Spectacular Coastal Scenery
Tasman Island from
Cape Pillar
The dramatic sea cliffs along the Tasman Peninsula are among the highest and most spectacular in Australia. These columnar dolerite cliffs are outstanding examples of a rock type which is very rare on mainland Australia. The Cape Pillar walk provides an opportunity to gain a superb view of these cliffs.
Various interesting rock formations can also be discovered in the park. The Blowhole, Devils Kitchen and Tasman's Arch are easily accessible by car at the northern end of the park. Waterfall Bay, also accessible by car, offers a spectacular view across the cliff-lined bay to a waterfall which, after rain, plummets straight into the sea.
Wildlife
Seals, penguins, dolphins and whales are all seen at various times, with Australian fur seals using the rugged coastline for breeding and resting, and fairy penguins nesting along the foreshore.
The waters just off the bay contain vast forests of Macrocystis kelp, which is one of the fastest growing organisms on Earth. These spectacular underwater forests are among the most beautiful in the world, and are highly-valued by divers.
Sea birds including gannets and terns frequent the coastline, while the forest harbours smaller birds such as fairy-wrens, scarlet robins, honeyeaters and pardalotes. Tasman National Park also contains a number of nesting raptors including the endangered wedge-tailed eagle and the sea eagle. The area around Mt Spaulding is also is a recognised habitat of the endangered swift parrot.
Most mammals are only seen at night, or around dawn or dusk. Campers often become aware of this through the nocturnal raids of brush-tail possums!
Further details of the wildlife found in the park can be found on our Wildlife of Tasman National Park page.
Rare Plants
The park also contains a number of plant species found nowhere else in the world, including some beautiful and rare euphrasias. Three rare species of euphrasia, shown below, are found only in coastal heath communities in Tasman National Park. The park also marks the southern most extension of a number of east coast plants including the oyster bay pine, Richea dracophylla and Eucalyptus johnstonii.