Each year, thousands of visitors flock to one of Tasmania’s most loved coastal destinations and find themselves battling for a parking spot. Now, a solution is on the horizon.
A new concept design for a visitor gateway to Freycinet National Park has been unveiled, which could ease the traffic chaos that has long plagued the iconic peninsula during peak seasons.
The gateway project, located just outside park boundaries on Coles Bay Road, will serve as a modern entrance point designed to better manage the growing number of visitors.
“The preliminary site plan has been developed with extensive input from specialist consultants and informed by site surveys and investigations undertaken over a number of years,” Parks Minister Nick Duigan said.
“Care has been taken to locate the infrastructure to avoid or minimise impacts to natural, cultural and social values of the site.”
The concept includes expanded parking, electric vehicle charging stations, a visitor centre, public facilities and infrastructure for a shuttle bus system to ferry people into the park.
The $19.7 million project receives the bulk of its funding from a $14 million state government commitment, with the federal government contributing $5.7 million.
The plans will be available to view at upcoming information sessions at the Coles Bay Community Hall on May 30 and 31.
Parks and Wildlife staff will be on hand to walk through the proposal and gather feedback.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the facility scheduled to open in 2027, followed by the implementation of a shuttle service to further reduce vehicle congestion within the national park.
