Mount William Circuit Track — Gladstone to Eddystone Point via Northeast Tip Coastal Drive
Lighthouse, granite, and Bass Strait emptiness.
Mount William National Park sits at Tasmania’s northeast tip and sees a fraction of the tourist traffic that hammers the more famous parks further south and west. The track from Gladstone runs into the park and out toward Eddystone Point, where a 19th-century granite lighthouse has been guiding ships around the treacherous northeast coast since 1889. The driving here is mostly sandy coastal track with stretches of loose granite gravel — you’re threading between ti-tree scrub and open heath with views over the Bass Strait that hit different when there’s a swell running. Forester kangaroos are thick on the ground at dawn and dusk.
This is the approachable end of Tasmanian 4WD — suitable for a well-set-up high-clearance vehicle with aired-down tyres on the softer sandy sections. It’s not technically demanding but soft sand can swallow an overconfident driver. A Parks Pass is required for entry into Mount William National Park. No fuel is available inside the park — top up in Gladstone or St Helens. Basic dispersed camping is available at the park’s designated sites near the coast. Spring through autumn is the window; winter storms off Bass Strait make the headland track genuinely unpleasant.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 28 mi / 45 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 820 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Gladstone, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | parks.tas.gov.au |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Landcruiser or Patrol handle this without modifications?
Yes — a stock high-clearance 4WD is sufficient. The track is rated easy, but the sandy coastal sections and soft beach approaches require low range and correct tyre pressures; standard 4WDs with all-terrain tyres handle it fine.
Is this track accessible year-round or does it close seasonally?
Best season is October through April. Winter months can bring wet, boggy conditions that make the sandy and mixed-surface sections significantly harder, and some sections may be impassable after heavy rain.
Do I need a national park pass or permit to drive this route?
Yes — Mount William National Park requires a valid Parks Tasmania pass. Purchase online at parks.tas.gov.au or at self-registration stations; interstate and international visitors need a separate Tasmania pass from their national one.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The soft sand approaches near Eddystone Point are the most demanding part — nothing technical, but getting stuck is a real possibility if your tyre pressures are wrong. Drop to around 20 PSI on sand and you'll move through without drama.
There's zero cell service out here — how far is the nearest fuel from the trailhead at Gladstone?
Gladstone itself has very limited services; top up fuel in St Helens (roughly 70km south) before heading out. The route is only 45km but the remoteness means a breakdown or fuel shortage is a serious problem with no comms — carry a PLB and extra fuel.
Trail track
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