Paddling in Douglas-Apsley National Park

Douglas-Apsley National Park sits on Tasmania's east coast near Bicheno, roughly halfway up the coast between Hobart and Launceston.

The park's character is defined by two rivers — the Douglas and the Apsley — that have cut deep gorges through dry eucalypt forest, one of the last uncleared stretches of that habitat in the state.

The water here is clear, the gorges are tight, and the pools they've carved are the reason paddlers come. The Apsley River is the anchor. It flows through Apsley Gorge, forming the waterhole that draws most visitors to the park's southern end.

The waterhole sits about a ten-minute walk from the car park off Rosedale Road, and the turquoise water in summer is striking.

Apsley Gorge Falls, within the park, rises roughly 150 metres over about 6 kilometres — context that matters when you're reading the river and deciding what's runnable versus what demands a portage or a walk-in approach.

Paddling here is not a put-in-and-float proposition. The gorge terrain means access requires commitment, and the pools are the reward rather than a continuous corridor of navigable water.

Summer is when the waterholes are at their most inviting; Tasmania's east coast runs drier than the west, and flows reflect that seasonality. Come prepared to read conditions on arrival rather than rely on remote gauges.

The park requires a valid Tasmania Parks Pass for entry — check with Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania for current pass options.

Bush camping is available near Apsley Waterhole and along the Leeaberra Track for those building a multi-day trip around the gorge country. This is a conservation park protecting rare dry forest alongside the river systems.

Treat the waterways accordingly: pack out everything, stay aware of the fragile riparian margins, and give the wildlife the distance it needs. The water earns its clarity.