3nighter intro to Tasmania

[oka]

G'day all,

I'm trying to plan a 3-4 day walk in Tasmania for myself and my best friend this New Year. This is the first time we'll be hiking together and first time in Tassie for both, so I'm being a bit careful with picking a route that shouldn't break bones or our friendship =)
Now both of us are pretty fit and I've trekked around New Zealand, Borneo, have a survival course under my belt and do rogaining every now and then; she has only done day hikes up to 5-6hrs of solid walking. She is however pretty keen to start on overnighters and wilderness trails, so this is a perfect opportunity for a gentle yet solid introduction, plus both of us have been looking forward to some time away and spectacular scenery, for which your island is so famous.

We've more or less ruled out the Overland Track for it's popularity- whilst it's not a deal breaker if we bump into a person or two along the way, I personally prefer wilder, more remote trails. It will have to be a balance between the two though due to time restraints (thus the South Coast Trail is also probably out of the questions due uncertainty with weather for fly-in) and accessibility.

We'd really like to see some mixed terrain- happy with rough tracks and steep ground. I'm fairly used to budgeting for 25-40kms per day depending on terrain (i.e. Milford Track in 14hrs, with 20kg packs), but will be cautious with my estimates for this first foray. I know there's very little chance of me getting to Tasmania again in the next couple of years, so would really love to pack in as much as possible.

Any suggestions?

[norts]

Walls of Jerusalem is the first walk to come to mind.
Beautiful country.
Get Chapmans book, Cradle/Walls. Work out some walks 3-4 days and ask if they are worth the effort. Lots of ideas in that book.

Roger

[tasadam]

Frenchmans Cap is pretty hard core, but I love it.
The first walk I took my wife on was a 7 nighter to Frenchmans then down to the Irenabyss and out via Raglan Range.
She still walks with me, so it's possible.
Just that if the mud is bad, your spirits can be broken a bit.

Having said that, 3 nights is the best way to do it - Vera hut / Tahune hut / Vera hut and out on the 4th day. This gives you 2 x half days to climb Frenchmans and appreciate the surrounds of Tahune hut.
Chapmans southwest book has good notes on it.

[tas-man]

I also suggest Frenchmans Cap as one of the great 3-4 days Tassie walking experiences. Has a wide variety of terrain (Mud to Mountains), and spectacular vistas on the way. An extra day to enjoy the Lake Tahune area and summit views is worth planning for, and one of the most speccie views is well and truly earned after the climb up to Barron Pass, and the views to the lakes on the other side just takes your breath away (ie whatever you still have!)

[Natt]

I vote for the Walls of Jerusalum

you can do a circuit and its a nice trip.

From memory we did

Day 1: start of track too wild dog creek
Day 2: wild dog creek to lake adelaide (via Lake Ball) - we also did a side trip to a peak (short one)
Day 3: and then out from lake adelaide

My memory is a tad hazy, so you may want to check that makes sense. A very small portion is off track - but providing you have good visibility it should be obvious where to head.

This would be a nice trip and camping at Wild dog creek is very pretty. I do remember Day 2 was a long walk - but I walk very slow

[bluewombat]

I too would vote for the Walls of Jerusalem area,(particularly if you are coming in via Launceston) many of the most delightful bits of Tasmanian scenery compressed into one small area, certainly enough to keep you amused for 3 nights. You could go in via Lake Meston (1st night), then up past Lake Adelaide into the back of the Walls ,(2nd night) spend a day exploring the Walls (3rd night) and then head out. The only down side is that is a an 8km walk back to where you left the car to go into Meston (via Lake Bill). You do need to keep your eyes open to stay on the track from Lake Bill to Lake Meston. All that said there are soooo many walks here, they all offer something.
bw

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

a perfect opportunity for a gentle yet solid introduction, plus both of us have been looking forward to some time away and spectacular scenery, for which your island is so famous.

Given what you are looking for and the limited time you have available the Walls of Jerusalem would have to be right up there, a fairly straight forward itinerary building on previous suggestions which would enable you to see most of the highlights of the area; Day 1 Walk in from main carpark via Trappers Hut, overnight at Wild Dog Creek, Day 2 explore the Walls & Dixon's kingdom, side trip to Mount Jerusalem. Overnight at Lake Adelaide (via Lake Ball). Day 3 South to Lake Meston then up Lake Myrtle trail, final overnight at Lake Myrtle or Lake Bill, then out. These are fairly full days with a lot of walking, but it appears you may be used to it - the itinerary also assumes you will make arrangements to be dropped off and picked up, if you have a hire car, you'll need to allow for another 5.5 k march back up Mersey Forest Rd to collect the car.

(You don't mention your transport plans; when you start planning your trip in detail you'll soon realise how 'challenging' it is to get to many of Tassie's remote locations. Areas like the Walls of Jerusalem is not serviced by any public transport, you'll need to organise point to point transport yourself, there are a number of companies who do this but it is expensive. You can hire a car but if your not keen on then leaving it then your options are limited to destinations such as Frenchmen's Cap or Lake Saint Clair, where you can use the regular coach services).

[eggs]

We'd really like to see some mixed terrain- happy with rough tracks and steep ground

It seems that you are pitching between rough and steep and covering lots of ground.
Suggestions so far are
- Frenchman's Cap - which has some long muddy walks mixed with great mountain terrain.
- Walls of Jerusalem - which is very pretty country with some long walks as well. You can do this one in a variety of ways as mentioned.

Can I add to the list the Mt Anne circuit. I have been on the first part 3 times already & am hoping to do the full circuit in January.
It is hard to tire of the sweeping views of mountains and the awesome cliffs of Mt Anne and those over Lake Judd.
This can be very steep and rough - not so much a long walk - but very spectacular with views to a lot of the South West of Tasmania.

The only problem (apart from weather ) may be transport - see viewtopic.php?f=3&t=953&p=7228&hilit=scott%27s+peak
The start and exit for this walk are along the road to Scott's Peak.

eggs

[ollster]

Can I add to the list the Mt Anne circuit. I have been on the first part 3 times already & am hoping to do the full circuit in January.

Hmmn. I dunno if this is a good idea. Anne itself might be OK, but there is a bit of trouble around the back of the circuit with The Notch (although that could be my perspective, being a bit cagey around cliffs and the like). I guess it depends on the level of experience/skill of the people in question. The shelf camp around the back of the circuit is lovely though.

Frenchman's would be a good one. I've been up there a couple of times (once in an overnight trip, nearly killed me). You can reasonably spend 3-4 days in the area if you want to have a bit of a look over the back of Frenchman's.

Lake Rhona (and the mountains above it) is quite a superb 3 day walk.

[oka]

thanks heaps for your suggestions, guys!

so far the Walls of Jerusalem seem to be the goer, I think the freedom from trails appeals, plus the supporting recommendations =)
is it very popular, i.e. will we see a lot of people? I know there are quite a few climbing routes up there, so I'm expecting a climbing pair or three, but what about walkers?

Once again, this forum is a well of information and thanks for the welcome! =)

[scrub master]

I know there are quite a few climbing routes up there, so I'm expecting a climbing pair or three, but what about walkers?

Hi Oka
I think you're confusing The walls with Frenchmans. There is no climbing in the Walls, but bucket loads on Frenchmans. I'm actually planning a climbing trip to Frenchmans in the first week of Feb - might see you in there if you change your plans.

Both areas are very popular particularly during the summer season, so be prepared to see lots of people. Having said that, once you get away from the main drag, the crowds thin dramatically. Last year we came in from the east via Lake Ada and below Great Pine Tier and the only people we saw were at Dixons Kingdom.
If you have the time, it's worth exploring the area around Lake Ball as well as the Zion vale / Powena Ck area.

[gennifa]

So tas visitors which trip did you chose...how was it?!

I am seeking a trip with an almost identical situation,(other than the 25-40km a day part, I like to keep it cruisier than that), so I'd be really pleased to hear what you did.

I'm fairly experienced, taking my partner (who is less experienced), looking for a 3-4 day while were in tas next week...yep leaving it very late! but totally overwhealmed with options.

Were coming in to Launceston, have a car, so would love a circut walk...my fav is forests and rivers, not as bessotted by high veiws, but anything in tas I'm sure will blow my mind.

There's many walks that people have mentioned: Labyrinth, Douglas Apsely NP, Blue Teir, Tasman peninsula, walls of Jeruselum, Frenchmans cap.....whoohow! Is it possible to avoid lots of other walkers, and bogs in any of these places, whist lushing out in some famous tas forests? (maybe bogs don't matter, maybe I haven't really lived without getting into the mud) Can you tell I can't chose?!!

Any info or ideas welcomed!!