Help choosing suitable day walk to convert our friends!!!

[Deb]

OK, I would like some help choosing a walk within driving distance from Launceston.
We have some friends who are keen to try bushwalking but want to start with a day walk. They are of reasonable fitness but we don't want to turn them off with something that is too steep, too long, too boring etc. Would really like to convert them to the joys of bushwalking and roughing it a bit, so want them to be impressed on their first walk so that they want to do it again!
So, with that in mind, what are the suggestions for an easy/moderate walk that is visually spectacular and within driving distance from Launceston?
Cheers,
Deb

[Drifting]

At Cradle Mountain, Ronnies-Crater Lake-Marion's-Lake Lilla-Dove Lake. Awesome walk, magical views, and my 5 year old can do it.

Liffey Falls from the lower trail to the top (2 cars).

[tasadam]

Liffey Falls from the lower trail to the top (2 cars).

I was going to say that, except going back to the lower car park.
You can start at the bottom and go as far as the waterfall, if you still feel fresh enough you can go as far as the top carpark to check out the big (ish) tree that is there.
Then it's a downhill walk back to the lower car park.
It isn't a long walk, unless you take a camera.

[corvus]

The easy walk into Lees Paddocks 14 km return would in my opinion be a good introduction,no major climbs nice waterfalls and spectacular views of the mountains from the "Paddocks" . It also lets you experience temperate rain forest with a view of dry sclerophyll forest on the opposite side of the Mersey and little or no mud
corvus

[tazz]

The Bluetier region has some nice easy walks, with a bit of early mining history to go with it.

[stepbystep]

The easy walk into Lees Paddocks 14 km return would in my opinion be a good introduction,no major climbs nice waterfalls and spectacular views of the mountains from the "Paddocks" . It also lets you experience temperate rain forest with a view of dry sclerophyll forest on the opposite side of the Mersey and little or no mud
corvus

That would be my tip also, great mix of landscape and vegetation without too much exertion.
It would still give a beginner a great sense of achievement.
Just protect them from the leeches, that's a serious downer!

[corvus]

Lees Paddocks some times can be leech free if you are concerned "Bushman" 80% DEET is the way to go just a small smear around your legs is enough to deter them , as an aside as to the efficacy of this product on a recent stroll I removed one from a mates leg placed it on my hand which hours before had applied the said DEET and the leech was beside itself in its attempts to evade the "stuff" I think it was relieved when given the flick .
corvus

[Chrisbulldog]

Perhaps some of the tracks inside Cataract Gorge would be a nice easy start , or perhaps something a little more exotic , perhaps Liffey Falls area would be a good start.

[sirius Tas]

For a really speccy walk the Meander Forest Reserve is one of the best for day walks. The easiest of those would be the Split Rock Falls walk....should do it in a comfortable 3hrs return. Amazing rock overhangs and features as well as other falls on the way up. It can be done as a loop walk...possibly best taking the bottom track in and continuing around through the large rock caves then back down through Split Rock.
If that doesn't inspire them then nothing will.
For a summit climb...Projection Bluff would be hard to beat...comfortable 3hrs return. The start is steep...but only about 30min or so to the plateau. Very speccy views out to coast and surrounding mts.
For a shorter walk....Westmorland Falls is a great shortish walk on an easy track.

[frenchy_84]

i would agree with meander falls. There is also the ben lomond plateau, if you dont want it to be to strenuous you could do something up the north end where you can drive to the top.

[crazyone]

I agree with frenchy on the ben lomond plateau. the summit track from carr villa is challenging but easily achieveable. It is spectucalt and a great introduction to walking tassies alpine areas. You could spend many day walks in just the skifields area.

[Ent]

A gem of a walk is Mount Arthur. The track up would have to be one of the prettiest in Tassie for a close to major city area walk with semi rain forest giving way to alpine plants and then dodging back into almost mythological Beech mini forests with a view from the top well worth the effort. It covers all type of walking terrain such as scree, rock scrambling but not mud so sensible footwear should do the trick. Probably the only thing missing is a waterfall. Note, take water as no could be found on the track. The walk is 30 minutes from Launceston and five hours is the posted time but allow longer. About 700 plus metres of elevation so good work out and if you can do this then most other walks in Tassie outside the remote ones or ones that come with vertigo warnings should be achievable.

Cheers Brett