Solo 2 Weeks in Tassie

Straight off the back of my 3 weeks in Victoria, I took the overnight ferry from Geelong straight to Launceston in Tasmania! It was a pretty cool and pretty new experience getting on a boat with my BT-50.

After these two weeks I felt like I had done too many little things, or spread myself too thin and maybe I was better off having a few less but bigger adventures. Re-documenting the trip for this blog has reminded me of how much I got to see!

I wouldn’t recommend the below as an itinerary for your first visit to Tassie, after all this wasn’t my first visit, so there were a few key must do locations in Tassie I didn’t include on this trip. As you can likely tell, I very much made it up as I went! 2 weeks is certainly not enough for a thorough round trip all over Tassie, so I would recommend either spending more time or choosing to visit a particular region only.

Where I went:

Leven Canyon
Machinery Canyon
Montezuma Falls
Horsetail Falls
Nelson Falls
Russell Falls
Horseshoe Falls
The Needles
Pandani Grove Nature Walk, Lake Dobson
Myrtle Forest Walk
Mount Wellington
Stricklands Falls
Mystery Creek Cave
Hartz Peak
Cape Raoul
Tessellated Pavement
Wild Ocean Tasmania Tour
Mayfield Bay
Mount Amos
St Patricks Head
Cataract Gorge
Quamby Bluff

National Parks Visited

Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
Mount Field National Park
Tasman National Park
Freycinet National Park

Leven Canyon

The first stop! I have collected pin on my google maps for interesting locations to visit for some time, mixed in with mapped out free camps, I really made each day up as I went. The approach was simply to see what in my pins was closest to where I was at the time, or along the route of where I wanted to go next.

As I drove off the boat in Launceston and knew I wanted to head somewhat south towards Cradle Mountain, Level Canyon seemed like the ideal spot to visit!

It was more of a deep gorge rather than a canyon but a beautiful short walk to a stunning lookout.

Turquoise mushies!! Seeing my favourite colour in mushie form will always be a spectacular sight.

Machinery Canyon

One big adventure I had on my list for Tassie was undertaking a Tassie canyon! I had all my gear in my trusty BT-50 from my trip through Victoria, but I didn’t have any contacts or know anyone in the canyoning community in Tassie.

I also wanted to be flexible with my itinerary and not be dependant on the plans of others, so even though I was quite an experienced canyoner, I decided to sign up for a guided trip!

I had actually signed up for Dove Canyon in Cradle Mountain, but due to the high amounts of rain fallen on the days prior, the canyon was flooded and the guiding company decided to change the canyon to Machinery Canyon, which had a smaller water catchment.

I got to use most of my own gear which was awesome, and we were off!

Access to Machinery Canyon is via a car shuffle, which makes for a super cruisy day and another downhill canyon exit, which we LOVE.

Above the boulder…

Below the boulder..!

It was a very fun canyon! It was also impressively easy to navigate with the higher flow.

How to navigate a shallow jump? Jump sideways!

It was fascinating to do a guided trip in Tassie compared to a guided trip and learning how to canyon in the Blue Mountains. The techniques were so different! Yet all achieving the same goal… move through the canyon safely without getting injured, drowning and death.

One thing that tripped me up a few times is they had very different meanings towards whistle blows than we do in NSW. Typically 2 whistle blows in NSW (and most canyoning locations if I’m correct) means you are off rope and safe. In Tassie it means you are in trouble?! Either way, the guides asked me to stop using my whistle haha, but a good habit I didn’t feel bad having.

It did feel very strange being on the end of a fixed guided line after all these years!

The water here was quite different than the typically beautiful crystal clear water of the Blue Mountains. A very rusty brown, black tea colour, due to the natural tannins of the region.

Towards the end of the canyon I asked one of the guides if they had done any canyoning in NSW. Turns out they had done a Kanangra canyon, but said the exit hikes in NSW canyons who too long and arborous… which is not wrong!

They had such an interesting technique to navigate the heavy flow of this abseil! The guides lowered me down on a fixed guided line, and when level with the kick of the waterfall advised that I was to enter the water, sideways, on my bum, with the rope strictly over my left shoulder, so that when the water flow picked me up to shoot me off, I could ‘roll’ and land on the other side of the water upright and facing the rock again.

It might sound complicated but it worked a treat! I never would have thought of going butt first, but it sure did beat face planting into the water and getting swept off my feet by the flow by abseiling in the normal manner.

The adventure group of the day! Aside from the two guides, I ended up canyoning with a sweet family on holidays, what a treat.

Montezuma Falls

The next day it was back to regular solo travelling programming. Which meant a visit to the tallest waterfall in Tassie!

It was a beautIt was a beautiful walk ful walk throughrough the forest on the forest on a cruisy flat track, witruisy flat track, with a ch a cheeky cave tunnel side quest?!

Plenty of mushies along the way!Plenty of mushies along the way!

Montezuma falls is an epic 105m high waterfall, which did surprise me with all of Tassie’s incredible mountain wilderness that this was the tallest? Either way, she was a beaut! Either way, she was a beaut!

Horsetail Falls

I started heading further South, and passed through the Tassie town of Queenstown. Easily confused with the trendy Queenstown of New Zealand, this Queenstown was significantly less exciting… But on the outskirts of the town was Horsetail Falls.I started heading further South, and passed through the Tassie town of Queenstown. Easily confused with the trendy Queenstown of New Zealand, this Queenstown was significantly less exciting… But on the outskirts of the town was Horsetail Falls.

There is parking immediately on the side of the main road, with a short and easy boardwalk that leads straight up to a viewing platform over the falls.

Nelson FallsNelson Falls

Not far down the road from Horsetail Falls was Nelson Falls! Another rewardingly short track through epic New Zealand rainforest, leading to this pumping gem.

And of course, there was a mushie!!

Russell FallsRussell Falls

I had previously visited Russell Falls with my family back on our 2016 trip, but considering that was 7 years ago, I was keen to go back!

This time I had a very different mushie inspired lens…

And boy were there so many mushies on this track! The mushie colonies really get me!

I was taking so many photos of all the mushies I almost forgot where I was heading to on this track… which is Russell Falls! I was taking so many photos of all the mushies I almost forgot where I was heading to on this track… which is Russell Falls!

She is a real beaut, with her multiple tiered levels.

I followed the track to the top of the falls, which I don’t remember doing on our 2016 trip. It was well worth the extra climb for these views.I followed the track to the top of the falls, which I don’t remember doing on our 2016 trip. It was well worth the extra climb for these views.

Horseshoe Falls

The same track also loops around to Horseshoe Falls, which is worth the visit!

She may not be the main attraction of the hike, but she is a pretty little waterfall.

Of course… more mushies!! But not just any mushies, I was lucky enough to have my second spotting of the Pixie Parasol, which is a rare blue mushroom.

I could walk around in rainforests like this all day.I could walk around in rainforests like this all day.

The NeedlesThe Needles

I was searching on google maps for my next stop… and found an interesting looking miniature mountain peak hike with awesome photos from other hikers… sold!

There was a small pull over bay car park on the side of the road, and a somewhat faint track that lead its way up the mountain (hill?).There was a small pull over bay car park on the side of the road, and a somewhat faint track that lead its way up the mountain (hill?).

Unfortunately I had less than ideal weather when hiking up to the Needles, but I was short on time and wanted to make the most of things.

I saw from the online photos from other hikers that there were quite nice views from the top of the Needles, but the overcast and rainy weather added an interestingly moody element to my experience.I saw from the online photos from other hikers that there were quite nice views from the top of the Needles, but the overcast and rainy weather added an interestingly moody element to my experience.

Pandani Grove Nature Walk, Lake DobsonPandani Grove Nature Walk, Lake Dobson

And the rain continued well into the next day! I had plans to hike up to Tarn Shelf, but with the poor weather I ended up hiking the Pandani Grove Nature Walk.

I I rugged up and covered up as much as I could buugged up and covered up as much as I could but I sti I still got soakl got soaked!d! Hiking in the rain is cHiking in the rain is completely undempletely underratrated, it gived, it gives you an en you an entirelyirely different different and magicand magical experience. experience.

Myrtle Fyrtle Foresrest Waalkk

The next day I packed up camp and headed off towards Hobart, on the way of course I found a cute forest walk to break up the drive. It was an interesting undulating walk that lead up to this sweet waterfall.The next day I packed up camp and headed off towards Hobart, on the way of course I found a cute forest walk to break up the drive. It was an interesting undulating walk that lead up to this sweet waterfall.

Mount WellingtonMount Wellington

I made it to Hobart! Considering this was my first time in the Capital City, my first stop was of course the top of Mount Wellington.

It is such a fun windy drive to the top! It was also ridiculously windy on top as well, but the panoramic views over Hobart were too amazing to resist.

Stricklands Falls

My exten extensive google maps searching found a small waive google maps searching found a small waterfall at the base of Mount Wellington which onlfall at the base of Mount Wellington which only requirquired a short wald a short walk to reto reach, which was ch, which was very ideal!ry ideal!

It is a cute little fall if I do say so, and worth the quick side trip when visiting Mount Wellington!It is a cute little fall if I do say so, and worth the quick side trip when visiting Mount Wellington!

Mystery Creek CaveMystery Creek Cave

I kept heading further south, with a mystery creek cave pinned as my next stop. Upon reaching the car park it was surprisingly full, and VERY small. A few cars had started pulling up on the side of the road above the car park so I opted to do the same.

As soon as my tyres went off the road, the car slowed to a low growl, I felt a slip and a slight tilt and had my first ‘oh shit’ moment. I was facing uphill, so I quickly put my car into reverse thinking I could quickly back out of my sticky situation, which worked for the first 5 seconds until I started sliding some more, this time it looked like I could slide straight into the car parked below me. Bugger. Back into drive, nope, we are now stuck deeper. Double bugger.

If I kept reversing I knew I could get myself out, but this other parked car wasn’t going to allow that. Further to my left side the bank dropped away quickly, which made me quite nervous.

I thought about waiting in the car until the other car owners eventually came out of the track, but even though there were so many cars I couldn’t see any other people. I decided to start walking down the track and thought I would either bump into the car owners or someone else you could help me.

I ran into a lovely older couple, asked them if they had a white Toyota, nope, they were the owners of the yellow jeep, in the safer park of the car park. They looked concerned though, and mentioned they had just been to the cave and back and had seen no one else, so didn’t think I would get lucky with finding the owners of the while Toyota.

They walked with me back to the car park, and helped me set up my winch and we winched my trusty BT-50 out of the sticky bog hole off a nearby trusty tree. How glad I was that I had a winch! The couple were very sweet, and the husband mentioned he had daughters my age. I got the impression it mean a lot to them to help me out of my tricky situation, and I must have reminded them of their own daughters.

Now my car was finally on safe solid ground, I finally made my way down the track! The stress of the situation quickly melted away and I was quite excited when I found some interesting looking fungi!

The cave opening was huge! It looked like you could spend hours caving through the tight constrictions. It was a little eerie at the end of the track that I hadn’t seen another person for quick a while, so I wasn’t game to venture too far into the cave.

Heading back to the car park I couldn’t help but take a photo of the tricky bog hole I found myself stuck in earlier! I got quite stuck! It appears this is also a track head to an overnight hike, so many of the cars I had seen in the car park were out camping far away. It would have certainly been a long wait waiting for the car owner!

If I kept reversing I knew I could get myself out, but this other parked car wasn’t going to allow that. Further to my left side the bank dropped away quickly, which made me quite nervous.

Now my car was finally on safe solid ground, I finally made my way down the track! The stress of the situation quickly melted away and I was quite excited when I found some interesting looking fungi!

Hartz Peak

I wasn’t completely alone in Tassie, I have a cousin who lives in Hobart who funnily enough, has also been bit by the adventuring bug similar to me.

In an effort to catch up while I as in the area, she invited me to join her and a group of friends to hike up Hartz Peak. As it was already on my itinerary list and I was keen to see her, that was a big yes from me!

It was quite a nice change after a week and a bit of solo travelling to have friendly and familiar company.

Hartz Peak is such a brilliant mini mountain adventure. For those short on time or a beginner to hiking or climbing mountains it is the perfect introduction. You have the magnificent views, mountain scenery with a relatively short hike and climb up the mountain, compared to many other mountains in Tassie and mainland Australia.

The views were stunning in all directions!

My cousin and I at the top.

Cape Raoul

I eventually left Hobart and headed south-east towards the capes. Again, I didn’t leave myself much time, and had always heard of the cape to cape track and wanted to experience a glimpse of what the area was like, so picked out the easiest single cape track and off I went.

The lookouts over the coastline along the Cape Raoul were stunning. I sat here and stared out at the expansive coastline and ocean for quite some time, trying to take it all in.

Tessellated Pavement

As I started to head back up the east coast to my camp for the night, I thought I would make a quick stop to see the Teasellated Pavement.

A naturally occurring phenomenon, the tessellated pavement is formed by erosion fracturing fine-grain siltstone into near perfect geometric stone tiles.

Wild Ocean Tasmania Tour

While I was on the south-east coast, my friend Ethan highly recommended this ocean boat tour to me which he had done earlier that year. I was keen to see as much of the coastline as I could in the short time I had, and I remembered seeing his photos and videos at the time and thinking it looked incredible.

He shot me a pin to the tour company website, tours were booked, deposits paid, and the next day it was a go.

Early into the tour one of the other participants spotted this jelly looking fish, which apparently is a living thing?! Apparently all it has is a mouth, a gut and a butt. Nature is FASCINATING.

It was pretty special seeing this view of Patterson’s Arch, and other hidden archways along this coastline!

The sites we saw along this boat tour were phenomenal, every direction you looked was jaw dropping, including the inside of some of the sea caves!

Caves really are nature’s windows.

I will never get tired of seeing waterfalls that flow into the ocean. It feels like the meeting place of two different worlds. Imagine seeing this waterfall at full flow!

We were also spoilt with seeing plenty of wildlife, including a few different colonies of seals! I had never really seen seals up close much before, so it was wonderful to see them frolicking about.

See if you can spot the fur seals, they camouflage with the rock so well!

This sharp and narrow rocky pillar is called the Totem Pole, and is along the coastline of Cape Hauy. Rock climbers abseil down the mainland cliff, swim across the ocean to the base of the Totem Pole and climb up the narrow pillar to the top. Which blows my mind.

This boat tour covers a huge distance along the Tasmanian Coastline, from Eaglehawk all the way to Cape Pillar. Towards the end of the tour we ventured out further into open waters to see if we could spot some whales, which sadly we didn’t. The boat guides however showed us some incredible photos of when they have seen whales, including Ocras!

What a cozy spot for an afternoon nap.

Mayfield Bay

After a fulfilling day, I ventured further up the east coast, slowly completing my loop of Tassie.

I pulled up at Mayfield Bay Campground, not thinking much of it, simply a please to sleep. I pulled into camp on dark, not being able to see much but I could hear the ocean and knew it was right next to the camp. It wasn’t until morning I got to see just how beautiful this campsite really was! To this day, it is still one of the most beautiful campsites I have ever stayed in.

I wandered down to the beach to sit and have my breakfast and warm mug of tea, and stayed much longer than planned staring out at the ocean views. I wandered up and down the beach and couldn’t believe the diversity and quality of shells washed up on the shore!

Mount Amos

A must-do Tasmanian item on my itinerary was a hike to the summit of Mount Amos, overlooking the beautiful Wineglass Bay. I was absolutely spoilt with the best weather for this hike!

It was such an enjoyable hike to the top, starting out through lush forest and then peaking out on top of the rocky slabs with mesmerising views of the coast in all directions. The steep rocky and somewhat exposed sections of the track reminded me so much of Giraween National Park in NSW.

Once you make it to the very top, you get these classic views over Wineglass Bay! On my family trip back in 2016 we did a cruise to Wineglass Bay, so it was quite fitting to see it from above on this trip.

St Patricks Head

An interesting hike I had scoured out on google maps was St Patricks Head. The photos from the top from other hikers looked very enticing and well trodden, so I was surprised when I arrived at the start of the hike that it barely had a proper carpark, felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and looked like the trail started off in between two rural properties.

What made it feel even more homey and as if I was trespassing on someone’s property was the entry gate sign! I would love to know the story behind who Bob was and why this is classified as his gate.

It was beautiful walking through the forest, and I got to spot my first jelly tooth fungus!

The first glimpse up at the dramatic rocky peak. The weather wasn’t rainy but it seemed decided on its gloomy nature, with a thick fog and mist covering the mountain peaks.

I almost caught a fleeting glimpse of the beautiful views from the top, but the fog quickly rolled back over covering everything in white aside from the rocky peaks directly in front of me.

The low cloud and fog does give a spicey layer of moody drama to the natural scenery, in most cases I prefer it to the harsh bright sun and clear skies.

There is nothing better than jagged rocky peaks on top of a mountain.

Cataract Gorge

I had finally made my way to Launceston! The informal capital of Northern Tasmania and the second largest city in all of Tassie. Launceston’s most famous attraction is the Cataract Gorge, which brings huge amounts of tourism to the city each year.

The Alexandria Suspension Bridge over Cataract Gorge with a large body of water called the First Basin in front, as seen from the Gorge Scenic Chairlift!

Quamby Bluff

My last big hike of my solo 2 weeks exploring Tassie! I had been missing the mountain scenery of climbing bigger peaks, so as a finale to my trip I chose to hike up Quamby Bluff.

As I was getting ready in the carpark I met and started chatting with a lovely Tasmanian local, Phillip. He was training for a larger overseas hike he was doing with his son later that year. We got along extremely well from the very start, and whether we planned it or not, we ended up completing the hike together.

Phillip was fascinated about my love for fungi, as much as I was likely fascinated about the fungi!

The hiking trail passes through a nice section of forest, before opening up to what looks like an old landslide, but it also appears to be a large rocky field.

It seems very oddly placed as you re-enter the forest straight after, but it covers a huge area of the mountain.

The first glimpse of an out-standing view! This is just as the hike starts climbing steeply up the rocky peak and out of the sheltered forests below.

Once you reach the top, the hike continues along a relatively flat path to reach the true summit, this time, you have more views than you could possibly ask for!

Phillip taking in the many views and vistas from the top of the Mountain!

Mushies on the way back down! It’s fascinating to me how you can spot different mushrooms based purely on the direction you are travelling.

Back down to the boulder field we go, this time with a much nicer view. It must have been one hell of a landslide to create this boulder field.

And just like that, my 2 weeks solo travelling through Tassie had come to an end! Later that day I boarded the ferry in Davenport and headed back to the Mainland. After 5 weeks on the road living out of my car, I was feeling ready to come home.

Rachmartee