FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is included in a Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences guided tour?

We aim to provide an authentic wilderness experience for those new to bushwalking, so we supply all necessary services, gear and equipment for you to enjoy your time with us, including:

Free transfers to and from Hobart Airport or City
Free accommodation at Base Camp Tasmania with a home-cooked meal at start and finish of your tour
All protective hiking clothing (waterproof jacket and overpants, fleece jacket, gaiters and gloves)
Sleeping bag and liner, sleeping mat
Rucksack
Tasty and nutritious food for the track, prepared by our guides
Roomy two-person tents
Professional guidance and leadership from our friendly and knowledgeable guides

Click here for a complete list of inclusions for our tours.

What qualifications and experiences do our guides have?

Client safety and enjoyment are an essential requirement of the TWE experience, and you can tour with us with confidence.

Our guides have been hand-picked for their wilderness knowledge and experience as well as their demonstrated leadership skills and professionalism. All hold as a minimum Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation or equivalent, either Remote Area or Level II First Aid Certificates, and Food Handling and Hygiene qualifications.

Of course, many have additional qualifications that reflect their personal interests and careers, and are able to use their specialized knowledge to enhance their interpretative skills for you (click here to read more information about our walking tour guides).

What do I need to bring?

Personal toiletries (including sunburn and blister protection)
Underwear (we recommend thermal longs)
Footwear (we recommend solid, worn-in walking boots)
Long and short-sleeved shirt, long and short pants (preferably synthetic), swim wear (optional depending on tour destination)
Hats and beanies
Photographic equipment and spare batteries (optional)

What Level of fitness will I need?

You require a reasonable level of fitness to fully enjoy your bushwalking experience.
The higher the grade (click here for Walking Tour Gradings), the fitter you should be.

Call us so we can advise you on the best walk for your experience and fitness levels.

What can I do to prepare for my bushwalk?

If this will be your first bushwalking experience, or you are returning after a long break, we recommend you prepare by walking regularly for a few months before your tour. Start building up your fitness and endurance steadily by walking for around an hour two – three times a week. As your fitness improves, gradually extend these sessions and increase their frequency in the weeks preceding your tour. Also practice walking with weighted rucksacks or backpacks so you become accustomed to weight on your back.

Naturally, you should consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.

What sort of weather conditions should I expect?

Tasmania is renowned for having the most agreeable conditions in Australia for bushwalking, and enjoying the great outdoors. It is also renowned for some wild weather in the alpine areas, however these periods are generally short-lived, and the clothing and equipment we have selected for you will protect you from these extremes.

Tasmania’s temperatures can range from occasional very hot days in summer to some bitterly cold nights in winter, although typically the weather is extremely pleasant. The table below shows examples of the temperature ranges for the areas we walk in:

Average Temperature Ranges
Region	Summer		Winter
Region	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum
Coastal	18’C – 23’C	10’C – 15’C	9’C – 14’C	4’C – 6’C
Highland	17’C – 19’C	5’C – 8’C	6’C – 7’C	-2’C – +2’C

For further information about weather in Tasmania, click here.

How many people do you generally take on a bushwalking tour?

We take no more than ten clients on a Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences tour (our minimum number is three) led by a minimum of two guides to ensure your security and safety. This enables you to enjoy the benefits of walking in a small group in close company of like-minded bushwalkers.

How heavy will my backpack be?

We recommend that you carry no more than a third of your bodyweight in your backpack (especially for those who are new to the bushwalking experience), and for example, on our 6-day Overland Track Tour we try to ensure the weight of a rucksack is no more than 16kg for males and 13kg for females. Weights decrease for shorter tours, and conversely increase for longer tours, however the maximum weight for males on our 8-day tours is no more than 18kg and 16kg for females.

Note that to further lessen our clients’ pack loads we have a range of ultra-light backpacks available (and for the Overland Track Tour we now include a food drop at Pelion Hut – the half-way point).

As we are providing a genuine wilderness experience, these weights will vary according to the number of days on tour, as the group will be carrying supplies and equipment to be entirely self-sufficient. Group equipment (tents, stoves, etc) will be shared among all to distribute loads as evenly as possible, and your guides will carry extra safety, fuel and communication equipment.