The Tassie Trifecta - Kayaking, Hiking, Camping!
Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania February 2026
By Malisa and Coach Michele
Picture 9 adventurous Diamonds, Coach Michele, two spirited guides Mia and Mal and a whirlwind of kayaking, hiking and camping packed into one unforgettable week.
After donning our spray skirts and life jackets, we partnered up and vigorously burped our lives into two 20-litre dry bags. Getting all our gear into those tiny hulls was a feat of strength, stamina, and patience. Every day it got a little easier (?)- but that’s mostly because the group food gradually was being consume consumed, as opposed to us actually getting better at it.
Kayaking 68kms around the stunning Freycinet Peninsula, we toured rugged coastlines, passed beneath towering cliffs & pink granite mountains, crossed rolling passages and enjoyed fairy drifting onto shores. No reception. No noise. No artificial light. Just wind, tide and front row seats to nature.
On some days, calm bays often turned restless and other days they were picture perfect, glassy & tranquil.
The guides read the weather perfectly and maximised our time on and off the water.
The first night we camped on Cooks Beach, sharing the space with curious wallabies & crows…and got our first taste of camping life and the first feeling of how special this week was going to be. The aim the next day was to beat the wind that was due and get to Schouten Island – crossing the passage was a highlight, challenging and a little scary as we rolled around and rode the waves. Schouten Island was special, as you can only access it by watercraft. We had a brilliant afternoon with a little downtime, but most of us were up for the hike up Bear Hill- a granite boulder heaven!
Back to Cooks Beach the next day- just as well because the wind really picked up and no paddling for the next couple of days. So, the perfect opportunity to don our hiking boots- checking out Bryans Beach in the afternoon. Also, the opportunity to tackle the big summit of Mt Freycinet - 620 mtrs of elevation gain! A humbling experience after a few days of paddling. From above, the journey stitched itself together: the bays we’d launched from, the beaches we’d camped on, the wild water we’d crossed.
Camping took on a new challenge, trying to find the perfect spot out of the howling winds. A few moves were necessary to find that “Goldilocks” pitch.
The weather calmed, so we could paddle further up the coast to camp at Hazards Beach. Turning further inland, we enjoyed a walk to the beautiful Wine Glass Bay, so named due to the red blood in the water from whale harpooning.
Rich in marine life, the resident seals brought an incredible rush of excitement, playing gracefully in the water whilst others sunbaked lazily on the rocks. Their carefree antics were a reminder of life's simple pleasures thriving beyond our everyday routines. One afternoon, a pod of dolphins appeared with their incredible energy, as if welcoming us. Soon shrieks, squeals and uncontrollable laughter echoed through the bay!
On the nourishment front, water was precious. 180 litres sustained us; cooking, cleaning, hydrating, surviving. Every sip measured. Every refill planned. Meals were delicious with all ingredients locally sourced from Tasmania. We derived immense comfort in steeping our way through 70 hot cups of tea, 150 well-deserved sweet biscuits & 20 richly delicious chocolate bars.
An incredible experience with 10 curious & adventurous women!
