Hiking Tasmania Beyond a doubt, Tasmania is Australia’s premier destination for hiking. Over a quarter of the state’s area is listed as World Heritage - untouched wilderness of unique beauty and diversity. The hiking in Tasmania should be compared on an equal footing with that of New Zealand’s south island and Yosemite N.P. in the US. The state’s various parks provide for all manner of experiences, from easy day-walks on boarded, interpretive trails to month-long expeditions through untracked country.
The major destination for hikers of all calibers should be the Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park in the Central Highlands. Experienced hikers seeking the best Tasmania has to offer should head for the South-West and Wild Rivers National Parks. Besides these areas, there are a number of smaller parks throughout the state that are all spectacular weekend destinations for adventurers with any level of fitness. My personal favorites are the Mt Field and Freycinet National Parks.
There are two important points to remember when planning a trip to Tasmania’s wilderness. Firstly, Tasmania is a small island exposed to weather systems direct from Antarctica - this means that hikers must always be prepared for sudden changes in weather conditions, even in the middle of summer. Always carry adequate clothing (waterproof parka and warm sweater) and enough food (and possibly water) in case of unexpected delays.
Secondly, Tasmania’s wilderness has survived for tens of thousands of years; it is the responsibility of hikers to see that it survives for a similar period into the future. Follow the doctrines of minimal-impact walking, which include:
Take only photographs, leave only footprints
Do not gather wood for fires - use a fuel stove
Keep your party of a manageable size
Stay on formed trails where they exist - this can mean traversing waist-deep mud in the wildest areas!
Where there is no trail, spread out to minimize the impact of your party on the vegetation.
Use formed toilets where available.
Where there is no toilet, bury your waste 15 cm deep and 100 m from any water source.
Wash dishes or yourself 50 m from any water source, and avoid the use of soaps and detergents.
With these things in mind, take as much time as you can to explore Tasmania’s wilderness, it will be an experience to carry with you for a lifetime!
the state’s area is listed as World Heritage - untouched wilderness of unique beauty and diversity. The hiking in Tasmania should be compared on an equal footing with that of New Zealand’s south island and Yosemite N.P. in the US. The state’s various parks provide for all manner of experiences, from easy day-walks on boarded, interpretive trails to month-long expeditions through untracked country.