Rocky Cape National Park

This park is on the north-west coast, between two large geological features - Table Cape near Wynyard and the Nut at Stanley. This park features many interesting formations of its own, including sea caves rich in marine life and coastal caves that provide important insights into Aboriginal cultural life.

In addition to featuring a range of wildflowers that bloom colourfully in spring and summer, Sisters Beach is the location of the only grove of the tree-sized saw banksia in Tasmania. These are the plants with large, elaborate flowers and seed pods that were the inspiration for children's book author May Gibbs' banksia men.

Forty orchid species bloom in the area, and pretty rock pools contain colourful seaweed and starfish. Swimming is popular at Sisters Beach and Anniversary Bay.

Short and longer walks in the park take you to a range of caves. Due to their significance to Aboriginal communities, you are asked not to go inside. However, you can observe a great deal from their entrances, including, in some instances, large mounds called middens, which are composed of tools and the discarded remains of shellfish and scale fish - evidence of 8,000 years of Aboriginal occupation.

Take short walks to caves or do the full circuit.

There is no camping in the park. Some private accommodation is available at the town of Sisters Beach and further east at Boat Harbour.

If travelling west, Rocky Cape is a pleasant place to stop on the way to the historic fishing village of Stanley. Here you can climb the Nut or take a chairlift to its summit, stay in historic Bed and Breakfast accommodation within an easy stroll of the beach, and view penguins and shearwaters returning to their burrows at dusk.

Rocky Cape National Park is approximately two hours' drive west of Launceston. Take the Bass Highway (A2). Turn off the Bass Highway 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) from Wynyard, to Boat Harbour Beach. About 1.5 kilometres (one mile) from the highway take Irbys Road and travel eight kilometres (five miles) to Sisters Beach. If you are approaching from the west, turn left off the Bass Highway onto the C227 (park access is clearly marked).

• National parks and reserves
• Preparing to walk in the outdoors
• Park entry fees
  

• Phone: (03) 6452 4997
  Fax: (03) 6452 4999

• Wynyard Visitor Information Centre
  8 Exhibition Link
  Wynyard
  Phone: (03) 6444 8330
  Email: info@wowtas.com
  
• Stanley Visitor Information Centre
  45 Main Road
  Stanley
  Phone: (03) 6458 1330
  Email: stanley@tasvisinfo.com.au