Apsley Waterhole camping, Douglas-Apsley: walk-in bush camp near Bicheno

Apsley Waterhole is a free bush campsite at the southern end of Douglas-Apsley National Park, a few minutes north of Bicheno on Tasmania’s east coast. The Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania (PWS) says there is no booking and no vehicle access to the campsite itself: you leave your vehicle at the carpark and walk in. This guide covers where it is, how to reach it, what to carry, the fire and stove rules, and what to sort out before you go. It is written for any camper, whatever you arrive in.

What is Apsley Waterhole, and where does it sit?

Douglas-Apsley National Park is described by PWS as mid-way up the east coast of Tasmania, about 2¼ hours from Launceston and slightly longer from Hobart. The park has three free bush campsites: Apsley Waterhole, Heritage Falls and Tevelein Falls. Apsley Waterhole is the one at the southern end, near the carpark.

PWS describes Apsley Waterhole as shaded, suited to swimming, with composting toilets nearby. It is the one place in the park where fire pits are provided. Heritage Falls sits high on the bank above the Douglas River, and Tevelein Falls is further south on the riverbank. Both are reached on foot by the Leeaberra Track from the north of the park, have no toilets, and are mainly used by multi-day walkers, so they are a different kind of trip from a night at the waterhole.

How do you get there, and what is the access like?

Take Rosedale Road off the A3 Tasman Highway, about 3 km north of Bicheno. That is the southern entrance to the park and leads to the carpark. PWS lists a carpark, toilets and a signposted walk to Apsley Waterhole and the lookout at the southern end.

From the carpark, PWS says the campsite is an easy ten-minute walk, with no vehicle access. That has two practical effects. You carry everything in, so pack light and use a bag or trolley you can manage over a short walk. And your vehicle is parked at the carpark while you camp, so take valuables with you or keep them out of sight.

The northern end of the park is quite different. Thompsons Marshes is reachable only on foot or by high-clearance 4WD, via Forestry E Road, 24 km north of Bicheno, and the northern end has only a rough carpark. PWS says the Apsley and Douglas Rivers flood after heavy rain and have no bridges: if they are flooded, do not try to cross, and either camp and wait for the water to drop or turn back.

PWS also asks drivers to avoid driving in reserves at night where possible, because native wildlife shares the roads.

What are the sites like?

The PWS camping page describes Apsley Waterhole as a free bush campsite and does not give a count of tent spots or a layout, so do not assume a particular number of spaces. Camping is first-come and there is no booking, so there is no way to hold a spot ahead of time.

The surroundings are shaded and next to the Apsley River waterhole. The page does not describe the ground or the surface of the camp, so bring what you need to pitch on uneven or bare ground and check the Parks and Wildlife Service page if you want more detail.

What facilities are there?

At the southern end PWS lists a carpark, toilets and the signposted walk to the waterhole and lookout. Near the campsite there are composting toilets. There are no other facilities listed for the campsite.

Water is the main thing to plan. PWS says water can be drawn from the Apsley River but must be boiled before use. Carrying your own drinking water and using river water only for washing or after boiling is the cautious approach. PWS also tells campers to bring their own food, water, tent and fuel stove.

Fire, stoves and the campfire ban

The park is a Fuel Stove Only area from 1 October to 30 April. During that period only the established fire pits at Apsley Waterhole may be used for a fire.

There is also a seasonal campfire ban alert. PWS says the bans started at 2.00 am on Monday 26 October 2026 on reserved land in parts of Tasmania, with Glamorgan-Spring Bay and Tasman among the listed areas. Solid fuel devices are also banned under the alert. The page tells visitors to check the alert map for the rules at each campground, and the alert was last reviewed on 27 October 2026.

Because the alert applies now, treat the fire pits as off limits until you have checked the Parks and Wildlife Service page, and plan to cook on a fuel stove. Total Fire Ban days can add further limits.

What can you do nearby?

The signposted walk from the southern carpark leads to the Apsley waterhole and a lookout. PWS describes the waterhole as suited to swimming. The page does not give water depth, currents or safety advice for the waterhole, so read any signs on site and use caution, especially if the river has been running high.

Bicheno, about 3 km south of the Rosedale Road turn-off, is the nearest town. The Freycinet Field Centre in Bicheno is the PWS contact for the park and is open seven days, 9am to 4pm.

When is the best time to visit?

The PWS camping page does not state a season for the campsite, so there is no stated open or closed period. The page does give a fuel-stove-only period from 1 October to 30 April, and says rivers flood after heavy rain. Both are reasons to check the Parks and Wildlife Service page before you set out, and to watch the weather in the days before.

Who this camp suits, and who should choose somewhere else

It suits campers who are happy to walk in, carry their own food and water, use a fuel stove and sleep in a tent. It is a good option for a quiet night close to Bicheno.

It is a poor fit if you want to drive to your site, need a booked spot, want a caravan or campervan site, or expect showers and drinking water. For multi-day walking, the Leeaberra Track connects the northern end of the park with Heritage Falls and Tevelein Falls, which have no toilets.

Wildlife and care of the place

PWS asks drivers to go slowly and watch for animals on the road, and to avoid night driving in reserves where possible. The page does not mention pets, so check PWS’s dogs in parks information before bringing an animal. Pack out all your rubbish, keep food secured and keep to the signed walk.

A one-night plan

Arrive in daylight. Turn off the Tasman Highway onto Rosedale Road, park at the carpark and follow the signposted walk to the waterhole and lookout. The campsite is an easy ten-minute walk, so you can carry a tent and a stove in a single trip, and make a second trip for water if you need it.

Pitch in the shade near the waterhole, cook on your fuel stove, and keep food secured. In the morning, take rubbish out with you, check the rivers have not risen, and walk back to the carpark.

Planning checklist

• Check the Parks and Wildlife Service page for the campfire ban and any alerts the day you leave.
• Buy or check your Tasmanian parks pass.
• Fill water containers before you arrive.
• Decide what to do if the rivers are up after rain: PWS says to wait or turn back.
• Tell someone where you are camping.
• Plan to arrive and leave in daylight where you can.

What should you bring?

• A tent and sleeping gear you can carry for ten minutes.
• Food, drinking water and a fuel stove.
• A way to boil river water if you plan to use it.
• A valid Tasmanian parks pass.
• Layers and rain gear, and a plan for flooded rivers.

Common mistakes

• Planning to drive to the campsite. There is no vehicle access.
• Lighting a fire without checking the campfire ban alert.
• Drinking river water without boiling it.
• Attempting to cross a flooded river. PWS says to wait or turn back.
• Forgetting the parks pass, which is required to enter.
• Assuming a booking is possible. There is none.

Supplies and services

Bicheno is the nearest town to the Rosedale Road turn-off. The PWS camping page does not list shops or fuel, so stock up on food and fuel for your stove before you head in. The Freycinet Field Centre handles enquiries for the park.

Parks pass and contact

PWS says a valid parks pass is required to enter Tasmania’s national parks. Passes are bought online through the link on the PWS page. The Freycinet Field Centre in Bicheno can be reached on 03 6256 7000 or at Freycinet@parks.tas.gov.au.

More from the operator: parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/douglas-apsley-national-park/douglas-apsley-camping.

Plan it in the app

Save the camp on your route in MotoRidez and the planner shows road closures along the way, and where your tank runs out once you have entered the range of your vehicle. Save the route for offline use before you lose signal: it saves the corridor around your route, not a whole region.

Details come from the operator’s own records and pages, read on 20 October 2026, and change. We do not show prices or availability. Confirm fees, bookings, closures and fire rules with the operator before you go.