Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 Saturday
Walk: Walk to dinner through the Cataract Gorge Reserve
Trans: None
Accom: Penny Royal Motel: rooms with private facilities
Meals: D
Our exploration of NW Tasmania begins in Launceston at the Pennyroyal Motel, located just a few minutes walk from the renowned Cataract Gorge Reserve. Following a tour briefing we’ll set off for a short walk along the Esk River to the Gorge Restaurant. Set amongst an arboretum of fine old park trees and right beside the river, it’s the perfect dinner venue.
After dinner we’ll walk back to our motel.
DAY 2 Sunday
Walk: Liffey Falls Track 3.6km Approx 1 ½ - 2 hrs Easy. Marakoopa Cave Guided Tour 45 mins Easy
Trans: Byways to Mole Creek Approx 125km
Accom: Mole Creek Guesthouse (single, twin & queen rooms, mix of ensuite & share bathrooms)
Meals: BLD
This morning we leave Launceston and take the main highway west before heading south on minor roads through Bracknell and Liffey. After lunch and a walk we travel through Deloraine and on to the village of Mole Creek where we stay for the next three nights of the trip. Before stopping here though, we’ll visit one of the hundreds of caves in the region. After this we return to Mole Creek and settle into our delightful accommodation. The creek behind the guest house is home to platypus and it is common for the patient observer to see them.
All breakfasts and dinners are in-house and lunches will be packed for hiking days.
Liffey Falls Beginning at a picnic area, this pretty, easy walk on a well constructed track follows the path of an old timber tramway along the Liffey River. The forest is lush with an understorey of ferns. The walk takes a side track for excellent views of Liffey Falls then continues on past several other falls and cascades to emerge at a Big Tree and another picnic area. The vehicle will meet us here.
DAY 3 Monday
ïThe walks for the next two days are weather dependent to an extent so we will be watching the forecast closely. The order of the walks may be switched to take advantage of ‘weather windows’. See note below Weather and Mountain Warnings
Walk: Mt Roland 15.6km return 6 – 7 hrs Moderate
Trans: Approx 30min drive one way.
Accom: Mole Creek Guesthouse (single, twin & queen rooms, mix of ensuite & share bathrooms)
Meals: BLD
Mt Roland This return walk takes us to the summit of Mt Roland (1233m) along an old logging trail that contours beneath the steep plateau, crossing several crystal clear streams overhung with myrtle and sassafras. A small waterfall marks the transition to the alpine zone. Board-walk and gravel track traverses an alpine plateau, culminating with a short boulder scramble to the summit of Mt Roland. The return walk is by the same track. The total elevation gain for the walk is 1010m however the majority of the walk is well graded. NB This walk is mostly all above 1200m and we will need to be prepared for any kind of weather.
DAY 4 Tuesday
Walk: Walls of Jerusalem and Dixon’s Kingdom Hut 20kms return 8 – 9 hrs return Moderate
Trans: Approx 50 min drive to trail head
Accom: Mole Creek Guesthouse
Meals: BLD
Walls of Jerusalem and Dixon’s Kingdom Hut This full day return walk into the Walls of Jerusalem and Dixon’s Kingdom Hut is mostly on rock or boardwalk with almost no mud. Approximately an hour and a half of up hill work brings us to Trappers Hut. Shortly after, the plateau is gained and the walking is spectacular. The track winds through alpine vegetation and around lakes of all sizes with dramatic rock ramparts rising from the valley.
NB This area is mostly all above 1200m and we will need to be prepared for any kind of weather, including snow.
As this is a return hike we can make the day shorter as necessary.
DAY 5 Wednesday
Walk: Rocky Cape NP (short walks)
Trans: Approx 200km
Meals: BL (D guest’s own in Stanley)
Accom: Abbey’s Cottages (self contained cottages, shared bathrooms)
After a hearty breakfast at the guesthouse we farewell the village of Mole Creek and head towards the coast. First stop is Sheffield, a town that reinvigorated its economy by turning blank building walls into mural spaces; a process that has been drawing visitors to the town ever since. We’ll stop here and allowing time for a wander in the main street and to enjoy some of the fine craft galleries and coffee shops. Continuing on, we meet the coast at the port city of Devonport and head west with views of Bass Strait all the way to Stanley. Just before Stanley is Rocky Cape NP. There are a range of short interesting walks to aboriginal caves at Sisters Beach and as well as a trail to Anniversary Bay over a headland featuring gnarled old banksias.
Once in Stanley we can settle into our charming accommodations and the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy this unique little town and its surrounds. Dominating the landscape is ‘The Nut’ which can be reached via a steep footpath or a chairlift ($10pp). It’s well worth the trip up for the wildlife and the views. Dinner this evening can be enjoyed at any one of a number of excellent restaurants (reservations should be made) or you can prepare your own meal at ‘home’.
DAY 6 Thursday
Walk: Cradle Mountain NP Short loop walks near the Ranger Station. Valley hike on boardwalk (1 hour plus shuttle return)
Trans: Approx 200km / 3hrs
Meals: BLD
Accom: Cradle Mountain Chateau (Deluxe Spa Rooms)
After breakfast and lunch pack we farewell Stanley; making our way back east to Wynyard before heading south on the Murchison Highway then across the Black Bluff Range and into Cradle Valley where we check in to the Cradle Mountain Chateau.
This is a relatively easy day and there will be opportunities to visit the Ranger Station Interpretive Centre and do the easy loop walks nearby. If you would like a longer hike you can take the board walk to Snake Hill and catch the shuttle back. You may even encounter one of the abundant local wombats.
At 5.30pm we enter the world of the very special Tasmanian Devil at nearby ‘Devils @ Cradle’ sanctuary. The 1 ½ hour presentation is excellent and will give you great insight into the life of these timid little creatures as well as their cousins, the Quoll. Our entry payment also goes to helping this extremely vulnerable marsupial.
Dinner at the Chateau tonight is a relaxed buffet affair at Quoll’s Bistro.
DAY 7 Friday
Walk: Ronny Creek, Crater Peak, Kitchen Hut, Face Track, Hanson’s Peak, Dove Lake Car Park . Approx 11 km, 8 hours. Moderate with some challenging rough sections (especially Face Track, Hanson’s Peak)
Trans: Local shuttle bus
Meals: BLD (Quoll’s Bistro)
Accom: Cradle Mountain Chateau Deluxe Spa Rooms
The walks for the next two days are weather dependent to an extent so we will be watching the forecast closely. The order of the walks may be switched to take advantage of ‘weather windows’. See note below Weather and Mountain Warnings
Our first walk into Cradle Mountain brings us straight up into the heart of the breathtaking scenery (on a clear day anyhow!). The circuit walk begins at Ronny Creek (940m) from where the Horse Track steadily climbs to Crater Peak (1270m) poised above Crater Lake. At Kitchen Hut we can rest (there is a loo here) and enjoy the views before setting out beneath Cradle Mountain itself on the Face Track. This section is narrow and requires steady footwork in places. The final section is over Hanson’s Peak (1185m) with wonderful views of Dove Lake. The track descends steadily to the lake shore on the Lake Rodway Track before arriving at the Dove Lake Car Park.
There is a wonderful diversity of environments on this circuit through ancient glacier landscapes; with a glorious array of plants and kaleidoscopes of colour on the rocks.
DAY 8 Saturday
Walk: Ronny Ck to Dove Lake (approx 4.7km 2 hours) Easy – moderate. Dove Lake Circuit (approx 5.4km 2 hours) Easy
Trans: Shuttle into Ronny Creek and return
Meals: BLD
Accom: Cradle Mountain Chateau Deluxe Spa Rooms
Today we venture back into the park to make a lower elevation exploration of the lakes and forests. The walks are no less engaging however and you will be entranced by the nature of this place and beauty of the landscape towering above you. There will be plenty of time for enjoying our last day of hiking in Tasmania.
Starting at Ronny Creek once again, we take a track that skirts Crater Falls and brings us to the shores of Crater Lake. The ridge to the east is gained before a connecting track brings us down to Wombat Pool (many steps) then to Lake Lilla and around to the start of the busy Dove Lake Circuit. Take your time admiring the lake and peaks reflected in its waters from the many view points and platforms. There are magnificent King Billy Pine stands and pandani groves and you many even spot a Pink Robin amongst the branches.
Our final dinner tonight is at The Grey Gums a la carte restaurant at the Chateau. There will be a two course set menu dinner with a choice of dishes.
DAY 9 Sunday
Trans: Return to Launceston and the airport (approx 2 ½ hours)
Meals: B
Today we farewell Cradle Mountain and travel back to Launceston. If you are staying on in Launceston we will leave you in town before continuing to the airport to meet our flights.
THE NATIONAL PARKS and RESERVES
All of the parks we visit and walk in have user fees imposed. These are all covered in the tour price.
Walls of Jerusalem NP / Mt Roland Reserve The Walls of Jerusalem are situated on the Central Plateau of Tasmania and form part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Beautiful grassy valleys with pockets of pencil pine are surrounded by towering cliffs and peaks of dolerite.
South of Devonport, Mt Roland and Mt Vandyke are the high points of a small range that rises out of the rolling farmlands. Bordered by rugged cliff lines, the range is a gently sloping alpine plateau accessed by a walking track that follows an old logging track. New boardwalk allows easy access across creeks and areas of alpine wetland.
“Rocky Cape NP is full of surprises. You may only want to make a quick visit to the Rocky Cape lighthouse with its sweeping views, but there is much more to see if you take the time. Before you know it you're finding out there's more to this park than meets the eye. Aboriginal heritage, ship wrecks, rock formations turned sideways, beautiful hills running down to the sea and an incredible variety of flowering plants. It makes the many corners of this small park worth closer inspection.” (Information from Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania)
Cradle Mountain NP “Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the wild Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair National Park, itself a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rainforest and alpine heathlands, buttongrass and stands of colourful deciduous beech provide a range of environments to explore. Icy streams cascading out of rugged mountains, stands of ancient pines mirrored in the still waters of glacial lakes and a wealth of wildlife ensure there is always something to captivate you. The area is one of the most popular natural areas in Tasmania. Cradle is the starting point for the world-famous Overland Track.
The Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park shares a "Twin Parks" agreement with the World Heritage listed Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve in the People's Republic of China.” (Information from Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania)
WEATHER AND MOUNTAIN WARNINGS
Many of the areas covered in this tour are in alpine environments. In general the western region of Tasmania is subject to highly changeable weather and high winds, rain, sleet and snow are possible even in the middle of summer. A fine day can turn on very challenging conditions within a very short period of time. Cradle Mountain NP is subject to up to 2000mm of rain per year!
In these areas each person MUST carry the minimum equipment as specified in the packing list. Gear will be checked in Launceston to ensure it is adequate for the conditions we may encounter.
If deteriorating conditions are encountered on the track the guides reserve the right to cut short any walk and retreat to a safer area. This may include sheltering in a hut until conditions ease or returning to the vehicle.
If the weather forecast is considered too hazardous for walks in the alpine then the guides reserve the right to cancel the scheduled walk and offer alternative walks or optional activities.
