Franklin River, Mt Field, Lake St Clair & Cradle Mountain

GROUP-GUIDED

OVERVIEW

Tasmania boasts large tracts of World Heritage wilderness area including one of the last great temperate rainforests. Approximately 20% of the entire state is World Heritage-listed. Huon pines, some of the oldest trees in the world grow here, some more than 2000 years old. We’ll walk through isolated rainforests, alpine meadows studded with a sparkling mosaic of crystal-clear lakes, wild rivers and rugged mountains. Here, unspoiled beauty abounds in all directions.

Our first stop is the Southwest National Park and Mount Anne, right in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. The park, the largest in Tasmania, epitomises the grandeur and spirit of Tasmanian wilderness hiking in its truest sense.

At Mt Field National Park, we leave the tourists behind by hiking the breathtakingly beautiful Tarn Shelf, a stunning, lake-studded shelf that was carved out by the force of glaciers from the last Ice Age. A picture-perfect stop at the most photographed waterfall in the whole of Tasmania, Russell Falls is an absolute must.

At Derwent Bridge, we’ll explore the middle of the island, including taking a boat trip out to Narcissus and then walking back to Cynthia Bay. We also hike to Mount Rufus for more stunning views over Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park.

The grand finale is a couple of days hiking in the Cradle Mountain region. You’ll hike the very beginning of the Overland Track as it winds its way through alpine heathlands brimming with wildflowers, beyond cascading waterfalls and ancient glacial lakes to the foot of mighty Cradle Mountain.

If you’re after a shorter Tasmanian Wilderness itinerary then our 5 day Tarkine & Cradle Mountain trip may be for you.

WALK OVERVIEW

TYPE OF WALK

GROUP GUIDED

TRIP LENGTH

8 DAYS

WALK GRADE

Moderate

PRICE FROM

$ 3795

per person twin/double share

SINGLE OCCUPANCY

$ 820

per person

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Departure Dates

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ITINERARY

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

DAY 1
Hobart and Mount Field National Park

Commence in Hobart at 8.30am. Today we cover the first of our Tasmanian Wilderness walks at Marriott and Russell Falls, the latter is one of Tasmania’s best-known scenic attractions. Green, graceful ferns line the track edges while the world’s tallest flowering plants, the magnificent swamp gums, tower overhead.

Walking: Easy / 10 km / 4 hrs

Meals: Lunch and two course dinner

Accommodation: Pedder Wilderness Lodge in rooms with ensuites

DAY 2
Southwest National Park and Mount Anne

This is a day of scenic driving and Tasmanian wilderness hiking. The Southwest National Park encompasses over six hundred thousand hectares of wild, inspiring country and forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. The park, the largest in Tasmania, epitomises the grandeur and spirit of wilderness in its truest sense.

We’ll hike up the Mount Anne track to get a birds-eye view over Lake Pedder and the national park. The panoramic views from Mt Anne over Lake Pedder are simply amazing.

Walking: Moderate / 9 km / 4-5 hrs / short option available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course dinner

Accommodation: Pedder Wilderness Lodge in rooms with ensuites

DAY 3
Tarn Shelf at Mount Field

Today we’ll do nearly a full day hike in Mt Field National Park. The route passes a delightful series of small glacial lakes before reaching the spectacular Tarn Shelf, a stunning, lake-ridden shelf that was carved out by the force of glaciers from the previous Ice Age. Mt Field is unusual in that plant diversity increases with altitude, showcasing huge Pandani groves and other bizarre alpine species. We then take another scenic drive to Lake St Clair.

Walking: Moderate / 13.4 km / 5-6 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course a la carte dinner

Accommodation: Lake St Clair Lodge in rooms with ensuites

DAY 4
Lake St Clair Overland Track from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay

At Lake St Clair today we boat to Narcissus and take the beautiful walk back to Cynthia Bay via the Overland Track. Most of the walk is along the lake edge through stunning myrtle forest, loaded with mosses and tree ferns. As we approach Cynthia Bay, the forest transitions into eucalypts.

Walking: Moderate / 17.5 km / 5-6 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course a la carte dinner

Accommodation: Lake St Clair Lodge in rooms with ensuites

DAY 5
Lake St Clair Mount Rufus and Shadow Lake

Today we walk the fascinating Shadow Lake Circuit, taking us through forest dominated by Stringybarks. As we approach the lake, the vegetation morphs into a completely different sub alpine forest, including Pencil Pines and Snowgums. Travel to Cradle Mountain at the northern end of the wild Cradle Moutain Lake St Clair National Park via Queenstown.

Walking: Easy to moderate / 15 km / 4-5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course a la carte dinner

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel in rooms with ensuites

DAY 6
Cradle Mountain Dove Lake and more

The first view across Dove Lake to Cradle Mountain is an iconic scene of the Tasmanian Wilderness walks. This dramatic vista can be seen on an easy boardwalk. The mountain itself is a jagged, dolerite peak that dominates the area. Its name, is believed to be derived from the mountain’s resemblance to a miner’s cradle. The Enchanted and King Billy Pine walks make up the morning. In the afternoon, we walk to Waldheim Chalet from the interpretation centre, nestled among the myrtles and King Billy Pines at Cradle Valley. Waldheim Chalet takes you back to the time when the Weindorfers first offered their renowned hospitality to their guests. Having fallen in love with what is now Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Gustav and Kate Weindorfer built the rustic home and guest chalet in 1912. The chalet was named Waldheim, meaning ‘forest home’.

Walking: Easy to moderate / 13 km / 5-6 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course a la carte dinner

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel in rooms with ensuites

DAY 7
Cradle Mountain Face Track

For some, today will be the highlight of the holiday. The hike starts with an ascent of stunning Hansons Peak. There are some airy sections and steep gradients, so we’ll take it slowly. From here, we’ll continue along the face of Cradle Mountain. We return on the most famous section of the Overland Track as it winds its way through alpine heathlands brimming with wildflowers, past cascading waterfalls and ancient glacial lakes to the foot of mighty Cradle Mountain. The traverse of this elevated alpine area epitomises the special qualities of Tasmanian wilderness hiking. The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rainforest, alpine heathlands and button grass plains ensure there is always something to catch your attention.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 11 km / 6-7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and two course a la carte dinner

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel in rooms with ensuites

DAY 8
Liffey Falls and Launceston

This not the end of this expedition. We finish with a walk at Liffey Falls. This a wondrous place and delightful walk alongside the Liffey River through thick forest and masses of tree ferns arriving at the tiered waterfalls. We lunch at the falls, breath it all in and prepare ourselves for the 1 hr drive back to Launceston arriving at around 4:00pm.

Walking: Easy / 6kms / 2 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast and a walkers lunch

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Pack-free walking
25+ years experience
Customised
Eco Travel

Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
7 nights’ comfortable ensuited accommodation
Cooked breakfasts and two course dinners prepared by professional chefs
Comprehensive walkers lunches
All transport from Hobart to Launceston, including all luggage transport
National park admission
Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, lunch bag and container

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

OVERVIEW

We stay in high quality resorts like Cradle Mountain Hotel and Lake St Clair Lodge. All the rooms come with ensuites. The accommodations are in beautiful locations next to the national parks, providing a further opportunity to walk and explore.

Almost all the two course dinners are prepared by professional chefs in the accommodation restaurants. Savour some of the best local produce this country has to on offer on a daily basis with meals emphasising local Tasmanian fare. Importantly, you’ll start each day with a cooked breakfast prepared by the lodge chefs. This is a great way to ready yourself for the upcoming walk.

The packed lunches and picnics complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always satisfied. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s trail mix. You can look forward to having lunch each day at a different incredible location.

Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

NIGHTS 1 & 2

SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARK

Set in the heart of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area, Pedder Wilderness Lodge is where you’ll be staying on your first couple of nights, overlooking Lake Pedder. The park protects a wide range of unspoiled landscapes and intact ecosystems and is a refuge for an array of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

Their Pedder Wing Lakeview rooms boast access to magical views of Lake Pedder, Twelvetrees Range and in the distance, Frankland Range. They feature ensuite bathrooms, plush beds, TV and free WiFi, a fridge and tea and coffee maker.

Your meals and packed lunches are all taken care of by the Twelvetrees Bar & restaurant, with their chef-inspired specials and Australian favourites.
NIGHTS 3 & 4

LAKE ST CLAIR

You will stay at the luxurious, eco-friendly studio cabins of Lake St. Clair Lodge on the 3rd and 4th nights of your walk. Aside from being located on the shore of Australia’s deepest lake, their housekeeping team are trained to prepare your cabin according to your standards, using disinfectants that are free from harsh chemicals, and their Restaurant and Café offering fully organic menu choices designed to promote the best of locally grown, seasonal, Tasmanian produce.

Their warm, cosy studio cabins have a private balcony with views through to either the lake or the surrounding bushland. The beds are custom-made, and dressed with the best Tasmanian linen and capped off with deep luxurious pillows. The bathrooms are spacious and come with boutique toiletries. The cabins are highly insulated so even in the depths of winter, you will be snug and cosy. This is aided by the airlock at the front, which is also an ideal place to store all of your walking gear.
NIGHTS 5, 6 & 7

CRADLE MOUNTAIN

You will stay at the Cradle Mountain Hotel when you get to the picturesque UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area on the last nights of your walk. Staying here, you can expect to see a lot of echidnas, wombats and wallabies roaming the hotel surroundings.

Their beautifully appointed split level king room features a king bed, a sunken lounge and study area with views over the surrounding woodland. The spacious living area on the lower level is the perfect spot for admiring the view. Double sliding doors open onto your private Juliet balcony, where you can breathe the crisp mountain air. The features include limited free WiFi, a TV, plush bathrobes, an in-room heater, a mini bar, and tea and coffee making facilities.

GENERAL INFO

This holiday starts in Hobart and finishes in Launceston. Both are accessible by plane from the mainland. Mt Anne is a moderate climb with one steep section. Mt Field offers moderate walking with a couple of short sections of steep uphill and short sections across boulders. At Lake St Clair, the walking is moderate. Cradle Mountain offers some choices ranging from moderate to quite challenging. The tracks are mostly well cared for, dry and firm this time of year. However, on the odd occasion we have encountered the uncharacteristically wet portion of track. Most of the walks are moderate. The easier alternative walks are great for first timers. Keep in mind that the walks often involve challenging walking, 5 to 6.5 hours each day, with some steep ascents and descents so the experienced hikers won’t be disappointed.

This trip operates with two professional and experienced guides, knowledgeable of the area and natural surroundings, including the local fauna, flora and history. They can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.

Pre and post tour accommodation: There are many good hotels in Hobart, however we pick up at one central accommodation, the St Ives Apartments, 67 St. Georges Terrace, Battery Point, Hobart. The tour starts at St Ives Apartments at 8.30am. We arrive in Launceston at approximately 4.00pm on the last day and will drop off at Launceston Airport and the Quality Hotel Colonial, 31 Elizabeth Street, Launceston.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

WEATHER

Summer is our preferred time of year for hiking in Tasmania. It is suitable to hike Tasmania’s wilderness from November to May. See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance for all of our trips. We absolutely require that you purchase a travel insurance policy for all travel overseas. We charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it. It is also important in the event of an accident or loss of property. See FAQ’s for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

MAP

DEPARTURE DATES

DATES

AVAILABILITY

PRICE

Single Occupancy

DETAILS
7 Jan 2023

FULL

^from
$3995

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$820

BOOK NOW
4 Mar 2023

FULL

^from
$3995

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$895

BOOK NOW

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Overview