I should clarify a bit... I've been asked to lead a group of school kids from diverse backgrounds on a walk to a 'remote'* 'wilderness'* location, camping in tents, and carrying all their own gear and food. So we need to be away from huts and roads and somewhere where they won't trash the place or cause too much trouble.
We plan to camp for two or three nights, so there needs to be something to do at that location (like one or two short easy day walks) and space for them to run about and play games (without trashing the area).
Yes, I know... I'm probably asking a bit much.
Last year we went to Wineglass Bay, and that worked out well. A few of us had to do a water run a few days before the camp and drop in 55 litres of water (plus the kids had to carry a couple of litres each). I'd like to avoid the need for a water drop and to find somewhere different so that we don't go to the same place every time.
* 'remote' and 'wilderness' are relative terms in this context.
I have updated the criteria in the first post.Tortoise wrote:Does the Lady Lake hut area qualify as 'remote''??
Great location. Right sort of length walk, toilet nearby. But too sensitive for this mob. They need to be able to run around without trashing the wetlands. We will need to be able to pitch about 10 tents, and not have a hut nearby.
north-north-west wrote:Isn't Lake Rodway remote enough? Although until the construction crew finish, it's not going to be very nice there...
Junction Creek, if they don't mind the mud? Twilight Tarn? Wughalee on the Cape Pillar track is 'orrible, but it probably qualifies. The new campsite near Lunchtime (I assume construction is completed there) is maybe just close enough. Take 'em over to Maria and walk 'em into Chinamans?
Is South Cape Bay close enough? It's an easy return daywalk for most of us, so maybe doable for your mob.
Lake Rodway also has a lot going for it. But it would be pushing the distance for some of these kids, and we'd like to not have a hut nearby (well... apart from a toilet).
Junction Creek may be on the limit of the distance some of these kids could walk, but it's an interesting suggestion. I'm not sure it would match all the other criteria, but I've never stopped there - always just walked through - so I can't remember much about it - just mud, tea treas and button grass. I think I vaguely remember there being a toilet sign, but I don't think I actually saw the toilet. I'm guessing it's not an enclosed toilet, which I think we'd need.
We went to Maria Is the year before last and walked to Encampment Cove (I think that's on Chinamans Bay). So good suggestion. But, that was a bit too far - it took ALL DAY to get there (some of these kids can be SLOW!). Other than that it worked out well. But the ferry is too expensive! I don't know if we can afford to go back there.
I've never been on the Sth Coast track. Can you give me some more info on Sth Cape Bay and how it may fit the extended criteria? Although looking at the map, the distance looks about right. PWS says two hours each way (so about 4 hours each way for some of these kids). The driving distance may be a challenge, but we could camp at Cockle Creek before starting. Is there camping (with toilets) at Cockle Creek?
Paul wrote:Maybe Badgers Head to Bakers Beach would suit your requirements - 10Km one way.
We've considered this, if there was a camp site with toilets half way between it would be good. But the camp site at Bakers Beach is pretty much on a road, and too many facilities to be remote (unless there's another one I'm not familiar with?).
CBee wrote:Lake Vera. Nice toilets.
That would be awesome! But there's no way these guys would get that far.
weetbix456 wrote:Tasman Coastal Trail
We have considered this one too. If there was a camp site half way along with a toilet, I reckon this would be good. It would be too far for them to do the whole thing in one day (these kids a SLOOOOW!) and the camp sites are basically next to a road and therefore not remote.
MrWalker wrote:Mt William National park.
Climb Mt William (toilet at car park), then back to the car park and continue along the track to the beach. Or skip the climb if that's too exhausting. The track to the beach is flat and has some nice wildflowers at the right time of year.
Camping is permitted in several places along the beach front, with toilets at most campsites. Walk along the beach if that is not enough.
This one is still on our list of options, but the camp sites are all pretty much on a road. And for walking, they are either too close together in some cases, or too far apart in other cases. For the long distances, there would be places to camp in between, but no toiles.
But we haven't ruled this one out entirely. I'm wondering if I could take shovel and dig a large drop toilet while we are there, and people can place a shovel-full back in after each use. But we'd need a tent around it for privacy issues. And maybe a seat.
Son of a Beach's wife wrote:What about Lake St Clair? Echo Point or Fergies Paddock?
(Yeah, OK so she didn't post that here, but she did say something along those lines to be last night.)
Echo Point probably doesn't have enough area to pitch that many tents, nor enough options to keep them busy for two days in the area with day walks and games.
Fergies Paddock is an interesting idea. It's too close to Cynthia Bay to be truly remote, but it is fairly well removed in that you have to walk and carry all your gear for a ~10-15 min to get there. If we did the little nature trail loop on the way, it would take about an hour, and they would have no idea that they are still so close to the bus.
Then as a day walk we could do Shadow Lake. There is heaps of space for them to run about at the camp site and play games. Hmmm...
Keep the ideas coming!
