Tasmania: Life on a Grand Scale

Sam Richards — 11 July 2019
Tasmania doesn’t do things in half-measures. On this island with big aspirations, experiences and landscapes are amplified tenfold.

From Cradle Mountain, with its soaring snow peaks, snow-blanketed vegetation, and mirror-like reflections; to the Franklin River, coursing through gorges in a fury of emotion, surrounded by dense, pulsing forest; to Freycinet National Park, with its scythe blades of sand and granite faces sloping down into the intense blue sea – Tasmania is a land of drama.

Tasmania would be dangerous as a friend. Always down for anything. Willing at the merest suggestion to undertake the craziest of plans. Excitable, infectiously enthusiastic, perhaps a little intimidating. The Dean Moriarty of destinations.

Tasmania, a small island (relatively speaking), is like a short basketballer who, by natural talents endowed at birth, shoots three pointers for breakfast, and soon overtakes Michael Jordan in the annals of ballin’ fame. Tasmania is like... we could go on indefinitely. At Outdoor, you may have gathered, we like Tasmania.




HEADING REMOTE 

In 2018, Tasmania attracted more than 1.3 million domestic and international visitors – and almost half of them headed to the island’s National Parks.

There’s no doubt that Tasmania’s dense world heritage wilderness and its National Parks are a magnet for active adventurers, keen to challenge themselves in nature.

According to Tourism Tasmania’s Visitor Survey, there’s been an 8 per cent per annum increase in the number of people visiting the state’s National Parks in the past few years, with more and more people discovering the magic of a remote walking holiday in the island state.

Tasmania’s escapes are diverse: from the rolling green pastures and sparkling coastal vistas of Flinders Island to the beautiful Franklin River in the heart of world heritage-listed wilderness, to the iconic Overland Track, there are options for all kinds of outdoor experiences.

According to Michael Buggy, General Manager at Tasmanian Expeditions, one of Tasmania’s longest established adventure travel companies, there’s robust demand for the full range of remote itineraries.

“Our itineraries are designed to take in some of the less frequented tourist attractions, in favour of exploring Tasmania’s more remote and harder to access highlights,” Mr Buggy said. “And keen walkers are loving it.”

“We get constant feedback from clients about how much they enjoy walking the Overland Track,” Mr Buggy said, “Once they pass Cradle Mountain, they are away from the day tripper crowds and the whole trail is in front of them.”

“The remoteness definitely resonates with people,” he says, “to the point that we’ve added a seven-day Overland Track Winter Trek.”

The company also offers a nine-day South Coast Track and a seven-day Port Davey Track, both of which are full pack carrying treks into remote areas.

“The fact that travellers have to camp out and carry a full pack, not to mention the weather extremes that are typical in this part of the world, means they are off limits to mainstream visitors, increasing their appeal for keen walkers seeking wilderness without the crowds.”

Tasmanian Expeditions also offers a 39 day Great Tasmanian Traverse, which combines five of the company’s top trips back to back. Starting from the sandy beaches of Penguin in the state’s north, participants travel by foot, raft, light plane and yacht to the wild and isolated South West.

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tasmania tasmanian expeditions cradle mountain walls of jerusalem trek hike trekking hiking