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A Budget Campervan Journey Through Northern Tasmania’s Waterfalls, Forests & High Country

This source-led route suits a self-contained campervan and a flexible, outdoors-focused pace. The creators used free or low-cost camps, a camp-gas stove, and careful battery use; they also filled water before heading in…

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Travel inspiration for A Budget Campervan Journey Through Northern Tasmania’s Waterfalls, Forests & High Country

Source videos

Travel inspiration behind this plan

Riverside FREE CAMP All To Ourselves! (Waterfalls, Caves, & A Mountainside town in our DIY BUS) Watch on YouTube This Forest Free Camp Is Like Something From A Fairy Tale! (Tasmania In Our DIY Motorhome) Watch on YouTube A Taste Of The Tarkine Wilderness & High Country (Travelling Tasmania In Our DIY Camper). Watch on YouTube FREE CAMPING Across Northern Tasmania! (Mountainside Camp in a BUS) Watch on YouTube

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

This source-led route suits a self-contained campervan and a flexible, outdoors-focused pace. The creators used free or low-cost camps, a camp-gas stove, and careful battery use; they also filled water before heading into the national park. Their winter experience included frost, ice, very cold nights, condensation, and limited phone service at Liffey Falls, so plan around the conditions they describe and keep the heater and moisture management in mind. For waterfall photography, the creator found soft, overcast light preferable to direct sun. Pack for cold, wet walking conditions and take care on rough or poorly defined tracks: the Lobster Falls walk was overgrown and easy to take the wrong way, while the creator’s off-track creek wandering involved a slip and wet camera gear. Road-food ideas shown include cacao, hot chips with honey, avocado on sourdough, and a creamy cannellini bean and chickpea dish with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, cashew sauce, and garlic sourdough. The creator also made a stuffed potato with chickpea smash. At Westmoreland Falls, they found the car park tight for a large vehicle; they said a Coaster could fit when quiet, but advised against bringing a caravan.

Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Days 1–2: Evandale, Ben Lomond & Launceston

Use this as the eastern starting leg: the creators described a couple of nights around Ben Lomond, followed by Launceston and a return to Evandale for its Sunday market. Their free camps were basic overnight stops, and winter temperatures dropped below freezing. The Ben Lomond base camp was closed during their visit, so check current access before planning around it.

  1. EvandaleEvandale, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators began this leg in Evandale and returned for the Sunday market, where one of them sold photographs. They described the town as especially charming; allow time to explore rather than treating it only as a stopover.

  2. Ben Lomond National ParkBen Lomond National Park, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators went up to Ben Lomond National Park for mountain scenery and a free campground stay. Expect cold conditions in winter; they reported frost and an overnight forecast near minus two degrees.

  3. Legges TorLegges Tor, Ben Lomond National Park, Tasmania, Australia

    Legges Tor is a substantial hike rather than just a quick photo stop. The creator went alone, found ice on the track, and described broad views across layered mountains from the relatively flat summit.

  4. Ben Lomond National ParkBen Lomond National Park, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators stayed at the free campground in the national park after photographing sunset. They conserved power for the heater overnight and left early the following morning.

  5. LauncestonLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators spent a day in Launceston, though they kept it low-key and did not film much. They planned to return to Cataract Gorge rather than spend another day in town.

  6. Cataract GorgeCataract Gorge Reserve, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators specifically planned a return visit to Cataract Gorge after their abbreviated Launceston day. Keep it as the focused Launceston outing in this leg.

  7. Swan Point Free CampSwan Point Free Camp, Swan Point, Tasmania, Australia

    This is an overnight rest area on the Tamar River foreshore, about 40 minutes north of Launceston. The creators said arrivals are permitted between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.; they treated it as a stop for the night, not a place to leave a vehicle all day.

  8. EvandaleEvandale, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators returned to Evandale for the Sunday market. Check the market schedule before setting your overnight timing around it.

Days 3–5: Mole Creek, Chudleigh & Liffey Falls

Base this leg around the caves, falls, and forest walks the creators visited. Their route included free camping at Honeycomb Caves, a low-cost campsite near Chudleigh, and the free Liffey Falls campsite. The Westmoreland Falls car park was tight for a large vehicle, and the Lobster Falls route was overgrown and easy to misread. For the waterfalls, the creator preferred soft light over direct sun for photography.

  1. Honeycomb CavesHoneycomb Caves, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators used the riverside free camp at Honeycomb Caves as a base. They arrived after dark, explored the area the next morning, and described the winter site as peaceful and very cold.

  2. Honeycomb CavesHoneycomb Caves, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    Honeycomb Cave is the first of the two river caves the creators explored. They found the river running through it; take care around cold water and uneven cave surfaces.

  3. Honeycomb CavesHoneycomb Caves, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    Wet Cave lies upstream from Honeycomb Cave. The creators did not enter because doing so would have meant walking in the cold water; they suggested saving that exploration for summer.

  4. Westmoreland FallsWestmoreland Falls, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators described the return walk as two hours on the sign, but said their own photo stops usually made hikes take longer. The car park was tight: they said a Coaster could manage when it was quiet, but did not recommend bringing a caravan.

  5. ChudleighChudleigh, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators stopped in Chudleigh after the Westmoreland Falls walk and described it as a small, pretty town close to the waterfall and free camp. They sampled different honeys and bought chocolate hazelnut and lemon varieties.

  6. Lobster FallsLobster Falls, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators found this waterfall from a roadside sign and set out expecting a short walk. A note at the track described a three-hour return, class-four hike; they found the route overgrown, took a wrong path, and turned back after reaching the first falls lookout.

  7. Liffey Falls CampgroundLiffey Falls Campground, Liffey Falls State Reserve, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators filled their water at the riverside camp near Bracknell before heading into the national park, then stayed for free at the Liffey Falls campsite. They noted that phone service was unavailable at the campsite.

  8. Liffey Falls CampgroundLiffey Falls Campground, Liffey Falls State Reserve, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators called this their favourite spot in Tasmania. They set off early for the roughly three-hour-return hike, but took about three and a half to four hours with stops. For waterfall photos, they found that overcast, soft light worked better than strong direct sun.

  9. Liffey Falls CampgroundLiffey Falls Campground, Liffey Falls State Reserve, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators also tried a short loop walk beginning at the campsite, describing moss-lined paths. Its name was not given, so use the campsite as the starting point and follow the locally marked route.

  10. Alum CliffsAlum Cliffs, Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators came here from Mole Creek to watch sunset and described the cliffs as a short walk from the car park. They visited on a windy day, so take that into account when planning a sunset stop.

Days 6–8: Tarkine Edge, Waratah & Cradle Mountain

Allow a full day for Cradle Mountain rather than squeezing it into a late arrival: the creators chose to stay nearby and enter early the next morning. Their day combined Dove Lake Circuit with several shorter walks. They reported busy, narrow sections on the circuit and changing weather, so leave time for pauses and conditions. The videos also describe a waterfall walk near Waratah and Philosopher Falls; stick to marked routes where the track is clear.

  1. Philosopher FallsPhilosopher Falls, Waratah, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators visited Philosopher Falls early in the morning and described the approach as lush, fern-filled, and quiet. They mentioned a memorial along the route; stay on the established track.

  2. WaratahWaratah, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators stopped in Waratah while travelling through the northwest. They described it as a very small town with a post office, fuel station, and hotel, and mentioned a large waterfall in town without naming it.

  3. WaratahWaratah, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators highlighted the Waratah Post Office as a particularly charming short-stay option and admired its interiors. Treat it as an accommodation lead mentioned during their visit, rather than assuming availability.

  4. Cradle Mountain Visitor CentreCradle Mountain Visitor Centre, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators arrived at the visitor centre, made breakfast, and planned to take the shuttle bus to Dove Lake. They recommended arriving early enough to make a full day of the park.

  5. Dove Lake CircuitDove Lake Circuit, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators made this their main Cradle Mountain walk and reported spending around three and a half to four hours on it. They found the narrow track busy, with frequent pauses to let people pass, and saw wombats and echidnas along the way.

  6. Pencil Pine FallsPencil Pine Falls, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

    This was one of the shorter walks the creators added after Dove Lake Circuit. Include it as a separate waterfall stop within the same Cradle Mountain day.

  7. Pencil Pine FallsPencil Pine Falls, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators included the Enchanted Forest as another short walk after the main circuit. It offers a quieter forest-focused contrast to the open lake and mountain views.

  8. Pencil Pine FallsPencil Pine Falls, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

    The creators also did a rainforest walk downstream from Pencil Pine Falls. They could not recall its name, so this entry preserves only the walk they described and does not assign it a more specific trail name.