Three Capes Walk Proposal

[headwerkn]

I wonder if New Pelion Hut and its 60 person capacity was built with similar intentions? Or just because the area needed that kind of capacity (not been there myself, but I understand it is a major "junction" for OLT side trips and other tracks.

Perhaps then there is worth in building such large huts in some areas to divert large group traffic away from other tracks less able to handle them. I don't know.. my idea of hiking currently involves walking in a straight line between lakes on alpine marsh. Sharing a hut with 50-odd people sounds downright horrible! I'd rather camp in my backyard....

I suppose the only issue is that such remote huts cost a small fortune to build and thus some sort of fee system would be unavoidable - which is always going to annoy people and be controversial/political. Ironic that the biggest danger to bushwalking as a pastime is its own popularity. I can't stand exclusionary mindsets, but I can see how in some cases it is the only way to keep simple, free access to certain places.

Nuts - bringing free or nominal (ie. cheap) fees and bookings for Dec-Jan on WOJ, Frenchmans etc. may well be a wise move for Parks to consider then. I think $5 or $10 max per walker to keep numbers under control during the peak season, convince those who can to go earlier or later in the season and provide a little extra funding for track maintenance isn't unreasonable. Especially if it avoids a bunch of other tracks ending up like the OLT.

[Overlandman]

Update from ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-16/f ... ection=tas


Federal funding for Three Capes Walk not quite on track

Tasmania's Government is still hoping to attract federal funding for Australia's biggest nature tourism project.

The Three Capes Walk in the state's south-east plans to link Capes Raoul, Pillar and Hauy by 65 kilometres of boardwalks and track.

Tasmania has committed $4 million towards the project.

The Tasmanian Parks Minister, Matthew Groom, will not say how much federal funding is needed to complete it.

"I'm not going to put a figure on it because it is important that we work closely through the budget requirements in relation to the project itself," he said.

"But we have put $4 million on the table that the previous Labor government wasn't able to secure and we are absolutely committed to make sure this project is delivered in full."

Matthew Groom today inspected a hut prototype which will be airlifted into place later this month.

Mr Groom has inspected a prototype of a hut which will be airlifted onto the Cape Pillar section of the track later this month.

The company building the hut says it had to use timber from Victoria to deliver the project on time.

The construction company's Matty Gee says local timber could be used in the future.

"The timber materials we've got had already been processed, kiln-dried and prepared and they meet the requirements of the specification," he said.

"With more time, it would be our focus to try to find a local source."

[Overlandman]

From the Mercury
Has a photo of the Prototype as well


http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 6920236355

A prototype has been unveiled for the huts that will shelter walkers on the Tasman Peninsula’s Three Capes Track.

The prefabricated hut has been designed by Hobart architects JAWS and built by Electrona construction company Island Workshop.

Made from timber, iron and cement sheet, the hut is designed to be sympathetic to the natural environment while being able to withstand the harsh elements that batter the south-east Tasmanian coastline.

In the next few weeks the completed hut will be pulled apart and flat-packed, before being transported to the Tasman Peninsula and delivered to the track by helicopter.

The hut will be reassembled at Lunchtime Creek at Cape Pillar — one of the most exposed sections of the track — to see how it stands up to the elements.

Up to 14 huts of differing sizes will be needed for the track, with a tender for the construction to be released later this year.

Visiting Island Workshop this morning, Environment Minister Matthew Groom said the State Government was committed to the Three Capes Track despite a question mark over how much money would be needed to finish it.

The Liberals have committed an extra $4 million to the project, which was originally costed at $32 million but had blown out by several million dollars.

[RichB]

And I wonder what the "FEE" will be for tax paying Tasmanians..

[corvus]

Hut looks good however I also wonder how much it will cost me to do the walk
corvus

[Strider]

Lunchtime Creek isn't exposed. At all. If they want to see how it stands up to the elements they should put it at Perdition Ponds for a week or two!

[Lizzy]

And I wonder what the "FEE" will be for tax paying Tasmanians..

Seriously if they add facilities like huts then I think it is fair that EVERYONE has to pay a fee. Just because you pay Tassie taxes doesn't mean you should be excluded. I notice that they are looking at federal government funding too- doesn't mean I should get to stay in huts for free either. Nor should it. There is always the option to walk elsewhere- you Tasmanians are spoilt for choices. If a walk like this injects tourist $$$$ you should be happy to pay- be grateful for the extra tourism & jobs it may create and get over "I'm a Tasmanian & therefore I shouldn't have to pay"

[geoskid]

And I wonder what the "FEE" will be for tax paying Tasmanians..

Seriously if they add facilities like huts then I think it is fair that EVERYONE has to pay a fee. Just because you pay Tassie taxes doesn't mean you should be excluded. I notice that they are looking at federal government funding too- doesn't mean I should get to stay in huts for free either. Nor should it. There is always the option to walk elsewhere- you Tasmanians are spoilt for choices. If a walk like this injects tourist $$$$ you should be happy to pay- be grateful for the extra tourism & jobs it may create and get over "I'm a Tasmanian & therefore I shouldn't have to pay"

+1
Tent platforms would be nice (not necessarily for free though).

[frenchy_84]

And I wonder what the "FEE" will be for tax paying Tasmanians..

The same as tax paying Victorians, South Australians etc.

Well said Lizzy

[stepbystep]

And I wonder what the "FEE" will be for tax paying Tasmanians..

Seriously if they add facilities like huts then I think it is fair that EVERYONE has to pay a fee. Just because you pay Tassie taxes doesn't mean you should be excluded. I notice that they are looking at federal government funding too- doesn't mean I should get to stay in huts for free either. Nor should it. There is always the option to walk elsewhere- you Tasmanians are spoilt for choices. If a walk like this injects tourist $$$$ you should be happy to pay- be grateful for the extra tourism & jobs it may create and get over "I'm a Tasmanian & therefore I shouldn't have to pay"

+1
Tent platforms would be nice (not necessarily for free though).

Spot on Lizzy. Last time I looked into it. It was dollar for dollar fed/state money. Not that that should matter. It'll be a boon for the Tasman Peninsular as this is a 4 season walk.

However playing devils advocate. I'd like to see a 'fee free week' or passes given out so that disadvantaged Tassie youth could do this and the OLT, rangers as guides/mentors the whole bit...but that's another issue.

Geo, I'm pretty sure tent camping will still be allowed in the TNP, just no facilities...

[Strider]

I think it was stated pretty early in the piece that tent camping would no longer be allowed and the Three Capes would be an entirely hut based walk. This may have changed, however...

[north-north-west]

14 huts? It's not that long a walk for goodness sake!

[Lizzy]

Spot on Lizzy. Last time I looked into it. It was dollar for dollar fed/state money. Not that that should matter. It'll be a boon for the Tasman Peninsular as this is a 4 season walk.

However playing devils advocate. I'd like to see a 'fee free week' or passes given out so that disadvantaged Tassie youth could do this and the OLT, rangers as guides/mentors the whole bit...but that's another issue.

Geo, I'm pretty sure tent camping will still be allowed in the TNP, just no facilities...[/quote]

I'd be all for that SBS- no problems at all giving away some free spots to disadvantaged kids- great idea!! (Sorry stuffed your quote up SBS)

[RichB]

Actually all national parks or any wild areas should be FREE for all TAX PAYING Australians..Im sick to death of fees for this fees for that..As if we are not
milked enough already by this greedy, corrupt Govt...The more we comply the more they milk us dry..Has anyone noticed ??

[stepbystep]

Lotsa things to get riled up over Rich. This is small fry.

[icefest]

Actually all national parks or any wild areas should be FREE for all TAX PAYING Australians..Im sick to death of fees for this fees for that..As if we are not
milked enough already by this greedy, corrupt Govt...The more we comply the more they milk us dry..Has anyone noticed ??

I agree, but then I also think that current taxes should be doubled with an extra tax bracket. a la Piketty.

[kanangra]

I fully agree, 14 huts are they kidding?

K.

[whynotwalk]

I wouldn't get too excited about "14 huts". The plan isn't to dot the whole track with huts. As I understand it each overnight site will have a warden/staff hut separate from the walkers' hut (a la New Zealand and some of our Overland Track sites.) And some sites may separate the cooking/communal area from the sleeping area. With 4 or 5 overnight sites it doesn't take long to reach 14.

cheers

Peter

[Overlandman]

In today's newspapers

https://www.tenders.tas.gov.au/OpenForBids/Details/3514

Three Capes Track - Development and Operation of a Commercial Boat-Based Experience

This is a unique opportunity for an innovative tourism operator to develop and operate a high quality commercial boat-based experience that will provide transport for walkers and their gear undertaking the Three Capes Track within the Tasman National Park.

The operation of the boat-based experience will need to provide transport for walkers from the jetty at Port Arthur Historic Site to Denmans Cove at the beginning of the Three Capes Track. When the Cape Raoul section of the track becomes operational, the boat-based experience will need to extend to transport walkers from Safety Cove to Denmans Cove.

The four day/three night walk will showcase the outstanding natural features of the Tasman National Park and offer a superior standard of accommodation. It will be an achievable walking experience with a wider market appeal than Tasmania's other iconic bushwalks.

[north-north-west]

"...boat based experience..."
If ever there was a justification for using the term 'wankers' on this forum, it would be to describe the people who came up with that little doozy of a term.

[bumpingbill]

All I can think of is Lonely Island's "I'm on a boat" sketch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaSdC0QOUM&feature=kp

[geoskid]

In today's newspapers

https://www.tenders.tas.gov.au/OpenForBids/Details/3514

Three Capes Track - Development and Operation of a Commercial Boat-Based Experience

This is a unique opportunity for an innovative tourism operator to develop and operate a high quality commercial boat-based experience that will provide transport for walkers and their gear undertaking the Three Capes Track within the Tasman National Park.

The operation of the boat-based experience will need to provide transport for walkers from the jetty at Port Arthur Historic Site to Denmans Cove at the beginning of the Three Capes Track. When the Cape Raoul section of the track becomes operational, the boat-based experience will need to extend to transport walkers from Safety Cove to Denmans Cove.

The four day/three night walk will showcase the outstanding natural features of the Tasman National Park and offer a superior standard of accommodation. It will be an achievable walking experience with a wider market appeal than Tasmania's other iconic bushwalks.

I hope Rob Pennicott puts something together for this - I reckon he'd make it special.

[headwerkn]

"...boat based experience..."
If ever there was a justification for using the term 'wankers' on this forum, it would be to describe the people who came up with that little doozy of a term.

Now now.... lots of fun to be had on boats, even if it is simply being a taxi to get to somewhere great to walk. We use our boat(s) to access Maria for walking all the time.

While the hut-based Cape Pillar/Three Capes walk isn't something I'd be interested in personally, I have done a fair bit of boating around that area (incl. one with Senor Pennicott) and I don't doubt most if not all visitors would find a quick blast out the heads and around Tasman Island quite a thrilling experience. Alas, it appears they simply want the operator(s) to run taxi services across the bay.

I hope Rob Pennicott puts something together for this - I reckon he'd make it special.

I'm sure he's all over it Which is to say the gubber'mint probably drafted up these ideas with him in mind. Or at his insistence...

Several years ago I went on an Adventure Bay - Dunalley (return) trip with Robbie, organised for some boat club (something to do with my ex's family). We were actually supposed to go up the east side of the Tasman Peninsula but the weather was blowing in hard easterly, so we had a quick spin around Tasman Island (before continuing via Storm Bay) which was just amazing... last time I was there was back in 1996 when a mate and I walked Cape Pillar (and nearly got blown out to NZ... which is where my dad's camp kettle invariably ended up after it broke off my pack).

It'd be well worth taking an extra hour to see the place....

Cheers, Ben.

[north-north-west]

I recently had a look at the Arthurs/Pillar/Fortescue/Hauy section of this thing and can't help having some reservations about it.

It will attract a lot of wannabes - people for whom the South Coast Track is too hard but who fancy themselves because they've done the Bay of Fires. It's going to be a good track, quite well routed, reasonably weatherproof - most of the more exposed sections have been re-routed to where it's more sheltered - and the current harder (steeper/rougher) bits bypassed. It's not built quite to the standard of the Wineglass Lookout track, but it's certainly a big step up from the usual Tassie walking track. And there's a lot of heavy duty duckboarding in there.
Reservations? First, you can't build a track without damaging the bush. A track of this standard means a lot of damage during the construction phase. Upgrading the existing track minimises this, but there are significant sections which are an entirely new line. It's not just the track line, there are the chopper drop zones, the worker & equipment staging posts, dunnies, blah blah blah. Then we have the huts. Fourteen, plus dunnies and tanks.
Second, how much access will independent, tent-based walkers have? The tentsites on Tornado Ridge are still there and have even been expanded and tidied up somewhat, but the new route will bypass the sites on Hurricane Heath and the access to them is already badly overgrown. The Wughalee Falls camp also looks like it will be bypassed. The old Fortescue summit camp doesn't even exist any more, ditto the clifftop sites south of the Hauy junction. With open access there will be some nice one or two day loops available (especially if the old tracks are kept), but will we have that access?
Third, while a well built track it is not going to be as maintenance-free as much of the publicity suggests, and maintenance will not be easy or cheap. There are already a couple of bits of the Hauy track that need work - loose rock and eroded gravel. A fire south of Fortescue/Arthurs could destroy kilometres of duckboarding.

Still undecided. I like the concept, I like much of what they're doing with the route, but I deplore the impact it might have. And just how economically successful will it be?

[Overlandman]

From ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-09/t ... ee/6009514

The Three Capes Track in south-east Tasmania has been praised by one of the world's biggest travel guide publishers, despite the walkway being incomplete.

The Tasmanian Government is still trying to secure funds to finish the tourist drawcard, which has been given a rave review by Lonely Planet.

Chris Zeiher from Lonely Planet said, even unfinished, the Three Capes Track was one of the world's hottest new experiences.

Giving access to some of the most dramatic coastal cliffs in all of Australia in a slightly more comfortable way for people to access was a really important thing to get out to the travel community,
Chris Zeiher from Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet praised the bushwalk, which goes along the Tasman Peninsula taking in Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar and Cape Huay, even though stage two is still under construction.

Work on stage three was yet to begin.

State Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the second stage would open in November, but federal funding for the final stage was still being chased.

"The three stages of this track are very important and we're working cooperatively with our federal colleagues to ensure that we can bring the whole project to a successful completion," he said.

But the Treasurer would not shed any light on when work on the third stage could begin.

"Let's not get in front of ourselves, stage two, the work is just beginning," he said.

"Planning for stage three is underway at the moment and in regards to the state contribution, that's in our forward estimates and we're working cooperatively with the Federal Government to ensure that we can bring the project to a successful close when stage three is ready."

The State Government committed $4 million to the final stage, but it was unclear exactly how much federal money would be needed.
Local tourism operators urged the Tasmanian Government to keep the pressure on.

Gary Hooper from the Port Arthur and Tasman Tourism Association said the track was planned in three stages for a reason.

"The marketing research that [Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service] have done in regards to the track indicates that users would be looking for a longer experience than stage one and two can deliver," he said.

But tourists were already showing an interest.

Some accommodation providers on the Tasman Peninsula said they had started to see a spike in bookings for November.

Mr Zeiher said that could signal an intent for tourists to make a number of visits to the track.

"Potentially people are just going to get a taste of the track for that three- or four-day journey and maybe really hankering for the next piece," he said.

"I don't think it will cause any detraction from people wanting to do the first two stages if the third isn't actually open."

About 10,000 people are expected to walk the track each year after it is completed.

[Tassie tyger]

I'm happy for them to bring tourism to the area it's almost the only thing after food exports that is keeping tassie alive. But I do remember that there was a consulting phase and I think there were still meant to allow free access for walking clubs. Seeing that the original track was cut by walking clubs I hope this remains true. I love tenting while hiking. Never been a hut nut, not even on OLT. As long as I can pop up a tent I will be happy. Just don't charge me the full fee for something I'm not going to use.

[Nuts]

Good point tyger.
The quaff about access would be more believable if not for the inconvenient mention of restricting access via fees.
Plenty of other alternatives minus 1 2 3?

If not just to control numbers, if to increase revenue from parks, if we can rely on parks as a finance manager... then doh!
Why give away these leasehold and concessional Cherries???

[corvus]

I believe Cradle Huts have been granted the lease on this Track does that mean the Huts will be private and expensive??

[stepbystep]

I checked out the trial hut they have built a cpl weeks ago. Very flash. There will be private and public huts i believe.

[Nuts]

Their huts will indeed be private and expensive Corv. As opposed to another level of Public (and expensive).