Three Capes Track at Tasman Peninsula - Sat. 2nd November 2019
The Three Capes Walk officially opened in 2015, and has since been
recognised as one of Tasmania's iconic wilderness walks, attracting
visitors from around the world. Cape Pillar is the jewel in
the crown of the Tasman Peninsula's colossal coastline, with cliffs
rising to 300m high. With its isolation only adding to the
exquisiteness, the walk is easily one of the greatest coastal walks
on offer in Tasmania. Once out on the headlands of Cape Pillar,
remarkable views expand north to other rousing capes. Cape Pillar
also affords the best mainland view of Tasman Island and its
towering cliff edges. This walk is not
using the luxurious huts and boat trip, and differs from the
"official" walk, with participants tent-camping and starting and
finishing at Fortescue Bay. While this means that heavier packs will
need to be carried, it saves the substantial fee associated with the
"official" walk, although park fees still apply. As this is a
camping trip and involves substantial walking and carrying of heavy
packs, it is rated "medium" - not a walk for novices. Please discuss
your experience with the walk leader.
There are limited places on this walk, with several advance registrations already received at time of writing. You should contact the leader 2 weeks ahead of the walk, if thinking of going.
Walk route:
The walk begins at Fortescue Bay, and is approximately 16km each way rising in places to a maximum altitude of about 300 metres. The plan is to walk in the old track to the new tent platforms (day 1) . Sunday walk out to Cape Pillar and explore and back to tents. Day 3 from tent platforms back out same way. Those who wish can go via Mt Fortescue with option of walking out to Cape Hauy which will take an extra 3 hours to get back to the car. The terrain is a mixture of forest and open heathland, with less vegetation once the cape area is reached. A more detailed description of the walk can be seen at http://tastrails.com/cape-pillar/
Meeting Times and Places:
If you are interested in going on this walk, please phone your walk leader, Ian Waterhouse, Ph. 6327 1371 to book in. Walkers will leave Launceston on Saturday 2nd November at 6:30 am from Door of Hope car park as there is a 3 hour drive to the Peninsula. As water can be scarce ensure you have enough water for Saturday's walk and enough fuel to boil water for drinking at the camp site. Walk details per above, and walking out on Monday morning to our cars.
Ian would appreciate early notice of your intention to participate, due to the logistics of organising cars.
If you would like to arrange to meet the group elsewhere, please arrange with leader. Please be at any meeting place 5 minutes ahead of departure time. However, you still need to contact the walk leader, Ian Waterhouse, per details above if intending to walk. The leader should be notified of any other people you intend to bring along.
You should always contact the walk leader if intending to participate in a particular Boots N' All walk.
To access this area from northern Tasmania:
From Launceston, follow the Midland Highway to about 11 km south of Oatlands, and turn left into Mud Walls Rd. which follows down through Colebrook, and Campania. About 2 km south of Campania, turn left into Fingerpost Rd. A little over 7 km will bring you to the Tasman Highway, which is followed south 9km to Sorell. Follow the Arthur Highway east and then south to Dunalley, and continue southeast to Eaglehawk Neck, approx. 50 km from Sorell. Head west and then south through Taranna. After approx. 12 km, the first Fortescue Bay turnoff is reached, although there is an alternative turnoff 2 km further south at Oakwood on Long Bay. Another 11 km will bring you to the start of the Cape Pillar track.
Warnings:
Please check with leader for any warnings regarding conditions.
S Steep inclines for at least part of the way
E Exposed heights with potentially windy conditions - can be dangerous in poor weather if not fully equipped (You must be equipped for poor conditions even if the weather forecast is promising.)
See note above about drinking water.
Click this link for a more detailed discussion of Preparation, Food and Safety guidelines for Boots N' All walks.
Map details:
Cape Pillar: 1:100000 map is 8411 (Storm Bay) and 1:25000 map is 5721 (Tasman)
Map reference:
Short ref. not available
Zone Easting Northing Latitude Longitude
(not available)
There are limited places on this walk, with several advance registrations already received at time of writing. You should contact the leader 2 weeks ahead of the walk, if thinking of going.
Walk route:
The walk begins at Fortescue Bay, and is approximately 16km each way rising in places to a maximum altitude of about 300 metres. The plan is to walk in the old track to the new tent platforms (day 1) . Sunday walk out to Cape Pillar and explore and back to tents. Day 3 from tent platforms back out same way. Those who wish can go via Mt Fortescue with option of walking out to Cape Hauy which will take an extra 3 hours to get back to the car. The terrain is a mixture of forest and open heathland, with less vegetation once the cape area is reached. A more detailed description of the walk can be seen at http://tastrails.com/cape-pillar/
Meeting Times and Places:
If you are interested in going on this walk, please phone your walk leader, Ian Waterhouse, Ph. 6327 1371 to book in. Walkers will leave Launceston on Saturday 2nd November at 6:30 am from Door of Hope car park as there is a 3 hour drive to the Peninsula. As water can be scarce ensure you have enough water for Saturday's walk and enough fuel to boil water for drinking at the camp site. Walk details per above, and walking out on Monday morning to our cars.
Ian would appreciate early notice of your intention to participate, due to the logistics of organising cars.
If you would like to arrange to meet the group elsewhere, please arrange with leader. Please be at any meeting place 5 minutes ahead of departure time. However, you still need to contact the walk leader, Ian Waterhouse, per details above if intending to walk. The leader should be notified of any other people you intend to bring along.
You should always contact the walk leader if intending to participate in a particular Boots N' All walk.
To access this area from northern Tasmania:
From Launceston, follow the Midland Highway to about 11 km south of Oatlands, and turn left into Mud Walls Rd. which follows down through Colebrook, and Campania. About 2 km south of Campania, turn left into Fingerpost Rd. A little over 7 km will bring you to the Tasman Highway, which is followed south 9km to Sorell. Follow the Arthur Highway east and then south to Dunalley, and continue southeast to Eaglehawk Neck, approx. 50 km from Sorell. Head west and then south through Taranna. After approx. 12 km, the first Fortescue Bay turnoff is reached, although there is an alternative turnoff 2 km further south at Oakwood on Long Bay. Another 11 km will bring you to the start of the Cape Pillar track.
Warnings:
Please check with leader for any warnings regarding conditions.
S Steep inclines for at least part of the way
E Exposed heights with potentially windy conditions - can be dangerous in poor weather if not fully equipped (You must be equipped for poor conditions even if the weather forecast is promising.)
See note above about drinking water.
Click this link for a more detailed discussion of Preparation, Food and Safety guidelines for Boots N' All walks.
Map details:
Cape Pillar: 1:100000 map is 8411 (Storm Bay) and 1:25000 map is 5721 (Tasman)
Map reference:
Short ref. not available
Zone Easting Northing Latitude Longitude
(not available)
No peakbagger points will be reached on this walk. For listing of peakbagger points, see the Hobart Walking Club
Peakbagger's Guide (2000 revision) which can be downloaded (Excel) from
http://tastracks.webs.com/peakbaggers.htm The same web page
contains several other listings of Tasmanian peaks.
GPX version of the track:
Click here
to download. Google Earth version of the track:
Click here
to download.
Right-click on the file and save target as to a location of your choice.
(Suggest you click the Last modified at top to sort by date to get the
most recent at top to find the file for the next walk).