Tasmania is Australia’s greatest wilderness island — a World Heritage Area covering 20% of its surface, home to ancient pencil pine forests found nowhere else on Earth, dolerite peaks shaped by ice ages, and the finest multi-day hiking in the Southern Hemisphere. The Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair is Australia’s most celebrated walk, but Tasmania rewards deeper exploration: the South Coast Track is one of the world’s most demanding remote wilderness routes, the Walls of Jerusalem is a cathedral of dolerite columns and tarns, and the Bay of Fires coastal walk combines white beaches and orange lichen-covered granite into a landscape of extraordinary beauty. Tasmania is small enough to drive across in a day and wild enough to spend a lifetime exploring.
- Cradle Mountain — Lake St Clair NP (Central West) — the Overland Track (80km, 6–8 days); Cradle Mountain (1,545m); the Barn Bluff; the Du Cane Range; Tasmania’s most iconic landscape
- Southwest Wilderness — the South Coast Track (80km, 8–12 days — one of the most remote and demanding walks in Australia); Port Davey Track; the Southwest NP; the world’s largest temperate wilderness
- Walls of Jerusalem NP (Central Plateau) — extraordinary dolerite columns and tarns; the Temple, Herod’s Gate, the Citadel; accessed on foot only; one of Tasmania’s finest day hike destinations
- Freycinet Peninsula (East Coast) — Wineglass Bay (consistently voted among the world’s finest beaches); the Hazards (pink granite peaks); Freycinet NP; coastal circuit walk
- Bay of Fires (Northeast) — Bay of Fires Lodge Walk (4 days; guided only); wild coast with white sand, turquoise water and orange lichen-encrusted granite boulders; one of Australia’s most beautiful coastal landscapes
- Mount Field NP (Southern Tasmania) — Russell Falls (accessible from the car park); the alpine zone around Lake Dobson; ancient King Billy pines; within 90 minutes of Hobart
The Walls of Jerusalem is Tasmania’s finest day hike secret — a 4-hour approach through ancient pencil pine forest opens suddenly into a plateau of extraordinary dolerite columns, clear mountain tarns and ancient cushion plants, with the landscape resembling nothing else in Australia. Unlike the Overland Track, the Walls of Jerusalem requires no permit, no booking and no crowds — just the long approach walk and the wilderness.
- Tasmanian dolerite — the dominant rock of Tasmania’s highlands; formed from ancient volcanic intrusions that cooled slowly underground and were later exposed by erosion; the characteristic columns, cliffs and boulder fields of Cradle Mountain, the Hazards and the Walls of Jerusalem
- Gondwana relict flora — ancient pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) and King Billy pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides) forests found nowhere outside Tasmania; cushion plants (Donatia and Abrotanella species) that grow 1mm per year and can be 1,000 years old
- Tasmanian button-grass moorland — the vast sweeping moorlands of the southwest; a distinctly Gondwanan landscape of extraordinary flatness punctuated by quartzite ridges
- South Coast quartzite — ancient Precambrian quartzite of the Southwest Wilderness; dramatic white ridgelines above impenetrable scrub; some of the wildest terrain in Australia
- East Coast granite — the Freycinet Peninsula’s pink granite is 370 million years old; the Hazards rise directly from the sea; the combination of granite, white sand and turquoise water is unique in Australia
- Overland Track — 6–8 days; 1,617m (Mount Ossa — Tasmania’s highest); 80km; Australia’s most celebrated multi-day walk; permit required October–May; huts and camping throughout
- South Coast Track — 8–12 days; extreme remote wilderness; 80km; unbridged river crossings; helicopter access start/finish; for experienced wilderness hikers with full navigation skills only
- Walls of Jerusalem full day — 1 day; 1,461m; 20km return; no permit; one of Tasmania’s finest accessible wilderness experiences
- Freycinet Peninsula Circuit — 2–3 days; 620m; 30km; Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach, the Cape Tourville lighthouse; bookable huts at freycinet.com.au
- Three Capes Track — 4 days; 46km; dramatic sea cliffs (Cape Pillar, 300m vertical); world’s highest sea cliffs in places; guided or independent; bookable at parks.tas.gov.au
- Bay of Fires Lodge Walk — 4 days; guided only; one of Australia’s great guided walking experiences; eco-lodges; superb Tasmanian food and wine
The South Coast Track is one of the most demanding walks in Australia — the terrain involves dense horizontal scrub (cutting scrub), unbridged river crossings that can be waist-deep and fast-moving, completely exposed coastal ridgelines and weather that can change from sunshine to near-blizzard within hours. It is suitable only for highly experienced wilderness hikers with full navigation skills, river-crossing experience and the ability to self-rescue. Never attempt it as a first multi-day walk.
- Easy — Russell Falls walk (Mount Field; 30 min return; entirely accessible), Dove Lake Circuit (Cradle Mountain; 6km; extraordinary views), Wineglass Bay lookout (Freycinet; 2hr return)
- Moderate — Freycinet Peninsula Circuit (multi-day; huts; good facilities), Three Capes Track (well-maintained; guided options), Walls of Jerusalem day hike (long approach but non-technical)
- Hard — Overland Track (8 days; serious weather commitment; permit required), Mount Ossa (scrambling; exposure), Hazards Traverse (remote sections)
- Extreme wilderness — South Coast Track: experienced hikers with full wilderness navigation, river-crossing skills and self-rescue capability only
Parks Tasmania manages all major walks and permits:
- Overland Track: AUD 230 permit (peak season October–May); strictly limited to 34 walkers per day northbound from Ronny Creek; book at parks.tas.gov.au; advance booking essential — peak dates sell out months ahead
- Three Capes Track: AUD 195–295 (includes transport and hut fees); bookable at parks.tas.gov.au; daily quota applies; advance booking required
- Freycinet Circuit: advance hut booking at freycinet.com.au; daily capacity limits apply; very popular October–April
- South Coast Track: register at Tasmania Police (online or at Hobart Police Station) before departing; Parks Tasmania does not manage this route; full self-sufficiency required; helicopter pickup from Melaleuca or Cockle Creek
- Walls of Jerusalem: no permit; no booking; Parks entry fee (AUD 20) payable at the trailhead
The Three Capes Track (Cape Pillar, Cape Hauy, Cape Raoul) is Tasmania’s newest Great Walk and arguably its finest — the clifftop walking above 300m vertical sea cliffs, the heated eco-huts and the dramatic Tasman Peninsula scenery make it the best introduction to Tasmanian multi-day walking for first-time visitors. It is significantly easier to book than the Overland Track and the facilities are outstanding.
- Full waterproof hard-shell — Tasmania is the windiest and wettest state in Australia; the Overland Track receives over 3,000mm annually at altitude; a true technical shell is essential, not optional
- Warm sleeping bag (-5°C minimum for summer Overland; -10°C for shoulder season) — huts are cold; blankets are not provided; your sleeping bag is your primary warmth
- Water treatment — despite Tasmania’s reputation for clean water, giardia is present in many backcountry water sources; use a filter or chemical treatment throughout
- Navigation — the South Coast Track and Walls of Jerusalem require map and compass skills; GPS backup essential; weather can remove all visibility within minutes
- Emergency PLB — hire available at outdoor shops in Hobart and Devonport; essential for the South Coast Track and any remote Tasmanian route
The rental sleeping bag and pack liner services at Devonport and Hobart outdoor shops are excellent — visiting overseas hikers can rent quality -10°C sleeping bags, lightweight tents and waterproof pack liners for the Overland Track without bringing heavy gear from home. Rent before taking the ferry from Melbourne or before flying into Hobart for a seamless logistics solution.
Emergency: 000 | Parks Tasmania: 1300-827-727 | Tasmania Police (South Coast Track registration): 131-444
- Tasmania Police coordinates all wilderness SAR across the state; helicopter rescue available from Hobart and Devonport; highly experienced in Tasmanian wilderness conditions
- Overland Track: Parks Tasmania rangers based at Cradle Valley and Cynthia Bay (Lake St Clair); hut wardens on the track during peak season; inform wardens of your itinerary each morning
- South Coast Track: register with Tasmania Police before departure; provide your exact route, helicopter pickup points and return date; this is the primary trigger for rescue
- PLB coverage: excellent across Tasmania; even in the deep southwest, PLB signals reach AMSA coordination rapidly
- Tasmanian weather — “four seasons in one day” is literally true in Tasmania; severe weather including snow, sleet and horizontal rain can occur on any day including January; always carry full emergency clothing regardless of the morning forecast
- Hypothermia risk — the combination of wind, rain and cold in the Tasmanian wilderness creates rapid heat loss; more people are rescued from Tasmania’s southwest in summer than in winter, due to underestimation of summer conditions
- South Coast Track river crossings — can become impassable within hours after heavy rain; the Crossing River and Crossing River Bar must be crossed at low tide and low water; always check upstream weather
- Leatherwood and horizontal scrub — the southwest’s impenetrable horizontal scrub (Anodopetalum biglandulosum) can make off-track travel almost impossible; stay on marked routes or established lines
- Overland Track — October–May: permit season; November–April peak; October and April/May excellent shoulder season; June–September: snow conditions; winter huts open as standard huts
- South Coast Track — November–April: the only viable window; may still be challenging due to weather any month; avoid the school holiday period (January) for permit-free travel
- Walls of Jerusalem — November–April: snow-free; accessible; stunning; May–October: snow on the plateau; winter requires full equipment
- Freycinet / Bay of Fires — year-round; summer (December–February) warmest; autumn (March–May) finest light and fewer visitors; winter storms create dramatic coastal scenes
April in Tasmania is one of the island’s finest hiking months — the summer crowds have departed, the Overland Track permit season is closing but still accessible, the highland tarns reflect the last autumn light before winter, the leatherwood honey season gives the whole southwest a faint sweetness, and the East Coast beaches at Freycinet and Bay of Fires have a golden solitude that January cannot offer. April is the Tasmanian insider’s choice.
- Hobart (HBA) — main Tasmania gateway; flights from Melbourne (1.5hr), Sydney (2hr), Brisbane (3hr); gateway for Freycinet (2.5hr road), Mount Field (1.5hr), Three Capes Track (2hr)
- Devonport — Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne (10–11hr overnight); gateway for Overland Track via Launceston (2hr road to Cradle Mountain)
- Launceston (LST) — flights from Melbourne (1hr), Sydney (2hr); 1.5hr road to Cradle Mountain (Overland Track northern trailhead)
- Overland Track transport — Tassielink buses run Hobart–Devonport–Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair corridors; no car required for the Overland Track; complete end-to-end logistics available
- South Coast Track access — fly Hobart to Melaleuca airstrip (Wilderness Air, 1hr) for the western end; Cockle Creek (2hr road from Hobart) for the eastern end
The Spirit of Tasmania overnight ferry from Melbourne is one of the finest ways to arrive on the island — departing in the evening, crossing Bass Strait through the night, and sailing into Devonport Harbour at dawn with the Tasmanian mountains visible from the deck. Combined with a hire car for Cradle Mountain, it creates a beautifully unhurried approach to Australia’s greatest hiking island.
- CASA requires drone registration for drones over 250g; mycasa.casa.gov.au
- All Tasmanian national parks (Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair, Southwest NP, Walls of Jerusalem, Freycinet, Mount Field) — drone flying strictly prohibited without Parks Tasmania written authorization
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area — UNESCO and Parks Tasmania dual prohibition; the most comprehensive no-fly protection in Australia
- Within 30m of people — prohibited for sub-2kg drones; the Overland Track and Freycinet are densely visited areas where this restriction is constantly triggered
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is one of the world’s last great temperate wilderness regions — its values are defined precisely by the absence of human infrastructure and noise. Drone flights in this area are not only legally prohibited but fundamentally incompatible with the wilderness character that the World Heritage listing exists to protect. Parks Tasmania enforces the prohibition actively on the Overland Track and at Cradle Mountain.
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