Walking and Trekking

• Over one third of Tasmania is protected in National Parks and World Heritage Areas.
• A diverse and ancient landscape offering accessible wilderness.
• The compact island is home to unique plant and wildlife.

Tasmania has spectacular scenery for walking enthusiasts, moderated by a temperate maritime climate. The island’s most famous walk, The Overland Track, takes you on a six day scenic adventure from Cradle Mountain to Australia’s deepest lake, Lake St Clair.

Tasmania offers walking experiences for all levels of fitness and challenge. There are more than 60 short walks that take you into rainforests, along ancient sea cliffs, beside turquoise seas and over jagged mountain peaks.

There are multi-day walks for the independent walker who loves to set out self-reliant with everything on their backs, or those who want to challenge themselves but prefer the comfort of a warm cabin, a shower and prepared meals at the end of each day.

Tasmania has well-maintained tracks, knowledgeable park rangers, top quality guides and, most importantly, no crowds. You can walk the coastal beaches of the Bay of Fires or head deep into the southwest wilderness and feel like the only soul on earth.

Tasmania’s premier bushwalk, The Overland Track, offers everything from majestic dolerite peaks and alpine lakes to rocky gorges and button grass plains. Most walkers head from north to south, and take advantage of side trips along the well-marked track including Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak.

The south west region of Tasmania is acclaimed for its remote wilderness and some of Tasmania’s most grueling walks including the Western Arthurs and Frenchman’s Cap. Fly into Melaleuca and challenge yourself on the South Coast Track or closer to Cradle Mountain, be mesmerised by the wildflowers and mystical beauty of the Walls of Jerusalem.

The Tasmanian Trail covers over 480 kilometres (300 miles) from Bass Strait to the Southern Ocean, beginning in Devonport and finishing in Dover.  You can walk, cycle and even ride a horse on this inland journey through forests, towns, farmland and highland moors or join at various points along the way.

How to get to key walking destinations in Tasmania:

The Overland Track begins at Ronny Creek in Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park, with a shuttle bus transporting walkers from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to the starting point.

Light planes depart from Hobart International Airport taking walkers into Melaleuca to begin the South Coast Track and private vehicles can be left at the finishing point at Cockle Creek. There are no roads leading to The Walls of Jerusalem National Park, therefore walkers are required to park near Lake Rowallen and walk 30 minutes to the park’s border.

This essential bushwalking guide offers wilderness survival information for walking in Tasmania. It includes safety tips, gear checklists, park entry fees, and tips for wilderness-friendly walking.

Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
Overland Track
Wikipedia Bushwalking List
Tasmanian Bushwalking Forum
John Chapman Bushwalking Site