The Australian hiking directory
Explore 20 hiking experiences in Tasmania.
Tasmania is often called Australia's hiking capital, and it's easy to see why. More than 40% of the island is protected in national parks and reserves, and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area covers about a fifth of the state. In a single week you can walk past glacial lakes beneath Cradle Mountain, follow the white sand of Wineglass Bay, and stand on 300-metre sea cliffs on the Tasman Peninsula.
The state is home to two of the country's best-known multi-day walks. The Overland Track (about 65 km, 6 days) crosses alpine moorland and ancient forest between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair, and it needs a booking during the walking season. The Three Capes Track (48 km, 4 days) offers comfortable cabins and some of the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. Further afield, the South Coast Track and the Western Arthurs are serious wilderness challenges for experienced, self-sufficient walkers.
There's plenty for day walkers too. The Dove Lake circuit at Cradle Mountain is a classic, mostly boardwalk loop. Russell Falls at Mount Field is a short, accessible stroll through towering swamp gums and tree ferns. Cape Hauy, Cape Raoul and the Hazards Beach circuit at Freycinet all deliver big coastal scenery in a day. Near Hobart, kunanyi / Mount Wellington has a network of tracks right on the city's edge.
Weather is the key planning factor in Tasmania. The highlands can see snow in any month, and conditions change quickly. Even on short walks, carry a waterproof jacket and warm layers. Summer (December to March) brings the longest days and most stable weather. Autumn has the beautiful colours of the native deciduous beech, or fagus, in late April and May.
Every visitor to a Tasmanian national park needs a parks pass. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service sells daily, holiday and annual passes online. Many trailheads have walker registration books, so please sign in and out.
Tasmania's Aboriginal people have cared for this land for at least 40,000 years. Many places carry palawa kani names alongside English ones, such as kunanyi (Mount Wellington) and takayna (the Tarkine). Please respect cultural sites and signage.
Browse the listings below by region, grade and time, and check the official Parks and Wildlife Service page linked on every listing before you go.
Before you go: check park alerts, the BOM forecast and fire danger rating. Inclusion here doesn't mean a track is currently open or safe.
Choose your next adventure
Cape Hauy is a stand-alone day walk in Tasman National Park and part of the final day of the Three Capes Track. It's a 9.4 km return walk from Fortescue Bay, and Parks and Wildlife Service allows 4 hours. It ends at a spectacular, fenced lookout facing the dolerite sea stacks known as the Candlestick and the Totem Pole, which are famous with rock climbers.
A longer return walk to the Tasman Peninsula’s coastal cliffs. Allow time for rougher ground and exposed viewpoints.
A short lighthouse circuit with coastal viewpoints and a constructed walkway. Stay inside the barriers near cliffs.
Cradle Mountain (1,545 m) is Tasmania's most famous peak, and its summit walk is one of the country's classic day hikes. Parks and Wildlife Service lists the walk as 12.8 km return with about 600 m of climbing, and allows 8 hours return.
An alpine-lake circuit linking Crater Lake, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool. Some sections are steep.
A circuit beneath Cradle Mountain combining lakeside walking and sections of rainforest.
A short forest circuit beside Pencil Pine Creek, with features for children. Supervise children beside flowing water.
A short riverside walk among tree ferns beside the Emu River near Burnie.
A mountain walk through glacial terrain to Hartz Peak. Severe weather can occur at any time of year.
The upper-car-park route visits a series of cascades through rainforest. The separate lower-car-park route is longer.
A short waterfall walk from the Lyell Highway through wet forest.
A short forest walk to Russell Falls from the Mount Field visitor centre. Wheelchair users should return along the approach path.
A return walk from Cockle Creek through woodland to the cliffs above South Cape Bay. The coast has unprotected edges and unpatrolled beaches.
A wetlands boardwalk experience near Launceston. Partial closure for walkway and bridge works is scheduled until 17 December 2026; check the current alert before travelling.
This circuit in Freycinet National Park on Tasmania's east coast links Australia's most photographed beach with a quieter coastal track. It's about 11 km and takes around 4–5 hours.
A steep uphill route through coastal woodland to the lookout above Wineglass Bay. It includes steps and resting seats.
The Overland Track is Australia's best-known multi-day alpine walk. It runs about 65 km from Ronny Creek in the Cradle Mountain area to Lake St Clair (Narcoutah) in Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Most walkers take six days. Optional side trips add a lot: Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mount Ossa (Tasmania's highest peak at 1,617 m), and the waterfalls of the Du Cane Gorge.
The Three Capes Track is a 48 km, four-day, three-night walk on the Tasman Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Hobart. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service manages it as a fully booked experience with a capped number of walkers each day. It has some of the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere, and its architect-designed cabins mean you don't carry a tent.
A six-day guided, full-pack camping trek along the Overland Track. Five nights of camping, guides and national park fees are included; confirm departure details with the operator.
A volunteer recreational walking club based in Hobart with walks for varied fitness and experience. Prospective members and visitors must obtain trip-coordinator approval before attending.
From coast to high country
Start with the time you have, then consider terrain, fitness, experience and access needs. Compare official track grades alongside the walk’s distance and published conditions. A short walk can still be technically demanding.
Explore walks across all eight Australian states and territories. Free basic inclusion is available to eligible trails, operators and hiking groups.
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