The Tarkine And Cradle Mountain Explorer - 6 Days
Hike and explore Tasmania's Tarkine wilderness, the largest area of unbroken cool-temperate rainforest remaining in the Southern Hemisphere. This 65-million-year-old forest houses hidden gems and ancient relics, including tree species that exist elsewhere only as fossils. Mountains, wild rivers, and a sublime coastline with ferocious oceans and iconic open plains complete the picture.
An extra full day at Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park sets this six-day itinerary apart, with glacier-sculpted peaks, river gorges, glacial lakes, and wild alpine moorland to explore. The walk takes in a section of the iconic Overland Track, the Cradle Mountain Face Track, and the shores of Dove Lake.
Accommodation sits right on the edge of these majestic parks, keeping walkers immersed in the quiet wilderness throughout. Two experienced guides take care of every detail, with options to shorten walks where preferred.
Highlights
Day 1
This holiday commences in Launceston at 8.00 am. From here, we will travel through Penguin on our way to the Tarkine. Half of this region is rainforest, with the remainder being eucalypt forest, heathland, button grass and rivers. The Tarkine, reputed to produce some of the world’s freshest air, is so vastly inaccessible it takes a solid walk before you find the pure Sassafras rainforest, tree ferns and Myrtle trees, some of which are over half a millennia old. We’ll enjoy lunch amidst some of Tasmania’s oldest forest environments. On our first day we’re walking at the beautiful Philosopher Falls, this time amidst the stunning towering Myrtle and Sassafras. Accommodation is in a private room but shared cabin and bathroom - please read the accommodation info section.
Lodge in Corrina
Lunch, Dinner
Lodge (5 nights)
5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners
Auswalk Walking Grade
Moderate
Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.
Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.
View Fitness Guide6
Days on the trail
4-12 km
Daily distance range
Daily ascent range
5/10
Trail difficulty
From remote cabins to a four-star hotel on the edge of the national park, the accommodation on this walk shifts with the landscape. The first three nights are in private rooms within two-bedroom cabins, with shared bathroom facilities. Single rooms are available, though some variation may apply, and rooms are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. The final two nights are at a four-star hotel right against the park boundary, with en-suite rooms and a setting that makes for an exceptional close to the walk.
From the first breakfast to the last dinner, the food on this walk draws on some of the finest produce Tasmania has to offer. Five cooked breakfasts are included, with restaurant breakfasts on most mornings and provisions provided on three mornings at the cabin property for you to cook yourself. Six walker's lunches are taken out on the trail each day at some of the most remote and beautiful spots in the state, varying slightly but always including a high-protein salad, a roll or wrap, a muesli bar, something sweet, fresh fruit and trail mix. Five à la carte two-course dinners are prepared each evening by professional chefs at the accommodation restaurants.
Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source in more remote parts of this walk.
Note: Drinks and alcohol are not included with meals, with the exception of tea, coffee and juice served with breakfast.
The walk both starts and finishes in Launceston, Tasmania. Launceston Airport (LST) is well connected with domestic flights from major Australian cities. The walk departs at 8.00am from the Best Western Plus Launceston, 3 Earl Street Launceston, on the first day.
The walk returns to Launceston at approximately 4.30pm on the final day, with a drop-off at the same location.
This guided group walk has scheduled departure dates in spring and autumn. Spring brings native flowering plants into bloom and wildlife becomes increasingly active across both the Tarkine rainforest and the Cradle Mountain trails. October and November can still see snow on the higher ground, adding drama to the mountain stages. April sees the famous Fagus trees beginning to turn gold and amber. Warm layers and waterproofs are essential whatever the month; conditions in both destinations can change quickly.
This walk is graded moderate. Daily walks average 14.5 kilometres with around 400 metres of ascent and descent, and a terrain difficulty rating of 8 out of 10. Tracks range from well-maintained to less kempt, though all are easily passable and mostly dry and firm underfoot. Some days involve steep ascents and descents running to between five and seven hours, with easier alternatives available.
Sturdy walking boots with reliable grip are essential. Two experienced guides lead throughout, with options to suit all levels each day.
You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.
A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.
Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.
A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.
Walk with nothing more than a light day pack. Your main luggage travels ahead of you throughout the trip, handled entirely by your guides, so you're free to enjoy the trail without carrying anything beyond water, snacks and a layer for changing weather. Private vehicle transfers move your bags between properties, and a ferry transfer is included where the route calls for it. Everything arrives ready and waiting by the time you check in each evening.
Due to limitations of catering at certain accommodations we are unable to cater for vegans on this tour unfortunately.
Starting in Launceston, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) spans two free-entry sites, including the permanent First Tasmanians: Our Story exhibition at its Royal Park art gallery.
Select a fixed group departure - places are limited
Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.
For the rest of our 2027 departures, we have added a 1-night stay in Launceston so you can arrive and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Eric, Dan and Pete were a great combination of supportive, knowledgeable and fun for this Tasmanian walking tour. The walks were challenging and invigorating with many options (hard or not so hard) available each day. I felt they all knew what they were doing and that they also had a great time, which made the whole walking party get along really well.
The guides were fantastic and adapted to variables such as weather, tight timelines, and customer preferences when needed. The walking routes were exceptional!! and a good variety. The addition of Conical Rocks to the tour was pretty special - I highly recommend this forms part of future itineraries.
Entire walk went extremely well. Everything is better than I thought because all the walks and activities were very interesting.
The guides were excellent and knowledgeable. They managed the itinerary very well.
Our guides were great, helpful, friendly, know the region, flora and fauna, geography, geology etc. and passed on information.
Excellent variety in the walks and very nice accommodation. The guides were excellent. They looked after the group very well including providing interesting information on areas we visited.
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
-300x200.jpg)
