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Tasmania


West Coast


Dunes Creek bushwacking on the West Coast walk in Tasmania
In February/March 2020 I walked down the west coast of Tasmania from Strahan to Melaleuca. A good balance of difficult, dangerous, and beautiful. Chapman sold me on the trek in his guidebook by saying that only one person completes it every three years. As anticipated I did not see anyone until the Port Davey track near the end.
Hell's Gate Jetty across the channel from Macquarie Heads campground in Tasmania
The tour companies in Strahan are not hiker friendly so the only option to get to the beginning of the walk is to hitch a ride with local fisherman.  I had good luck at the boat dock near the Macquarie Heads campground and was across in less than thirty minutes.  
Cape Sorrell lighthouse near Strahan Tasmania
I took a side trip to the Cape Sorrell lighthouse after being dropped off at the Hells Gates jetty
Nice evening along the West Coast in Tasmania
After visiting the lighthouse the coastal walking was fairly straightforward to reach Dunes beach
Campsite near Dunes Creek on the West Coast walk in Southwest Tasmania
Calm evening near Dunes Creek
Sunset on Dunes Beach
Beautiful sunset on the first night
Daily log
Gulches on the West Coast of Tasmania north of Gorge Point
The unique feature about the northern section of the coast are the gulches.  They vary from a fun climbing experience at low tide to quite challenging at high tide.  This experience of watching and timing the waves to make progress was new to me as "trails" bypass these sections of the coast
Rocky shoreline on the West Coast Tasmania
Typical terrain along the northern coastline
Camping in the bush
The wind picked up after the second night and made campsite selection more difficult.  Even with a strong tent, a partially sheltered site like the one above was not possible for the next five days with the Garmin device giving reports of 40-50mph wind gusts.
Walking along the West Coast of Tasmania along the rocks
Despite the constant wind the majority of rainfall occurred during the overnight hours with periodic showers during the day.  The clouds then seemed to get stuck on the mountain ranges to the east  
Neilson River on the West Coast of Tasmania
The rivers went from chest deep at the beginning to requiring short swims with the nightly rainfall
Tiger snake in the bushes
The high winds also allowed some wildlife encounters as the animals could not hear me approaching.  Tassie devils, wombats, and wallabies to name a few.  Tiger snakes mostly moved away before I could spot them.  The exception being one I pinched between the rocks on the beach during a storm.  The snake got into attack position, raising the scales on its neck.  Quite lucky- I either had enough separation or the pouring rain made it decide not to strike..
Animal paths along the coast
Animal tracks giving the path of least resistance
Animal tracks in the bush
Speaking of animal tracks- crawling was an effective method at times, preventing some extra cuts and bruises
Hibbs River in Southwest Tasmania
There was a sheltered camp on the north bank of the Hibbs River to get out of the rain.  Make note of the suggested campsites in Chapman's guide for the north, camps in the south are easy to find
Helicopter lift over Christmas Cove in Tasmania
Clear weather in the morning which allowed the helicopter to arrive with food.  The pilot also gave me a lift over the Christmas Cove area (see Cam's notes- he averaged 3 miles/day here compared to his normal pace of 35 miles/day on the Continental Divide Trail)
Walking in the plains towards Elliot Point in Tasmania
The area around Low Rocky Point was recently burnt and I gained a few days progress here compared to my planned schedule
Nye Bay at sunset on the West Coast hike in Tasmania
Sunset at Nye Bay
Sheltered camp in the dunes on the west coast hike in Tasmania
Sheltered camp in the dunes, a low elevation area near brush was effective in blocking the wind
Mulcahy Bay on the west coast of Tasmania hiking
Mulcahy Bay
Looking towards the mountain range
Looking east from Mulcahy Bay where I took a rest day with the Garmin device predicting over an inch of rain (likely accurate)
Hiking the ridge line of the De Witt Range in Southwest Tasmania
I went high from Wreck Bay traversing the ridge line of the De Witt Range south to take advantage of the first day in a week without any wind.  There is an alpine lake to resupply on water.  One of my favorite days of the trip
High camp in the De Witt Mountain Range in Southwest Tasmania
I decided to camp high finishing in the early afternoon
James Kelly Basin from the De Witt Range in Southwest Tasmania Australia
Looking south from the De Witt Range towards James Kelly Basin
Crossing the Davey River on the west coast walk in Tasmania
Calm conditions on the Davey River
I crossed the Davey belly down, paddling with my arms on a blow-up raft I had carried specifically for this purpose.  Important to have a low or rising tide here.  My dad sent the current tide times through the satellite messenger.
Reaching the Port Davey track
I enjoyed the final day of good weather reaching the Port Davey Track in the evening
Crossing the Bathurst Narrows on the rowboat on the Port Davey track
Rowboats for the Bathurst Narrows crossing on the Port Davey Track
Walker's huts in Melaleuca Tasmania at the end
The following day I reached the empty huts in Melaleuca
Meal in the huts
The rangers gave me a hot meal to celebrate while waiting for the plane

Western Arthur Range

Walking towards the mountain range
I started in the late evening after a three hour drive from the Hobart airport from Scotts Peak Dam (March 2017)
Moraine A climb on the Tasmania hike to the Arthur range
Climbing Moraine A with the Port Davey Track seen below
View over the valley
The view from the top of Moraine A
Lake Pedder Tasmania from the Western Arthur Range
Lake Pedder in the distance
Lake Neptune and Triton in the Western Arthurs in Tasmania
Lake Neptune and Triton
Lake Cygnus campground in the Western Arthurs
Lake Cygnus
There were not many people in the Arthur Range, I met a Tassie man hiking alone and a couple from France.  They both camped at Lake Cygus and were doing a daywalk to Lake Oberon.
Lake Oberon from Mount Pegasus summit
 I climbed Mount Pegasus to watch sunset and the weather turned quickly.  I had already set up camp on a small beach on the far side of Lake Oberon (near the brown grass)
Lake Uranus in the Tassie wilderness
Lake Uranus
Lake Oberon
Lake Oberon
Resources
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http://www.john.chapman.name/taswalk.html
http://www.david-noble.net/
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https://rockmonkeyadventures.wordpress.com/
https://heathwhiley.net/blog/tarkine-coast-hike

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