Updated: Feb 2022
Published: Feb 2005

Tasmanian short walks

Tasmania has some of the most spectacular walks in the country. The Overland Track is probably the most famous but Tassie has plenty of scope for less (and more) arduous hikes. As an added bonus, it's a fairly small state, and there are tour companies who run shuttle buses to and from some of the more popular trailheads.

View from Mt Wedge

Looking north over Lake Gordon from the summit of Mt Wedge. The Mt Wedge track is a a reasonably steep day walk up and back from the carpark off Gordon River Road, a few hours drive from Hobart.

Western Arthurs descent
Looking out over the Port Davey track from Moraine A in the Western Arthur range in south-west Tasmania. The Western Arthurs are a long and spectacular range, with many beautiful perched lakes on either side of the craggy main ridge.
Button grass and Mount Anne
Looking back to Mount Anne on the Port Davey track.
Schouten Island beach

Schouten Island is just off the end of the Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast of Tasmania. There wasn't much walking involved in this trip - we paid a bloke in Coles Bay to ferry us there and back by boat. I think the island is separated from the peninsula by about a kilometre or so of water. An excellent place for snorkeling and some pleasant day walking. This beach is just near the main campsite.

Strolling on the beach
Further along the main beach of Schouten Island.
Waiting for a boat
The bloke with the boat is supposed to turn up this afternoon to take us back to Coles Bay.
Coles Bay jetty
Back at Coles Bat after the Schouten Island trip.
Dove Lake
A cold and foggy December day (yes, summertime) on the main loop at Cradle Mountain in central-west Tasmania.
Mossy Forest
On a day walk from lake St Clair to Mt. Rufus and back.
View over Maria Island
Maria Island is just south of the Freycinet peninsula. This is a view from the top of the walk up to Bishop and Clerk, the two most prominent outcrops on the northern end of the island. Maria Island is a great spot if you want to do a few day walks. You can stay in the old penitentiary and spend probably 2 or 3 days walking around the northern end of the island. If you've got a bicycle and like bush camping, you could probably spend a week there. There are no cars, but it looks like there are a good number of reasonable firetrails that would let you explore much more of the island.
Sunset from Maria Island
Looking back towards Triabunna from the north end of Maria Island. I didn't really need to walk far to get this image - this spot is only a few hundred metres from the penitentiary.
Creek near French's Farm
This scene is from an April 2006 kayaking trip to Maria Island. From Rheban Beach near Orford on the Tasmanian east coast we paddled out past Lachlan Island and landed here, near French's Farm a few hours later.
Tree and wetland
Just down from the hut at French's Farm is this quite picturesque wetland.