Bushwalk Australia

Hello everyone

My partner and I have long been keen to do some walking in SW Tasmania and have finally set aside some time for this in late November (9 full days plus part days either side flying in/out – we’re from Vic).
Our draw to the region largely stems from what we’ve heard about 'flagship' routes like the South Coast Track and Western Arthurs - though I recently got a chance to look through John Chapman’s book and see that there are many others.
My somewhat selfish concern is that the SCT and Arthurs are more popular than I’d previously appreciated (where our walking is largely motivated by a desire for solitude / isolation – not sure that we’d ever consider walking the OLT in season for example). So I was wondering if anyone familiar with the region could give an indication of relative numbers walking the SCT vs WA at that time of year? Having asked that, I also get the impression it’s not so simple because of factors like the number and size of campsites (i.e. fewer/smaller in the Arthurs, from what I have read?).
Finally – I'd also be receptive to suggestions to do other walks in this area instead. In particular, I was looking at a Southern Ranges / half-SCT circuit, but don’t think we’d have enough time.

Many thanks
Julian

I'd think November would be quite quiet in comparison to Dec/Jan/Feb for both your mentioned walks. I once did the WA's in early Jan and hardly saw another soul. On another Feb trip, still we spent many nights alone. You can get lucky, and most people walk in the same direction on the WA's so you can push a head a day, or lull behind I guess if you end up in the company of a bigger group. Mt Anne Circuit is another suggestion (3 - 4 days) - Southern Ranges you won't likely see many others at that time of year. Possibilities are endless really - time & comfort/experience are your only limiting factors. Good luck

I agree with weetbix456 - most people are there Dec to March. Parks reckons about 1500 per year (across all months) do the walk.

From memory, many of the campsites are quite large, so there's always a place to hide if you need. Or you could just push on to another campsite.

Really, it's just luck of the draw. If you're flying in, you'll get an idea of how many people will be around because they'll probably be on the plane with you! (Though some might walk in from Scott's Peak, or be walking the other way, or have come in via another route).

You could do the South West Cape circuit (very basic map here http://anpsa.org.au/APOL23/cape-ran.gif), which will be far less frequented and much more isolated.

It loops out to SW, heads north and finally loops back to Melaleuca where you fly out again. http://mickbeckers.com/hiking/trip-repo ... -cape-tas/

A nice walk, I've heard.

Thanks very much weetbix and bumpingbill for your advice.
Still not sure which walk we'll attempt - may come back with more specific questions once we're closer to a decision (though have already learnt from elsewhere on this site that a route up New River to Federation Peak is probably out of the question for our first foray into the SW! )

SCT 'flagship' route... lol

Probably going to be fairly quiet.
The weather usually hasn't sorted itself out quite yet from the windy spring season. Although late Nov - probably okay.
But you could get anything, so from that point of view I tend to shy away from planning long trips around that time.

The Southern Ranges is probably a good option can be done in 6-8 days.

What may influence numbers is the weather at the time and/or day of the week.. Good weather coinciding with a weekend might see a few people popping into the Arthurs for a long weekend trip etc. Likewise Southern Ranges.
I would say out of the options Mt Anne Circuit would tend to be the busiest.

November will be quiet in the Arthurs, as mentioned above, it doesn't really start to ramp up until late December. Most parties do the 'A' to 'K' circuit anti clockwise, so people often do the circuit seeing only one or two people at that time of year.

Cheers