Oatlands Historic Village Walk
- September 18, 2026
A self-guided stroll through Australia's largest collection of Georgian sandstone buildings, including the working Callington Mill and the old Oatlands…
Cockle Creek marks the literal end of the road — the southernmost point in Australia you can drive to — and it’s the gateway to the Southwest National Park and the wild, remote country around South East Cape. The drive down from Hobart through Huonville, Geeveston and Ida Bay takes you past thermal springs, limestone caves and a hidden sinkhole lake before the sealed road runs out and gravel takes over for the last stretch to Recherche Bay. It’s a genuinely different corner of Tasmania: quieter, wilder, and about as far from anywhere as you can get on a day trip. Most of the walking around Cockle Creek itself sits inside Southwest National Park, so dogs are largely off the table once you cross the bridge — more on that below. Bring your own water and supplies, since there’s nothing resembling a shop for the last hour or so of the drive.
The big one, and one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. The track climbs through eucalypt forest and buttongrass moorland before opening onto coastal heath and finishing atop cliffs looking out toward South East Cape — the southernmost point on mainland Australia you can reach on foot in a day. It’s also where the epic 85km South Coast Track begins its run west to Melaleuca, so you’ll likely cross paths with walkers just setting out on a much bigger trip.
Distance: 18km return • Time: Around 4 hours return • Difficulty: Grade 4, hard, long and exposed in places • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)
Nearest campground: Cockle Creek Camping, at the trailhead. campingtasmania.com/directory/
A shorter, easier alternative from the whale sculpture car park at Adams Point, following the coast through low heathland with views across to Adamsons Peak, the Southern Ranges and Bruny Island. At the point itself are the ruins of an 1843 pilot station and lighthouse. Some sections follow the beach, so it’s best attempted around low tide.
Distance: 4km return • Time: 2 hours return • Difficulty: Grade 2, easy • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)
Nearest campground: Cockle Creek Camping, a short walk from the trailhead. campingtasmania.com/directory/
Two quick stops worth doing back to back if you’re short on time or just stretching your legs after the drive in. The historic cemetery, near the campground, gives a glimpse of how tough life was for the small community that once lived here; the bronze whale sculpture at Adams Point, a little further down the road, marks the very end of the highway and doubles as the Fishers Point trailhead.
Distance: Around 500m combined return • Time: 10-15 minutes combined • Difficulty: Grade 1, easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead at the Cemetery only (Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area); not permitted at the Whale Sculpture, which sits across the bridge in the national park
Nearest campground: Cockle Creek Camping, right at both trailheads. campingtasmania.com/directory/
A short detour off the road to Cockle Creek, this mostly boardwalked track follows a stream through regrowth forest to a still, tannin-dark sinkhole lake — a genuinely peaceful spot and a good option if you want an easy walk without the exposure of the coastal tracks further south.
Distance: 4.2km return • Time: About 1.5 hours • Difficulty: Grade 2, easy, mostly boardwalk • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)
Nearest campground: Gillams Beach Camping, Ida Bay, about 15 minutes’ drive. campingtasmania.com/directory/
Worth building into the same trip even though it’s a separate reserve: a short, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk follows the stream behind the thermal pool, with the option to extend onto the Hot Springs Track to a spot where warm and cold creeks meet. It’s a nice way to warm up (literally, in the 28-degree pool) after a cold morning on the coastal tracks.
Distance: 500m-1km return (Platypus Walk); up to 3km return via the Hot Springs Track • Time: 10-30 minutes, longer via Hot Springs Track • Difficulty: Grade 1-2, easy • Dogs: Not permitted (state reserve)
Nearest campground: Gillams Beach Camping, Ida Bay, about 20 minutes’ drive. campingtasmania.com/directory/
South Cape Bay, Fishers Point, the Whale Sculpture and Duckhole Lake all sit within Southwest National Park, so you’ll need a valid Tasmanian Parks Pass before you set off. Hastings Caves State Reserve doesn’t require a parks pass, but cave tours and thermal pool entry carry their own separate fee, payable at the Visitor Centre on the day. Dogs are a genuine mixed bag around Cockle Creek: they’re permitted on lead in the Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area (the campground side, before the bridge, and at the Cemetery), but banned once you cross into the national park itself — which rules them out of South Cape Bay, Fishers Point, the Whale Sculpture and Duckhole Lake. They’re also not permitted at Hastings Caves. On the safety side, this is genuinely remote country: mobile coverage disappears well before Cockle Creek, weather off the Southern Ocean can turn quickly and without warning, and South Cape Bay in particular has little shelter once you’re past the tree line, so carry warm layers, water and a map even on a “short” walk down here.
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