Mountaineering the THREE CAPES TRACK

Welcome to our epic information to mountaineering the Three Capes Observe in Tasmania. On this article one can find every little thing it’s worthwhile to know to sort out this journey, from the right way to get there to reserving the observe, what to pack and what’s anticipated alongside the way in which.

The Three Capes Observe is certainly one of Australia’s most lovely multi-day mountaineering trails, and having been fortunate sufficient to just lately full it we will perceive why it receives a lot hype.

The 4-day, 48km one-way hike wanders alongside the south east tip of Tasmania within the Tasman Nationwide Park, following the very best sea cliffs within the southern hemisphere with mind-blowing views of Cape Pillar, Cape Hauy and Cape Raoul.

Listed as one of many Nice Walks of Australia, the Three Capes Observe first opened in 2015 and is managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

$25 million was spent on creating and upgrading the prevailing community of trails, and developing three world-class huts for walkers to remain in.

The upgrades have now created an unique expertise, with restricted walker numbers allowed on Three Capes Observe every day and permitting the path to be extra accessible to all ranges of hiker, with a luxurious twist.

The Three Cape Observe might be completed self-guided or guided. We selected the self-guided possibility, at $595 per individual.

It’s costly, however there’s a cause why.

After we say there’s a luxurious twist, luxurious is relative. However on this planet of multi-day hikes, it doesn’t get way more comfy than this.

Your $595 ticket lots consists of numerous advantages, together with entry to the model new huts with beds and reminiscence foam mattresses in fashionable dormitories, which means you don’t have to hold a tent or sleeping mats with you.

The kitchens have fuel cookers, pots, pans, utensils and dish cleaning soap offered, and the eating rooms are heated.

All it’s worthwhile to convey on the Three Capes Observe is your meals, garments, a sleeping bag and digital camera gear.

You’ll additionally discover clear compost bogs, recent ingesting water tanks and even yoga mats to stretch on within the evenings, making the 48km hike an ideal introduction for individuals who have by no means completed a multi-day trek earlier than, or for individuals who don’t like the concept of carrying heavy backpacks.

It truly is a very completely different expertise to mountaineering the Overland Observe, which is one other certainly one of our favorite multi-day hikes in Australia.

As an added bonus you even get a scenic boat cruise on the way in which to the start of the Three Capes Observe, transport again to the guests centre and a two-year entry go to the UNESCO World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Website.

The consolation of the huts, the upgraded path and the restricted variety of folks on the observe are nothing in comparison with the sheer great thing about the Tasman Nationwide Park which you’ll be mountaineering by although.

We’d go thus far to say the Three Capes Observe may be essentially the most gorgeous trek in your complete nation.

Let’s dive into our complete weblog publish all about this epic strolling expertise.

Three Capes Tracks Common Data

• Location: Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania
• Size: 48 kilometres
• Kind: One-way mountaineering observe – South to North
• Reserving Required: Sure
• Allow Value: AUD$595 per individual
• Southern Terminus: Port Arthur Historic Website
• Northern Terminus: Fortescue Campground
• Highest level: 480 m
• Lowest level: Sea stage
• Problem: Simple – Reasonable

How you can Ebook the Three Capes Observe

The one approach to ebook the Three Capes Stroll is on the Nationwide Parks web site. Click on right here to go to the official web page.

NOTE – Another web page you attempt to ebook by is most certainly a non-public tour operator, promoting the guided Three Capes Stroll expertise, which prices upwards of $3000.

When you’re on the reserving web page you choose the date you wish to begin and the variety of folks in your social gathering.

Earlier than you ebook have prepared your listing of all social gathering member names and dates of delivery.

When paying solely a sound bank card, Visa or Grasp Card, can be utilized.

The subsequent display is selecting your boat departure time to start out the observe, and your bus again to the Historic Website on the finish, in addition to grownup, concession or baby choices, adopted by the cost display.

After you have got paid, you’ll obtain an e mail confirming your reserving together with a brochure that can assist you put together for the Three Capes Observe.

That is the one approach to do the official Three Capes Observe, and numbers are strictly restricted to 36 folks per day.

This hike does ebook out nicely prematurely, particularly in the course of the Summer time months, so ensure you get in shortly.

In the event you’re already in Tasmania and seeking to do the Three Capes Observe, examine the positioning to see if any last-minute availability comes up as a consequence of cancellations.

READ MORE: Try our information to all the opposite finest issues to do in Tasmania!

What’s Included in Your Move

Your Three Capes Observe ticket consists of the next:

• A Move for Port Arthur Historic Website: That is legitimate for two years and likewise features a 45-minute group tour of the Port Arthur grounds and a brief boat cruise. We advocate spending a day earlier than or after your hike to discover the Port Arthur Historic Website – it’s nicely price it.
• Official Move: For strolling on the path for the 4 days
• Park Entry: A Parks Move for Tasman Nationwide Park is included throughout your time on the path.
• Reserved Lodging: Your mattress for all 3 nights in every of the gorgeous huts alongside the observe.
• Scenic Cruise: This 2-hour cruise takes you from Port Arthur to the start of the trailhead, by way of secluded seashores and beneath the dolerite cliffs of the nationwide park.
• Bus Transport: Your transport from the tip of the observe at Fortescue Campground again to Port Arthur.
• A Bag Tag: This attaches to your backpack to show to the rangers you have got bought your ticket.
• Data/Story Ebook: This nice little ebook has numerous details about the Three Capes Observe, the geology of the world and tales to associate with the art work you’ll find. What it doesn’t have although is nearly any details about the Aboriginal historical past of the world, which we have been fairly upset in.

How you can Get to the Begin of the Three Capes Observe

The Tree Capes Observe begins on the Port Arthur Historic Website within the city of Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania.

Right here is how one can get there:

Flying

The closest airport is Hobart Worldwide Airport, which has common flights to most capital cities in Australia, in addition to to Auckland in New Zealand.

If cash isn’t a priority, you too can have a look at taking a helicopter from Hobart to Port Arthur.

Driving

From Hobart, it’s about 1.5 hours driving to Port Arthur, following the Convict Path.

From Launceston it’s about 3.5 hours to Port Arthur. All roads are sealed, so it’s appropriate to take any automotive, together with leases.

There’s a massive automotive park on the Historic Website for walkers to go away their automotive throughout their trek. You simply depart your registration quantity with the workplace earlier than you allow.

Coach Companies

In the event you don’t have your personal automotive the best approach to get to the beginning of the Three Capes Observe is to ebook a bus from Hobart.

There are common buses that run between Hobart and Port Arthur. For timetable and fare info please click on on the hyperlinks under:

Each of those corporations decide up and drop off at Hobart Airport, and should be organized prior.

If you’re already within the metropolis, there’s one other (and cheaper) approach to get out to the Tasman Peninsula with out breaking the finances – public transport.

There’s a public bus that runs from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula. It doesn’t drop you straight off at Port Arthur Historic Website, nevertheless it does cease alongside Numbeena Street and it’s a brief stroll from there.

It solely runs from Hobart to Port Arthur within the afternoon although, so you might have to remain the evening earlier than you start the Three Capes Observe.

For timetable and fare info please click on on the hyperlink under:

Taxi or Uber

You’ll be able to at all times take a taxi from Hobart or the airport to Port Arthur should you choose. Some folks on our stroll had completed this and organized for a driver to select them up because the bus schedule didn’t work with them.

We are able to think about this is able to be very costly, however it could work out inexpensive and simpler if you’re in a gaggle.

Official Observe Transport

Your transport to and from the path are included in your Three Capes Observe go.

Boat to Denman’s Cove on Day One

Entry to Denman’s Cove, which is the beginning of the Three Capes Observe, is undertaken on a 2-hour scenic boat cruise from the jetty at Port Arthur Historic Website.

The eco-cruise features a guided journey across the bay, passing beneath hovering dolerite cliffs and into slim seashores earlier than dropping you off proper on the sand at Denman’s Cove.

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys is the corporate working the cruise they usually have a passenger guidelines earlier than you get on the boat.

You’ll be able to select from two completely different departure occasions, 11am or 1:30pm. It’s important to choose your time once you initially ebook your Three Capes Observe ticket.

If it’s worthwhile to change this you may telephone 1300 TASPARKS (1300 827 727).

Shuttle from Fortescue Bay Campground on Day 4

When you end the Three Capes Observe, there shall be a bus ready to take you again to the Port Arthur Historic Website, or onwards to Hobart in case you have pre-organised this.

You’ll be able to select from two completely different departure occasions, 2:30pm or 4pm. Identical to the boat, you choose this once you ebook your ticket for the Three Capes Observe.

How A lot Does the Three Cape Observe Value?

You may have two choices for mountaineering the Three Capes Observe – self-guided or absolutely guided as a part of a tour.

• Self-Guided: That is the $595 per individual ticket possibility should you ebook by the official web site listed above.
• Guided: Costs begin at $3000 per individual should you be a part of one of many guided strolling experiences run by non-public tour corporations. This value is ‘all-inclusive’, which means you don’t have to offer your personal meals. You keep on the privately-owned Cape Pillar Lodge and Crescent Lodge as a substitute of the Nationwide Parks lodges.

In the event you’re doing the self-guided model of the Three Capes Observe like we did, the $595 consists of transport, lodging, and cooking utensils.

As a tough ballpark determine, add about $150 per individual for meals if you’re planning on consuming high-quality dehydrated meals and plenty of good snacks to get you thru.

You possibly can simply convey this all the way down to beneath $100 for the 4 days and even much less should you’re thrifty.

In case you have all your personal mountaineering gear together with sleeping bag, then you definitely’re good to go. In any other case, anticipate so as to add a further $15~ per day for sleeping bag rent.

In the event you’re doing the guided tour of the Three Capes Observe then every little thing is included, comparable to meals, a chef, blankets, and even wine.

Can You Do the Three Capes Observe for Free?

Technically, no. Nonetheless there’s an unofficial model often called the ‘Free Capes Observe’ which might be completed, though it isn’t the very same.

From Fortescue Bay Campground you may hike out to Cape Hauy and Cape Pillar, sleeping in tents at campsites and returning again to Fortescue Bay.

You can’t use the huts, apart from to go to the bathroom, and you can not hike in the direction of Surveyors Hut, as it is a one-way path.

It’s not the identical expertise because the Three Capes Observe, however it’s free and also you get to see numerous the identical gorgeous views.

What to Anticipate on the Three Capes Observe

Now that you already know the essential info for the Three Capes Observe, let’s dive into what you may anticipate finding alongside the way in which.

Climate

Being within the far south east of Australia, the climate might be unpredictable at any time of 12 months.

Even in the course of summer season you may expertise sub-zero temperatures, so it’s vital to be ready for something on the Three Capes Observe.

All the time pack heat garments simply in case, and most significantly convey top quality waterproof pants and a jacket with you.

Having a rain cowl in your bag and for the contents inside is essential. It will prevent on these sudden wet days.

At each hut the park rangers could have a climate report printed off so you may put together for the following day.

• Spring: September – November
• Summer time: December – February
• Autumn: March – Might
• Winter: June – August

Health

In case you have a average stage of health, train often, and are able to strolling about 4 hours a day over 4 consecutive days, you may be nice.

The hike itself will not be that onerous, however the lengthy distances and carrying a pack is what tires folks out.

So be ready and practice if you must earlier than approaching the observe.

The Three Capes Observe is nicely maintained and groomed with a mixture of gravel, compacted earth and boardwalk paths.

There are seats you may cease at alongside the trail to take a relaxation and skim although your info ebook.

In case you have by no means completed a multi-day trek earlier than, or don’t have expertise strolling with a backpack, we advocate doing a small day stroll or day hikes round your house to get used to the burden.

Tools Guidelines

While you ebook the hike Parks Tasmania will ship you an gear listing. Positively learn it to see what it’s worthwhile to convey with you and what you may depart behind.

Don’t overpack. It is a widespread mistake for thus many individuals. You’ll remorse it if you end up mountaineering these lengthy days together with your heavy backpack.

Here’s a listing of every little thing we introduced with us on the Three Capes Observe.

Stuff You Don’t Want to Pack

The objects under are objects you’ll NOT want to convey with you on the Three Capes Observe. These are offered for you on the huts.

• Tent – you’re allotted a dorm mattress each evening
• Sleeping mat – they supply reminiscence foam mattresses
• Range – they’ve fuel cookers within the kitchens so that you can use
• Pots and pans
• Kettle
• Knives and chopping board
• Spatulas and ladles
• Dishwashing detergent
• Hand wash
• Espresso plunger – one plunger is in each kitchen. In case you have an Aeropress, we advocate bringing one because the espresso plunger is probably not obtainable.
• Card video games, board video games and books – they’re all offered at every kitchen hut for night leisure.
• Mountaineering gaiters – the observe is nicely maintained and you’ll not want these

Terrain

The coastal part of the Tasman Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the most rugged, lovely elements of Australia you may ever think about, boasting the very best sea cliffs within the southern hemisphere, eucalypt forests, dolerite columns and epic Southern Ocean views.

By way of the terrain, we’d each say that the Three Capes Observe is the perfect, most well-graded multi-day observe we’ve ever hiked right here in Australia.

Consuming Water

Past one litre for the primary day’s stroll, you don’t want to convey any ingesting water, sterilisation tablets or filters with you for your complete hike.

Model new water tanks are put in at every hut, and these are often examined for high quality by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Companies.

Merely replenish your bottle or camelback with two litres earlier than you hit the path every day and also you’ll be good to go.

There isn’t actually wherever secure to replenish with ingesting water once you’re on the Three Capes Observe, however you shouldn’t actually need to.

Garbage

No matter you usher in, you perform, together with all of your garbage as there aren’t any waste disposal factors till you get again to Port Arthur.

That is so vital to maintain the Three Capes Observe and the nationwide park clear and the setting and animals protected.

Three Capes Huts

The Tasmanian authorities constructed three premium timber cabins* for hikers to remain in in the course of the trek again in 2015, they usually actually are a murals.

It virtually feels such as you’re dishonest on the finish of every day once you present up on the huts, play card and board video games within the heated eating rooms, cook dinner dinner on the massive fuel cooktops and stretch out on the decks on offered yoga mats.

Every of the three huts on the Three Capes Observe are completely different in type and structure.

*It wasn’t with out its controversy although. Have a learn of this text on Wild for a unique perspective.

Day One – Surveyors Hut

That is one lengthy constructing with the lodging and kitchen widespread space joined.

The views from sitting within the kitchen are lovely. They’ve out of doors BBQs right here so convey these steaks on the primary evening of the Three Capes Observe.

Day Two – Munro Hut

This hut is made up of two buildings; One for the kitchen and one for the lodging.

It affords the perfect views of any of the huts from the balcony space and the helipad, overlooking the coastal cliffs and sea under. Excellent for dawn!

That is additionally the one hut the place you may have a sizzling bathe, which is fairly decadent.

They’ve 2 out of doors bucket showers with a sizzling water faucet on the entrance.

Day Three – Retakunna Hut

This hut is made up of two buildings. One for the 2 kitchens and out of doors kitchen and one constructing for the lodging.

The drop bogs are positioned a distance away from the huts. They have been the cleanest drop bogs we had ever seen.

Widespread Facilities at Every Hut

Listed below are the usual services and options you may anticipate in every hut alongside the Three Capes Observe:

• Indoor kitchens with loads of seating for meals. Munro one has 1 indoor kitchen, however a really massive seating space.
• Out of doors kitchens with a cooker, kettle and sink. In the event you don’t need to cook dinner inside, you may cook dinner within the out of doors kitchen space and benefit from the recent air.
• Fuel stoves, kettles, and a large assortment of fry pans and pots so that you can cook dinner with. The one factor it’s worthwhile to convey with you is your cutlery, a plate, cup, your meals and a tea towel to dry up. Dishwashing detergent can also be offered.
• Rain water is offered in each kitchen space. That is untreated, however often examined for high quality. We by no means handled ours and we have been nice. This water is for ingesting, cooking and washing dishes.
• Assortment of boardgames and a library. We beloved this and it’s such a good way to interrupt the ice with the opposite hikers. There are such a lot of completely different boardgames and nice academic and informational books in regards to the native space.
• Charging stations with USB energy factors so you may cost your cameras and telephone within the evenings. These are restricted and at all times get taken up shortly, so convey an influence financial institution as nicely.
• Massive out of doors decking with lounge chairs. Nice to loosen up within the afternoons.
• Yoga mats and rollers so you may stretch out after an enormous day mountaineering.
• 4- or 8-person dormitories. Every room comes with a bench, hooks and a window shelf. You might be assigned a room quantity in your first evening, and it’s the similar all through your complete hike.
• Reminiscence foam mattresses to let you have got an incredible sleep. We didn’t anticipate it to be so comfy, however they have been actually unimaginable. BYO inflatable pillow and sleeping bag.
• Bogs – There are 4 drop bogs at every hut. All of them had rest room paper, hand wash, sanitiser, and working rain water for the sinks. They have been the cleanest drop bogs we noticed in all of Tasmania.

Checking In

When you arrive at Port Arthur Historic Website on the day you begin the Three Capes Observe, you head into the guests centre, previous the ticket desks then stroll downstairs, the place you’ll discover the Three Capes Workplace.

Head in, have your title marked off and the pleasant ranger offers you your bag tag, your go and offer you a fast security briefing.

In case you have arrived early you may drop your bag off within the adjoining locker room (the ranger offers you a coin so that you don’t need to pay for the lockers), then head upstairs to gather your entrance ticket for the Historic Website by exhibiting your mountaineering go.

Go for a stroll across the Port Arthur Historic Website, or you may select to easily loosen up within the cafe earlier than departure.

quarter-hour earlier than your boat leaves seize your stuff and stroll all the way down to the jetty, meet the boat driver and bounce onboard.

Cellphone Reception

In the event you’re with Telstra or Optus, you’ll get intermittent telephone service all through the Three Capes Observe, primarily on the high of the mountains and out on the capes.

It is extremely weak although and shouldn’t be relied on.

Storyseats

In the event you’re like us you’ve most likely learn ‘Storyseats’ and thought, “Err, what the hell are these?” Nicely don’t fear, you’ll discover out all about them.

While you examine in you obtain a narrative ebook with details about the historical past, the panorama, the birdlife, the fungi, the marine life and extra of the world.

The ebook additionally talks in regards to the artwork you’ll find alongside the observe.

Native artists have been commissioned on the development of the path to craft a lot of seats that relate to a unique story the place you may sit down and examine them within the ebook.

Don’t miss them and don’t skip studying the tales. They’re nice.

Mountaineering the Three Capes Observe Itinerary

You begin the Three Capes Observe on the day you booked, and every evening you progress onto a unique hut.

In contrast to the Overland Observe the place you may keep at every campsite for so long as you need, on the Three Capes Observe you should maintain shifting every day.

That makes the entire hike really feel extra intimate, as you’re with the identical small group your complete time.

It additionally has another added advantages. In the course of the day you may stroll at your personal tempo and never stress about lacking out on a mattress, as one is reserved for you.

With out additional ado, let’s dive into the Three Capes Observe itinerary in Tasmania. We’ll additionally contact on the Three Capes Observe expertise, and what it’s like alongside the hike.

READ MORE: When you’re at it, don’t miss these different epic locations to go to in Tasmania!

Day 1 – Denman’s Cove to Surveyors

• Distance: 4km
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Highlights: Scenic boat cruise, Surveyors Cove
• Campsite: Surveyors Hut

Upon getting checked in and walked all the way down to the jetty you bounce onto your boat and head off on the 2-hour scenic cruise that takes you out to Denman’s Cove.

Alongside the way in which your knowledgable (and in our case, hilarious) captain will cruise alongside the sting of the Tasman Nationwide Park, mentioning geological highlights and lovely viewpoints.

While you arrive at Denman’s Cove the captain will drive the boat straight onto the seaside, put down a ramp and all people unloads onto the sand.

It’s a brief stroll to the trailhead, the place you may seize a photograph on the official place to begin earlier than strolling in the direction of Surveyors Hut.

The path is splendidly maintained, and even within the rain we skilled there was no mud to navigate.

Wandering by the forest you go over streams and beneath towering bushes, earlier than coming out at Surveyors Cove at in regards to the midway level.

It’s an important spot to have lunch or a snack earlier than persevering with on the remainder of the way in which to the hut.

Enable a few 1.5 hours to get to Surveyors Hut if you wish to take your time, though for us we arrived in slightly below an hour.

We have been amazed to see the dimensions and design of the hut! Architecturally designed with large timber beams, a large deck and big home windows to benefit from the views, you may shortly see why it price $25 million to construct the entire observe.

While you arrive you’ll meet the nationwide park ranger who will examine your title off and assign you to a room. This is identical room quantity you’ll maintain all through the hike.

Drop your gear off, get modified if it’s worthwhile to, then seize a spot within the eating room or out on the deck to get to know your fellow hikers.

Surveyors Hut is a really social place, partly as a result of out of doors barbecues, partly as a result of pleasure everyone seems to be feeling, and partly as a result of lots of people convey wine, and massive meals to get pleasure from due to the brief hike.

We cooked up some sausages and ended up enjoying card video games with a few younger hikers till about 9pm. An ideal approach to finish day one of many Three Capes Observe.

Day 2 – Surveyors Hut to Munro Hut

• Distance: 11km
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Highlights: Storyseats, coastal views
• Campsite: Munro Hut

It’s a brief stroll to Munro Hut right this moment so that you don’t have to go away too early should you don’t need to.

Heading out from Surveyors you comply with the trail in the direction of the coast, the place you’re rewarded with spectacular ocean views.

Climbing a average hill you’ll discover just a few spots to cease and have a break, in addition to a few Storyseats.

Earlier than too lengthy you hit a crossroad – left is the direct path to Fortescue Bay Campground, straight forward is Retakunna Hut and to the appropriate is Munro Hut and Cape Pillar.

It’s lower than one hour from right here to Munro.

It’s a straightforward, lush stroll by the forest to Munro Hut, and should you left Surveyors round 8am, you’ll most likely have arrived right here at lunchtime. Examine your title off on arrival and drop your gear off in your dorm.

The very first thing you’ll discover once you get right here is the sensational platform with views over the large coastal cliffs. It’s a shocking spot on the Three Capes Observe.

Put together your lunch and are available out right here to get pleasure from it if the climate is good. The helipad simply previous the bathroom block is one other superior spot to loosen up.

Munro Hut is big on the within, with numerous room to unfold out and play video games, learn a ebook or loosen up.

Behind the sleeping cabins you’ll discover the out of doors sizzling bathe. It’s fairly an expertise, the place you replenish a bucket with sizzling water, take it to the showers, pour the water right into a bag with a bathe head then elevate it up with a rope.

It sounds sophisticated, nevertheless it’ll all make sense once you’re there (or you may watch our video on the Three Capes Observe to see the way it works).

We personally arrived at Munro Hut at round 11am on a stunning sunny day, and relatively than spend the remainder of the afternoon enjoyable, we determined to hike all the way in which out to Cape Pillar, which is what’s on the itinerary for tomorrow.

Jarryd even determined to remain on the market for sundown and stroll again to Munro at the hours of darkness.

Not many individuals do that, so it’s an important likelihood to see Cape Pillar and the Blade twice should you’re feeling energetic.

Day 3 – Munro Hut to Retakunna Hut by way of Cape Pillar

• Distance: 19km
• Time: 6-8 hours
• Highlights: Cape Pillar Observe and the Blade
• Campsite: Retakunna Hut

Get up early to observe dawn from the viewing platform, get pleasure from breakfast then pack your room as much as prepare for the large hike out to Cape Pillar.

Go away your massive mountaineering pack within the storage locker simply previous the sleeping cabins and take a day pack with meals, water and cameras for the Cape Pillar observe.

The stroll is pretty simple with solely minor elevation good points, however virtually instantly you’ll be introduced with unimaginable views all the way in which out to Cape Pillar.

The path is usually boardwalk or gravel, and one fascinating factor is that the two.6km lengthy boardwalk by coastal heath is definitely one of many artwork installations on the Three Capes Observe!

It’s designed to seem like the Dream Serpent when seen from the air, the legendary snake that carved the rivers, streams and creeks throughout Australia in keeping with Aboriginal Dreamtime tales.

In the event you’re shifting shortly it’ll take about 2-3 hours to get to the legendary Blade, a steep and slim dolerite ridge that climbs as much as provide super views throughout to Tasman Island.

It may be fairly nerve-racking for people who find themselves terrified of heights, as there aren’t any limitations between you and the sting of a 200m cliff. Simply take your time and also you’ll be nice.

When you’ve snapped your photographs wanting from the Blade all the way down to Tasman Island head again down and proceed the final little part to Cape Pillar, which is the tip of the observe.

From the highest of Cape Pillar you may see all the way in which out to Cape Raoul and Cape Hauy, which is the place the title ‘Three Capes’ comes from. Though you solely technically go to two, you may see three.

Having trekked all around the world, in among the most epic mountainous areas on the planet, we by no means thought Australia would have views as unimaginable as this.

How unsuitable we have been…

Make your self lunch at any one of many coastal rocks and luxuriate in it with the views of Cape Pillar (simply don’t get too near the sting), then stroll again to Munro Hut within the afternoon.

Seize your large backpack on the way in which by, repack out on the deck should you want, then it’s solely an hour or so to Retakunna Hut.

Retakunna is the final hut you keep in on the Three Capes Observe, and it’s each bit as beautiful because the final two.

The dorm rooms are separate to the kitchen and eating space, with beautiful views up in the direction of Mt Fortescue.

There’s numerous room to unfold out, and we spent the afternoon stretching on the yoga mats and chatting with our fellow hikers.

Day 4 – Retakunna to Fortescue Bay by way of Cape Hauy

• Distance: 14km
• Time: 4-6 hours
• Highlights: Cape Hauy, the temperate rainforest on Mt Fortescue
• End: Fortescue Bay Campground then Port Arthur Historic Website

By now you’ll have heard the ranger warning you in regards to the climb up Mount Fortescue that awaits you very first thing within the morning.

Actually, it’s not that unhealthy. So don’t stress an excessive amount of about it.

We nonetheless advocate having an early begin right this moment although so you have got loads of time to hike out to Cape Hauy, which is the ultimate aspect journey of the Three Capes Observe.

The climb up Mount Fortescue is without doubt one of the highlights of your complete journey, as it’s the solely coastal temperate rainforest in all of Tasmania, making it nearer in ecology to the alpine areas of Cradle Mountain relatively than the Tasman Peninsula.

In the course of the ascent you’ll discover sprawling ferns, vibrant fungi and large beds of moss protecting the earth like carpet.

The small patch of rainforest is superb, and we positively advocate taking your time by right here.

When you hit the summit of Mount Fortescue it’s all downhill from right here, with the observe hugging the sting of the cliffs providing sensational views all the way in which again to Cape Pillar.

As you hit the crossroad between Cape Hauy and Fortescue Bay you’ll discover a small platform the place you may depart your heavy daypack for the brief aspect journey to the cape.

Simply ensure you cowl your bag in your rain cowl so the currawongs don’t get into it!

It’s lower than an hour to Cape Hauy, and being a public path from Fortescue Bay means there are lots of people on the observe. After 3 days of solitude, it’s fairly a change to see so many hikers.

The stroll is pretty simple, however identical to all over the place else on the Three Capes stroll the views are significantly spectacular.

When you get to the tip of the cape ensure you pop your head over the railing to catch a glimpse of the Totem Pole – a sheer dolerite column rising straight out of the ocean that is without doubt one of the most difficult and well-known mountaineering routes on this planet.

Strolling again from Cape Hauy seize your backpack on the crossroad then it’s solely a brief downhill trek to get to the end level at Fortescue Bay.

On a sunny, calm day the water within the bay is glistening and welcoming. In case you have time earlier than your shuttle leaves ensure you go for a swim.

When you get to the campground comply with the indicators to the ranger workplace the place you meet the shuttle bus again to Port Arthur, and if you’d like you should purchase a token to make use of the close by sizzling showers for $2.

Congratulations – you have got now accomplished the Three Capes Observe

Conclusion to the Three Capes Hike in Tasmania

We hope this text helped you higher put together your 4 days Three Cape Observe itinerary.

It was such an incredible hike with the perfect coastal surroundings we’ve seen in all of Australia.

The Three Capes Observe is an ideal introduction if to have by no means completed a multi-day hike earlier than as you aren’t required to hold a full, heavy backpack that you just discover on different adventures

It’s additionally a superb hike for a gaggle of buddies or a household, so rope your buddies into doing the Three Capes Observe with you!

In the event you discovered our article helpful ensure you depart a remark under, and share it with your folks or on social media.

Completely satisfied mountaineering!

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