Walk suggestions for a Poland visitor who likes NZ

[tasadam]

Hi all.

I received an email from someone requesting some information.

The request goes -

Hello,
I`m living in Poland, just found your posts on bushwalk.com and your web page. I`m considering 3 weeks trip o Tasmania. I have been in New Zealand 1,5 year ago. Since then everything I`m looking looks worse, because I have touched the greatness in NZ. I`m seeking suggestion, is it worthy to travel half of the world to Tasmania ? Is there enough interesting things to explore ? Or better focus on NZ again or Australia`s main land. What do you think ? I love hiking, going through the woods, etc.
I own blog - http://czerwonymszlakiem.blogspot.com/
so you can check my style.
Thanks in advance!

So I responded...

I am on my iphone at the moment.
Tas or NZ depends a lot on what you want to do.
I think if you start a topic on bushwalk.com would give you some honest answers.
I will respond again from a computer as time permits.

I love Tassie but again, depends what you want.

I just got a reply to that -

ok, thanks. Let me know, which tracks in TAS you suggests (mainly daily)

So it seems to me that this person loves New Zealand style, and is wanting to explore Tasmania if it can match the beauty they found over to the east.

I have done no New Zealand walking, so do not know how to compare Tassie with NZ.
Also from the blog it is difficult to know what style of walking this person is suited to.

Does anyone want to have a go at making some suggestions? I shall forward them this link so they can be encouraged further to join and respond.

[Strider]

To be honest, there really is no comparison in terms of natural beauty - NZ wins that one by a long shot.

My advice would be if they are looking for another NZ, Tassie is not the place. However, if they are looking for a different experience, Tassie has a lot to offer.

[frenchy_84]

No doubt NZ has more spectacular mountains, but for a walking trip, Tas has a different type of walking that more appeals to me. NZ has awesome mountains, but from my limited experience, unless your a mountaineer there are not too many sustained ridge top or plateau walks. Its mostly walking in a valley with amazing mountains either side and then the occasional climb to a pass to get across to the next valley. Personally, I don't enjoy extended periods in valleys, and if the OP does like valley walking, then why not skip NZ and head to Nepal which is better still. While in Tas you have (relatively) high altitude plateaus or traverseable ridges that allow days in a row above the surrounding area such as Labyrinth/du cane traverse or the WOJ, WA's.

[forest]

To be honest, there really is no comparison in terms of natural beauty - NZ wins that one by a long shot.

My advice would be if they are looking for another NZ, Tassie is not the place. However, if they are looking for a different experience, Tassie has a lot to offer.

I really enjoyed my Tassie trip's and to be honest have spent more time walking (tramping) in NZ over Tassie.
My vote would still be as a tourist for NZ as they have some amazing tramping tracks and infrastructure.
Just the transfer companies alone make the tramping experience so easy as a tourist. I guess they have the numbers to run the kind of operations they do.
While many places in Tassie (and mainland) offer great walks with easy transfer's to and from the tracks, NZ hands down smashes Australia on this front. It's just so simple getting about if your touring and walking.

[wayno]

as a NZer, I say if he's coming all this way and hasnt been to tas, i suggest he goes to tas at least for a few days. i mean its quite different from nz, and still darned scenic and worth a visit.
it's generally a lot easier to get to the top of a mountain and get an unobstructed view. love the tas skyline with peaks jutting up everywhere, then you've got some great and varied coastline as well. after all its only a 40 minute plan flight from melbourne to get back from tas to melbourne before heading to NZ not that great a diversion when you're coming across the world..
plus nz can't beat aussie wildlife, its great to actually see some wildlife! and something other than tiny birds all the time.
he cant go wrong by going to cradle mountain or the overland track. cataract gorge is a great walk for easy access from launceston. go to the animal park near mole creek to make sure he gets to see the tas wildlife http://www.trowunna.com.au/
and the mole creek caves are easy to get to by car if you're in that area...

[farefam]

I think that both Tassie and NZ have their merits and its worth doing both. The Southern Alps in NZ has spectacular scenery (high waterfalls, mountains, glaciers) but unless you are a mountaineer much of the time you are in the valleys gazing up and around you in wonder rather than on the ridges. Wilkins Valley, Routeburn, Greenstone, Cascade Saddle and Rees-Dart tracks are all wonderful. Tongariro in NZ offers interesting volcanoes (albeit rather barren terrain though and I wouldn't travel all the way across the world just to see Tongariro). I tend to think Tassie generally offers more variety in a walking experience, albeit in a less spectacular but no less satisfying manner. It is also easier to escape the crowds in Tassie. On the other hand access to track starting points in Tassie is woeful compared to NZ unless you have your own car or are prepared to charter transport. After over 20 years of exploration there are still plenty of places in Tassie that await a visit. So I would say to anyone from overseas, make time to visit both places.

[wayno]

generally the further north you go from mt cook in nz the easier it is to get up the top of ridges , but the kepler you are on top of the mountains, pretty high on the routeburn, and there are other ranges around you can get to the top of, just depends on your preference.

[Strider]

I think that both Tassie and NZ have their merits and its worth doing both. The Southern Alps in NZ has spectacular scenery (high waterfalls, mountains, glaciers) but unless you are a mountaineer much of the time you are in the valleys gazing up and around you in wonder rather than on the ridges. Wilkins Valley, Routeburn, Greenstone, Cascade Saddle and Rees-Dart tracks are all wonderful. Tongariro in NZ offers interesting volcanoes (albeit rather barren terrain though and I wouldn't travel all the way across the world just to see Tongariro). I tend to think Tassie generally offers more variety in a walking experience, albeit in a less spectacular but no less satisfying manner. It is also easier to escape the crowds in Tassie. On the other hand access to track starting points in Tassie is woeful compared to NZ unless you have your own car or are prepared to charter transport. After over 20 years of exploration there are still plenty of places in Tassie that await a visit. So I would say to anyone from overseas, make time to visit both places.

Well said