Promise Bay

Fleurieu Point

The path undulates through the bush as it rounds the headland and starts to make its way back towards the car park. This final section of the hike does feel a little tedious at times, however, it does have some good views of The Hazards as you approach the car park as well as sweeping views of the enormous Coles Bay.

A native Kookaburra

Hazards Beach Track

Views of Coles Bay

Coles Bay from the Hazards Beach Track

Mount Amos - this is the only peak among The Hazards that has a track to the summit

Approaching the car park at The Fisheries

With the clouds now cleared I made it back to the car park. I was tempted by a climb of Mount Amos - the only peak among The Hazards that has a track to the summit, however, I had run out of time. If you do intend to climb Mount Amos take note of the weather as it is very steep and the exposed granite rock sections become very slippery. Otherwise, the Wineglass Bay - Hazards Beach circuit is the perfect hike to experience the best of Freycinet National Park.