Commercial Operator advice needed

[mdc]

would like to do a 2-5 day walk in tas feb or march. can anyone suggest a commercial operator who does this sort of thing?

[dee_legg]

Bay of Fires Walk, Maria Island Walk, Tarkine Trails and Tas Expeditions all offer guided walks under 5 days in various parts of the state offering varying levels of luxury.

[Michael_Kingston]

Hi MDC - Dee has given you the names of a number of operators. There is also peregrine adventures and cradlehuts (if you are interested in the Overland Track, although this is 6 days). I can't personally recommend any operator as I have never used them, but they have all been going strong for quite a while.

As she says, a lot comes down to what level of luxury you want. For example, if you walked the Overland Track with Cradle Huts or did Bay of Fires you would only carry clothing, personal items, sleeping bag and lunch for each day. You would also be sleeping in luxury huts (Overland Track) or luxury tents and lodge (Bay of Fires). If you went with Tas Expeditions you would have to carry more gear as you are camping.

Personally, if you have never walked here before I would either go with the Overland Track (even though this is 6 days) or Wallls of Jerusalem (you finish in Hobart on the morning of day 6 so it is really only five days). Both give you a chance to see Tasmania's world heritage area and the stunning mountain scenery we are known for. The Wallls of Jerusalem is also great as you will set up a base camp and then do some day trips. The scenery in the Walls is truly magnificent. If you search the Gallery area on this site you will see some photos.

[tomberli]

For example, if you walked the Overland Track with Cradle Huts or did Bay of Fires you would only carry clothing, personal items, sleeping bag and lunch for each day. You would also be sleeping in luxury huts (Overland Track) or luxury tents and lodge (Bay of Fires). If you went with Tas Expeditions you would have to carry more gear as you are camping.

Sorry, have to correct you there. With CradleHuts, Bay of Fires, or Maria Island you don't even carry a sleeping bag. All you carry is your lunch, a sleeping bag LINER, a pillow case and your clothing (incl. gore-tex provided by the company). So depends entirely on what you want in terms of scenery. If you're new to Tassie, Overland definitely is a brilliant place to start. There and the Walls would be the best places if you're after mountains. If you want more beaches, go Bay of Fires or Maria Island. Maria is a stunning little place and has an amazing amount of variety packed onto a little island - and if you're at all interested in the History, it is the place to go as it has everything from Aboriginal artefact, the connection to the early french, dutch and English explorers and of course on of the best preserved penal stations in the country.

I currently work for both CradleHuts and Maria Island and have in the past also worked for Tasmanian Expeditions and Bay of Fires - so send me a PM if you want some more detailed insights.
The booking numbers in the entire tourism industry are down a fair bit compared to previous years due to the financial crisis - so shouldn't have much trouble booking even short term.

[Michael_Kingston]

Even more luxurious than I thought - not even having to carry a sleeping bag.

[tomberli]

...and you get wine, good wine - with all of them

[Michael_Kingston]

True .. but at a price that could buy me a new pack ,new boots, new tent and probably a new stove No lifetstyles of the rich and famous for me unfortunately.

[tomberli]

While that is true, you would be surprised to hear that by far not all the people choosing that way of bushwalking are particularly wealthy. Some of them in fact have saved up over long periods of time because they have dreamt for years to walk the Overland track and that way is simply the only way possible for them to do it because they don't have the skills / experience / gear or fitness to head out on their own. And another group of people we often get is the ones that have done a lot of bushwalking in the past and their bodies have paid the according tolls - so going guided means they can still enjoy the wilderness.

Anyway, without getting into much of a debate. Yes it is expensive, but I also believe that it is actually quite good value, considering everything that is included.

[corvus]

would like to do a 2-5 day walk in tas feb or march. can anyone suggest a commercial operator who does this sort of thing?

mdc,
This company owned and operated by a very experienced Guide would be worth checking out and he supports this Forum by advertising on it.


http://wildernessexpeditions.net.au/cgi ... wildexpS+1
corvus

[dee_legg]

I knew i'd forgotten one, thanks Corvus.

And I agree Tomberli... I work for Bay of Fires at the moment and while it's definitely not budget, I agree that it does represent good value. Some could easily spend $500 a day on accomodation, food, tours in normal holiday circumstances where on a walking holiday you get to see some beautiful stuff too!! and drink lots of nice wine. But whatever, it's definitely suited to a particular market.

[tomberli]

I knew i'd forgotten one, thanks Corvus.

Not just one, we also didn't mention Tarkine Trails, a small-ish company based in the North west, specialising on tours through the Tarkine. They also offer a range of treks trough Cradle, the Walls and similar though.

[flatfoot]

I think one advantage of going with a commercial tour is that it may enable you to focus more on the scenery. You would also hope that the guide imparts a good deal of interesting tidbits about the local fauna and wildlife.

[tomberli]

You would also hope that the guide imparts a good deal of interesting tidbits about the local fauna and wildlife.

Well, thats our job - so you definitely can expect to get some interp along the way on all sorts of issues - and usually also some good local knowledge on nice sidetrips / lunchspots / photospots etc.

[tomberli]

Not just one, we also didn't mention Tarkine Trails

Ah, sorry you did already mention it - ah well at least their name is now mentioned and linked three times here - will boost the google profile a bit

[jcr_au]

" you would be surprised to hear that by far not all the people choosing that way of bushwalking are particularly wealthy. Some of them in fact have saved up over long periods of time because they have dreamt for years to walk the Overland track and that way is simply the only way possible for them to do it because they don't have the skills / experience / gear or fitness to head out on their own. And another group of people we often get is the ones that have done a lot of bushwalking in the past and their bodies have paid the according tolls - so going guided means they can still enjoy the wilderness."


Whilst I haven't done the fully supported style of walk in Oz, we have in NZ. We're getting older and my wife can't carry more than a light day pack so if we are to do an overnight walk I have to carry the lot, which, if its to include 2 sleeping bags, food, tent, etc; I can't comfortably do, so if we are going to walk together it either has to be this style or inn-to-inn walks.

We can't afford to do it often, so we are more likely to do day walks or I walk on my own, but when we can do it, it's sure nice to have the option

john r

[Taurë-rana]

I did a guided walk in Kakadu because I'm not familiar with the area, or the specific requirements of walking in that climate. It certainly wasn't flash and we carried our own stuff but we had a guide and he did the cooking! What more does one need, really? His knowledge of the local fauna, flora and Aboriginal art as well as his general outlook on life made the trip a pleasure. It was expensive though and the cost puts me off going again any time soon, but I would do it that way again in that area.
I find it tempting to do the OT like that too - it's not going to be the wilderness experience I like anyway with so many people on it, so why not take a different tack and do it in luxury? I might also then have the energy to bounce up all the mountains after not carrying a heavy pack between stops.
Whether I could bring myself to do it though...

[under10kg]

Whilst I haven't done the fully supported style of walk in Oz, we have in NZ. We're getting older and my wife can't carry more than a light day pack so if we are to do an overnight walk I have to carry the lot, which, if its to include 2 sleeping bags, food, tent, etc; I can't comfortably do, so if we are going to walk together it either has to be this style or inn-to-inn walks.

You might like to check out the light gear availabe now that would allow you to carry 2 bags, tent etc at a very low weight.

[jcr_au]

You might like to check out the light gear available now that would allow you to carry 2 bags, tent etc at a very low weight.

Your probably right, but my 2 man tent is a MSR zoid 2 which comes in at 2kg, sleeping mats are some of the original uninsulated new style air mats at about 600g each, etc, etc; its just that 2 of all those things plus 2x food etc; becomes less than comfortable.

I carried 30kg (including 10 litres of water) on the wilderness coast a couple of years ago when i chose to go via the coast - around the bluff near red river and wasn't sure I'd find water in the drought. Actually it wasn't all that uncomfortable, but I'm getting older and it is more pleasant if I don't have too.

Of course if I didn't have too work 60 hr weeks to pay for the supported walks I might get enough exercise to loose 20kg off the tummy.

john r