8 best day hikes and multi-day tracks in Tasmania

Described by many as the lovechild of Australia and New Zealand, Tasmania boasts some of the country’s most striking landscapes, greatest natural diversity, and finest bushwalking, all crammed onto a wonderfully wild and easily navigable island between Melbourne and Antarctica. Whether it’s coastal scenery or vibrant beaches that strike your fancy, sub-alpine landscapes or jagged mountain peaks, unique geological phenomena or rare endemic species, remote excursions or quick afternoon escapes, it is literally all waiting for you in Tassie. Here’s everything you need to know about 8 of my favourite bushwalks— hopefully this post will inspire you to visit Tasmania’s truly magical outdoor paradise and discover why everyone is just so bananas about our little island state.

1 | Overland Track

Meandering nearly 70km from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair along well-maintained natural trails and stretches of elevated boardwalk, Tasmania’s (and possibly even Australia’s) most iconic long-distance hike is nothing short of breathtaking. Spend a week exploring lush forests, summiting jagged alpine peaks, watching the sunset over mountain tarns, and admiring the vast expanse of Tasmanian wilderness from rocky outcrops. The best thing about this trek is its accessibility to hikers of all fitness levels; the walk is flat and easy, save for a few steeper side-trips, and is truly a social experience. Stay in warm huts or on tent platforms, but either way, enjoy meeting people from all over Australia and learning something new on each day’s walk. The main hiking season is from October to April, delightfully coinciding with snake season, and temperatures are usually comfortable during this period. Critters aside, this walk truly is a Tassie icon.

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Getting there: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a 2.5hr drive from Launceston airport or a 1.5hr drive from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry in Devonport

Trailhead: Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (finishing at Lake St Clair Lodge)

Distance: 65-80km, depending on side-trips

Trail time: 6 days

Difficulty: Moderate (although some of the side-trips are challenging); you’ll need to carry all of your food and camping gear for 6 days

Highlights: Summit Cradle Mountain and Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak; walk through lush green forests and explore towering waterfalls; look out over the expanse of mountains and rolling hills in Cradle Country; meet wallabies, Tasmanian Devils, echidnas, and snakes on the trail

Read more: THE OVERLAND TRACK: A COMPREHENSIVE DIY GUIDE TO TASMANIA’S MOST ICONIC MULTI-DAY HIKE

2 | Mt Amos Summit Walk

The immensely popular Wineglass Bay Lookout walk may be shorter and less strenuous, but the sweaty climb up Mt Amos offers indisputably better views of the brilliant aquamarine bay framed by powder-fine white sand that has made Tasmania’s east coast an international tourist destination. Start from Freycinet National Park’s main carpark and head uphill, avoiding the milky sections of pink granite that have been polished to a practically frictionless surface by thousands of footsteps, as it’s all too easy to slip right off whatever near-vertical section of Mt Amos you’re attempting to ascend/descend. This hike is truly a challenge, but once at the top, it’s impossible not to gasp at the view over Wineglass Bay.

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Getting there: Drive 2.5hrs from Hobart to reach Freycinet National Park

Trailhead: Wineglass Bay walk carpark

Distance: 4km return

Trail time: 2hrs

Difficulty: Difficult; a steep trail followed by challenging scrambling

Highlights: Unparalleled views over Wineglass Bay

Read more: SUMMITING MT AMOS FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEST VIEW OF WINEGLASS BAY

3 | Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

A short and undemanding walk from the Main Road of Bruny Island out to a sprawling (but surprisingly secluded) golden beach, the Cape Queen Elizabeth walk is one of this little island off an island off an island‘s most stunning trails. As beautiful as the beach vistas may be, though, it is the intriguing Mars Bluff Arch that really steals the show, wind-whipped and chiseled over thousands of years into fascinating geometric patterns. In low tide, it’s possible to walk a shorter and more direct route to the Arch, but even in high tide, this natural rock formation is impossibly photogenic, offering a window over the always-pumping Tasman Sea. This is truly one of the most unique spots in Tasmania, and possibly even the world, so it is absolutely not to be missed when on Bruny Island!

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Getting there: Drive 30min from Hobart to Kettering and catch the Sealink across to Bruny Island

Trailhead: Cape Queen Elizabeth trailhead on Bruny Island Main Road (directly across from Bruny Island Honey)

Distance: 6-7km return

Trail time: 2hrs if taking the bluff path at high tide, 1.25hrs if taking the beach path at low tide

Difficulty: Easy; at low tide, you can walk all the way to The Arch on a wide, flat trail, and even at high tide, there’s only about 10min of gentle uphill and a short section of downhill on the other side to reach the beach

Highlights: Views of the sandy coastline all the way to The Neck; walk through the beautiful Mars Bluff Arch

Read more: CAPE QUEEN ELIZABETH: DISCOVERING THE INCREDIBLE MARS BLUFF ARCH

4 | Cradle Mountain Summit Walk

It may not be the state’s highest mountain, but it is far and away the most iconic, its instantly recognisable swathe of jagged peaks gracing the cover of thousands of books, brochures, and blogs about Tasmania. The summit of Cradle Mountain is every bit as stunning as the mountain itself, offering sprawling views over the textured landscape below, nearby Barn Bluff, and several dozen lakes and tarns. You can tack an ascent of this legendary mountain onto your Overland Track itinerary in about 2hrs, but it’s also possible as a long day hike from Dove Lake, taking in some of the surrounding scenery before starting the climb. The first section is on a switch-backing trail, which gradually gives way to large dolerite boulders, and eventually becomes all-out scrambling for the remainder of the journey to the summit. Given the haphazard track and fairly steep ascent, this is a reasonably difficult hike only to be undertaken by those with appropriate gear and experience.

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Getting there: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a 2.5hr drive from Launceston airport or a 1.5hr drive from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry in Devonport

Trailhead: Ronny Creek (shuttle from Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre)

Distance: 13km

Trail time: 8hrs

Difficulty: Moderate-difficult; the hike to the base of Cradle Mountain is somewhat steep, followed by scrambling for most of the way up to the summit

Highlights: Incredible aerial views of the Overland Track; look out at Barn Bluff and a sea of little mountain lakes; challenging but rewarding scramble to the summit

Read more: HIKING THE OVERLAND TRACK (DAY 1): RONNY CREEK TO CRADLE MOUNTAIN

5 | Three Capes Track

After more than 10 years of conceptualisation, design and rigorous construction, the incredible and highly anticipated Three Capes Track was opened to the public in late 2015. Now regarded as one of the best bushwalks in the entire country, experience otherworldly dolerite pillars and rugged coastal scenery that are entirely unique to the Capes, fall in love with the romantic desolation of the landscape, and immerse yourself in nature— all before retiring to a public hut that could be straight out of Architecture Australia. At $495 for a trail pass, this is the most expensive independent hike you can undertake in Tasmania, but the surreal beauty and immersive nature of this walk make it well-worth the price tag. Forty beautifully crafted seats along the trail correspond to stories in a booklet you’re handed upon check-in, providing depth and context to every step of your journey. Forgot about Point A to Point B— the Three Capes Track is all about the experience, so slow down and look at your surroundings, connect with the rich culture and history of the area, and be present in nature from start to finish.

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Getting there: Drive about 1.5hrs from Hobart to Port Arthur

Trailhead: Jetty at Port Arthur Historic Site

Distance: 48km

Trail time: 4 days

Difficulty: Easy; beautifully-graded trail and Australia’s best public huts with all the trimmings of a luxury trip

Highlights: An incredible immersive experience on the Tasman Peninsula; unrivalled coastal scenery; views of rugged Tasman Island; traverse Cape Pillar and Cape Huay; lose yourself in the history and beauty of this region

Read more: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO HIKING TASMANIA’S THREE CAPES TRACK

6 | Dove Lake Circuit

Although Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park may be best known for the Overland Track, there are a number of shorter hikes stretching across the park that are equally scenic (and more accessible if you’re not ready to commit to 6 days). From the Visitors Centre, take the shuttle bus (included in the price of a Parks Pass) to Dove Lake and begin this short and gentle loop around picturesque Dove Lake. Both Glacier Rock and the Boatshed offer some of the best views of Cradle Mountain you’ll find in the entire park.

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Getting there: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a 2.5hr drive from Launceston airport or a 1.5hr drive from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry in Devonport

Trailhead: Hop off the Cradle Mountain shuttle bus at Dove Lake

Distance: 6km loop

Trail time: 2hrs

Difficulty: Easy; the flat trail circles Dove Lake

Highlights: Incredible views of Cradle Mountain; perfect swimming conditions at Dove Lake

7 | Hazards Circuit

Thousands of visitors make the short walk up to Wineglass Bay Lookout to see Tasmania’s most beautiful beach from above, but surprisingly few continue onwards to actually set foot on its perfectly white sand or swim in the crystal-clear water. The ascent to Wineglass Bay Lookout can be a little steep, but the incline is short-lived and the reward of swimming in sheltered Wineglass Bay afterwards is enough to encourage even the most reluctant of hikers to push through. With camping at either Wineglass Beach or Hazards Beach, this is one of the best overnight walks in Freycinet National Park, and one that features plenty of flat beach walking and scenic ocean views. For the ultimate experience, combine this 2-day adventure with a quick ascent of Mt Amos, departing from the same trailhead.

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Getting there: Freycinet National Park is a 2.5hr drive from Hobart or a 3.5hr drive from Launceston

Trailhead: Wineglass Bay walk carpark

Distance: 17km loop

Trail time: 4.5hrs (best enjoyed across 2 days)

Difficulty: Easy; aside from the steep ascent to Wineglass Bay Lookout, this trail is entirely flat

Highlights: See Wineglass Bay from above; walk along Wineglass Beach; camp at Hazards Beach

Read more: WINEGLASS BAY: HIKING THE HAZARDS CIRCUIT IN FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK

8 | Bay of Fires Lodge Walk

Experience the characteristic white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and vivid orange lichen of Tasmania’s Bay of Fires in unparalleled luxury with the Tasmanian Walking Company. This is the only hike on the list that I haven’t actually completed myself (the $2,500 price tag is admittedly daunting), but while staying in Ansons Bay, we were invited to attend Locals Day at the Bay of Fires Lodge where we learned all about this incredible walk and got to experience some of the comforts first-hand. Not only is the scenery along the trail breathtaking, but the entire hiking experience has been totally reinvented to incorporate every possible luxury — gourmet meals and pedicures await you post-hike, spa baths are perfectly positioned over the vibrant coastline, and the minimalist lodge has been designed specifically to give the impression of being “inside when outside, and outside when inside”, as one of the staff eloquently put it. This is a hike for people who want to experience all the beauty and seclusion of the Australian bush without all the dirt or a heavy pack. I sincerely hope I make it back one day as a proper guest (if only for the spa bath).

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Getting there: As part of this all-inclusive walk, you are transported from Launceston to the Bay of Fires region in a private shuttle

Trailhead: Boulder Point in Mt William National Park

Distance: 33km, plus kayaking along Ansons River

Trail time: 4 days

Difficulty: Easy; incredibly flat trail, luxury catering and lodge accomodation

Highlights: Walk along the white beaches and kayak the crystal clear waters of Tassie’s Bay of Fires; experience remote wilderness from the comfort of a luxury bush lodge

Read more: Bay of Fires Lodge Walk

*Safety in the Tasmanian bush

• Tasmanian weather is wildly unpredictable, so pack and prepare for all conditions in a single day. This means carrying a jumper and rain jacket even on short hikes in the summer!
• If you are hiking out of mobile reception (especially if you are hiking alone!), hire a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) from a Service Tasmania shop in Devonport, Launceston, Burnie, or Hobart so that you are able to call for help.
• Make sure to brush up on your snakebite care before hitting the trail and exercise particular caution when walking through bushes/shrubs. You can get an idea of how to use the Pressure Immobilisation Technique by watching this video on YouTube. Pack the necessary bandages in your First Aid Kit.
• On that note, always bring a First Aid Kit, even on short hikes! I sprained my ankle on the summit of Cradle Mountain and thankfully my parents had a supply of strapping tape and painkillers in their “trouble kit”, without which I might not have gotten off the mountain.
• Although they might make you look like a retiree, I still swear by my trekking poles for any steep or long hikes. 

Other tips for hiking in Tasmania

• Transport options around Tasmania are extremely limited, so it’s easiest to drive to all of these hikes yourself (see my guide to the Overland Track, this is a tricky one even with a car). That being said, it’s not impossible to hit the trail by using a combination of buses and private shuttles.
• The best options for hikers without a car: Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Three Capes Track, Cradle Mountain summit, and Dove Lake Circuit.
• For any overnight hikes, you’ll need to buy fuel for your stove in Tasmania if you’re flying in (you can carry it on the ferry if you are driving). There are a number of outdoors shops in Launceston and Hobart, including Anaconda, where you can stock up on fuel, dehydrated mountain food, and most other camping/hiking essentials.
• Check out this post for all the best gear recommendations: BUILDING THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE KIT: THE BEST HIKING & BACKPACKING GEAR FOR WOMEN

Check out more awesome things to do in Tasmania

CRADLE MOUNTAIN CANYONING: JUMPING, SLIDING, & ABSEILING THROUGH DOVE CANYON

TOP 5 MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS TO EXPLORE IN TASMANIA’S BAY OF FIRES

WHAT TO DO ON BRUNY ISLAND: THE PERFECT DAY-TRIP ITINERARY

PIRATES BAY & EAGLEHAWK NECK: DRIVING THE TASMAN PENINSULA

BUILDING THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE KIT: THE BEST HIKING & BACKPACKING GEAR FOR WOMEN