Base Camp Tasmania – Glenfern TAS

This little slice of protected bush heaven feels as remote as it gets, but it’s just 50km from Tassie’s capital of Hobart. 

Quick Overview

Base Camp Tasmania is a campsite located 50 km from Hobart and is located in Glenfern. The drive from Hobart to Base Camp Tasmania takes about 1 hour to complete.

Base Camp Tasmania (BCT) is a private campsite with a difference. It’s a completely protected area and its owners are 100% dedicated to preserving the native flora and fauna that call it home. Oh, and there are enough adventures on the doorstep to last a lifetime. 

Update: The marlin hidden at Base Camp Tasmania has been found!

Explore the other campgrounds for your chance to win a whopping $10,000 BCF Voucher thanks to our mates at Great Northern Brewing Co!*

Also Read:

• Best Camping Friendly Beaches in Tasmania
• Things to Do North West Tasmania

The campground is surrounded by natural bushland

The Details

Location

Hit the highway from Hobart to New Norfolk. When you get there, don’t go trusting Google Maps though. Give BCT a call or follow the directions in the handy PDF they’re prepared for their guests. 

Facilities

• BBQS
• Toilet and shower facilities
• Laundry
• Full Kitchen with Appliances Cutlery and Crockery

Camping Options

Type of camping available:

• Camping
• 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory
• Self-Contained Family Cabin (1 x QS Bed, 4 Bunks)

Cost:

• Camping: $20/guest
• Bunkhouse: $40/guest
• Family Cabin: $160/2 guests
• $50/additional adult
• $25/additional child (children under 5 years FOC)

Things To Do

At The Campground

• Go wildlife spotting and see how many local species you can see
• Try your hand at trout fishing
• Soak up the silence and remote atmosphere
• Enjoy a guided bushwalking tour with your campground hosts

Adventures Close By

• Kayak on the Derwent River
• Check out the vintage and antique stores in New Norfolk
• Visit Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park, or step it up and try the Three Falls Circuit
• Mt Mawson Ski Field is a must-visit if you love the snow and are visiting in winter
• Go bushwalking ⁠— check out Collins Cap, Tarn Shelf or the Growling Swallet walk

Food & Drink Close By

• The Black Swan for a coffee (it’s also a bookshop). Aaaand relax…
• Dining in or taking away, The Agrarian Kitchen has something for everyone, including a cooking school

Your Hosts

In 2003, wildlife-loving Graham McLean and his now ex-wife ditched the 9-5 slog in Melbourne and traded it in for 41 hectares of pristine bush in Tasmania. Alongside the camping and cabins, BCT offers bushwalking tours, a bus service, gear hire and pretty much anything else you need to get out in the wild. 

The task of looking after this impressively-diverse property now falls to Graham and his partner Carolyn Emden. And it’s no easy feat; in 2013 BCT was listed with the Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) and it’s also under a Conservation Covenant. This means that Graham and Carolyn have made a pledge to protect the natural values of the land, including plants, animals, micro-organisms and the eco-systems they’re all a part of. 

These two legends are even Registered Wildlife Carers, nursing sick native cuties back to life in home-made pens built by Graham’s own hands. Wallabies, echidnas, wombats, quolls, Tasmanian devils….the list goes on. The question is ⁠— how many will you spot on your stay? 

It’s not just the animals that get some serious TLC though. Green-fingered Graham attends Landcare Conferences to stay up-to-date with the latest ways to nurture and re-introduce native flora on the property.

They’ve also done everything they can to minimize the carbon footprint of the property, with solar power, recycling, composting, using cold water in washes instead of hot, and plenty of other things too.

The cabins feature all kinds of environmentally friendly additions, including solar panels.

Graham and Carolyn have made a sanctuary for animals and a sanctuary for guests. Sit back and enjoy the quiet, pull on the hiking boots and go and explore the epic surrounds (top choice is Mt Field National Park), and whip off the tent’s fly and sleep under the stars in this untouched slice of nature. Oh, and when it comes to places to sup a nice cold Great Northern, you’ll be spoilt for choice. 

HINT: Where’s the Marlin hidden?

Hidden along our figure 8 walking track, you might just find a sitting spot that conceals the Marlin.

Where’s the best place to enjoy a Great Northern on the property?

Crack open a cold one and sit down to have a chat with Graham and find out more about how he protects this special place.

*AU res 18+ only. Starts 12.01am (AEST) on 28/04/2022, Ends 11.59pm (AEST) 08/05/22. Ts&Cs can be found here. Promoter: CUB Pty Ltd (ABN 76 004 056 106).

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