The 9 Best Multi-Day Hikes and Overnight Walks in Tasmania
Tasmania is perhaps Australia’s premier destination for hiking. Striking scenery and a temperate climate make it the perfect destination in Australia to pack along your hiking gear for the trip. Many of them that we think are the best overnight walks in Tasmania are in places that you probably already have included on your Tasmania bucket list. So what better way to explore these breathtaking Tasmania attractions than an overnight or multi-day hike!
Whether you are interested in coastal walks with stunning headlands and world-famous beaches or alpine regions with beautiful vistas over the expansive wilderness of Tasmania, there is an overnight hike in Tasmania for everyone.
So if you are visiting on a weekend away or on an extended road trip to the southern isle, be sure to take the opportunity to tick off some of the best overnight walks Tasmania has to offer!
Two Day/One Night Overnight Walks in Tasmania
Wineglass Bay
Wineglass Bay is one of the premier destinations of Tasmania. Located in the Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay Beach is frequently listed as one of the best beaches in the world. And what better way to experience one of the best beaches in the world than camping under the stars on a Wineglass Bay overnight walk!
The Wineglass Bay overnight walk starts with an ascent towards Wineglass Bay lookout. This lookout offers sweeping views over Wineglass Bay and was a personal highlight of the overnight walk. The walk continues by descending 1,000 steps before hitting the sand and a possible dip in the freezing cold Tasman Sea. From here, it is an easy stroll along the beach to the other side of the bay to reach the Wineglass Bay campsite.
For the return journey the next day, follow the beach back to the other side of Wineglass Bay. From here, cross the isthmus to Hazards Beach. The walk continues along the beach and rocky coastline overlooking Great Oyster Bay before detouring through the coastal woodlands back to the car park.
The full circuit is approximately 13km and should take between 5 – 6 hours. The hike could easily be completed during a day, but sleeping under the stars at Wineglass Bay makes this one of the best overnight walks Tasmania has to offer!
Those looking to extend this overnight walk into a longer multi-day hike should consider embarking on the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, a challenging 27 km hike circumnavigating the beautiful Freycinet Peninsula.
Cradle Mountain Summit via Scott Kilvert Hut
No trip to Tasmania would be complete without visiting Cradle Mountain. This alpine region is best known for the Overland Track, but those without the time or the coin can enjoy Cradle Mountain for simply the price of the Tasmania National Parks Pass making the Cradle Mountain Summit via the Scott-Kilvert Hut one of the best overnight walks Tasmania has to offer!
This circuit track begins at Dove Lake and follows the Rodney Track along the eastern ridge before turning south under the shadows of Cradle Mountain. The total journey should take between 2 – 3 hours to complete and is relatively flat with only a few steep ascents including one requiring the use of permanent chains. The Scott Kilvert Hut offers basic hut accommodation, tent platforms, and drinking water along Lake Rodway.
The next morning of this overnight walk in Tasmania starts off with a strenuous ascent to the alpine plateau where the Rodney Track meets up with the Overland Track. A right-hand turn will send you towards Cradle Mountain for the pinnacle of the hike.
Drop your overnight pack at the base of Cradle Mountain before making the steep 1.1km ascent to the Cradle Mountain summit. This section of the track is Grade 5 with a large portion of the track consisting more of large boulder scrambling than walking.
After the summit, there are several options for returning back to the bus stop each with stunning views over the alpine region. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for wombats on your descent back to the bus stop!
Bivouac Bay
Bivouac Bay is located on the Tasman Peninsula near popular Fortescue Bay. The hike to Bivouac Bay campsite is a relatively flat hike with only one steep ascent between Canoe Bay to Bivouac Bay. The Bivouac Bay Track is only 5km one-way and should take less than 2 hours to complete.
The hike itself offers beautiful views over Fortescue Bay which at times makes you forget that you are in Tasmania instead of a warm Caribbean Island. Besides the stunning rainforest and abundant nature, keep your eyes peeled at Canoe Bay for an old sunken ship.
At the Bivouac Bay campsite, there is a drop toilet and cleared campsites. No drinking water was available when we visited, so make sure you bring plenty of water for your entire hike.
Those looking to extend your journey can continue along the Tasman Coastal Trail towards the Devil’s Kitchen. This additional 15 km journey takes you along the dramatic cliffs of Tasman National Park offering some of the best views in all of the Tasman Peninsula!
Lake St. Clair via Echo Point
Lake St. Clair is Australia’s deepest lake reaching a maximum depth of 167 meters and marking the end of the famous Overland Track. But you don’t have to embark on the six-day, 65km Overland Track to experience the abundance of nature surrounding Lake St. Clair. Walkers can instead enjoy the peacefulness of Lake St. Clair along the Echo Point Track which is included as one of Tasmania’s 60 great short walks!
The Echo Point Track follows the western banks of Lake St. Clair through the dense rainforest with views back over Mount Ida. The 11km one-way journey should take between 3-4 hours to complete. The Echo Point hut offers basic accommodation and can accommodate up to eight individuals.
Three-day/Two-Night Multi-day Walks in Tasmania
Frenchmans Cap Hike
Touted as one of the more difficult of the multi-day walks in Tasmania, the Frenchman’s Cap walk is one, not one to miss. This challenging hike is daunting stretching over 44 kilometers and ascending more than 3,000 meters of total elevation. Nevertheless, the Frenchman’s Cap hike was one of the most memorable and rewarding hikes in Tasmania we completed and is one of our favorite hikes in Australia.
Along the trail, the Frenchman’s Cap Hike boasts two hikers huts and two tent campsites. Camping and access to the huts are included in a Tasmania National Park Pass.
The Frenchmans Cap trail is located in Tasmania’s Western Wilds, a wilderness region that covers over one-fifth of the state. Expect stunning vistas over the vast wildlands, dramatic mountain peaks, and even a glimpse of the sea on a clear day as you explore this amazing multi-day walk in Tasmania.
The Frenchmans Cap walk is best completed over the course of three to four days but can be done in two if you are up to the challenge. The trail is divided into three sections each challenging in its own right.
Here is a sneak peek of what to expect.
- Section 1: Hike 15.5km to Vera Hut from the carpark. While the longest of the three sections, this section is the easiest with most of the trail along relatively flat paths and boardwalks through the former “Sodden Lodden”.
- Section 2: The most challenging of the sections, the trail to Lake Tahune Hut meanders alongside Vera Lake initially, before a long, steep ascent up to Barron’s Pass. From here, travel along undulating hills until you finally can rest your weary legs in the state-of-the-art Tahune Hut just beneath Frenchmans cap.
- Section 3: The most rewarding of all sections, the hike to the summit. This 1.6km walk to the peak is not for the faint of heart. Rock climbing, boulder scrambling and the lingering fear that one slip of grip will find you at the bottom of the mountain is what you can expect for this section. And while the view is hard earned, it is worth it in the end.
The Frenchmans Cap hike was truly our favorite of all of the multi-day walks in Tasmania. If you can only do one of the multi-day hikes in Tasmania, and you are up for a challenge, this one has my vote!
Freycinet Peninsula Circuit
No trip to Tasmania would be complete without visiting one of the world’s best beaches at Wine Glass Bay. And what better way to experience Wineglass Bay than with one of the best multi-day hikes in Tasmania, the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit. The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit offers panoramic views of Wineglass Bay and gives you the opportunity to camp under the stars right next to the beach.
The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a 27km circuit with a total climb of approximately 1,500 meters. The first day along the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit follows Coles Bay to Promise Bay along Hazards Beach and ends at Cook Beach. The walk along Hazards Beach offers stunning views of Mount Freycinet.
The second day is the most challenging with the hike up to the saddle between Mount Freycinet and Mount Graham. We recommend dropping your packs and heading to the top of Mount Freycinet for endless views over Wineglass Bay and Tasmania’s east coast. Return from the summit before hiking up and over Mount Graham before the final descent into the Wineglass Bay campsite to camp right on one of the world’s best beaches.
On the final day, hikers walk along the beach before climbing back up to the saddle between Mount Mayson and Mount Amos. Make sure to stop here for one final look over Wineglass Bay before you make your way out.
Three Capes Track for Free
If you have been doing any research on hikes in Tasmania, you are sure to have stumbled on the Three Capes Track, a guided, hutted, multi-day experience along the stunning Tasman Peninsula. But not everyone has the luxury of being able to afford the Three Cape Track or even the possibility to get a booking! So, if you are looking to enjoy one of the best multi-day walks in Tasmania without the hefty price, then you have come to the right spot!
You can enjoy the three capes in a variety of ways depending on the amount of time you want to spend. Start your day by hiking along the Old Cape Pillar Track until you reach Tornado Ridge where the Old Cape Pillar Track connects with the Three Capes Track. Continue along the Three Capes Track to reach Cape Pillar for stunning views back to Cape Raoul. Along the Old Cape Pillar Track, there are two campsites that are available for walkers who are not on the official (and expensive) Three Capes Track expedition, the Wughalee Falls campsite (850 meters off the Cape Pillar track) and the Bare Knoll campsite.
From here, you can continue onwards to Mount Fortescue and Cape Hauy. Cape Hauy is also one of the three capes and is part of the Three Capes Track. You can only walk in the direction of Cape Hauy from the three capes free campsites as the Tasman National Park does not allow travel in the opposite direction.
Another popular hike on the Tasman Peninsula is the Cape Raoul hike. Cape Raoul is technically one of the three capes, however, it is not one that you visit if you are on an official Three Capes Track guided walk. We greatly enjoyed this hike, however, there is no overnight camping along the track. There is a campsite located at the trailhead, however, this is not run by the national park.
Walls of Jerusalem
Located in central Tasmania, the Walls of Jerusalem National Park is perhaps not one that you have heard of before. This national park and multi-day hike are oftentimes overlooked due to the sheer fact that there are so many stunning national parks and amazing multi-day hikes in Tasmania!
Unlike the other multi-day hikes in Tasmania, there is only one official campsite in the Walls of Jerusalem National park located at Wild Dog Creek roughly 6kms from the car park. Despite only one campsite, there are plenty of hiking trails within the “Walls” for you to explore.
From the Wild Dog Creek campground, head towards Damascus Gate on an easy 1 – 1.5 hour walk along the alpine plateau. From here you can explore a range of trails. Hike to Solomons Thorne, The Temple, or the Dixons Kingdom, all less than 30 minutes from Damascus Gate. Or you can continue onward to Mount Jerusalem which offers stunning views over the Central Highlands with alpine lakes and dolerite mountains.
The Walls of Jerusalem National Park may be one of the least explored national parks in Tasmania, but one thing is for sure, it offers some of the best views of all the multi-day walks in Tasmania!
+3 Day Multi-Day Hikes in Tasmania
The Overland Track
The Overland Track is another of the most recognizable multi-day walks in Tasmania. This six-day hike takes you across some of the most stunning landscapes that Tasmania has to offer. Beginning at Cradle Mountain, this 65km hike traverses the Tasmania Western Wilds over rugged peaks, past alpine lakes, and through the button grass moorlands to Australia’s deepest lake, Lake St. Clair.
While the distance may seem daunting at first, on most days the trail is less than 10kms. Here is a snapshot of what to expect when completing this amazing multi-day hike in Tassie!
- Day 1 | 10.7km, Ronney Creek to Waterfall Valley via Cradle Mountain Summit
- Day 2 | 7.8km, Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere
- Day 3 | 16.8km, Lake Windermere to Pelion
- Day 4 | 8.6km, Pelion to Kia Ora
- Day 5 | 9.6km, Kia Ora to Windy Ridge (Bert Nichols Hut)
- Day 6 | 9km, Windy Ridge (Bert Nichols Hut) to Narcissus
From Narcissus, there is the option to continue the Overland Track along the banks of Lake St. Clair to Cynthia Bay for another 17.5km or jump on the Lake St. Clair ferry. If you do plan on finishing the Overland Track by foot, you can break up the journey by staying at the rustic Echo Point.
If the 65km doesn’t seem like enough of a challenge, there are also many different sidetracks along the Overland Track. From climbing Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak, to D’Alton and Fergusson Falls, two stunning waterfalls in the dense moss-covered rainforest of Tassie.
If you do not have enough time to complete the Overland Track, but would still like to experience Cradle Mountain National Park, there is a possibility to camp at the Scott-Kilvert Memorial Hut in the shadows of Cradle Mountain for free.
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There are plenty of amazing overnight walks in Tasmania to choose from and we have only listed a few. Those who have the time, consider heading over to Maria Island for a few more multi-day hikes in Tasmania!
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