1. Cradle Mountain huts walk
Mist settles on the water on a cool morning in Cradle Mountain National Park (Shutterstock)
Start your discovery of Tasmania on a six-day exploration of Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair National Park, an area with World Heritage status and home to one of the largest areas of temperate rainforest in the world.
Taking on the iconic Overland Track, this is a challenging but extremely rewarding trek and those taking part will be grateful for hot showers and a sumptuous three-course meal awaiting them at the end of the day, in accommodation dotted along the trail. Wake in the morning to freshly brewed coffee and bread just out of the oven before embarking on the next part of the walk.
Expect to meet some of the local wildlife on your travels, including possums, wombats and wallabies.
2. Bruny Island long weekend
Bruny Island Lighthouse at sunset (Shutterstock)
An indulgent three-day walk which combines stunning coastal walks and luxury tented accommodation, with freshly prepared and locally produced food, and delicious regional wine. Spot ample wildlife on exhilarating daily walks of approximately 12km, taking around five to six hours to complete.
Visitors will be immersed in the island’s natural beauty, walking along coastal paths and through rainforest, before taking to the water for a wildlife adventure cruise.
3. Freycinet walk
Freycinet Park (Shutterstock)
On the east coast of Tasmania you’ll find the picturesque Freycinet National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty, where dominating granite mountain peaks meet wonderful turquoise seas. The area is a walker’s paradise and a great introduction to walking in Tasmania.
Over four days, the walk takes you along the entire length of the Freycinet Peninsula, as you negotiate forest, beach and mountain scenery. Highlights include the world-famous Wineglass Bay, numerous wildlife-spotting opportunities and, of course, secluded accommodation, where you can relax and unwind with a tasty home-cooked meal at the end of a day spent exploring awe-inspiring surroundings.
4. Maria Island walk
Yellow painted limestone cliffs in Maria National Park (Shutterstock)
Another of Tasmania’s national parks, Maria Island, is a great place for walking and trekking, the varied landscape providing a beautiful backdrop to these popular outdoor activities.
The Maria Island walk in particular is suitable for most, as long as you have a basic level of fitness, and takes four days to complete. These four days will be filled with beach walks, ambles through forests of Tasmanian blue gums, negotiating Australian bush and swimming in the surrounding seas, before concluding in the abandoned town of Darlington where you can learn about the area’s colourful history.
5. Bay of Fires walk
Sunrise over Picnic Rocks, Mount William National Park (Shutterstock)
A four-day walk that leads you along wild and dramatic coastline at the edge of Mount William National Park, the Bay of Fires walk has a real ‘back to nature’ feel about it. Diverse scenery is one of the many highlights of this walk and you will enjoy picture-perfect countryside, imposing sand dunes and rugged heathland. Ample wildlife spotting opportunities are all part of the trip – expect to see native birds, whales, dolphins, and even the island’s most famous resident, the Tasmanian Devil, if you're lucky.
As with many of Tassie’s walking trips, food is key and you can expect to dine on a fantastic array of locally-sourced dishes, accompanied by some of the island’s finest tipples.
6. The Tarkine Rainforest track
Pieman River, Tarkine Rainforest (Shutterstock)
Perhaps the most demanding of all walks in Tasmania, the six-day trek is based within the area’s temperate rainforest and is Tasmania’s only multi-day rainforest walk.
There is a real sense of being off-the-beaten-track here. As you travel deeper into the forested landscape you are surrounded by towering myrtle and sassafras, and, continuing along the custom-built track you will discover wonderful waterfalls, glorious watering holes and plenty of places to stop and admire the view.
Audley Travel’s specialists know their countries inside out, so when we asked Jenny Bouquet, one of the company’s Australia specialists (and avid walker), to pick out her top walking experiences in Tasmania, she was more than happy to wax lyrical about her favourite region.
