Tasmania has been rated by the well travelled folks at Lonely Planet as one of the world’s top regions to visit in 2015. The Three Capes Track in Tasman National Park is the hot new arrival set to open by the end of 2015 — a multi-day walk covering 46 kilometres of cliff-hugging wilderness in Australia’s far south-east. Expect dolerite chasms, tall eucalypts and towering sea cliffs. This coastal bushwalking experience takes you quite along the world’s edge.
Cape Pillar and the Blade. Photo: Stu Gibson/ Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Here in the Tasman Peninsula, bookings have opened for the bushwalking experience that weaves alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs and the three capes; Pillar, Hauy and Raoul. Bushwalking is walking through the “bush”, that is the Australian wilderness and this experience is suitable for all fitness levels.
Cape Pillar. Photo: Joe Shemesh/ Tourism Tasmania
Cape Pillar, with its 300m-high cliffs, is known for its exquisite isolation and also affords the best mainland view of Tasman Island and its towering cliff edges. A short detour can be made to Monument Lookout via the Cape Pillar trail. The 200m-high sheer cliff of Monument Lookout is hard to miss, though it is not clearly sign posted. From here exceptional views of Cape Hauy and the Hippolytes can be seen, along with Cape Pillar and Tasman Island.
The Monument off Cape Hauy. Photo: Stu Gibson/ Tasman National Park
The track links Denman’s Cove, opposite the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, to Cape Huay via a purpose-built boat. Three cabins (designed with sustainability features) have been built at locations with spectacular views for resting your weary leg. Four days later, you emerge at Fortescue Bay with its calm waters, just right for a rewarding dip.
Fortescue Bay. Photo: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasman National Park is famous for its incredible rock formations, soaring 300 metre high dolerite sea cliffs and is home to the brushtail possum, Australian fur seals, penguins, dolphins and migrating whales – all that make for good company on this trail.
Austalian fur seals. Photo: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Another bushwalking option in the national park is to take the Overland Track. The alpine wilderness walk is a six-day trek through the Cradle Mountain- Lake St Clair National Park. Here the landscape includes glacially-carved valleys, ancient rainforests, fragrant eucalypt forest, buttongrass moorlands and alpine meadows.
The rugged, pristine coast of Tasman National Park. Photo: Stu Gibson/ Tasman National Park
Book your trip: www.threecapestrack.com.au. For more info on Tasmania, visit www.discovertasmania.com.au.
Getting there: Take the eco-friendly route instead of driving – book a bus seat – several bus companies offering services to and from Port Arthur.
When to go: Summer – 16-19°C in summer. Winter: 11-12°C. In spring (Sept – Nov), the highlights are coastal heath in flower, migrating whales. Summer (Dec – Feb): Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, summer music and food/wine festivals including the Falls Festival, MONA FOMA and Taste of Tasmania. Autumn (March – May): migrating whales, short-tailed shearwaters annual migration, orchids flowering. Winter (June – Aug): Night skies, acacia trees in bloom, winter swells, seals, dolphins, whales and a chance of snow.
Cape Pillar and the Blade. Photo: Stu Gibson/ Tasman National Park