Cape Tourville Circuit

Cape Tourville Circuit is a 600 m loop on Freycinet National Park’s eastern headland, circling the Cape Tourville Lighthouse and a cliff-top lookout. The official Grade 1 walk takes about 20 minutes at a steady pace. I’d add it when you want a broad coastal view without committing to the longer climb to Wineglass Bay Lookout, or as a quick stop after that hike. This stays on the headland rather than descending to the bay, so choose it for the view from above. Build in a 10-minute pause if you want time at every viewpoint.

Start at Cape Tourville car park at the end of Cape Tourville Road. The circuit returns to the same access. The route is short, with a wide, firm surface and gentle grades; much of the seaward side is raised boardwalk. The boardwalk comes close to the cliff edge at places, so stay on the track and keep children behind the barriers. The managing agency notes that some wheelchair users may need help on a moderate gradient. The Grade 1 rating describes an easy walk for many visitors; it does not guarantee independent wheelchair access.

A valid parks pass is required to enter Freycinet National Park. Dogs and other pets are prohibited, apart from accredited assistance animals.

The southern side opens across Wineglass Bay and the Hazards, with the low offshore rocks called the Nuggets in the foreground. Turn north for coastline toward Friendly Beaches. This is the walk’s signature view and its best photo stop: include the Nuggets and a strip of the headland instead of filling the frame with water alone. Take a moment to look for the whale-length markers reported along the southern boardwalk; they put the size of migrating whales into perspective.

Sea birds, sea eagles, whales, seals and dolphins have all been seen from Cape Tourville. These are possible sightings, never a guarantee. Binoculars are useful here because some of the wildlife is well offshore; give the water a few minutes before moving on.

The white cylindrical lighthouse was built in 1971 as an automatic light. It replaced the hard-to-reach Cape Forestier Lighthouse on Lemon Rock, which was decommissioned that same year. The Cape Tourville light was never manned, and no tours are offered inside. The circuit follows the tower’s exterior, pairing a very short walk with a small piece of Tasmania’s coastal navigation history. The light’s replacement moved the beacon from an inaccessible offshore rock onto the peninsula, where visitors can now walk around its exterior.