The Arthur Range in Tasmania’s Southwest is the ultimate test for any experienced hiker. It is hard to surpass the scenery witnessed on what feels like an untouched part of the island. This 60 kilometre stretch of prehistoric glory holds the title of my favourite trail of all time, and even if Mother Nature isn’t on your side for this one, it will still blow you away.
Overview:
· Location — Southwest National Park, Tasmania
· Best season — November - March
· Length — 67 kilometres
· Average time — 6 – 8 days
· Cost — National Parks Pass required ($44.75 AUD for two months)
· Registration - You must register HERE. There are only 12 spots available each day due to limited tent platforms (summer season books out quickly!)
· Start location — Huon Campground at Scotts Peak Dam
· End location — Huon Campground at Scotts Peak Dam
· Facilities — Tent platforms, open air drop toilets, gas stoves only (no fires)
· Difficulty — Grade 5, extremely challenging. Highly experienced hikers only
Helpful insights:
Be flexible – if you are flying in from interstate, allow for bad weather days. You might get stuck for a few extra nights and don’t want to push in bad weather because of a flight.
Getting there – I drove my car to the trail head. You can hitch a ride to Huon Campground or join this Facebook groupand see if you can organise lifts with people heading that way on the same day. Alternatively you can organise a ride for $110 AUD through Tasmania Wilderness Experiences.
Fitness – this trail is an all fours hike. This means once you are up in the ranges there is LOTS of scrambling. You need to be very comfortable with using your upper body to navigate the terrain, walking along ridges that drop off into nothingness and low grade rock climbing. Your knees will suffer the most on this trail and I suggest many months of solid lower body strength training leading up to your trip.
Water – there are lots of lakes and streams along the trail. High Moor is the only camp where water may be scarce in dry periods. If there has been recent rain this won't be an issue. I used a Sawyer filter.
Campsites – stick to the set wooden platforms. If you plan your days properly this shouldn't be hard to get right. Always use the toilets provided, being open air they surprisingly pleasant.
Weather – you can get all seasons (snow, rain, wind, sun) year round, so be prepared for everything. We had three days of decent rain, which I feel was a blessing because it meant I didn't have to carry much water on those days. Keep an eye on the forecast and wait it out if big storms are predicted.
Mud – there will be lots, particularly on the first day out to Junction Creek if there have been recent rains. There is a river/ lake to wash in at the end of the day so try to avoid bog skirting and just walk straight through it.
My starting pack weight – 20 kilograms. We were a team of two women with one 3-person tent to share and had 8 days worth of food.
Rope – I took a 10 metre rope with a carabiner attached for easy connecting to bags. We only used once in sketchy weather on a steep section to be safe.
My itinerary:
You can break up the trail however you like while sticking to the set campgrounds. We originally planned 8 days, however felt good on the final day, so skipped a stay at Junction Creek and went all the way to the car.
The distances (which are approximate) for a full day of hiking seem very low, but that is for a reason; the terrain is tough. My suggestion is to take 6-8 days and not rush. Take your time each day, do some side trips if you are making good time and stop for breaks to take in the scenery.
Doing a short first day was a great idea. A lot of people tend to push to Lake Cygnus on day 1, which is a very solid day with full pack weight. I think this a mistake and will cook you for the rest of the trip, especially if it is a hot day.
Start date: November 7th 2023 at 1pm Travel direction: Counterclockwise
Day 1: Huon Campground – Junction Creek 9.2km
Day 2: Junction Creek – Lake Cygnus 8.3km
Day 3: Lake Cygnus – Lake Oberon 6.2km
Day 4: Lake Oberon – High Moor 5km
Day 5: High Moor – Haven Lake 4.2km
Day 6: Haven Lake – Seven Mile Creek 8.2km
Day 7: Seven Mile Creek – Huon Campground 20km
Side Trips:
There are multiple options for side trips throughout the Arthurs. We did not do any of them this time, though I've heard they offer the best views.
Lake Fortuna (between Junction Creek and Lake Cygnus) – 800m
Mount Hayes (between Lake Cygnus and Lake Oberon) – 600m
Mount Sirus (between Lake Cygnus and Lake Oberon) – 800m
Mount Orion (between Lake Cygnus and Lake Oberon) – 800m
Mount Columba (between Lake Oberon and High Moor) – 500m
Mount Aldebaran (between High Moor and Haven Lake) – 2.2km
Carina Peak (between Moraine K and Promontory Lake) – 1.4km
Mount Canopus (between Moraine K and Promontory Lake) – 3.2km
Lake Venus (between Promontory Lake and Lake Rosanne) – 600m
West Portal (between Promontory Lake and Lake Rosanne) – 800m
Gear:
I have put together a comprehensive ‘Tasmanian Hiking & Camping Checklist’ that you can download. This covers everything I took on the Western Arthurs. The list below covers the few extra pieces I carried specifically for this more technical, and lengthy trail.
Rope
I mentioned above that we took a 10 metre long, 5 mm rope and a carabiner. There is a lot of chatter about whether or not to take it, but my theory is “when in doubt just bring it along.” Rope is light and you never know what else you may use it for.
Shoes
I wore Merrell Rogue boots with high sea to summit gaiters and was very happy with my choice. Although my feet were wet, they were warm and my socks stayed mud-free. The ankle support was welcomed as well.
Tent
For this trip I used the Nature Hike Cloud Up 3. I always take a 3-person tent for two people. For an extra 600 grams the bigger space is always appreciated, especially if there is lots of ‘tent time’. Although this is only a 3 season tent, it has proven itself in the past, standing up to high winds, torrential rain and light snow.
Tarp
I included a tarp this time knowing that the forecast had predicted a lot of rain. Being able to have somewhere to stand up, cook, prepare and generally flaff about (that isn’t inside your tent) is a game changer for me on trips.
Gloves
Having thick, solid gloves that I didn’t spend a fortune on this trip was essential. I took two pairs, a dipped thermal glove for cold, wet weather and one lighter pair for staying warm in the tent.