Craclair Tasmania - Walking Tours

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The South Coast Track - 9 Days - Difficult

Outstanding views of this wild untamed coastline…

A true wilderness experience, the South Coast Track takes you on a journey through the South West National Park World Heritage Area. Accessible only by air or boat our trek from Melaleuca to Cockle Creek passes through button grass plains, isolated beaches, rugged mountain ranges and untouched rainforest.

Approximately 80 km’s in length we spend 9 days exploring headlands, river systems, quiet lagoons and coastal ranges. Our generous time frame allows for side trips, a complete rest day or time out swimming, fishing or simply relaxing on an empty beach. Amidst this truly wild area you will discover a cultural landscape with a history of early pioneers and indigenous Australians that is now occupied by an abundance of wildlife including Wombat’s, Pademelons and the rare and endangered Orange-bellied Parrot.

Following a spectacular flight from Hobart your wilderness experience on the South Coast will be enhanced through our experienced guides who passionate about the wilderness, providing local knowledge, great menus and enthusiasm. A highlight of the trip is the sense of group identity that develops from spending 9 days together with a small group and virtually no outside contact.

Itinerary for South Coast Track

The proposed itinerary shown below is flexible enough to allow for extra stopovers in periods of bad weather and so should be considered a guide only.

Day 1

Early morning bus transfer from Hobart to Cambridge aerodrome. Fly by light aircraft to Melaleuca. After observing rare Orange bellied Parrots we walk to the south coast and our camp at Point Eric.

Day 2

Walk to secluded Louisa Bay, campsite of Aboriginal people for thousands of years.

Day 3

Explore Louisa Bay visiting aboriginal middens and crossing tidal land bridge to Louisa Island. Afternoon is spent walking the buttongrass plains to Louisa River where we camp at the foot of the Ironbound Range.

Day 4

A big day! After an early start we climb past Tasmanian Snowgums and White Waratahs to gain the top of the Ironbound Range (1,000m). Views of Federation Peak and the Southern Ranges are often seen before we descend through cool temperate rainforest of Leatherwood and Native Laurel to our camp at Little Deadmans Bay.

Day 5

A day recovering as we re-supply from our food cache and fish for Crayfish and Abalone. Great views of distant islands and peaks help us recharge for the rest of the journey

Day 6

After walking to Turua Beach we hug the coastline of Menzies Bluff before the spectacular beach walk of Prion Beach reveals Precipitous Bluff. We row across the New River lagoon and then continue on to Osmiridium Beach.

Day 7

We explore the wild surf of Osmiridium Beach before a short walk to Surprise Bay. Over another headland to Shoemaker Bay where we spend the night at Granite Beach beside waterfalls that spill onto the coastline.

Day 8

Another hard day over the South Cape Range to our South Cape Rivulet campsite. Much of today's walk is through exquisite rainforest of myrtle, sassafras, laurel and leatherwood.

Day 9

We bid farewell to the South Coast and walk to Cockle Creek where our bus waits to take us back to Hobart, arriving around 4.30pm.

9 days from Hobart

Grade Difficult

8 nights camping