Stories from our backyard: Discovering Tasmania’s spectacular wilderness

If there is one thing that our collective pause of the last 2 years has taught us, it is our desire to look after the ones we love as well as ourselves. Similarly, our wanderlust dreaming is all about the opportunity of doing our future chosen adventures well. It’s the zeitgeist of our time. It’s prioritising and being fortunate enough to invest the time in a genuine break with our loved ones. To travel in a respectful and sustainable way. To go for big and reconnect with nature. To restore, revitalise and reinvigorate. Well, I can think of no better answer to this defining mood than an immersion in a wilderness realm and the Tasmanian Walking Company has the answer with discovering Tasmania’s spectacular wilderness on fully guided multi-day walking experiences. Not only that, they also offer the perfect balance of uncomplicated luxury, adventure, and unspoiled wilderness. Expect fully guided walks with private accommodation in pristine environments. To put it simply, I think it’s a perfect excuse to take some time out and reconnect with a Tasmanian wilderness immersion in your next Australia itinerary.

Tasmania is a small island with lots to offer. With over 40% of the land listed as World Heritage, it is an island that values its wilderness. It’s an ideal place to pause, reflect and simply, breathe. Take time to feast on the local produce, embrace the light and fresh air, and meet animals in their natural habitat. The Freycinet Peninsula and Freycinet National Park is no exception. It is widely considered one of Tasmania’s, if not Australia’s, most beautiful National Parks. Freycinet is iconic, memorable, and breathtaking. Expect pink granite mountains, white beaches, and azure bays. Only a 2.5-hour drive north-east of Hobart, there is much to explore. Don’t miss the chance to take in the scenery from a wilderness cruise, guided kayak paddle or a scenic flight. Set out on one of the numerous walking tracks for a short hike or an overnight trek. Meet the local residents whether on land or sea, including the brush tail possums, wallabies, wombats, sea eagles, dolphins and migrating whales. But of course, the Freycinet Peninsula is best known for Wineglass Bay, considered to be one of the top ten beaches in the world with its beautiful setting.

Connecting people to place…

The Tasmanian Walking Company offers five different walking experiences across the breadth of Tasmania. All of them are based around taking the path less travelled, reconnecting with the spectacular nature, and enjoying the comforts of a fully cooked meal, some local wine, a hot shower, and a comfortable bed of an evening. The minimum age to participate is 10-12 years, and you can choose between easy to challenging grade walks. The small group sizes facilitate a connection not only with your fellow walkers but with your accompanying expert guides who deliver a deeper understanding of the breathtaking surrounds. Their foundation walk is the famous Cradle Mountain Huts Walk , also known as the Overland Track. These huts formed the basis of the six-day guided walk which has now been operating successfully for over 30 years through the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. To this day, it is the only private accommodation on the track.

There is no doubt that the Tasmanian Walking Company is well-justified for shining a spotlight on discovering Tasmania’s spectacular wilderness. The company is a multi-award-winning operator featured with the Great Walks of Australia collective. You can choose between 3/4/6 or 8 day walking experiences which cover such iconic destinations as the aforementioned Cradle Mountain as well as the Bay of Fires, Bruny Island, Tasman National Park and of course, Freycinet National Park. The Freycinet Peninsula is featured in the Wineglass Bay Sail Walk. This amazing 4 or 6 day walk is the only one of its kind in Tasmania. Only 8 hikers can soak up the spectacular beaches, peninsulas and island trails found in national parks along the east coast. Share in the wonders of Maria Island, Freycinet Peninsula, Schouten Island and the Tasman Peninsula.  This walk is supported by the spectacular Lady Eugenie, a beautiful 23-metre (75-ft) classic ketch. It has been known that a swim with wild dolphins is possible if you are keen for a dip!

Fall in love. Develop a connection. Understand the need to conserve….

The Tasmanian Walking Company’s vision is to inspire people to connect with and conserve the natural environment and culture of the Australian wilderness for generations to come. They are absolutely committed to making a real difference with sustainable tourism at the heart of what they do. Here’s a sample of community and environmental projects of which the company supports: Wildcare Tasmania, Aboriginal Guide training program, Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife and the Raptor Refuge. In speaking with the company’s General Manager, Heath Garratt, it is the magic of connecting people with the places they visit which sits at the very core of the Tasmanian Walking Company’s spirit. And to site Heath’s favourite quote which is very apt….  “we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught” Baba Dioum.

So, with the combination of exceptional multi-day walking experiences, the spectacular wilderness surrounds and supporting the local community, the Tasmanian Walking Company and the Freycinet Peninsula are a perfect choice. Make sure to include a 3-8 day hike in Tasmania on your next visit…. I know it will be the highlight of your Aussie adventure!

Facts:

Tasmania is famous for four seasons in one day, so it is best to be prepared and pack accordingly! After all, this is the most southerly state of Australia and the last stop before you hit Antarctica. Ideally the best months to visit are between December – May. The summer months will deliver warm and dry weather with average temperatures 20-24 degrees Celsius. Autumn is when you can expect cool dry days & crisp nights. The bonus is there are not so many visitors at this time, and if you are a foodie then this is when produce is as its peak! Expect daytime average temperatures in Autumn of between 15-20 degrees Celsius.

Good to know:

Hobart is easily accessed with direct flights from all Australian capital cities, with just over a 1-hour flight from Melbourne to 2:40-hour flight from Brisbane. Located a 2.5hour drive north-east of Hobart is Freycinet National Park which features pink granite mountains, azure waters, and Wineglass Bay, which is considered to be one of the top ten beaches in the world. The Freycinet Peninsula not only hosts the most celebrated view in Tasmania, but also boasts wild rugged wilderness with a superb variety of plants and animals. Don’t miss some amazing short or longer treks in the National Park including the Wineglass Bay Lookout trek. Make time to go further afield and visit Maria Island and observe its local population of wombats, kangaroos, and Tasmanian Devils. Enjoy some fabulous seafood and taste fresh oysters at Freycinet Marine Farm and visit Devils Corner winery for wine, food & unbeatable views. If you are light on time, then do a 3-hour guided paddle or another great option is the 4-hour wilderness cruise with Wineglass Bay Cruises. Other highlights of the region include scenic flights and a stay at an award-winning luxury lodge. You can also rent your own private island for 10 guests! As you can tell from the activities it is absolutely worthwhile to stay a 2-3+ nights to soak up this dramatic coastline and experiences.

And finally:

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