Good intro walk for kids

[ssloane]

We did the Freycinet Circuit with our children just before Christmas. Absolutely beautiful walk although Day 2 was quite hard.

I have read a number of posts over the years asking for ideas for introducing children to overnight hiking. After doing Freycinet Circuit I'd say that the walk into Hazard Beach campsite then back out makes a great walk to introduce children to walking. The only downside is that you have to carry your water. But it's relatively flat, there is swimming as a reward at the end of a 3 hour hike and a nice campsite by the beach. You could continue to Cook's Corner (there are water tanks there) if you felt like a longer walk - more like 5 hours.

But as an introductory walk it's pretty nice and very exciting for the kids to come upon the beaches towards the end of the hike. I think I prefer it to the walk into Lees Paddocks (which is often suggested as a good introductory walk) as the track into Lees Paddocks is somewhat of a muddy cattle trail.

sesl

[Strider]

Cape Hauy or Cape Raoul could be good options too. How old are your kids?

[blackbutt]

Cape Hauy or Cape Raoul could be good options too. How old are your kids?

Yes how old are the kids - maybe not so much Cape Hauy or Cape Raoul - cliffs, cliffs, cliffs and cliffs. I hate naysayers but I know my wife would'nt sleep for days if I took our 7 year old there.
Speaking of cliffs and kids - the best combination I have seen was the dad who had 2 kids about 13??? on the traverse between Thwaites plateau and Federation Peak. They only had 2 packs between the 3 of them as one kid had dropped a pack over the edge. They had decided not to climb the peak and were retreating to Farmhouse Creek. Those boys would be adults now as this was about 1998???. They refused my offers of food etc and assurred me they would be fine. I learnt not to be a bad dad from that man and am so grateful to him. Post a message boys if you read this and let us know how the trip down went.

[Hallu]

Mount Field would be probably a good introduction too (well maybe not right now of course).

[ssloane]

I've also heard that Mt Field is a good introductory walk, although I haven't done it.

My kids are aged 8, 11 and 12 but we've been overnight hiking with them since the youngest was 4. We took them into Pelion via Lees Paddocks for their first walk (I wonder if my son is the first four year old to arrive at Pelion!?), but honestly I wish we'd done Hazard Beach instead. We've also done Maria Island with them (to Encampment Cove and back) and some walks in the Sydney area, which is where we live.

I think our next walk will be Walls of Jerusalem.

[Phil]

Over Hansons Peak and through to Scott Kilvert is a great one for young kids. Pretty epic views/features for them to marvel at too

[Hallu]

Walls of Jerusalem may be quite a big leap from what you did in Freycinet, especially if the weather doesn't cooperate. The best time to do it is probably February when the weather is the most clement in this part of Tasmania. But still, you're gonna need rain gear, good boots, gaiters and if I remember correctly it's a 900 m elevation walk from the car-park.

[ryantmalone]

I had a pretty quick intro to bushwalking, one of my first walks was in the high country in Victoria.

There's a photo out there somewhere of me being bottle fed on the side of Mt Loch, up at some 1800 meters or so, but my parents were braver than most bringing their newborn into some of the harshest country that the state has to offer.

Its all about preparation. Making sure your kids are warm, fed, and in as safe hands as possible.

I'd definitely recommend some of the lower sections of Freycinet, around Cradle Mountain (Scott Kilvert loop perhaps?), maybe even a walk into Pelion Hut?

As for the Walls Of Jerusalem, why not? Personally, I find the walk in to be one of the more newbie friendly walks in the state. Like everything, be weather concious, and prepare!!

[tibboh]

Beautiful alpine lakes only a short walk on duckboards from Hartz Mtn car park.

[Graham51]

One of my favourites with the kids was Shadow Lake. Lovely campsites with options for a middle day like climbing Little Hugel or Rufus. We took our kids when our daughter was 7, son no. 1 was 4 and son no.2 was due in 6 months.

[Onestepmore]

Take lots of yummy food - good for when the batteries run down.
They perk up like little Energizer bunnies when you feed them something!

[taswegian]

Lee's paddocks. Can wander about and go as far as the little legs are comfortable with.
Blue Peaks, Lake Mackenzie area or Lake Nameless but latter can be a bit tough if wet.
Took our 5 yo twins to Blue Peaks.
Walls of Jerusalem 6-7 yo could handle that okay. As said weather needs watching.

Last edited by taswegian on Tue 29 Jan, 2013 8:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Binder]

Just did the Newdegate Pass via K Col circuit at Mt Field with my six and eight year old. Huge effort for little legs. Secret seems to be in variety along the way. That circuit has huts (very exciting), tarns, big cliffs, duckboards, mud and plenty of rock scrambling to keep them interested.
Most interesting thing was the reaction of people along the way who seemed totally deflated that they were struggling to do a walk that a 6 year old skipped around, or suprise that someone would take two litte kids into the 'big bad wilderness'.

Cheers

[tibboh]

Hats off for taking youngsters on such an adventure and educating the public that the beautiful tas alpine wild can be for kids also (with responsible supervision). This is the best way to develop an appreciation of the bush for future generations from a young age. I have vague memories of similar walks with my dad when I was a similar age to your kids and now 40 years later there is nowhere in the world I would rather be than on top of a mountain looking into a stiff breeze at some beautiful Tassie vista.
Well done.

[blackbutt]

One of my favourites with the kids was Shadow Lake. Lovely campsites with options for a middle day like climbing Little Hugel or Rufus. We took our kids when our daughter was 7, son no. 1 was 4 and son no.2 was due in 6 months.

+1 for shadow lake then rufus or little hugel.

This was my 7 year old daughters first overnighter too. And her 6th Abel. (10 now). And she IS counting.

[John_Fox]

We (first overnight walk for 14yo and 12yo daughters) went up the Jackson's Creek Track to Lake Myrtle last weekend, and had two gorgeous nights camped all on our lonesome by the shore.
The middle day we went over to Meston, and I'm kicking myself for not climbing Rogoona (but that's another story).
The 12yo had a struggle with the uphill, but even so, it only took us 3:20 up, and 2:00 back, and it was worthwhile for the feeling of being miles from anywhere in a great campsite, while still being a short manageable walk,
Going up over Lake Bill would work as well.

[wayno]

+1 mt rufus. just watch the weather,, last mile is totally exposed above the treeline
had a pretty cold day with gale force winds up there the other day. primo 360 view of the area.. see forever over the mountains..
you can still get great views close to the treeline..

[north-north-west]

+1 mt rufus. just watch the weather,, last mile is totally exposed above the treeline
had a pretty cold day with gale force winds up there the other day.

You mean it does that even when I'm not there?

[wayno]

apparently. i'll try and get the video on youtube at some stage.... pretty calm lower down, poked my head above the trees and it was all on, was a mission trying to keep the camera still at the top...
i was thinking what a stupid sized cairn at the top until i found out how much it sheltered the wind during lunch....

[north-north-west]

Something like this, eh?

[wayno]

ah minus the white stuff....

[north-north-west]

No, it ALWAYS snows when I visit the Southern Reserve.

[wayno]

um I think i missed that by um,,, a day or two?

[wayno]

video on mt rufus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLw4r-d ... e=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NWsVxKU ... e=youtu.be

Last edited by wayno on Wed 13 Feb, 2013 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[whynotwalk]

video on mt rufus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLw4r-d ... e=youtu.be

Funny ... I've got the same sound track to most of my mountain videos too

[wayno]

and that was after i'd put the sound setting to reduce excess noise..... always deceptive when the sun was out, it was a cold day up top...