Price: $2,395 Duration: 8 days, 7 nights*
2019 Departures
- 26th October – 2nd November
- 18th – 25th December
2020 Departures
- 10th- 17th January
- 22nd – 29th February
- 16th – 23rd March
- 11th – 18th April
To make a booking please complete a booking form and e-mail it to us: info@twe.travel
For terms and conditions click here.
*A compulsory briefing is held in Hobart on the evening before departure.
SOUTH COAST TRACK
Grade: T2 – Narrower but distinct tracks, which can be muddy in some places, in pristine natural environments. Facilities are minimal and you will encounter few other walkers. These moderate tours require a reasonable level of fitness.
Click here for all other Walking Tour Gradings
Southwest National Park
Located in Southwest National Park, the 
South Coast Track is one of Tasmania’s most remote tracks, combining an extraordinary range of environments and conditions featuring bleak button grass plains, breathtaking ocean vistas, unspoilt temperate rainforest and an exposed alpine plateau. The walk encompasses the entire panorama of Tasmania’s geological history from its oldest rocks in the west (600 million years old), coal seams and fluted dolerite cliffs in the east (160m) to sands and gravels from the last ice age (2m).
The sense of isolation is highlighted by the light aircraft flight from Cambridge Airport (Hobart) to the landing strip at Melaleuca. This short exhilarating flight provides spectacular views of the Eastern Arthur Range, including the remarkable Federation Peak, before landing at the now-defunct tin mining works at Melaleuca.
Itinerary and Tour Description
Day 1: Hobart to Point Eric on the Cox Bight
Our adventure starts with a spectacular flight to Melaleuca airstrip near Bathurst Harbour where we start our walk. We descend on gentle slopes to Freney Lagoon with the bleak New Harbour Range to the west, and then along the beach at Cox Bight. After a short walk we arrive at our delightful campsite at Point Eric in the forest above the beach. You can enjoy a refreshing swim in the Bight here before dinner or just soak up the views.
Day 2: Point Eric to Louisa River
We leave the beach for a short steep climb up the Red Point Hills which gives us our first views of the track ahead to our destination at the river, and the Ironbound Range beyond. Gentle walking around the slopes as we gradually descend onto the flood plain of the Louisa River. We walk through occasional thickets of eucalypts at stream crossings, and ford the Louisa River leading us to our campsite. Based in the forest next to the ancient alluvial deposits exposed by the river, there is an opportunity for a quick dip in the river to freshen up.
Day 3: Louisa River, Ironbounds Range to Little Deadmans Bay
An early start for the long and strenuous climb up the Ironbounds for our lunch stop. We ascend from the moorland plain to an exposed alpine plateau on the range,
with more stunning 3600 views from Louisa Bay to Federation Peak and beyond. The plateau features typical low growing alpine flora, featuring wind and ice-pruned herbs, grasses and shrubs, cushion plants, and stunted eucalypts. We descend from the Ironbounds plateau on the more sheltered eastern side of the range, with a striking change to a temperate rainforest featuring a variety of old growth trees (sassafras, myrtle, leatherwood and celery-top pine). Our campsite is at the peaceful Little Deadmans Bay with another swimming opportunity, and the chance to explore the coastal fringe.
Day 4: Little Deadmans Bay to New River Lagoon
An easy day’s walking to Prion Beach and the New River Lagoon. We walk the beach with the Southern Ocean booming on our right to the lagoon entrance, and cross it by rowboats to our campsite among the coastal tea-trees. The wonderful coastal and lagoon views here are matched by the backdrop of Precipitous Bluff in the hinterland and the Ironbounds to the west. Refreshing swims are again possible in the lagoon.
Day 5: New River Lagoon to Granite Beach
A short wade along the sandy lagoon leads us to our track through the eucalypt forest and on to the aptly-named Granite Beach, and the delightful waterfall at our campsite. Along the way we rejoin the Southern Ocean for another beach walk at Surprise Bay and catch the first sight of the spectacular Fluted Cliffs of dolerite on South Cape. We camp with the sound of ocean breakers in a pretty treed glade above the rounded granite boulders of the beach.
Day 6: Granite Beach to South Cape Rivulet
We head inland from Granite Beach over the South Cape Range to our campsite at the beautiful lagoon at South Cape Rivulet – through button grass plains and open forest with views of Pindars Peak in the distance to the north, and more coastal views to the south. Once again we can freshen up here with a swim in the lagoon or just roam along the wide ocean beach at South Cape Bay.
Day 7: South Cape Rivulet to Cockle Creek
This is a pleasant, undemanding day’s walk to our final campsite at Cockle Creek beside the ocean, with more stunning ocean views across to the fluted dolerite formations on South East Cape. We pass the brooding mass of Coal Bluff and the headland of Lion Rock, before turning inland along a pleasant track in open heathland to Rocky Bay at Cockle Creek.
Day 8: Cockle Creek to Hobart
A morning swim, a leisurely breakfast with time to explore beautiful Rocky Bay (and maybe a short walk to Fishers Point) before we join the mini-bus back to Base Camp Tasmania. Along the way we pass through the delightful hamlets of Southport andDover before journeying through the Huon Valley to Hobart.
Discover Tasmania’s South Coast Track with us!
To make a booking please complete a booking form and e-mail it to us:
Multi-Day Tour Booking Form
Please click here to refer to our cancellation policy and general terms and conditions.
