|
The
best of both National Parks.
This tour takes us into two of
Tasmania’s most scenic National
Parks – Cradle Mountain – Lake St.
Clair and Walls of Jerusalem. We
travel with light weight backpacks
and day packs and combine cabin
accommodation and camping on this 6
day walking tour.
We begin this trip at Cradle
Mountain. An ancient area of immense
beauty, scattered with trails,
undoubtedly a walking paradise.
After two days of walking here
staying in comfortable, full
facility cabins, we transfer to the
Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
The walk into the Walls requires
carrying a backpack weighing up to
10kms for the 4 - 5 hour hike to our
base camp. Once at the camp we
explore the Walls area carrying just
a day pack with the days essentials.
Our base camp in The Walls of
Jerusalem is set in a sub alpine
wilderness, formed over eons of time
and glaciation. This central plateau
of Tasmania contains over 4,000
lakes, making the landscape unique
in Australia. This area contains the
largest known forest of Pencil
Pines, ancient trees up to a
thousand years of age and sometimes
more.
Day 1:
Launceston to Cradle Mountain
We transfer from Launceston to
Cradle Mountain (approx. 2.5hrs). On
arrival at the National Park you
will check in to the accommodation
and have lunch before setting off on
an afternoon walk. There are a
number of walks and activity options
and your guides will offer one most
appropriate to the conditions at the
time. A favourite afternoon walk is
around the beautiful Dove Lake
taking in the amazing prehistoric
plant life and impressive views of
Cradle Mountain. There will be time
in the evening to sight some of
Tassie’s special creatures as they
graze in the dusk light. After a
delicious dinner grab your torch and
go in search of some of the elusive
and not so elusive nocturnal animals
that call this place home.
Day 2:
Day Walk
Today we will set off early for a
full day in the mountains. Your
guides can make it as challenging or
as leisurely as you wish. Conditions
permitting they will offer you the
opportunity to trek to the base of
Cradle Mountain and climb to its
summit. En route encounter the
beautiful Crater Falls and Crater
Lake before tackling the steep trail
up to Marion’s Lookout. Our ultimate
objective is to climb the sheer
slopes of Cradle Mountain and take
in the sweeping views of the
surrounding overland mountains. If
weather or other conditions prevent
our summit attempt there are
numerous alternatives, a popular one
is the challenging Face Track, which
skirts beneath the well known
outline of Cradle Mountain. Your
guides are passionate about this
wonderland and will provide a day
full of highlights – blue skies or
rough weather this place provides a
very special experience. Your guides
will provide a packed lunch and
plenty of snacks to keep your energy
up whilst wandering and at night
retire back to your comfortable
cabins and relax as they prepare a
hearty evening meal.
Day 3:
Cradle to Walls of Jerusalem
This morning we will pack our
luggage, load the bus and then don
daypacks for a morning walk. There
will be an opportunity to check out
the visitor centre and do some short
walks, including the King Billy Walk
which takes in some of the oldest
trees in the world including an
ancient King Billy Pine that is
between 1500 and 2000 years old.
Then we leave Cradle Mountain behind
us as we drive to the Walls of
Jerusalem National Park. We will
probably have lunch on the way then
strap our backpacks on for the climb
into this magnificent highland area.
We trek up through varying forest
types with plenty of rest stops to
Trappers Hut, then continue on
through majestic Solomon’s Jewels, a
dazzling section of tarns (shallow
lakes resulting from glacial
activity), to our base camp
destination where we set up camp and
relax while the guides prepare a
delicious and hearty dinner.
Day 4:
Day Walk
After a relaxed breakfast your
guides will let you in on the great
Tassie secret that is the Walls of
Jerusalem! We will explore the
environs of the area during the next
couple of days, from magical tarns
to majestic mountains and amazing
vegetation, wonderful wildlife and
humbling views. In alpine regions in
Tasmania the weather is extremely
changeable so, as it is at Cradle
Mountain, what we do today and
tomorrow is weather dependent and
your guides will offer an awe
inspiring option whatever weather
prevails. Some areas we may explore
include Dixon’s Kingdom and the
ancient Pencil Pine forests that
surround, also the mighty towers of
King David’s Peak and Mount Moriah
and the magical Lake Ball. The
National Park is largely untracked
so enjoy the freedom of treading
gently in this wonderland.
Day 5: Day
Walk
Similarly, today will be another one
of discovery in the otherworldly
region of ‘the Walls’. Some areas we
may encounter include The Temple,
Mount Jerusalem and Solomon’s
Throne. These walks have varying
degrees of difficulty, you will be
challenged by the terrain and
delighted by the amazing vistas of
the surrounding valleys, lakes and
mountains.
Day 6:
Walls of Jerusalem to Launceston
Today we will pack up camp and bid
farewell to the Walls of Jerusalem.
We walk out to the car park through
the alpine plant life and terrain
the way we came in. The walk will
offer plenty of photo breaks, rest
stops and lighter packs! We will
lunch once more amongst the serene
Tasmanian bush before heading back
to Launceston. Your stored luggage
will meet us at the Tasmanian
Expeditions office and your guides
will drop you to your accommodation
by about 5pm. |
