Day hikes from Hobart and Launceston

[tonys85]

hey guys!

My girlfriend and I will be spending the weekend in good old Tassie and really keen to do some bushwalking both days. Not overnight though as we will be staying at a backpackers.

First full day will be in Hobart and was thinking to check out mt field nat park. We are both quite fit and would love to have river crossings, waterfalls, bridges, jumping over rocks, no concreted paths i want to get dirty haha. If Mt Field is a good idea can you suggest the best route?

We then driving to Launceston early morning and was hoping to do another day hike from town. same sort of stuff if possible. we will have a hire car so can be far away if need be.

Appreciate your help!!

[north-north-west]

If you have the time at Mt Field, try the Rodway route to Field West. It's a longish day for a return trip but a really wonderful place. If that's too far do the shorter loop along Tarn Shelf, up Newdegate Pass, around via the Watcher to K Col and back through the Lions Den. You can add a short off-track section along the Mawson ridge to/from the Belcher track if the weather's OK. Actually, even in a bit of mist navigation along the Mawson ridge is fairly easy if you know what you're doing, but you do need to pay attention.

From Launnie, there are a lot of tracks that aren't too far out, including much of the Western Tiers, Ben Lomond, Victoria & Albert, and a whole host of other Abels (Quamby, Roland, Arthur, Barrow). It's even close enough to Cradle for you to nip in there for a while. But to minimise driving, Ben Lomond might be best, or Lake MacKenzie (beware of fire damage), or down the Mersey Forest Rd and into the Walls.

Just note that for the most part, while road distances in Tassie are relatively short, travel times are longer than you might expect due to the twists and turns and ups and downs.