Walking vacations in Tasmania

It is hard to find a small destination that has so many walking trails. And so accessible too. Walking vacations in Tasmania must, therefore, be some of the finest not only in Australia but in the world. There are nineteen national parks and reserves, and within them there are sixty fantastic short walks. But there are also some incredible long distance trails, such as the famous 65km Overland Trek in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clare National Park. With a abundance of local guides and walking vacations that organise your accommodation for you along the way, Tassies definitely do trekking.

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Walking vacations in Tasmania

Our eclectic array of walking vacations in Tasmania make the most of hundreds of waymarked trails through mountains or rainforest, along capes and cliffs or across unheard of and totally underrated islands. You can walk in Tasmania at any time of year, with guided and self guided routes that are ideal for anyone in decent fitness.

So it surely can’t be a coincidence that some of the best hiking boots originate from Tasmania. Blundstones, or ‘Blunnies’, were the creation of settlers arriving from England in the mid-19th century and are still renowned today for their quality. Pair them with a set of the island’s famous merino wool hiking socks, and you’re made. Whatever your choice of footwear, though, it will get a good workout here.

Australia’s only island state is Tardis-like in its wilderness status. You can be driving down a highway one minute, pull into a car park and, within a 10-minute walk, be overlooking one of those OMG sort of views, such as at Leven Canyon – where the Leven River has created 300m canyon walls in the Loongana Range, all the way to the Bass Strait.

Leven Canyon is just one of 60 Great Short Walks in Tasmania, so named by the Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania. But with over 19 parks and reserves, this island state fairly packs a punch when it comes to protected landscapes, and ones that are easily accessible by foot.

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Best Tasmania walking routes

Overland Track

The jewel in the crown for long-distance hiking is the 65km Overland Track in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clare National Park. It’s one of the most iconic walking vacations in Tasmania. Taking on average six days, many tourists choose to do this as a guided tour, leaving them worry-free to take in the ever-changing environs that segue from alpine at Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak (1,617m), to rainforest to eucalypt forest to glacial valleys and lakes. It culminates in the peaceful waters of Lake St Clair, at the southern end of the Trail.

In peak season, you have to book this trek with the national parks and trek in a north-south direction. Not just a walk in the park, you need to be fully equipped for this trek. There are lodges along the way, some private and some run by the national park, but no shops and no electricity in the latter option, when you also need to carry a tent in case the lodges are full. Taking the private option is a great way to go if you have travelled halfway across the world to do this trek which is, undoubtedly, worth the journey.

Bay of Fires Walk

For serious saunters with exquisite sea views, there are many walking vacations in Tasmania on offer, but Freycinet Peninsula and the Bay of Fires Walk will both set your hiking heart on fire. The former, also a national park, is one of those peninsular idylls where you can seek solace and solitude, sublime beaches and hikes that lead from one blissful cove to another. The pink granite from the Hazard Mountains flanking the coast is scattered sporadically along the bays, creating rose-coloured boulders set against gleaming white sandy beaches.

The three-day Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a favorite here, with a beach waiting to soothe those muscles, and soul, at the end of the day. Your bags are transported for you if you book through one of our partners who know exactly how to help you walk in style. There are similar set ups along the Bay of Fires, where you can trek between Binalong Bay and Eddystone Point, with ecolodges and glamping en route for three to four days.

Three Capes Track

The latest shining example of Tasmania’s spectacular waymarked routes is the Three Capes Track, down on the southern Tasman Peninsula. Just 75km from Hobart, and definitely one of Tasmania's jewels in the crown, it’s a spectacular landscape of cliffs, coves, sea stacks and shimmering shorelines. And this 46km trail that takes you through Capes Pillar, Hauy and Raoul is definitely the way to go.

Maria Island

For anyone who likes hopping as well as walking, there are islands scattered along Tasmania’s entire coast. Take on the four-day Maria Island Walk, which you can do guided and backpack-free, staying in top-notch wilderness camps. It also leaves you time to enjoy the island’s pretty package of flora and fauna, from wallabies to wombats and possums to endangered parrots, as well as its heart-stoppingly beautiful Painted or Fossil Cliffs, glowing with myriad colours in the sunlight. In fact, this island is one big shining beacon of rambling, responsible tourism.

Bruny Island

Bruny Island is another glowing example of responsible tourism, but this one combines gourmet gorgeousness with its great walks, as this is an island that knows all about celebrating its local produce. You can take a hike, then fill your boots with artisan cheese washed down with craft beer, Tasmanian whisky, wine, cider and gin, ice cream flavoured with honey from local beekeepers, or oysters from the Great Bay. Not all at once, though!

Flinders Island

For a slightly wilder experience, Flinders Island is always a treat – a northern landscape that is protected by the Strzelecki National Park and where hiking up to its peak (756m) gives you one of the best final lookouts you could hope for over what Tasmania is all about – ocean, wilderness and an island ethos that is not only about striding out, but also standing out from the rest of Australia.

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What do Tasmania walking vacations involve?

Our Tasmania walking vacations range from four to eight days long, and – if your legs are up to it – 18-day trips combine Tasmania with some cracking hikes in mainland Australia.

Small group trips are led by local guides who illuminate aspects of Tasmania’s history, culture and nature, as well as showing you the way. You can also opt for a tailor made, self guided walking vacation in Tasmania. You’ll be well-armed with detailed route notes and maps, and trails are waymarked, so you can hike with confidence.

Walks in Tasmania usually range from easy to moderate, though some vacations will feature the odd challenging section or day. Regular walkers with a decent level of fitness should have little difficulty.

As for where to go, you have plenty of choice. Popular Tasmania walking destinations include Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, a wildlife-rich introduction to the island’s vast wilderness that is traversed by the famous Overland Track. Then there is the Three Capes trek, around 50km that is typically completed across four days and three nights. It follows the Tasman Peninsula (easily reached from Hobart), and besides sea stacks and dramatic cliffs you may also see whales off the coast.

When to go

Hiking is possible throughout the year, but the summer months of December to February are popular for a reason. The weather is reliably warm and even though this is peak season the trails don’t get crowded. Provided you’re not averse to a little rain, though, autumn (March to June) is also a lovely time of year for walking, with gorgeous colours in the foliage. Winter (July to September) sees snow at higher reaches and remote areas may become inaccessible.