Best Time to Visit Freycinet National Park

Located on the east coast of Tasmania, Freycinet National Park has a mild maritime temperate climate, which means it never gets super hot or cold. It also has an average of 300 days of sunshine per year and is one of the driest parts of Tassie. Even in the months that see the highest annual rainfall, it averages just a few days of rainfall per month. Although Freycinet is beautiful all year round, the best time to plan your trip depends on what you'd like to do, see and experience. Some months offer better conditions for exploring the park's fantastic walking trails and seeing certain species of wildlife, while other months are better for lounging around on the beach or splashing around in the sea. To help you plan your trip, we've put together this guide detailing what to expect in each season.

Average temperatures in Freycinet National Park

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
January	23	16
February	22	16
March	21	11
April	19	8
May	16	6
June	14	4
July	14	4
August	14	4
September	16	6
October	18	7
November	19	9
December	21	11

Spring (September-November)

Best for: bushwalking, hiking, wildlife, smaller crowds

Spring is a great time in Freycinet as you'll get to experience pleasant weather, but without the big summer crowds. The coastal woodlands are a treat for all senses in spring when colourful wildflowers blossom and release gorgeous floral aromas in the air. Look out for white kunzea, bright yellow flowers on wattles, purple Melaleucas and pink Bauera rubioides.

You can see wildlife in Freycinet all year round, but wildlife really thrives in spring with the arrival of nesting season. If you're lucky, you might get to see a gorgeous joey wallaby or possum tucked away in its mother’s pouch. And if you’re really lucky, you might witness a joey climbing out to explore the outside world and forage for food

Summer (December-February)

Best for: beaches, swimming, watersports, hiking

Pleasant daytime highs, (mostly) clear skies and around 15 hours of daylight make summer an awesome time of year to go walking, hiking and spend lots of time outdoors. However, December and January are also the busiest months when locals and tourists head to Freycinet to enjoy the festive period and school holidays, so you'll encounter more people on the trails and lookouts than in spring, autumn and winter. It's best to set off as early as possible to beat the crowds.

The water temperature is the warmest at the end of February (averaging 18°C) when it has had a few months to heat up, but just note that it’s still much cooler than in other parts of Australia. But let’s be honest, the sparkling turquoise waters are too inviting to not get in! If you don’t fancy taking a dip, you can always go kayaking or paddleboarding around the bays.

Autumn (March-May)

Best for: hiking, swimming, smaller crowds, amazing sunsets

If you want to experience mild weather and fewer people to share the trails and views with, autumn is a really great time to visit. The weather is balmy and slightly humid, especially at the beginning of the season, which is ideal for hiking. As the temperature starts to cool and the sun lowers in the sky, it's a wonderful time to see fantastic sunsets over the Hazards. You might start to see whales migrating up the coast from May, but winter is really the best time to go if whale watching is on your bucket list.

Winter (June-August)

Best for: exploring in solitude, whale watching

Winter is the quietest time of year in Freycinet – particularly in July and August – and arguably one of the most beautiful seasons. The days are sunny and mostly dry with average daily highs of 14°C, the walking tracks are quieter and you’ll have the lookouts and beaches practically all to yourself. If you’re out walking, just be mindful of any frost on cool mornings and ensure you have decent grip on your boots or runners.

Smaller crowds also make it easier to see wildlife, particularly wallabies, possums and quoll. You'll also be able to see humpback, southern right and pilot whales cruising through the waters as they migrate from Antarctica to mate and birth their young along Queensland's East Coast. The lookouts around Cape Tourville Lighthouse offer great vantage points to see these gentle giants.

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