Tasmania's top multi-day walks

[Vern]

Hi,

I was wondering what people thought would be the top three multi-day walks in Tassie? When I say multi-day, I mean over 4 nights. My brother and I have a tradition to do a multi-day walk every year and this year we are looking again in Tassie. Last time we did the South Coast Track which was brilliant and we are looking forward to doing another one toward the end of the year!

[Bushy of Hobart]

Of the ones I have done, the best would have to be the Western Arthurs Traverse, the Southern Ranges Circuit & the South Coast Track.

[stu]

This is probably a question of taste, experience, fitness, off track experience etc. etc. among the members of this forum.

For me personally:

1. Western Arthurs - the best walk in Tassie in my mind, hands down; (I haven't done the full Eastern Arthurs (just Federation & Geeves Bluff) but combining the two would obviously make a classic multi-day walk even better).
2. Wilmot / Frankland ranges - much more committing & off track experience required; another classic SW range walk.
3. Southern Ranges exiting via SCT - a classic adventure combining forests, mountain ranges, beaches etc.

[eggs]

There should be some interesting entries for this.

I have dabbled in the Western Arthurs and the Southern Ranges and they definitely wet the appetite for more.
But there may be some appeal in more mundane options:

We did the OT in April with the fagus full on.
The number of people on the track was reasonable and the highlights were the alternative route via the back of Hansons Peak and Lake Rodway - Cradle Cirque and Barn Bluff, fagus around and behind Ossa, the Mersey waterfalls, Byron Gap and Echo Point. We did not get to Pine Valley - but a "top" walk would allow time for this.

We also did a 5 day walk from Lake MacKenzie through to the Walls of Jerusalem - and it was just fantastic. Not the dramatic mountains of other walks, but very pretty alpine gardens and lakes - culminating in the striking beauty of the walls. There are a lot of multi day variants around this area that could be added to this - picking up Lake Adelaide and Mt Rogoona/Lake Myrtle and exiting via Lake St Clair.
Each walk has its own appeal - but this one was way better than I thought it would be.

We are also considering a [leisurely] 5 day walk over Mt Anne - picking up the NE ridge as well as the Lonely Tarns and Lake Judd - with a possible extension onto Schnell's Ridge.
Have done sections of this quite a few times and it is an outstanding area.

[ollster]

For me personally:

I second Stu's nominations of WAs and Sth Range. I have not done the Franks yet.

[Paul]

Try walking from Coal Head in Macquarie Harbour to Ouse. It could take quite a few days, took us 23 and Alexander Pearce 49 !!

Paul.

[stu]

Still waiting for some more photos from this trip Paul &/or a trip report? Please
I have a trip to Mt Seal / Mt Lynne (Deception Range) etc. at the end of the year, which way did you guys come through this area?
Would love to see some photos of this area in particular...

[tasadam]

Top 3? How do I get it down to 3?
Yesterday Today Tomorrow sound good to me...
SW Cape circuit if the weather lets you do it.
Frenchmans is always nice.
To have a day like THIS on top of Mt Geryon is soemthing that will live long in the mind.
One day when I can be committed enough to work on the strength and fitness, the W & E Arthurs need doing... Only been part way up the Western, a bit beyond Lake Cygnus. So much potential, blocked by so much weather. One night and we were off the range.
Overland track in winter was memorable. S C Track was great. Anne is amazing. The walk out to Perrins Bluff and every peak near it, that wa a fantastic 8 days.
Sorry, can't pick 3. Could probably keep going though.

[farefam]

Awfully hard to nail it down to 3... but for tracked walks it would be

1) combined Western Arthurs/Eastern Arthurs if the weather is good (a physically demanding but spectacular trip that can be utterly miserable however in the usual bad weather)
2) the Overland track incorporating most of the side tracks and a detour to the Pine Valley, exiting via Lake Petrach (the total walk is an easy trip but very beautiful in any weather)
3) the South Coast track incorporating a detour to SouthWest Cape (a great walk in any weather)

My other equal favourites to these 3 are all mainly off track areas so you'll just have to discover them for yourselves.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Add the SW circuit into this and I agree with all said.

[NickD]

Top 3 On Tracks......
4 Days or more......

1) Western Arthur's. Amazing place! Currently its being well balanced with the amount of track work to provide a challenge for any keen bushwalker, but also still has important pieces of infrastructure to protect the fragile environment. Lake Oberon is very much my # 1 happy place spot. Unreal.

2) South Coast Track. Amazing diversity of scenery, flora & geology. True journey. Still hard enough to please the 'hardcore' crowd, moderate enough to take enthusiastic beginners.

3) Overland Track. Sometimes gets over looked by those who have gone on to complete bigger and harder missions, but when you break it down to what it is, its truely something else. I've seen this track change peoples way of thinking, and thats an incredible thing. The beauty of the mountains, lightly dusted in autumn snow, water pouring through the creeks after high rain and the rain forest past Du Cane Hut is a place that should be ventured alone to take check on what's really important in life I have walked this bad boy 17 times now and I'm still excited about # 18.

[casey79]

The three Tasmanian walks I've done so far have been pretty good.

In order of when done:

1st Wilmot / Frankland ranges; Great off track walk, committing and coped some rough weather. But what a walk.
2nd South Coast track; nice coastal stroll with some great views and beach swimming.
3rd Western Arthur's full traverse; middle few days where some of the best walking I've done anywhere in the world.

Not a bad start to my walking in Tasmania. I might do that Overland Track everyone seems to talk about. Next winter sound fun.

[MJD]

My favourites would be:

Traverse of the Ducane Range (need to enjoy boulder hopping)
Wilmot-Frankland Traverse
Any combination of the Eastern & Western Arthurs

[JamesMc]

Overland Track, preferably in winter
Arthurs from end to end
A week on and around Mt Anne

JamesMc

[rucksack]

Western Arthurs Traverse
Ducane Range Traverse
Wilmot-Frankland Traverse

[DaveNoble]

Western Arthurs Traverse
Ducane Range Traverse
Wilmot-Frankland Traverse

I would say -

1. Full Arthur Range Traverse
2. Du Cane Range Traverse
3. Central Plateau Traverse - eg Lake Nameless to Traveller range via Walls of J and Chinaman Plains and Mts of Jupiter

Note - 2 and 3 could be combined together.

The Wilmots-Franklands is a great trip - but for me at least - it is badly spoiled by the constant views of the Lake Pedder Impoundment.

Dave

[rucksack]

Dave, I actually had the Central Plateau Traverse pencilled in as my #4 and it was a close thing. I have walked that exact same Central Plateau route in summer, autumn and winter too. It is a very enjoyable walk and it was definitely interesting in winter. I agree with you about the views from the Wilmot-Frankland Traverse, although I still think that it is a good walk, notwithstanding the lake and what it represents, but I know what you mean.

rucksack