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The End of the Road, Cockle Creek, Far South Tasmania

  • Cockle Creek. Image credit: Paul County

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The End of the Road, Cockle Creek, Far South Tasmania
Far South

Head south from Hobart until the bitumen runs out and you’ll land at Cockle Creek, the southernmost place you can drive to in Australia.

Think quiet coves, white-sand beaches, birdsong in the tea-tree and big sky views across Recherche Bay and the Southwest National Park. It feels like the edge of the world, but it’s only around a 2‑hour, 148km drive from Hobart through the Huon Valley and Far South Tasmania.

There are no shops, fuel or flashy services down here – just basic campsites, long-drop loos, a public phone, and more stars than your city brain probably remembers exist. Bring your supplies, your sense of adventure and a healthy respect for the weather, and settle into the slow lane at Cockle Creek and Recherche Bay.

Here are 4 ways to slow down at Cockle Creek, Far South, Tasmania:

1. Walk through deep time and history

Before cars and campervans, Cockle Creek was a busy little outpost, home to sealers, convicts, whalers and timber workers, and part of a much older and ongoing story for the Aboriginal people of this region. Today, traces of that layered history sit quietly in the landscape – from Aboriginal sites to old tramways, ruins and a small historic cemetery near the campground.

  • Wander up to the Cockle Creek cemetery for a quick glimpse into the tough lives lived here (about 5 minutes return).​

  • Follow the coastal track to Fishers Point Navigation Light and the ruins of the 1840s pilot station (around 2 hours / 4km return from near the whale sculpture car park).

As you walk, look back across Recherche Bay to the Southern Ranges and out towards Bruny Island and the Southern Ocean – easy to see why ships needed help finding their way in.

Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Darren Wright

2. Meet the bronze whale (and maybe a real one)

In the 1830s, four busy whaling stations operated around Cockle Creek, boiling whale oil for lamps, cooking, soaps and even corsets. These days, things are a lot kinder: a life‑size bronze sculpture of a young southern right whale at Adams Point quietly marks that brutal chapter and celebrates the species’ slow return.

An easy 5–10 minute stroll from the end of the road (about 800m past Cockle Creek Bridge) takes you to the sculpture and an interpretive sign explaining the area’s whaling, timber and coal history. Time your visit between June and late October and you might spot real southern right whales or dolphins cruising past in the bay while you sit on the rocks and soak up the stillness.

Bronze southern right whale. Image Credit: Ian - @iansuat9

Download the Far South Touring Map

3. Sink into Recherche Bay’s slow rhythm

Recherche Bay is where a lot of people come to Cockle Creek and promptly forget their plans. Calm, sheltered and ridiculously photogenic, it’s made for:

  • Low‑key beach days – soft sand, clear water and good old‑fashioned paddling.

  • Throwing in a line from the shore or boat when conditions are right.​

  • Long, slow picnics with your camp chair parked in the shallows.

There are several coastal campgrounds at Recherche Bay/Cockle Creek (including Bolton’s Green) with basic facilities and direct access to the sand, making it one of Far South Tasmania’s favourite summer camping spots.

Visit outside peak holiday periods and you may feel like you’ve scored your own private bay at the end of the road.

4. Step into the wild Southwest National Park

Cockle Creek is the southern gateway to Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the starting – or finishing – point of the legendary South Coast Track. You don’t need to commit to seven days in the mud, though; the South Cape Bay Track gives you a generous taste of the wild south in a single day.

  • South Cape Bay – Great Short Walk

    • 15.4km return, Grade 3, allow about 4 hours walking time plus stops.

    • Starts from the car park just past the Cockle Creek bridge, at the end of Australia’s most southerly road.

    • Meanders through woodland and button grass plains before emerging high above South Cape Bay with huge views to South East Cape and the Southern Ocean.

On a calm day you can head down the steps to the sand and wander along to Lion Rock; on a typical wild-south day you’ll be leaning into roaring wind, salty spray and feeling very alive. Keep an eye out for pademelons, wallabies and birdlife along the way – this is Southwest National Park showing off.

A valid Parks Pass is required for Cockle Creek and walks in Southwest National Park, and conditions can change quickly, so check the latest advice from the Parks and Wildlife Service before you go.

South Cape Bay Track. Image Credit: Darren Wright
South Cape Bay Track. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
Cockle Creek. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
South Cape Track. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life
South Cape Track. Image Credit: Matt & Jodie | Aussie Bus Life

Handy tips for visiting Cockle Creek and Far South Tasmania

  • Cockle Creek is around 2 hours’ drive south of Hobart via Huonville, Dover and Southport – allow extra time for bakery stops and photo breaks along the Huon River and in the Far South.​

  • There are no shops, fuel stations or cafes at Cockle Creek, so stock up in the Huon Valley or Far South towns before you hit the gravel.

  • Camping is popular in summer and on long weekends – check current campground info, restrictions and any fire regulations with Parks and Wildlife.

  • If you’re planning the South Cape Bay walk or any longer adventures into Southwest National Park, come prepared with appropriate gear, plenty of food and water, and a healthy respect for Tassie weather.

Picture of Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.

Article Details:

Article Created: 13 March 2026
Last Update: 13 March 2026
Author: Darren Wright
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