Cockle Creek, Tasmania: How do I get to South Cape Bay?

The C636, the most southerly road in Australia, finishes at Cockle Creek, Tasmania. From there, it’s a four hour return walk to South Cape Bay. From South Cape Bay you can see South East Cape, the southernmost point of mainland Tasmania.

Cockle Creek is at the end of the southernmost road in Australia. Once you’re at the end of the Cockle Creek Road, or C636, there is nowhere left to go unless you get out of the car.

Where is Cockle Creek, Tasmania?

Cockle Creek empties into Recherche Bay in the far south of Tasmania, Australia’s biggest island. Its southern banks are in the Southwest National Park, which covers much of Tasmania’s southern wilderness. Cockle Creek is around two hours’ drive south of Hobart. The final stages of Australia’s most southerly road are a bit rough, but safely navigable in a two wheel drive vehicle.

The southernmost point in Tasmania is nearby, but it is pretty much impossible to walk to South East Cape. You have to make do, instead, with the walk to South Cape Bay.

South Cape Bay walk from Cockle Creek, Tasmania

From the car park at Cockle Creek, the South Cape Bay walk is 15.4km return. It’s not a particularly tough walk, given the distance, and is rated as Grade 3. In layman’s terms, that means anyone who’s not a wheezing wreck of a human being can do it they put their mind to it.

The South Cape Bay walk takes about four hours return, heading through bush and woodland until you emerge on the cliffs above South Cape Bay. Expect a howling wind and crashing surf – tempestuousness is basically standard procedure in this part of Tasmania.

If conditions allow, and remember that thing about tempestuousness, you can head down to the beach. It’s by no means the greatest beach in Australia, a mix of sand and pebbles. You’d also be quite, quite mad to want to swim there. But from South Cape Bay, you can see South East Cape plunging out towards Antarctica. For the sense of reaching (almost) the end of the line, the South Cape Bay walk is worth doing.

More Tasmania travel

Why should I stay at Pumphouse Point on Lake St Clair?

How long is the drive from Hobart to Launceston?

See exotic animals at Tasmania Zoo near Launceston.

Walk to Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park – or take a Wineglass Bay cruise.

Taste pinot noir on a sheep farm at the Milton Vineyard in Swansea.