4 budget days close to Launceston

[camillio]

Dear all,

I have 4 days to spend budget hiking close to Launceston. Originally I intended to go to WoJ, but once I learned that this is impossible unless I rent a car or pay a coach, I have to re-plan . I found several possibilities:
* Take bus to Deloraine (it will be on Sunday) and go to Central Plateau (is it possible reach Mole Creek in 4 days?);
* Take bus to Deloraine and go to Alum Cliffs - Gog Range - Mt. Roland - Mole Cr. (incl. caves)
* Explore Briggs Regional Reserve north of Launceston
* Explore something other...

Any advice is very welcome.

[Strider]

Ben Lomond Plateau?

[Chris]

Just saw your second post on same topic which answers the question I was going to ask - how do you plan to get about other than the bus to Deloraine?

Unfortunately hitching will not necessarily get you close to the start of most of the walks you mention.

It would help if you told us something about yourself. What hiking experience do you have? Are you equipped to camp out?

In Launceston there's Cataract Gorge. No transport needed for that. Also a few other day walks near Launceston but we can be more helpful with details if you tell us a bit more.

[johnrs]

Cammillo
Try Wayne at Total Car Rentals
http://atotalcarrentals.vpweb.com.au/
$40 a day with airport pickup for high kilometre vehicles.
Good guy Good service.
Then drive to Walls and walk.
May have lower full cost than alternative options.
John

[corvus]

Cammillo
Try Wayne at Total Car Rentals
http://atotalcarrentals.vpweb.com.au/
$40 a day with airport pickup for high kilometre vehicles.
Good guy Good service.
Then drive to Walls and walk.
May have lower full cost than alternative options.
John

Don't know the Company but that reads like a really good deal

[camillio]

Thanks guys, I finally decided for the following:
* Mole Cr. via Deloraine and visit the Trowunna Park, Alum Cliffs and King Solomon's Cave.
* Move to Round Mountains View and via Mt. Claude to Gowries camping + Mt. Roland next day
* the rest of days either Low Head or Gr. Lake... It's no parks, however, but I think it's a reasonable plan, anyway.

[Hiking Noob]

I would still check out Cataract Gorge, I wasn't expecting anything like it so close to the town centre.

[Chris]

* Mole Cr. via Deloraine and visit the Trowunna Park, Alum Cliffs and King Solomon's Cave.

If you have spare time that day, Westmoreland Falls would be worth including. That and Alum Cliffs make a varied half day.

[johnw]

Thanks guys, I finally decided for the following:
* Mole Cr. via Deloraine and visit the Trowunna Park, Alum Cliffs and King Solomon's Cave.
* Move to Round Mountains View and via Mt. Claude to Gowries camping + Mt. Roland next day
* the rest of days either Low Head or Gr. Lake... It's no parks, however, but I think it's a reasonable plan, anyway.

I would still check out Cataract Gorge, I wasn't expecting anything like it so close to the town centre.

* Mole Cr. via Deloraine and visit the Trowunna Park, Alum Cliffs and King Solomon's Cave.

If you have spare time that day, Westmoreland Falls would be worth including. That and Alum Cliffs make a varied half day.

I agree with Chris, finally got around to visiting Westmoreland Falls myself in December and it's a brilliant short walk. Still not clear on what you are doing for transport but some of those locations around Mole Creek are not that close to town if on foot. It's a nice spot but is a small village with limited facilities - ideally need a car. Trowunna was very good last time I visited, some years ago.

If you are at Low Head and have transport, Narawntapu NP would be doable as a day trip and well worth visiting - pleasant coastal walking and wildlife. Bakers Beach entry is probably best. Badger Head would be closer but I haven't gone that way.

If you are on the western side of Great Lake - Liffey Falls, Projection Bluff, and Pine Lake are close by car. All three could be done in a half day or so assuming you don't bother with the true summit of Projection Bluff. Most recently (with a hire car) I did both the Projection Bluff and Westmoreland Falls walks in a day driving from Launceston, including an hour or so in Deloraine for some shopping.

Cataract Gorge in Launceston is an easy walk from the inner city area. It's far removed from pristine wilderness but that doesn't really take too much away from it. If you do go there I recommend at least Kings Bridge > Zig Zag track > First Basin > Duck Reach > Return > Cataract track > Start.