Help me choose a bushwalk

[erzel]

Hi forum,

My wife and I are avid hikers. We're planning on being in Tasmania in December of 2014, and we'd like to do a 3-4 day bushwalk. I've heard of the OLT, but unfortunately it's completely booked already for the dates we'll be there.
I've seen the list of Great Walks Parks Tasmania publishes. I'm considering a few of them: The Frenchman's cap, the Tasman coastal trail or the Walls of Jerusalem.
I love mountains and so would prefer something with nice alpine scenery. But I'm concerned that the Frenchmans Cap would be too difficult for my wife. Plus, am I right in thinking there's a greater chance of bad weather there than in the Tasman coastal trail?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Erez.

[Strider]

Walls of Jerusalem is an amazing alpine area with an assortment of easily climbed peaks and scenic lakes and tarns. A short tough climb to get up there but the rewards are more than worth it.

[north-north-west]

Not knowing your wife's capabilities, it's hard to say whether Frenchman's would be too much for her.

Certainly the best chance of good weather is the Tasman but, while a good walk, it's not in the same league as the alpine stuff. The climb to Trappers is the steepest bit of the main route into the Walls and can be done in an hour or so - after that it's easy walking to Wild Dog. Or there are other parts of the Walls that are easier to get to - LakeBill/Myrtle track to Meston (and the sidetrip up Rogoona), the Moses Ck track to Cloister and the sidetrip up the Cathedral Plateau, the loop via Lake Adelaide . . .
If you're looking for easy alpine walking, you could also consider starting from Lake Ada, and walking into Lake Fanny - easy to follow tracks with no long climbs, easy off-track walking, some lovely scenery, billions of places to camp and probably fewer people around.

[Hallu]

The Tasman Peninsula is in my opinion best explored in a series of daywalks with car camping. You'll see more stuff, can explore more off the beaten path areas. I also always say that it seems, but Maria Island is a great easy 3 day walk. It's on the East Coast, so better weather as well. It's not mountains, but between the multiday Tasman walk and Maria, I'd take Maria. Otherwise yeah the Walls is your best bet. Mount Field is a beautiful easy park too, the plateau is great. A 3 day circuit would be easily done there as well. But with its proximity to Hobart, it might be crowded in December. On the other hand, the Walls are increasingly popular, so... Mt Field has also better facilities, and better roads, while the Walls are wilder, but more muddy and challenging. Up to you now.

[erzel]

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I have heard good things now about the Walls, so I'm definitely considering doing that. Any one know of places where I can get more information (maps, route descriptions), perhaps a website or a recommended guide book? I couldn't find much info in the official website of the parks.

Cheers

Erez.

[north-north-west]

Best guidebook is Chapman's Cradle-St Clair/Walls book. Apparently hard to get on the mainland, but Fullers bookshop in Hobart has copies.
If you want more detailed maps, the Tasmaps 1:25k give plenty of detail. Rowallan & Cathedral for starters, perhaps some of the adjoining sections as well, such as Ada.
Or check out The List Maps: http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map
Fairly versatile tool, shows access routes as well as many tracks.

[icefest]

You can get the book for 30$ delivered: https://booko.info/9781920995010/Cradle ... onal-Parks
I usually buy my tasmaps from the Melbourne map store as they will laminate the entire map for you.



EDIT: or you can get the first edition: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... _sr=impact

[Hallu]

If you live overseas it might be heard to get your hands on Chapman's book indeed, and it's mostly sold out as a new edition is planned for "late 2014" as said on his website : http://www.john.chapman.name/pub.html . You can find a used copy here though : http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchR ... 5013&sts=t if you don't mind the high shipping costs.

[craigw]

Erez,
Frenchmans cap for me is a perfect taste of tassie, an absolute cracker of a walk. I did it with my partner years ago now, she almost disspeared in a bog on the sodden loddens but I understand this section is now rerouted. The scenery is spectacular when the weather gods are on your side. The only con is it is in and out the same way, but, hey its worth doing twice. Neither of us are super fit or strong. Maybe it was just the weather, but it still rates as one of my favourite walking experiences in tassie.

And I also agree that the Walls is stunning, and there are a number of options and circuits. Early this year i went through the walls around to lake ball, lake adelaide south to junction lake then back tracking and across mt ragoona to lake myrtle. There is plenty to do as day walks from wild dog into the walls so you can base youself there for a couple of nights. Be careful of the possums at wild dog campsite, I had one chew a hole in my tent despite punching it it the head three times. Yes, I admit I punched a possum, i'm not overally proud of it.

I think you could probably spend 3-4 days walking anywhere in tassie and have a great experience.

C

[tasmaniac]

Erez,
Frenchmans cap for me is a perfect taste of tassie, an absolute cracker of a walk. I did it with my partner years ago now, she almost disspeared in a bog on the sodden loddens but I understand this section is now rerouted. The scenery is spectacular when the weather gods are on your side. The only con is it is in and out the same way, but, hey its worth doing twice. Neither of us are super fit or strong. Maybe it was just the weather, but it still rates as one of my favourite walking experiences in tassie.

And I also agree that the Walls is stunning, and there are a number of options and circuits. Early this year i went through the walls around to lake ball, lake adelaide south to junction lake then back tracking and across mt ragoona to lake myrtle. There is plenty to do as day walks from wild dog into the walls so you can base youself there for a couple of nights. Be careful of the possums at wild dog campsite, I had one chew a hole in my tent despite punching it it the head three times. Yes, I admit I punched a possum, i'm not overally proud of it.

I think you could probably spend 3-4 days walking anywhere in tassie and have a great experience.

C

Don't feel bad. I think we've all punched a possum at some stage.

[north-north-west]

... Be careful of the possums at wild dog campsite, I had one chew a hole in my tent despite punching it it the head three times. Yes, I admit I punched a possum, i'm not overally proud of it.
I think you could probably spend 3-4 days walking anywhere in tassie and have a great experience.

Don't feel bad. I think we've all punched a possum at some stage.

I prefer to kick them.

[tasmaniac]

Depends which end of the tent they're trying to get into.

[Wahzammo]

I've never had to punch a possum, but I did have 'quell a quoll' one night in Wilsons Prom...